Overview
Finst is an Amsterdam-based crypto exchange founded in 2022 by Julien Vallet and Marcel Putina — both ex-DEGIRO. The platform targets cost-conscious Dutch retail investors with a single flat fee of 0.15% and 340+ crypto assets. Finst has held a MiCA licence from the Dutch AFM since July 2025.
Licences and regulation
- MiCA: Netherlands (AFM), since July 2025 — licence number 41000015
- MiFID II: no — no perpetuals or derivatives
- Payment Institution: no — via banking partners
- DNB fine: none — clean track record
Products
| Product | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Spot crypto | Live | 340+ assets, EUR |
| Perpetuals | No | Not supported |
| Tokenised stocks | No | Not supported |
| SEPA/iDEAL | Live | Direct EUR |
| Staking | Live | Selected assets |
Fees
- Flat fee: 0.15% for everyone (maker = taker), no tiers — on paper cheaper than Bitvavo's 0.25% base fee
- Finst advertises best execution without hidden spread markups
- Note: according to users, crypto withdrawal fees exceed actual network costs, and Finst publishes no fixed withdrawal fee list — you only see them when confirming a transaction
Yield and capital efficiency
No yield on cash balances; staking available for selected assets; no cross collateral or unified wallet (no derivatives).
Proof of Reserves
No public cryptographic PoR programme known (July 2026). Client assets are segregated per MiCA requirements.
Track record
No DNB fine. Founded 2022, MiCA since July 2025, founders with a DEGIRO (execution-focused) background.
Pros / cons
Pros:
- Lowest flat fee among Dutch platforms (0.15%)
- MiCA-licensed via the AFM
- Dutch language, iDEAL and SEPA
- 340+ assets, simple interface
- Clean regulatory record
Cons:
- No perpetuals, derivatives or stocks
- No yield on cash balances
- Withdrawal fees not transparently published
- No advanced trading features
- Younger platform (2022)
Best suited for
Cost-conscious Dutch retail investors, DCA purchases, anyone seeking a cheaper Bitvavo alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is Finst cheaper than Bitvavo?
On the trading fee yes: a flat 0.15% versus 0.25% base at Bitvavo. Do compare total costs including withdrawal fees.
Is Finst safe?
Finst is MiCA-licensed via the AFM (no. 41000015) and must segregate client assets. It publishes no cryptographic Proof of Reserves.
Can I trade perpetuals or stocks on Finst?
No — Finst is spot-only.