Introduction
Bitvavo and Finst are both Dutch, both AFM-licensed and both aimed at retail investors who buy in euros. Bitvavo is larger, Finst is cheaper and simpler. Data as at August 2026.
Which one for whom?
| Topic | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | Finst | A flat 0.15% for maker and taker against 0.15% / 0.25%. |
| Spread | It depends | Only Bitvavo measured (~0.11% on USDC). For Finst we have no measurement. |
| Safety and supervision | Bitvavo | Both AFM-licensed and without a filing, but Finst publishes no proof of reserves. |
| Products | Bitvavo | More coins and margin up to 5x; Finst deliberately keeps the list short. |
| Yield on collateral | Neither | At both of them staking is a separate choice alongside trading. |
| Ease of use | Bitvavo | Pro mode, TradingView and a FIX API since April 2026. Finst has three order types and no API, but it does have phone support. |
Finst for anyone who wants a flat rate without surprises and is happy with the major coins. Bitvavo for anyone who wants more choice or values a published reserve attestation.
Head to head
| Bitvavo | Finst | |
|---|---|---|
| Licences | MiCA (AFM Netherlands) | MiCA (AFM Netherlands, 24 July 2025) |
| Entity | Bitvavo B.V. (NL) | Finst (DVAM B.V.), Netherlands |
| Operating since | 2018 | 2022 |
| Spot fees (entry tier, maker/taker) | 0.15% / 0.25% (EUR pairs) | Flat 0.15% maker and taker |
| Perpetuals | No | No |
| Currencies | EUR and USD | EUR pairs only |
| Capital efficiency | Staking, separate from trading | Staking, separate from trading |
| Proof of reserves | Quarterly | Not published |
| Hack and loss history | €280m Genesis exposure in 2022, customers fully compensated | None |
| Enforcement history | No enforcement record | No enforcement record |
| Exchange score | 6.0 / 10 | 5.9 / 10 |
How the scores are built
Bitvavo scores 6.0 / 10, Finst scores 5.9 / 10. Supervision and safety of funds together account for half the score; the rest sits in products, costs and yield. The full weighting is set out in our methodology.
Costs
Bitvavo starts at 0.15%/0.25% on EUR pairs and comes down per volume tier; on USDC pairs about 0.11 percent spread mark-up comes on top. Finst charges one flat rate of 0.15 percent for maker and taker and claims it adds no spread on top. So for a taker order Finst is cheaper, for a maker order they are equal, and at large volume Bitvavo wins.
Spread
At Bitvavo we measured a spread of around 0.11% on the conversion into USDC. For Finst we have no spread measurement. What colours the picture: Finst charges a flat rate of 0.15% for both maker and taker, Bitvavo 0.15%/0.25% on the euro pairs. On small amounts the spread determines more of your end result than that difference does. Method in our spread measurement.
Safety and supervision
Both are MiCA-licensed with the AFM and neither has a filing with a regulator. The difference is in what they publish: Bitvavo delivers a quarterly proof-of-reserves attestation, Finst publishes none. Against that, Bitvavo had exposure to Genesis in 2022 that locked up €280m of lent-out customer funds; that was fully compensated later.
Products
Both spot only, both with staking. Bitvavo has considerably more coins and also offers margin up to 5x; Finst deliberately keeps it small.
Yield on collateral
A draw: at both of them staking is a separate choice alongside trading, and at both collateral does not earn — which makes sense, because neither offers perpetuals. The difference is in the range: Bitvavo has considerably more coins to stake, Finst deliberately keeps the list short. Anyone looking for yield on collateral has to look beyond these two; the yield-on-collateral comparison shows where it is possible.
Ease of use
Two Dutch companies, two different choices. Bitvavo has more tools: six languages, a Pro mode with TradingView, stop-limit and OCO, Convert from €5, recurring purchases, and a FIX API since April 2026. Finst keeps it small: three order types, no API trading for retail customers, but it does have Dutch-language phone support on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 and an account that it says is open in five minutes. Bitvavo is reachable daily from 07:00 to 23:00, Finst only on weekdays.
Frequently asked questions
Is Finst's flat 0.15% really all of it?
Finst claims it adds no extra spread on top of the rate. We take that claim as published; on a large order, always check the executed rate.
Why does Finst not publish proof of reserves?
Finst simply does not do it. In our score that costs points on the safety pillar, whatever the reason.
Are both equally well regulated?
Both hold a MiCA licence from the AFM and may offer crypto services across the EEA. Neither has MiFID II, so neither may offer derivatives.