Bitvavo

Who is behind Bitvavo?

Bitvavo is a crypto exchange from Amsterdam, founded in 2018, with more than 400 crypto assets on offer.^[1] You buy Bitcoin through an order bookGlossaryOrder bookA list of all open buy and sell orders for a trading pair such as BTC/USD, sorted by price. The price forms between the highest bid and the lowest ask.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 1 – Ways to get Bitcoin →In the glossary →×, in the app or on the web. You can open an account if you live in a supported country in the SEPA area. Bitvavo’s list names 23 EU countries plus Norway, for example Germany, Austria, France and Ireland; Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Cyprus and Switzerland are not on it.^[2] For the UK, Bitvavo runs a separate platform in pounds sterling that needs its own registration; this profile covers the euro platform.^[3],[4]

Since 26 June 2025, Bitvavo B.V. has been authorised by the Dutch regulator AFM as a crypto-asset service provider (CASPGlossaryCASP (crypto-asset service provider)A company that professionally provides crypto-asset services to customers – such as trading, exchange, custody or transfers. In the EU, every CASP needs an authorisation under MiCA.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →×) under MiCAGlossaryMiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation)The EU regulation on markets in crypto-assets. Since 30 December 2024, exchanges, brokers and custodians in the EU have needed authorisation; the last transitional period ended on 1 July 2026. MiCA regulates providers, not Bitcoin itself.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →×, with passporting to Germany, Austria and the rest of the EEA.^[5] What such a licence means is explained in MiCA & regulation.

Costs (as of September 2026)

• Trading fee: with a 30-day volume below €100,000, 0.25% as a taker (for example with a market orderGlossaryMarket orderAn order that is executed immediately at the best available price in the order book. You get speed but no price guarantee: with large amounts, the price can differ from the last price shown.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →×) and 0.15% as a maker (for example with a limit orderGlossaryLimit orderA buy or sell order with a price limit: it is only executed at your price or better. That secures the price, but not the execution – the market may never get there.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →× that is not executed immediately); the rates fall as your volume rises.^[6],[7]
• Price guarantee: with this optional order type, the price shown is fixed for up to 5 seconds; in return, a spreadGlossarySpread (bid-ask spread)The difference between the buy and sell price. With many apps, the spread is the real fee – it just doesn’t appear as a separate item on your statement.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →× is added.^[8]
• Savings planTermSavings plan (Bitcoin savings plan)Automatically buying bitcoin at fixed intervals with a fixed amount, for example $50 a month.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 4 – Setting up a savings plan →In the glossary →AdLicensed providers with a paid linkProviders from our comparison21bitcoinBitcoin app · MiCA (FMA, Austria)No paid link for your country · Profile →RelaiBitcoin app · MiCA (AMF, France)No paid link for your country · Profile →BISONExchange · MiCA (BaFin, Germany)No paid link for your country · Profile →All 11 compared – including non-partners →*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →18+ · Crypto assets are highly volatile; you could lose all your money. No deposit protection.× (app only): daily, weekly, every two weeks or monthly; the taker fee applies. Orders are executed at a random time on the day you choose.^[9]
• Deposits: no fee via SEPA; by credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay 1%, by PayPal 2%. Which methods you can use depends on your country.^{[10],[11],[2]}
• Bitcoin to your own wallet: 0.000017 BTC (1,700 sats); when the blockchain is busy, the fee can rise considerably.^[6],[12]

Example: if you buy $1,000 of bitcoin with a market order, you pay $2.50 in trading fees; the fee applies again when you sell (the percentage is the same in euros). What to look out for with fees is explained in Understanding fees.

Custody and withdrawal

While your bitcoin are held at Bitvavo, the exchangeTermExchange (crypto exchange)A trading platform where buyers and sellers trade bitcoin with each other via an order book.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →AdLicensed providers with a paid linkProviders from our comparisonKrakenExchange · MiCA (Central Bank of Ireland)Visit Kraken* (paid link, opens in a new window)BitvavoExchange · MiCA (AFM, Netherlands)Visit Bitvavo* (paid link, opens in a new window)CoinbaseExchange · MiCA (CSSF, Luxembourg)Visit Coinbase* (paid link, opens in a new window)All 7 compared – including non-partners →*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →18+ · Crypto assets are highly volatile; you could lose all your money. No deposit protection.× is your custodianGlossaryCustodian (custodial)A provider such as an exchange or app that holds the private keys for you. Convenient, because support can help if you lose your password – but you don’t hold the bitcoin yourself and depend on the provider paying out.On the learning path: Stage 5 · Step 1 – Understanding custody →In the glossary →×. You can withdraw them to your own wallet, but only on-chain: Bitvavo does not support the Lightning NetworkGlossaryLightning NetworkA second layer on top of Bitcoin for fast, low-cost payments. Amounts move off the blockchain via payment channels; only opening and closing a channel ends up in a block as a normal transaction.On the learning path: Stage 1 · Step 3 – How does Bitcoin work? →In the glossary →×.^[13] Bitvavo only enables crypto withdrawals once two-factor authenticationGlossaryTwo-factor authentication (2FA)Logging in with two independent proofs, such as a password plus a code from an authenticator app. For accounts with exchanges and Bitcoin apps, 2FA is a must – and SMS codes are the weakest option.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →× is switched on.^[14] Step by step: Your first withdrawal to your own wallet.

Criticism: the Genesis case and lending

At the end of 2022 it emerged that Bitvavo had lent €280 million to the US crypto lender Genesis in order to offer customers interest on crypto assets. Genesis had halted withdrawals after the collapse of FTX. Bitvavo said customers were not affected and could withdraw at any time.^[15] Bitvavo wrote off €55 million at the end of 2022; by December 2024 it had recovered more than 95% of the remaining claim.^[16]

Today Bitvavo offers lending as an option you switch on yourself – including for Bitcoin. The service is run by Bitvavo Custody B.V., which according to Bitvavo is not licensed under MiCA, so certain safeguards may not apply.^[17]