Named experts · Practitioner profile
Mark Branson
Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) ↗ · Germany, European Union
★ Editor's Watch — MiCA CASP, Crypto custody, Stablecoin issuance
About Mark
Mark Branson is President of BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht), the German financial regulator with one of the most rigorous EU supervisor approaches to crypto-asset firms. Branson took the BaFin Presidency in August 2021 after serving as CEO of FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) from 2014 to 2021. His combined Swiss-German regulator experience covers crypto-bank licensing development (SEBA, Sygnum under FINMA) and MiCA implementation in Germany (KMAG framework). The combination makes him one of the most consequential EU regulator voices on crypto-asset firm supervision.
Editor's note
BaFin President with FINMA CEO heritage. Combined Swiss-German regulator-side perspective on crypto-asset firm supervision — most-respected EU supervisor positioning.
Practice fields
Credentials
- President, BaFin since August 2021
- Previously CEO, Swiss FINMA (2014-2021)
- Previously Head of Banks division, FINMA
- Architect of FINMA crypto-bank framework producing SEBA Bank and Sygnum Bank authorisations
Jurisdictions
Sources
Every entry on this page is sourced from public records. The references below are the evidence base for the practitioner's expertise claims.
- BaFin — Mark Branson President biography — firm bio
- FINMA — Historical leadership references — regulator
- Bloomberg — BaFin President public commentary on crypto regulation — industry press
Relevant guides
Knowledge-base coverage that overlaps with Mark's practice (Germany, European Union · MiCA CASP, Crypto custody, Stablecoin issuance).
Crypto brokerage · OTC desk · MiCA services
Crypto Broker License 2026 — OTC Desk and Brokerage Under MiCA
A crypto broker license under MiCA is built from CASP services — reception and transmission of orders, execution, and placing for an agency …
MiCA CASP application · documentation checklist
MiCA CASP Application Requirements 2026 — Documents Checklist
MiCA CASP application requirements are set by Article 62 and ESMA's authorisation RTS — a defined documentation pack covering governance, ca…
Crypto compliance officer · MLRO role
Crypto Compliance Officer 2026 — MLRO Role and Responsibilities Guide
Crypto compliance officer role under MiCA combines MLRO duties with broader prudential, conduct, and operational resilience oversight. The r…
Crypto KYC · CASP operational compliance
Crypto KYC Requirements 2026 — CASP Operational Compliance Guide
Crypto KYC requirements operate at the intersection of MiCA, AMLR, FATF guidance, and national AML frameworks. The compliance build for CASP…
Crypto bank · CASP licence comparison
Crypto Bank License vs CASP Licence — When You Need Each 2026
Crypto bank licence and MiCA CASP authorisation are different products serving different operator needs. Crypto banks combine deposit-taking…
CASP custody · Article 75 · Hot/Cold architecture
CASP Hot vs Cold Wallet Architecture — Article 75 Segregation 2026
MiCA Article 75 segregation requirements operate on top of operational custody architecture. Hot wallet, cold wallet, multi-sig, HSM-anchore…