Relai review
Relai is the best pick for Europeans who want bitcoin delivered straight to their own keys: a Swiss bitcoin-only app with SEPA purchases, self-custody by default, and a MiCA license from France's AMF that passports across the EEA.
Founded in Zurich in 2020, Relai's core idea is that the app should not hold your bitcoin. By default, purchases settle to a wallet whose keys live on your phone, not on Relai's servers, which removes the exchange-failure risk that has burned so many crypto customers. Buying runs on SEPA rails, including instant transfers, and fees run around 1 percent depending on volume and tier.
Regulation is the other differentiator. France's Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) granted Relai a MiCA crypto-asset service provider authorization in October 2025, which passports across EEA countries. That matters because MiCA's grandfathering deadline of July 1, 2026 forced unauthorized platforms out of the EU entirely; Relai is on the right side of that cut, which makes it a natural home for users displaced by exits like Luno's.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Fees
- Around 1 percent per purchase, varying by volume and tier.
- KYC
- Required
- Payment methods
- SEPA bank transfer, SEPA Instant transfer
- Status
- Operating
Pros and cons
What works
- Self-custody by default: bitcoin lands in a wallet whose keys you hold, not Relai
- MiCA authorization from France's AMF (October 2025), passporting across the EEA
- SEPA and SEPA Instant purchases from any European bank account
- Bitcoin-only, with no token listings or yield products attached
What to watch
- Fees around 1 percent are higher than pro-exchange trading rates
- Self-custody by default means you are responsible for backing up your own keys
- Built for Europe; little reason to use it from outside Switzerland and the EEA
Fees in detail
- spread note
- Pricing is a per-purchase fee around 1 percent depending on volume and tier, not a maker and taker schedule.
- deposit note
- Purchases run on SEPA and SEPA Instant bank transfers.
Where we recommend Relai
Countries where Relai ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Reunion
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Frequently asked questions
Is Relai regulated?
Yes. Relai is regulated in Switzerland, and France's AMF granted it a MiCA crypto-asset service provider authorization in October 2025, which passports across EEA countries.
Does Relai hold my bitcoin?
By default, no. Purchases settle to a self-custodial wallet on your phone, so you hold the keys. That also means you are responsible for backing up your recovery phrase.
What does Relai charge?
Fees run around 1 percent per purchase, varying with volume and tier. The current schedule is published in the app.
Can I use Relai outside Europe?
Relai is built for Switzerland and the EEA, with purchases running on SEPA bank rails. It is not aimed at users outside Europe.