TheSwiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) is Switzerland’s financial market supervisoryauthority. Its mission is crucial: to ensure the stability of the Swiss financial system and protect the interests of investors, creditors and policyholders.

FINMA is independent and has a broad spectrum of activities. It is responsible for supervising banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges and other financial institutions such as asset managers and financial intermediaries. Through its actions, FINMA ensures that supervised institutions comply with applicable financial laws and adopt transparent and fair business practices.

One of the main priorities of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority is the fight against money laundering, a particularly sensitive issue for Switzerland, often perceived as a key global financial center. FINMA ensures that Swiss financial institutions comply with strict rules on transparency and verification of the origin of funds.

Its regulatory powers also include the ability to take action in the event of breaches of the law. FINMA can revoke licenses, issue administrative sanctions and impose fines. It can also intervene directly in the management of companies in difficulty, in order to protect creditors and customers.

Because of its role in an international financial center, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority works closely with other regulators around the world, including the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Central Bank (ECB). It also actively participates in the work of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to ensure effective regulation on an international scale.

In recent years, FINMA has been faced with numerous challenges related to technological innovation in the financial sector, particularly with the rise of fintechs, cryptocurrencies and blockchain. It has had to adapt its supervisory tools to meet these developments, while ensuring the stability of the Swiss financial system. Today, FINMA remains a key player in maintaining Switzerland’s reputation as a transparent, stable and secure financial center.