Taurus
Geneva platform for banks that custody, tokenize and trade digital assets while keeping their own keys
Quick Overview
| Company | Taurus SA |
|---|---|
| Category | Crypto Custody Providers |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2018 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Switzerland |
| Data Location | Depends on deployment model |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - on-premises and hybrid |
| Main Features | Taurus-PROTECT custody, Taurus-CAPITAL tokenization, Taurus-PRIME trading, Taurus-NETWORK settlement, HSM root of trust, Swift ledger connectivity, developer SDK |
| Pricing | Pricing on request |
| Best For | Banks and market infrastructures building their own custody and tokenization service |
| Replaces | BitGo, Fireblocks, Metaco |
Detailed Review
Taurus, founded in 2018, is a Swiss infrastructure provider whose site names State Street, Deutsche Bank, CACEIS, KBC, Pictet and Swissquote among clients. One platform covers custody, tokenization, trading, and interbank settlement and collateral management.
The company says plainly that it is a technology provider, not a custodian, and that clients keep full control of assets and keys. Taurus SA holds a FINMA securities firm licence, and Taurus (Europe) Ltd is authorised by CySEC.
Four products on one base
Taurus-PROTECT is the custody product, Taurus-CAPITAL issues tokenized securities and digital currencies, Taurus-PRIME is a trading venue with custody built in, and Taurus-NETWORK handles collateral and settlement between institutions.
A bank can start with custody and add tokenization later without changing its key architecture.
Sovereignty and deployment
The company points to a private key held on an HSM root of trust and to three deployment models: managed by Taurus, on the client's premises, or hybrid. Audit claims include ISAE 3402 Type II, ISO 27001 and DORA compliance.
Connectivity beyond crypto
Taurus also offers connectivity to Swift's blockchain-based shared ledger, which suits banks that want digital assets to flow through existing messaging rails.
Limitations to Consider
Taurus targets banks and regulated financial institutions, so a small fund or a start-up will not fit its sales model. Pricing is not published. Because it is a technology vendor, custody liability stays with the client, and the platform's scope (four products) brings an implementation project. Its terms exclude United States persons from using the website and services.
Who Should Use Taurus
Banks, broker-dealers and market infrastructure operators in Europe that want to run their own custody or tokenization service on Swiss-regulated software, with the choice of on-premises control.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Client-held keys on an HSM root of trust
- Managed, on-premises and hybrid deployment
- Custody, tokenization, trading and settlement together
- FINMA-licensed vendor with a CySEC entity
- Large bank client base named on site
Cons
- Technology provider, not a custodian
- Aimed at banks, not small firms
- No published pricing
- United States persons excluded from the site
Alternatives to Taurus
Other European crypto custody providers worth comparing before you decide:
DFNS
France · Wallet-as-a-service on MPC, SaaS or fully on-premises
Tangany
Germany · BaFin-licensed wallet-as-a-service custody for platforms
Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody
Germany · Fiduciary crypto custody from a German exchange group
Zodia Custody
United Kingdom · London custodian with air-gapped cold wallets and instant withdrawals
See all European crypto custody providers or compare them directly against BitGo on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its own site says it is a technology provider and that clients keep full control of their assets and keys.
Taurus SA is regulated by FINMA under a securities firm licence, and Taurus (Europe) Ltd is authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
Yes, the site lists managed, on-premises and hybrid deployment models.