Introduction
Buying and selling spot crypto is possible at dozens of MiCA-licensed exchanges. The differences are not in what you can buy, but in what it truly costs — and how easily your euros move in and out.
Only MiCA-licensed exchanges
Since 1 July 2026, only MiCA-licensed venues may offer spot crypto to EU users. We compare only that group — see Which exchanges hold MiCA?.
Fees vs spread: where the real difference sits
Retail platforms often advertise low or "no" fees while packaging costs into the spread. From our monitoring: BTC/EUR spreads run from ~0.01-0.05% at large EU exchanges to ~0.11% at retail-focused Dutch platforms. On a €10,000 purchase that is €1 versus €11 — per transaction, invisible on your statement.
EUR rails: SEPA, iDEAL and conversion costs
- SEPA: almost always free, 1-2 business days
- iDEAL: instant, sometimes 0.5-1.5% fee
- Card: instant, expensive (2-3.5%)
Watch the exit too: some platforms charge conversion spreads between USDC and EUR. For larger amounts, venues with direct EUR order books or their own PSD2 and EMI explained licence are cheaper.
Range: how many assets do you really need?
Exchanges boast "350+ assets", but the vast majority of volume sits in a dozen coins. Choose on costs and reliability, not catalogue size — unless you specifically trade small caps.
Retail vs pro platforms
Retail platforms (local language, iDEAL, simple UI) are fine for small periodic purchases. From roughly €1,000 per transaction the higher spreads outweigh the convenience and a pro platform pays off.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin?
A large MiCA-licensed exchange + SEPA deposit + limit order. See Spot BTC/EUR comparison.
Is a more expensive exchange safer?
No. Safety follows from licences, segregation and Proof of Reserves explained — not price.