TOYOTA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 16, 2026--
SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft developer based in Japan, today announced the commencement of formal familiarization meetings with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260715554861/en/
Familiarization meetings, which are designed to deepen a regulatory authority’s understanding of an aircraft's performance and incorporated technologies, are a critical step in the aircraft type certification process. SkyDrive’s familiarization sessions with the FAA, which will also be attended by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), are expected to include comprehensive and in-depth technical reviews, covering topics including the core aircraft design concept and the specific approaches required for compliance with the FAA’s safety standards.
To prepare for these familiarization sessions, SkyDrive leaders responsible for engineering and certification recently met with the FAA and the JCAB officials on the sidelines of the 2026 FAA-EASA International Aviation Safety Conference, held in Washington D.C. Senior officials attending this preparatory meeting included:
During the preparatory meeting, the attendees discussed how the FAA and the JCAB would work together with SkyDrive to implement an efficient concurrent validation process, as SkyDrive looks to achieve the regulatory compliance required to commercialize their aircraft in multiple markets around the world.
SkyDrive is currently pursuing type certification in both Japan and the United States. The FAA has officially accepted the type certification application, which was submitted in April 2024(*2). Moving forward, SkyDrive will continue to work closely with the civil aviation authorities in Japan and overseas, seeking to progress the development of its aircraft and advance swiftly towards type certification with an absolute priority on safety.
About SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive is a Japanese compact eVTOL company aiming “to take the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution”. The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 prior to official incorporation in 2018. Under its future vision for urban transportation, flying in eVTOLs will become a regular part of city life. In 2019, SkyDrive became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan. In 2025, the company successfully showcased the eVTOL "SKYDRIVE", the company’s first eVTOL product, with demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo witnessed by thousands of visitors over a one-month period. SkyDrive began production of “SKYDRIVE” in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive's official production partner. SkyDrive has been working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the US to obtain certification for “SKYDRIVE”, with the aim of launching the aircraft into service in 2028. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, and led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, an engineer and entrepreneur.
For more information, please visit: https://skydrive.co.jp/en/
Editor’s Note:
(*1) “eVTOL” is an abbreviation for electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing. As the name suggests, eVTOL aircraft can take off and land without a runway. eVTOLs are powered by electricity and incorporate advanced, automatic, flight control technology.
(*2) Related press release https://skydrive.co.jp/en/archives/13054
From left: Kotaro Yamamoto (JITTI) / Hidenori Miyajima (JCAB) / Naoki Amitani (JCAB) / Tetsu Shimizu (JCAB) / Harald Nagler (SkyDrive) / Arnaud Coville (SkyDrive) / Malory Nail (FAA) / Dab Elgas (FAA) / Stephen Burke (FAA) / John Yoo (FAA) / Adrian Hoefer (FAA)
ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 16, 2026--
AMINA Bank AG (“AMINA”), a Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)-regulated crypto bank with global reach, today becomes the first regulated bank to integrate Mesh, the leading crypto payments network. The integration embeds Mesh’s verified deposit technology directly into AMINA’s online banking platform. This allows clients to verify wallet ownership, and deposit stablecoins and digital assets in a single, streamlined flow across more than 300 wallet providers. No more copying wallet addresses by hand, switching between external tools, or completing the multi-step verification the process historically required.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260715917516/en/
Myles Harrison, Chief Product Officer at AMINA, said: “Despite the incredible progress the industry has made in institutional adoption, crypto remains difficult to move safely and efficiently between platforms and regulated financial institutions. Depositing into a bank has required clients to complete wallet-signing on external platforms and verify addresses through multi-step manual processes. AMINA’s integration with Mesh eases that friction. Our clients select their wallet provider, verify ownership, and deposit within AMINA's platform in a few clicks, bringing the digital asset deposit experience in line with the standards clients expect in traditional finance. Verified deposits are the first step. We intend to extend Mesh's connectivity to withdrawals and payouts in the future, as we build the infrastructure through which stablecoins and digital assets could move at scale.”
According to Bessemer Venture Partners, real-world stablecoin payments doubled in 2025 to $400 billion even as broader crypto markets declined, with 60% of that volume driven by B2B flows — corporate treasury, cross-border settlement, and payment service providers clearing transactions for their clients. The demand is there, but the regulated banking infrastructure to support it has not kept pace. AMINA’s integration of Mesh closes that gap, connecting clients directly to their existing wallets and exchange accounts within a Swiss regulated banking environment.
Bam Azizi, Co-Founder and CEO of Mesh, said: "As the first FINMA-regulated bank to integrate Mesh, AMINA is proving how digital assets can move through regulated finance — verification and compliance handled natively. We're proud to provide the connectivity that makes it possible.”
The integration will soon be available for AMINA clients. Additional capabilities are expected later this year, including streamlining wallet verification during client onboarding.
Dr. Sebastian Preil, Global Head of B2B2C and Managing Director at AMINA, said: “Beyond the direct benefit for our professional investor and corporate clients, this partnership matters for any regulated institution entering crypto. Banks exploring stablecoin services face a practical challenge: how do you verify a client’s on-chain footprint alongside their traditional financial profile? Through our B2B2C platform, financial institutions can access Mesh’s connectivity through AMINA's regulated banking framework, with compliance and on-chain screening infrastructures already in place.”
Disclaimer: This is a marketing communication made to you by AMINA Bank AG (“AMINA”), a Swiss bank and securities dealer with office and legal domicile at Kolinplatz 15, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, authorized and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”). AMINA is not licensed as a bank in any other jurisdiction. This marketing communication is prepared solely for information and marketing purposes and is intended to be marketing material within the meaning of Article 68 of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA); it is an advertisement; it is not a solicitation, recommendation, advice or an offer or intention to make an offer to buy or sell any financial instrument or to participate in any particular investment strategy. This marketing communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to the public in any jurisdiction where AMINA is not authorised to acquire, dispose of or engage in any product. Certain products and services may not be available to all clients based on legal and regulatory considerations.
About AMINA — Crypto. Banking. Simplified.
Founded in April 2018 and established in Zug (Switzerland), AMINA Bank AG is a pioneer in the crypto banking industry. In August 2019, AMINA Bank AG received the Swiss Banking and Securities Dealer License from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”). In February 2022, AMINA Bank AG, Abu Dhabi Global Markets (“ADGM”) Branch received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) of ADGM. In November 2023, AMINA (Hong Kong) Limited received its Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”). In October 2025, the firm’s Type 1 license was further approved for uplift to include digital asset dealing services for Professional Investors under Hong Kong’s digital asset regulatory framework. In October 2025, AMINA (Austria) AG (“AMINA EU”) received its CASP license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (“FMA”) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCAR) framework.
CVVC Global Report and CB Insights named AMINA as one of the Top 50 Companies within the blockchain ecosystem. In 2025, AMINA won ‘Institutional Digital Asset Innovation of the Year’ at the Hedgeweek® Global Digital Assets Awards 2025. AMINA was most recently recognised as ‘Best Digital Challenger — Private Banks’ by FT Live’s PWM Wealth Tech Awards.
To learn more about AMINA, visit www.aminagroup.com
About Mesh
Founded in 2020, Mesh is building the first global crypto payments network, connecting hundreds of exchanges, wallets, and financial services platforms to enable seamless digital asset payments and conversions. By unifying these platforms into a single network, Mesh is pioneering a connected, and secure ecosystem for digital finance. For more information, visit www.meshpay.com
AMINA is the first regulated bank on Mesh.
