If you operate a digital asset platform such as a cryptocurrency exchange, you likely face a recurring challenge: finding a banking partner that understands the specific risks of your industry while providing the speed your users expect. 

Many traditional banks still view the digital asset sector with scepticism, which often leads to sudden account closures or de-risking that can stall your operations. 

What you want is a banking partner that offers reliable fiat on-ramps and off-ramps via SEPA Instant payment rails to ensure your users can move funds in seconds, rather than days. Banking providers that do, indeed, support SEPA Instant for crypto exchanges include ClearBank, Solaris, and Banking Circle. 

Read more: Why SEPA Instant is the catalyst for European payment evolution 

ClearBank is a UK-based clearing bank, with its European headquarters in the Netherlands, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and De Nederlandsche Bank, and operating across the UK and Europe. A purpose-built B2B institution, ClearBank provides the underlying banking infrastructure for digital asset firms, regulated institutions, and fintechs. 

Through its European bank, ClearBank N.V., it has obtained Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) status under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation, which enables it to offer integrated fiat and on-chain solutions. 

As a crypto exchange or digital asset platform, you can use ClearBank to: 

• Access SEPA Instant rails for near real-time euro settlements 
• Digital Asset Rails, a regulated settlement capability linking Circle-issued stablecoins to 24/7 fiat payout via SEPA Instant. 
• Use customer-segregated accounts to meet safeguarding obligations and ensure client funds are held separately from operational capital. 
• Simplify the creation of virtual accounts and vIBANs for easier reconciliation and quicker onboarding as you scale. 

What’s more, ClearBank offers a cloud-native, API-first infrastructure that supports high transaction volumes with 99.9% uptime. 

"Crypto doesn't sleep. It doesn't have cutoff times. It doesn't close at 5 o'clock every day – and our infrastructure reflects that."  Andrew Delves, Head of Digital Assets at ClearBank 

And if you want to offer advanced banking capabilities, such as white-labelled, FSCS-protected accounts or savings products, ClearBank UK enables this under its embedded banking proposition. 

Solaris is a German technology company that holds a full banking licence, allowing it to operate across the EU. It positions itself as an embedded finance platform that handles regulatory complexities, so digital asset companies can focus on their front-end experience. Through its subsidiary, Solaris Digital Assets, it provides custodial solutions integrated with its core banking services.

The Solaris platform offers several features for the digital asset ecosystem: 

• Native SEPA Instant capabilities for real-time euro transfers. 
• Fully digital KYC and KYB flows that allow for rapid user onboarding. 
• Local IBANs in Germany, Italy, and France to help reduce payment friction and prevent IBAN discrimination. 
• Branded debit and prepaid cards that let your users spend their balances globally. 

Banking Circle is a licensed credit institution headquartered in Luxembourg, positioning itself as a modern correspondent bank. It focuses on solving the issues of legacy banking by providing a single, multi-tenant technology stack for financial institutions. In 2026, Banking Circle expanded its capabilities by securing a CASP license from the CSSF, enabling a suite of stablecoin settlement services. 

Digital asset platforms can use Banking Circle for: 

• Fiat-to-stablecoin and stablecoin-to-fiat interoperability with quick settlement. 
• Indirect access to SEPA Instant payment rails for near-instant EUR payments. 
• Reliable intraday treasury management and 24/7 settlement for exchanges. 
• Virtual account structures that simplify global collections and cross-border payouts.

Choosing a banking partner for SEPA Instant requires more than just looking at technical uptime. Regulatory alignment is the primary differentiator for platforms that want to avoid being de-banked during market volatility. As European frameworks like Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation become the standard, working with a bank that has its own CASP status provides a layer of stability that EMIs (Electronic Money Institutions) or payment service providers cannot always match. 

What's more, by partnering with a bank that holds funds in central bank accounts, you also give your users the highest level of assurance regarding the safety and liquidity of their deposits. 

Providing SEPA Instant access is now a standard requirement for any crypto exchange looking to grow in Europe. By partnering with a B2B-focused bank that also holds a CASP, like ClearBank, you can offer your users the speed of 24/7 instant transfers while benefiting from bank-grade oversight. 

To learn how ClearBank can help you, get in touch with one of our team. 

*Disclaimer: All information relating to third-party products and companies featured in this article has been sourced solely from their respective public websites and official publications at the time of writing. ClearBank makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. Product features, positioning, and company details may have changed since publication. Readers should refer to each provider's official website for the most up-to-date information before making any purchasing decisions. 

Sources: 

• https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/ 
• https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/services/accounts/ 
• https://www.solarisgroup.com/blog/solaris-digital-assets-driving-digital-asset-adoption/ 
• https://docs.solarisgroup.com/guides/digital-banking/sepa-transfers/sepa-instant-credit-transfer 
• https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/industries/wealth/ 
• https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/license/ 
• https://www.bankingcircle.com/ 
• https://www.bankingcircle.com/technology-and-platform/ 
• https://www.bankingcircle.com/digital-assets-institutions/ 
• https://www.bankingcircle.com/banking-circle-introduces-stablecoin-settlement-services/