BTC Direct Review

BTC Direct officially still exists and holds a MiCA licence. CryptoTips nevertheless considers the broker obsolete for new users. We provide no registration link and do not recommend the service.

The reason is straightforward. MyBTC charges trading fees of 1.5% to 3% and may add a spread of up to 1%. Network and payment method costs can increase the final price further. That is too expensive for a limited selection.

BTC Direct review summary

BTC Direct was founded in Nijmegen in 2013 and was an early provider of direct Bitcoin purchases using familiar European payment methods. The broker sends purchases to a personal wallet and handles several technical steps for the customer.

That simplicity once stood out. Regulated exchanges now offer wider selections, integrated wallets, withdrawals and much lower trading costs. BTC Direct retained an expensive brokerage model.

BTC Direct received a MiCA licence from the Dutch AFM on 18 June 2025. This improves its legal position, but does not make a transaction competitive.

Has BTC Direct stopped?

No, not in a legal or technical sense. The website remains active, new accounts are offered and the MiCA licence is valid. When we call BTC Direct discontinued, we mean it has no place in our current recommendations.

Existing customers may still use the service. New users are shown a cheaper alternative.

How BTC Direct works

1. Create an account and complete identity verification.
2. Select a supported cryptocurrency.
3. Enter the address of a personal wallet.
4. Select a payment method and review the quote.
5. Check the trading fee, spread, payment charge and network cost.
6. Confirm only if the total price is acceptable.

Direct delivery to a personal wallet is useful, but the customer must select the correct network and address. Blockchain transactions cannot normally be reversed.

BTC Direct fees

Buying or selling Bitcoin through MyBTC costs 1.5%. Buying other assets costs 3%. Selling ETH, SOL, XRP, LTC or USDC costs 2%, while other assets cost 3%.

BTC Direct may also include a spread of up to 1% to cover market risk and other expenses. Purchases may incur blockchain and payment method charges. A sale can carry a payout charge of up to 1%.

The difference with an exchange can therefore be much larger than the visible trading fee. Always compare the final crypto or euro amount received.

BTC Direct compared with Bitvavo

Bitvavo is the better option for almost every regular user in supported European countries. Both companies hold a MiCA licence, but Bitvavo charges substantially lower fees and supports many more cryptocurrencies.

BTC Direct delivers to a personal wallet and offers individual guidance. This may appeal to someone who refuses to use an exchange, but the price difference is too large for us.

Limited range and functionality

BTC Direct supports familiar cryptocurrencies, but its range is limited compared with large European exchanges. There is no full order book, extensive trading interface or staking service.

The product remains a direct buying and selling service. It is simple, but provides less control over execution and makes frequent transactions needlessly expensive.

MiCA licence and safety

The Dutch AFM granted BTC Direct licence number 41000009 for exchanging fiat money and crypto in both directions and executing crypto transfers.

Authorisation means the company must meet requirements for governance, processes and customer information. It does not prevent market losses and does not prove that the quote is competitive.

Private Trading Desk

Orders from €50,000 can use the Private Trading Desk. The fee is 1% between €50,000 and €500,000, 0.8% between €500,000 and €1 million and 0.5% above that amount.

These rates are not automatically inexpensive. Large investors should compare a complete quote with other OTC desks, including spread and settlement terms.

BTC Direct user experiences

BTC Direct has a long Dutch history and personal guidance can be helpful. The primary criticism remains the price. A customer who buys and later sells pays repeatedly and starts with a substantial disadvantage.

Company details

BTC Direct Europe B.V. is registered under number 59383607 and is based at Kerkenbos 1025 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Its MiCA licence from the Dutch AFM has number 41000009. BTC Direct is therefore officially active and authorised despite our conclusion that it is obsolete for new users.

Conclusion of our BTC Direct review

BTC Direct is a legitimate and authorised broker, but it is far too expensive. Trading fees up to 3%, a possible spread up to 1% and additional charges do not suit its small range. CryptoTips has therefore discontinued BTC Direct as a recommendation and prefers Bitvavo.