What Finst does

Finst is a Netherlands-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange platform founded in 2023 and operating across approximately 30 European countries, serving roughly 100,000 registered users with a product-led, self-serve model delivered via web, iOS, and Android applications. The platform enables retail and institutional clients to buy, sell, and trade over 340 cryptocurrencies at a flat 0.15% trading fee, supplemented by Crypto Bundles (pre-configured diversified portfolios with monthly rebalancing), Auto Invest for dollar-cost averaging, and staking with advertised returns up to 12% annually and no lock-up period. The underlying infrastructure relies on Fireblocks for institutional-grade custody using MPC technology with hardware isolation, Chainalysis for blockchain analytics, and SOC 2 Type II certification for custodial controls; Finst was the first Dutch exchange to obtain an independent Proof of Reserves from AuditNow.

The business model is transaction-fee based, with revenue generated primarily through the flat 0.15% trading commission applied to ~€5B in annual trading volume, plus staking-related economics and ancillary services such as deposits and withdrawals (which are free to end users). Go-to-market is product-led growth combined with direct-to-consumer digital distribution, supported by content marketing through Finst News and Finst Academy, SEO, a referral program, and earned media in outlets including FD.nl, BTC-ECHO, and CoinDesk. Customer segments are bifurcated: the primary base is cost-conscious retail investors across Europe, with a secondary, less-mature institutional and professional user segment that the Series A funding is intended to expand.

Finst is authorized by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) under number 41000015 and holds a MiCA licence, providing regulatory passporting across the EU. The company has raised €15M cumulatively (€4M seed in 2023 led by Deribit and €8M Series A in January 2026 led by Endeit Capital, with DEGIRO co-founder Mark Fransen participating), acquired Anycoin Direct in November 2024 as its first disclosed M&A transaction, and reports scaling revenue approximately 14-fold in under three years while remaining operationally profitable. Co-founders Julien Vallet (CEO) and Marcel Putina (CTO/CPO) lead the company from Amsterdam.

Name

Finst

Legal name

Finst B.V.

Website

https://finst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Finst is a Netherlands-based, AFM- and MiCA-regulated cryptocurrency exchange serving roughly 100,000 retail and institutional clients across 30 European countries with trading in 340+ cryptocurrencies at a flat 0.15% fee, staking, and bundled portfolio products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryptocurrency Exchange

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Margin Trading & Collateralized Borrowing (Exchange-Operated) (FSADAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crypto Index Providers & Benchmark Administrators (FSADAHAB), Tokenization, Network Vaults & Credential Management (FSAGABAF)

Keywords

• Cryptocurrency exchange
• Crypto trading platform
• Crypto staking services
• Digital asset trading
• Crypto investing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Trading Fees: Finst charges a flat fee of 0.15% per trade. The platform does not charge any fees in the spread, does not trade against clients, and does not engage in risky activities. No minimum trade amount is required.
2. Staking Rewards: Users can earn staking rewards on their cryptocurrency holdings, with rates up to 12% annually paid weekly, creating a passive income opportunity for users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Finst operates a regulated cryptocurrency exchange platform that enables retail and institutional users to buy, sell, and trade over 340 cryptocurrencies with a flat 0.15% trading fee. The platform offers complementary services including staking (up to 12% annual rewards), Crypto Bundles for diversified portfolios, and Auto Invest for dollar-cost averaging, all delivered through web and mobile applications under AFM and MiCA regulatory authorization.

Product overview

Finst operates as a unified cryptocurrency exchange platform offering a comprehensive suite of services. The core product is the Finst Crypto Trading Platform, which enables buying, selling, and trading of over 340 cryptocurrencies with 0.15% flat trading fees. This core is supplemented by Crypto Bundles for automated portfolio diversification, Staking for earning up to 12% annual rewards, and Auto Invest for dollar-cost averaging strategies. Additional features include real-time Portfolio Analytics, dedicated Institutional Services, a Referral Program, and crypto deposit/withdrawal capabilities. The company also operates Finst News as an educational news portal and Finst Academy for learning resources. All services are regulated under AFM and MiCA frameworks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Finst Crypto Trading Platform A regulated cryptocurrency exchange platform enabling users to buy, sell, and trade over 340 cryptocurrencies with ultra-low flat trading fees of 0.15% per trade, serving retail and institutional clients across Europe.
• Staking Cryptocurrency staking service offering up to 12% annual rewards with no lock-up period and weekly payouts for users seeking passive income on digital assets.
• Crypto Bundles Pre-built diversified cryptocurrency portfolios (Top 5, Top 10, Top 25, Green, DeFi) enabling one-click diversification across multiple assets with automatic monthly rebalancing.
• Auto Invest Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) crypto investment plan enabling automated recurring purchases and withdrawals at set frequencies for systematic crypto investing.
• Institutional Services Dedicated services for institutional and professional users including expanded staking coverage, broader asset selection, and platform features tailored for professional trading.
• Finst News Cryptocurrency news portal providing latest Bitcoin, Ethereum, altcoin, blockchain, DeFi, regulation, stablecoins, and Web3 news and analysis.
• Finst Academy Educational platform offering courses and resources to help users learn about cryptocurrency investing and onboarding for beginners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Users save average 93% on trading fees compared to competitors
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• VeriffcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 November 2025Partnership for identity verification and KYC compliance. Veriff provides AI-powered identity verification services to ensure regulatory compliance and secure user onboarding.
• FireblockscoreTechnology or IntegrationCustodial solution partner providing secure infrastructure for digital asset storage. Fireblocks is a leading institutional-grade digital asset custody platform.
• ChainalysiscoreTechnology or IntegrationBlockchain analytics and compliance partner for transaction monitoring and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance.
• INGcoreTechnology or IntegrationDutch banking partner providing fiat currency deposit and withdrawal services, ensuring seamless integration with traditional banking infrastructure.
• BunqsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDutch neobank partnership for additional banking integration and payment services.
• FourthlinesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCompliance and KYC partner providing identity verification services for regulatory compliance.
• Projective GroupsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCompliance advisory partner providing regulatory and compliance consulting services.
• Solidus LabssupportingTechnology or IntegrationCrypto-native compliance and surveillance platform for transaction monitoring and market integrity.
• AuditNowcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent audit firm that conducted Finst's Proof of Reserves verification, making Finst the first Dutch crypto exchange to obtain such certification from a reputable third-party auditor.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bitvavo: Amsterdam-based centralized crypto exchange serving European retail investors with low trading fees and a broad asset list. Direct head-to-head competitor to Finst in the Dutch and broader European market.
• Bitpanda: Vienna-based regulated European crypto broker offering trading, staking, and savings products across multiple asset classes. Closely comparable to Finst in regulatory positioning, retail focus, and European passporting strategy.
• BTC Direct: Established Dutch crypto broker offering buy/sell services to European retail customers. Comparable product offering, customer base, and regulatory environment as Finst.
• LiteBit: Dutch-headquartered European crypto exchange offering retail trading of major cryptocurrencies. Direct competitor to Finst in the Dutch market with overlapping product set and target customers.

Broad incumbents

• Coinbase: US-listed global crypto exchange and brokerage with extensive product suite, deep liquidity, and strong regulatory positioning. Operates in Europe as a broad incumbent competing for the same retail and institutional customers.
• eToro: Multi-asset brokerage offering crypto alongside stocks, ETFs, and CFDs across European markets. Comparable retail-focused, low-fee positioning with broad consumer brand recognition.
• Binance: World's largest crypto exchange by volume with broad product offering and global footprint. Faces increasing regulatory pressure in Europe, which both threatens and creates opportunity for compliant peers like Finst.
• Kraken: Major global crypto exchange with European operations offering trading, staking, and OTC services. Competes with Finst for institutional and professional users across European markets.

Regional players

• Bitcoin Meester: Dutch-focused crypto broker offering retail trading of major cryptocurrencies. Regional competitor to Finst with similar customer base but more limited geographic expansion.

Emerging players

• SwissBorg: European crypto wealth management app offering curated yield products and bundles. Comparable in product philosophy (bundles, themed portfolios) and European focus, though at earlier scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finst-official
• Xx.com/finst_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/finst.com.official

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Finst