ABN AMRO has reached two milestones in its digital asset and blockchain initiatives, spanning regulatory approval and transaction execution.

Its German subsidiary, Hauck Aufhäuser Digital Custody (HADC), has secured authorisation from Germany’s financial regulator BaFin under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).

The license allows HADC to provide crypto custody and transaction services to institutional clients within a harmonised EU framework.

With the approval, HADC can manage and safeguard crypto assets on behalf of clients and expand its services across Europe.

Yorick Naeff, Head of Innovation at ABN AMRO from 1 February 2026, said:

“Executing our first international over-the-counter SDC trade and securing a pan-European MiCAR license underscores ABN AMRO’s commitment to embedding digital innovation into our service offering.”

Separately, ABN AMRO completed its first international over-the-counter derivative transaction using a Smart Derivative Contract (SDC) in collaboration with DZ Bank.

The fully automated transaction ran for 10 days, executing valuation, settlement, and collateral management on distributed ledger technology.

Daily payments flowed through SEPA and updated the smart contract in real time.

Matthias Bergner, Head of Treasury at DZ Bank, said:

“With the first international SDC transaction, we have taken a decisive step toward establishing the SDC as an industry-wide standard for the digital settlement of OTC derivatives.”

Smart Derivative Contracts are designed to automate the full lifecycle of derivative trades, using pre-agreed market data and valuation models to reduce operational complexity and counterparty risk.

Featured image credit: ABN AMRO