Strike review
Strike is the best app for people who want to buy bitcoin and actually use it: it is built on the Lightning Network, so payments settle instantly, and Strike adds no fee of its own on transfers.
Founded by Jack Mallers, Strike treats bitcoin as a payments network first. You can buy bitcoin in the app, send it over Lightning or on-chain, and move money across borders in over 100 countries. Purchases carry a fee that Strike shows before you confirm; it varies by market and purchase size rather than following one flat public rate.
The design is deliberately bitcoin-first. There is no altcoin menu; the one addition is USDT (Tether), which Strike supports for transfers to give users in weak-currency countries a dollar option. Balances are custodial while they sit in the app, so treat Strike as an on-ramp and payments tool: withdraw long-term holdings to your own wallet, which Strike supports over both Lightning and on-chain.
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois, US
- Fees
- No added fee on sending bitcoin or money transfers; buying bitcoin carries a fee shown before you confirm, varying by market and purchase size.
- KYC
- Required
- Payment methods
- Bank transfer (rails vary by country)
- Status
- Operating
Pros and cons
What works
- No added Strike fee on sending bitcoin or money transfers, and Lightning settlement is instant
- Available in over 100 countries, one of the widest footprints of any bitcoin app
- Bitcoin-first design without an altcoin casino attached
- Withdraw to self-custody over Lightning or on-chain
What to watch
- Custodial while funds sit in the app, so it is not a place to store savings
- Purchase fees vary by market and size rather than one flat published rate, which makes comparison harder
- Feature availability differs by country; not every market gets the full product
Fees in detail
- spread note
- Purchase pricing is shown upfront in the app; there is no single flat public rate across markets.
- withdrawal note
- Withdrawals to your own wallet are supported over Lightning and on-chain.
Where we recommend Strike
Countries where Strike ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.
Frequently asked questions
Is Strike bitcoin-only?
Almost. The product is built entirely around bitcoin and the Lightning Network, with one exception: it supports USDT (Tether) transfers as a dollar option. There is no altcoin trading.
What does Strike charge?
Strike adds no fee of its own on transfers. Buying bitcoin carries a fee shown before you confirm, which varies by market and purchase size.
Which countries does Strike work in?
Strike is available in over 100 countries. Features vary by market, so check the app for what is offered where you live.
Who founded Strike?
Jack Mallers, who remains its chief executive and one of the most visible advocates of the Lightning Network.
Is Strike custodial?
Balances held in the app are custodial. You can withdraw to your own wallet at any time over Lightning or on-chain.