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Bitstamp vs Relai

Comparing
two exchanges
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-12
Bitstamp4.3

One of the oldest bitcoin exchanges, now owned by Robinhood and powering its UK and institutional crypto rails.

Relai4.5Bitcoin-only

Swiss bitcoin-only app with SEPA instant buys, self-custody by default, and a MiCA license covering the EEA.

Verdict: Relai

Relai rates higher on our rubric: 4.5 against 4.3 for Bitstamp.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Bitstamp
4.3
Relai
4.5

Bitstamp and Relai, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

Bitstamp and Relai compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactBitstampRelai
Editorial rating4.34.5 (favoured on this row)
Published feesMaker-taker, falls with volumeAround 1% per purchase
Maker feeNot publishedNot published
Taker feeNot publishedNot published
Identity verificationRequiredRequired
Bitcoin-onlyNoYes
Payment rails supported36
Countries ranked in3139
Ranks first in011
Countries shared3030
Security record12 dated events, 2 incidents, latest 2026-02-06No record on file
Founded20112020
HeadquartersLuxembourgZurich, Switzerland
Last reviewed2026-08-122026-08-12

Where both Bitstamp and Relai are ranked

Each country guide ranks its own roster on published fees, security record and local payment support, so the two can sit in a different order from one country to the next.

Countries whose guide ranks both Bitstamp and Relai, with each platform's position in that guide.
CountryStatusBitstamp ranksRelai ranksComparison
AustriaLegal#6#3Best exchanges there
BelgiumLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
BulgariaLegal#6#4
CroatiaLegal#6#4
CyprusLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
Czech RepublicLegal#6#4
DenmarkLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
EstoniaLegal#6#2
FinlandLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
FranceLegal#6#2
GermanyLegal#6#3Best exchanges there
GreeceLegal#6#2
HungaryLegal#6#4
IcelandLegal#5#1Best exchanges there
IrelandLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
ItalyLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
LatviaLegal#6#2
LiechtensteinLegal#5#2
LithuaniaLegal#6#2
LuxembourgLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
MaltaLegal#6#2
NetherlandsLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
NorwayLegal#5#1Best exchanges there
PolandLegal#6#4Best exchanges there
PortugalLegal#6#2
RomaniaLegal#6#4
SlovakiaLegal#6#4
SloveniaLegal#6#4
SpainLegal#6#2Best exchanges there
SwedenLegal#6#2Best exchanges there

Security records of the exchanges ranked in this comparison

Dated events from each review, newest first: breaches, enforcement actions, licences, audits and proof-of-reserves publications. 1 of the 2 carry no dated record on our reviews yet.

Bitstamp12 events

  1. 2026-02-06Licence

    Virtual asset service provider registration in the British Virgin Islands

  2. 2025-07-03Licence

    Major payment institution licence granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore

  3. 2025-06-26Enforcement

    French appeal court holds Bitstamp Europe liable for serving France without AMF registration

The full record, with sources, in the Bitstamp review

Frequently asked questions

Is Bitstamp or Relai better?

Relai rates higher on our rubric: 4.5 against 4.3 for Bitstamp. The rating weighs published fees, security record and local payment support; the table above sets each beside the other so you can check the score against the facts.

Which is cheaper, Bitstamp or Relai?

Bitstamp: Maker-taker, falls with volume. Relai: Around 1% per purchase. Those are each platform's published headline rates; card purchases and instant-buy widgets cost more than the order book on both, and each review carries the full schedule.

Where can I use both Bitstamp and Relai?

Both are ranked in our guides for 30 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus. Bitstamp is ranked in 31 countries in all and Relai in 39; each country guide ranks its own roster, so the two can sit in a different order from one country to the next.

Has Bitstamp or Relai had a security incident?

Bitstamp carries 2 incidents among 12 dated events, the latest on 2015-01-04: 18,866 BTC drained from the hot wallet, worth 5.26 million dollars, customers repaid in full. Relai carries no dated security record on our review yet, a gap in our records rather than a clean bill. Both reviews list every event with its source.

Do Bitstamp and Relai require ID verification?

Bitstamp: required; identity verification is required before depositing or trading.. Relai: required; identity verification is required, in line with Relai's Swiss and EU regulatory obligations..

The full reviews: Bitstamp and Relai, each with its sources, and every exchange we review.

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