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Niklas Nikolajsen, the head of Bitcoin Suisse, one of Switzerland's oldest crypto brokers told finews.com he sees signs of improvement. «At Bitcoin Suisse, we track the banks who are open to working with wealth originating from crypto-wealth, very closely», the Danish former software architect and developer said. Countless such firms now exist, in both Switzerland as well as abroad, he noted.

To be sure, several private banks have outed themselves with crypto services: Vontobel, Falcon Private Bank, and Maerki Baumann in Zurich, as well as Union Bancaire Privée in Geneva. This offering doesn't appear to be enough to satisfy demand.

Plan B: Spend It

«How do I explain it to my banker?»: That's the rub for many of crypto's newly wealthy, a fintech expert told finews.com. Many institutes simply don't possess the expertise to evaluate the funds, and defer to management's «yay or nay» view on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. If not, the crypto rich are sent elsewhere. 

For those who can't manage to convert their crypto winnings into fiat, one of the only options is to spend their profits. The Wirex app, which loads digital currencies onto a Visa credit card, has become a popular option. 

Dicey Credit Cards

To be sure, the Wirex workaround only helps spend, not maintain, money – and users are still subject to background checks. And many users will remember when major credit card issuers Visa and Mastercard suddenly suspended all crypto debt cards two years ago. 

In May, Inapay and Bity will launch a smartphone app with which overnight stays at Zurich's Hotel Dolder or the luxury car dealership Kessel can be paid with cryptocurrencies.