Bitstamp
Founded 2011 by Nejc Kodrič & Damijan Merlak
Europe's oldest crypto exchange — 14 years of rock-solid reliability and trust.
Quick Overview
What is Bitstamp?
Bitstamp is Europe's oldest cryptocurrency exchange, founded in 2011 by Nejc Kodrič and Damijan Merlak in Slovenia. It was created as a European alternative to Mt. Gox, which at the time was the dominant (and ultimately disastrous) Bitcoin exchange.
Bitstamp's approach has always been quality over quantity. Rather than listing thousands of speculative tokens, they carefully curate around 80 established cryptocurrencies, focusing on assets that meet their listing standards. This conservative approach appeals to users who prefer safety over novelty.
The exchange is fully regulated in Luxembourg under the EU's financial framework — one of the first crypto exchanges to achieve this. This means they comply with all EU anti-money laundering regulations and provide the legal protections that come with EU oversight.
In 2023, Bitstamp was acquired by Ripple, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency. This move gave Bitstamp additional resources while maintaining its independent operation. Under new CEO JB Graftieaux, the exchange has modernized while keeping its reliability-first ethos.
For European users, Bitstamp offers free SEPA deposits — making it one of the cheapest ways to get euros into crypto. The 30-day zero-fee trading promotion for new users is especially generous and lets you try the platform with no cost.
Important to know: Bitstamp suffered a $5 million hack in 2015, which led them to completely rebuild their security infrastructure with BitGo institutional custody. Since then, they've had zero security incidents — showing that they learned from the experience and came back stronger. The exchange does not offer advanced features like futures, margin, or copy trading.
Bitstamp Bonuses & Promotions
Current offers available to new and existing users.
Zero Fee Trading
New users get 30 days of zero-fee trading on Bitstamp when they sign up.
No limits on volume during the promotional period.
Referral Program
Earn $20 for each friend who signs up and trades $100+.
Clean, straightforward referral program.
Staking Rewards
Earn competitive APY on supported staking assets.
Rates vary by asset. ETH staking typically 3-4% APY.
Volume Discounts
Progressive fee discounts starting at $10K monthly volume.
Fees decrease to as low as 0.00% maker / 0.03% taker.
Products & Features
Everything Bitstamp offers — from simple buying to advanced trading.
Spot Trading
Trade 80+ established crypto with professional tools and order books.
Instant Buy/Sell
Simple buy/sell for beginners — no order book knowledge needed.
Staking
Earn rewards on ETH, ALGO, and other proof-of-stake assets.
Bitstamp Earn
Lending products for earning yield on your crypto holdings.
Bitstamp Pro
Advanced trading interface with charts, indicators, and order types.
Institutional Services
White-label exchange, custody, and OTC for businesses.
Recurring Buys
Set up automatic DCA purchases on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.
API Trading
Professional-grade API for algorithmic trading and integration.
Portfolio Tracker
Track your crypto portfolio performance with detailed analytics.
Bitstamp Fees
Maker Fee
0.30%
Standard tier (30-day volume < $10K)
Taker Fee
0.40%
Standard tier (30-day volume < $10K)
New User Promo
0%
30 days of zero-fee trading
SEPA/ACH Deposit
Free
Bank transfers at zero cost
Card Purchase
5%
Credit/debit card purchases
SEPA Withdrawal
€3
Low-cost European withdrawal
Security & Safety
Bitstamp is one of the most security-conscious exchanges in the world. Operating since 2011, they are fully regulated in Luxembourg under the EU's financial framework. After a $5 million hack in 2015, they completely rebuilt their security from the ground up with BitGo custody — and have had zero incidents since.
Payment Methods
Pros & Cons
Pros
- + One of the oldest exchanges (2011) — 14 years of reliability
- + EU regulated (Luxembourg) — full legal compliance
- + Available in both the US and EU
- + Excellent fiat on/off ramp — free SEPA and ACH deposits
- + 30 days of zero-fee trading for new users
- + Clean, no-nonsense interface
- + Strong institutional services and reputation
- + BitGo custody — institutional-grade security
- + Recurring buys for easy dollar-cost averaging
Cons
- − Smaller coin selection (80+) than competitors
- − Higher standard fees (0.30%/0.40%) than Binance/OKX
- − No futures, margin, or leverage trading
- − No copy trading or trading bots
- − Less innovative — fewer products than competitors
- − Mobile app is functional but basic
- − 5% fee for card purchases is high
Bitstamp Timeline
Founded by Nejc Kodrič and Damijan Merlak in Slovenia as an alternative to Mt. Gox.
Moved operations to the UK. Became the largest Bitcoin exchange in Europe by volume.
Suffered a $5 million hack. Rebuilt security from scratch with BitGo custody. Moved to Luxembourg.
Received Luxembourg payment institution license — one of the first regulated crypto exchanges in the EU.
Acquired by Belgian investment firm NXMH for an undisclosed amount (estimated $400M).
Strong growth during bull market. Maintained reputation as the "safe choice" in Europe.
JB Graftieaux became CEO. Acquired by Ripple's parent company for an undisclosed sum.
Expanded under Ripple ownership. Added more coins and features while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Reached 5M+ users. Continues as Europe's most trusted and regulated exchange.
Our Verdict
Bitstamp is the "boring but reliable" choice — and that's a compliment. In an industry full of scandals and quick-money platforms, Bitstamp has quietly operated for 14 years with EU regulation, institutional-grade security, and a clean track record. The coin selection is smaller and fees higher than aggressive competitors, but you're paying for rock-solid reliability and full regulatory compliance. The 30-day zero-fee promotion for new users is excellent. If you're in Europe and want a regulated, trustworthy exchange for buying major cryptocurrencies, Bitstamp is hard to beat.