How to buy bitcoin in Reunion
- Status
- Legal
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Recommended
- 4 exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-12
Reunion buys bitcoin under the full French and EU rulebook: as an overseas department it is part of the European Union, so the MiCA regulation applies exactly as in Paris, and our picks match mainland France, Relai first for bitcoin-only simplicity with self-custody by default, then Kraken for low-fee trading, with Coinbase the beginner-friendly alternative. Every local bank account can fund a purchase by SEPA transfer in euros, usually free, and cards work for faster top-ups. The AMF supervises crypto-asset service providers for France, and only MiCA-authorized platforms may serve customers since the national transition closed on July 1, 2026. French tax rules on digital asset gains apply on the island unchanged.
Best exchanges in Reunion
Ranked by our editorial review of fees, security record, and local payment support. Rankings are never sold.
| # | Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Pay with | Visit or read the review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Relai | 4.5Bitcoin-only | Around 1% per purchase | Required | Visit | |
| 2 | Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 3 | Coinbase | 4.5 | Maker-taker on Advanced Trade | Required | Visit | |
| 4 | CEX.IO | 4.0 | Maker-taker; card costs more | Required | Visit |
Why these picks
1. Relai Swiss bitcoin-only app with SEPA instant buys, self-custody by default, and a MiCA license covering the EEA.
2. Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
3. Coinbase The easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
4. CEX.IO A card-friendly exchange licensed across most of the US, but currently closed to deposits and trading in Europe.
Payment methods in Reunion
The rails local buyers actually use, under their local names. Support varies by exchange; the list above shows exactly which methods each one takes here.
- SEPA transferPrimary
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Crypto cards available in Reunion
These spend money at ordinary shops and pay you back in crypto, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those buy bitcoin, these do not. Availability is the issuer's own published coverage.
Bitcoin wallets available in Reunion
A wallet is where bitcoin lives after you buy it, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those sell it, these hold it. Availability below is the maker's own published shipping or eligibility policy.
Hardware devices
- Ledger Flex$249The Ledger to buy if you want a touchscreen: $249, the same certified chip as the Stax, and more screen pixels than it.
- Ledger Nano S Plus$59Ledger's $59 entry device: the same certified secure element as the $399 Stax, no Bluetooth, and no iPhone support at all.
- Ledger Nano X$79The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.
- Ledger Stax$399Ledger's $399 flagship, with the biggest screen it sells and exactly the same secure element as the $59 Nano S Plus.
- Tangem Wallet$59.9A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.
Desktop and browser
Compare every wallet, including the ones we tell you not to buy
Watch: how to choose an exchange
This is our general video rather than a walkthrough for Reunion. It shows the method in two steps: first the country you are buying in, then the exchange. You have done step one by being here, so start from the exchanges ranked above.
We have not filmed a walkthrough for Reunion yet, so this is our general one, from our YouTube channel @dontgetrekt. It also sits on the home page, next to the country search it starts from.
Do you need a VPN?
A VPN hides which sites you visit from the network you are on and from your internet provider, which is worth having when you move money over a connection you do not control. It does not get you past an exchange's identity checks: every platform we list verifies who you are no matter where you connect from.
If you want one, the strongest records on our list belong to NordVPN (6 independent no-logs audits, the most of any service we review), Windscribe (its no-logs claim tested in the real world 3 times) and Proton VPN (the most audited service with a free tier).
Buying bitcoin in Reunion, start to finish
Pick a platform and verify your identity
Choose from the table above and complete KYC verification with a photo ID. Regulated platforms in Reunion require this before you can deposit.
Fund your account with SEPA transfer
Common options here: SEPA transfer, credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest; cards are faster but add fees.
Buy, then decide where to keep it
Place your order, and for anything more than pocket money consider moving it to a hardware wallet you control. Our security guide covers the habits that keep coins safe.
Legal status and regulation in Reunion
Bitcoin is fully legal in Reunion, an overseas department of France and part of the European Union. Platforms serve the island under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA), supervised in France by the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and since July 1, 2026 only MiCA-authorized providers may offer crypto services to French customers. French tax law applies, so individuals declare digital asset gains exactly as in mainland France.
Words worth knowing before you buy in Reunion
Picked from what this page already says about Reunion, not from a standard list.
- Recurring buySEPA bank transferA recurring buy is the exchange feature that executes a purchase for you on a schedule, pulling money from your bank on the day you picked without you logging in.
- Maker and taker fees4 venues to compareMaker and taker fees are the two prices an exchange charges for a trade: less if your order waits in the book, more if it takes an existing order out.
Frequently asked questions
Is bitcoin legal in Reunion?
Yes, fully. Reunion is an overseas department of France and part of the EU, so the MiCA regulation governs crypto platforms, supervised in France by the AMF. Anything legal in mainland France is legal on the island.
Do mainland French platforms work in Reunion?
Yes, identically. A MiCA-authorized platform serving France serves Reunion on the same terms, with euro deposits by SEPA transfer from any local bank. There is no separate island regime to worry about.
How are bitcoin gains taxed in Reunion?
Under French law: occasional capital gains on digital assets fall under the 30 percent flat tax, declared with your French tax return, exactly as in mainland France. Frequent professional-style trading can be taxed differently.
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin in Reunion?
Fund by SEPA transfer, which is free or nearly free from local banks, and buy on the platform's advanced interface rather than the instant-buy screen. Cards are quicker but add several percent in fees.
