Swiss blockchain industry sees meteoric growth

The booming Swiss blockchain sector continues to grow: over 600 companies and institutions are now located in the ‘Crypto Nation’ and neighbouring Liechtenstein, according to recently-released data.

The industry employs around 3,000 people in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as many more abroad, says investment group Crypto Valley Venture Capitalexternal link (CV VC).

Taken together, the top 50 blockchain companies in Switzerland’s so-called Crypto Valley employ 443 staff domestically, are worth an estimated $44 million (CHF43.7 million), and hold in excess of $2 billion to spend on research and development, CV VC writesexternal link (see graphic below).

Much of that funding has come from initial coin offering (ICO) crowd investing programmes in which the public can buy digital tokens that grant them access to blockchain platforms.

Liechtenstein has also been added to the directory as the principality has a close connection to Swiss blockchain firms and is increasingly described as an extension of the Swiss Crypto Nation.

The directory has expanded from just 350 blockchain entities in April 2017, which demonstrates the scale and speed of growth in the industry in the last 18 months.

The blockchain sector’s potential long-term impact on the Swiss economy has also not been lost on regulators and politicians, who have been busy putting together a legal and regulatory framework to allow the new technology to thrive.

The term ‘Crypto Nation’ was coined by Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammannexternal link during a conference in St Moritz in January 2018.

The top five blockchain companies in the top 50external link listed by CV Maps are PickioChainexternal link, Vetriexternal link, Medicalchainexternal link, Etheriscexternal link, and Decentexternal link.

Crypto Valley Venture Capital

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