Do you live in Europe and are you on the lookout for a practical and safe way to buy bitcoin? Meet Relai, an application that simplifies the process of buying and selling bitcoin. It even allows the use of a credit card for transactions.
Besides, in addition to offering several options for acquiring Bitcoin, Relai stands out for having its own self-custodial wallet. This means that ownership of the private keys is in the hands of the users, guaranteeing greater security and total control over their funds – an important differentiator in a market where trust is essential.
Well, in this article, you’ll get to know Relai, how it works and the main features that make it a great choice for those who are in Europe and want to start or continue their journey in the Bitcoin universe.
Let’s go!
What is Relai?
Relai is a company focused on Bitcoin solutions. It was founded in 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland, by bitcoiners Julian Liniger and Adem Bilican.
What is their goal?
Relai’s goal is to make buying and selling bitcoin easier for everyone – even those who have never bought bitcoin before.
Five years might not seem like much, but Relai has already built up a significant track record in the market. So far, it has handled more than 500 million dollars in deals and, in 2024, it was recognized as one of the fastest growing startups in Europe.
As we can see, the company’s growth has been truly impressive.
By 2024, it had reached 400,000 downloads of the app and was awarded “Best Cryptocurrency Company” by Swiss Crypto Awards. This only reinforces what we already know: when the focus is on making Bitcoin easier to use, things really do happen.
Oh, it’s also worth mentioning that Relai is not available outside Europe. The app can’t even be found for downloading. Therefore, this is an exclusive service for those living in Europe.
So, if you’re in Europe, you can access it in the following countries:
- Austria,
- Belgium,
- Czech Republic,
- Denmark, Estonia,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Hungary,
- Italy,
- Luxembourg,
- Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Poland,
- Portugal,
- Slovakia,
- Slovenia,
- Spain,
- Sweden
- and Switzerland.
Well, now that you know more about Relai’s history and its main objective, let’s understand the main features of this platform.
Relai’s main features
The application has several interesting features that make it stand out in the market, such as:
- User-friendly interface: the application has been designed to be easy to use, even for beginners. Therefore, any user can easily buy or sell bitcoin in a few clicks.
- Integrated non-custodial wallet: As we saw at the beginning of this article, Relai offers an integrated Bitcoin wallet, which improves usability for many users by eliminating the need for multiple applications. In addition, the wallet is autonomous and non-custodial, that is, the user is solely responsible for the private keys and can transfer Bitcoin from one address to another at any time.
- Recurring DCA: the app also allows users to set up automatic Bitcoin purchases at regular intervals (DCA – Dollar Cost Averaging) with lower fees.
- One zero-fee purchase: this feature allows users to make one Bitcoin purchase per month without paying any fees, as long as the amount does not exceed 100 EUR/CHF.
- Solid regulation: Being based in Switzerland, Relai operates within a solid regulatory environment recognized for its stability and security.
- Payment methods: through the app you can buy Bitcoin in a variety of ways, whether by bank transfer, credit card or even Apple Pay.
- Lightning Network: the application also has self-custodial integration with Lightning Network, enabling instant transactions with low fees. Super cool, right? This is a real differentiator, as few Bitcoin-only platforms have this functionality integrated.
Resources for all types of bitcoiners
But what if I’m an experienced user? Is Relai still worth using? Yes! Although the app was created to cater for novice users who want to buy or sell Bitcoin, the company has also developed a business model aimed at different user profiles, offering personalized services according to their needs.
On their site, you can visualize these categories of services, which are:
- App,
- Private,
- and Business.
Let’s understand how each category works!
1. Relai App: Simplicity for those starting out
If you are taking your first steps in Bitcoin, the Relai App is the ideal solution to get started in a simple, practical and secure way.
With an intuitive design, the app was created so that anyone (anyone at all!) can buy Bitcoin without complications, even without any technical knowledge.
- Buy bitcoin in minutes: An easy-to-use application for acquiring bitcoin in an uncomplicated way.
- You’re in control: Unlike many other platforms, the Relai App puts you in charge. In other words, the bitcoin you buy goes straight into your wallet, where only you retain exclusive control of the private keys, guaranteeing greater security and financial sovereignty.
- Payments however you prefer: Make purchases via bank transfer, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Invest automatically: Set up a weekly or monthly automatic investment plan (DCA) and accumulate Bitcoin without worrying about currency fluctuations. This feature is ideal for those who want to invest gradually and minimize the impact of market volatility.
So, if you’re looking for practicality and autonomy, the Relai App is the perfect starting point for accumulating Bitcoin.
2. Relai Private: Exclusivity for experienced investors
Now, if you already understand the market and are looking to trade large volumes of Bitcoin (that is, more than CHF 100,000 or EUR 95,000 per year), Relai Private offers an exclusive and personalized service to meet your specific needs.
- High-value trades: large amounts of bitcoins bought and sold with total confidence and expert support.
- Personalized service: With Relai Private, you have access to a single point of contact who accompanies the entire buying and selling process, guaranteeing discretion, efficiency and a tailor-made experience.
This plan is more ideal for intermediate and advanced investors who value dedicated support and personalized operations.
3. Relai Business: Bitcoin for your business
On the other hand, Relai Business is the perfect solution for small and medium-sized companies that want to integrate Bitcoin into their balance sheet simply and quickly.
- Add Bitcoin to your business: invest in your company’s financial future by converting part of your capital to Bitcoin.
- Expert advice: Relai’s team offers detailed guidance at every stage in order for you to make informed decisions in line with your objectives.
- Fast and efficient: acquire Bitcoin for your company in less than 24 hours, without complications and with dedicated support.
Therefore, if you’re a company that believes in Bitcoin’s potential as a store of value, Relai Business can help you turn that vision into reality.
What are Relai’s fees?
Relai’s rates vary according to the profile you choose, as seen above. So let’s understand how the fees work in each case:
1. Relai App:
- Bitcoin purchase: 1% tax (becomes 0.9% if you use an invitation code);
- Credit card purchases: additional fee of 3% per transaction;
- Bitcoin sale: 1% (+ the variable rate of the on-chain network).
In addition, Relai offers a promotion where the first purchase of 100 CHF/EUR each month is free of charge, up to a total of 1,200 CHF/EUR per year.
The minimum amount to start a Bitcoin purchase is 50 CHF/EUR.
2. Relai Private
Relai Private has a tiered fee structure based on transaction volume. This way, the higher the purchase volume, the lower the fee.
These fees include the service, buying bitcoin and sending it to the wallet.
- Transactions from 100k-250k: 0,9%
- Transactions from 250k-500k: 0,8%
- Transactions from 500k-750k: 0,7%
- Transactions from 750k-1.0m: 0,6%
- Transactions from 1.0m-5.0m: 0,5%
- Transactions from 5.0m-10m: 0,4%
- Transactions from 10m-50m: 0,3%
- Transactions from 50m-100m: 0,2%
- Transactions over 100m: 0,1%
3. Relai Business
The same goes for Relai Business, with tiered rates. These fees also include the service, the bitcoin purchase and its remittance to the customer’s wallet.
- 0 – 100k: 2,0%
- 100k – 250k: 1,8%
- 250k – 500k: 1,6%
- 500k – 750k: 1,4%
- 750k – 1.0m: 1,2%
- 1.0m – 5.0m: 1,0%
- 5.0m – 10m: 0,8%
- 10m – 50m: 0,6%
- 50m – 100m: 0,4%
- 100m+: 0,2%
Pros and cons of Relai’s services
Now that we’ve given you an overview of Relai’s services, what would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of the platform? After all, not everything in life is perfect.
Advantages
- Easy and simple to use app
- Automatic purchase configuration
- Application that works as a self-custodial wallet
- Integration with the Lightning Network and self-custody
- The possibility of buying bitcoin with a credit card
- Transparent fees
Disadvantages
- Only available in some European Union countries
- Mandatory use of KYC
- Zero-rated purchase limited to 1,200 euros per year
Final thoughts on the app
If you’re in Europe and are looking for a simple and secure way to enter the Bitcoin world, Relai could be just what you need.
Crafted to make life easier for those who want to buy and sell Bitcoin, Relai offers an intuitive experience, allowing you to keep possession of your own private keys, that is, total control over your Bitcoin.
So imagine being able to buy Bitcoin in just a few clicks, directly from your cell phone, without bureaucracy and with total security.
Well, Relai makes it possible… With the added bonus of being able to make automatic purchases, set up investment plans and even get Bitcoin without fees on the first purchase of the month.
However, as we’ve seen, it’s not all flowers, and Relai is not yet available in all regions. But don’t worry! The company’s accelerated growth and the increasing adoption of Bitcoin worldwide indicate that Relai may expand to new locations soon.
Who knows, in the near future, non-European bitcoiners will also be able to take advantage of all the benefits Relai offers?
I hope you have enjoyed this article and that it has helped to clarify how this app works.
Keep reading and learning here: How to Buy Bitcoin via P2P
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Founder of Area Bitcoin, one of the largest Bitcoin education projects in the world, she is a marketer, passionate about technology, and a full-time hands-on professional. She has participated in major Bitcoin conferences such as Adopting Bitcoin, Satsconf, Surfin Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Conference.
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