Knaken
Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. was a Rotterdam-based Dutch cryptocurrency trading platform that served retail users with buying, selling, and transfer services for crypto assets. As of 2026 it has ceased operations due to inability to obtain a MiCAR license and is in wind-down.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Knaken does
Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. is a Dutch private company, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Rotterdam, that operated an online retail platform for trading cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The platform provided trading, deposit, withdrawal, and transfer services to retail users, accessed via a customer web portal and a mobile app, with a horizontal segmentation approach targeting individual crypto-asset traders in the Netherlands.
The underlying technology stack is not disclosed in the available source material; no APIs, SDKs, integrations, patents, or proprietary technical components are documented. The platform's architecture is described only at the functional level — a trading interface with associated asset-custody and payment-transfer features. Customer assets were held and managed by a separately structured foundation, Stichting Knaken Payments, which was established to keep client assets segregated from the operating company's business activities. No AI/ML capabilities, data flywheels, or proprietary models are referenced.
The business model was based on crypto-asset trading services, but specific revenue mechanics (fee structure, spreads, commissions, pricing tiers) are not disclosed. No funding rounds, investor base, ownership structure, or financial metrics are available in the input. As of June 2026, Knaken has ceased all business operations because it cannot continue crypto-asset services without the required EU MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license. The company is executing a legally guided wind-down, with execution of the wind-down plan expected to begin before July 1, 2026, and customer assets held separately in Stichting Knaken Payments during the process.
Knaken firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Knaken
- Legal name
- Knaken Cryptohandel B.V.
- Website
- https://knaken.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. was a Rotterdam-based Dutch cryptocurrency trading platform that served retail users with buying, selling, and transfer services for crypto assets. As of 2026 it has ceased operations due to inability to obtain a MiCAR license and is in wind-down.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Knaken industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (5232)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Permissioned / KYC DEXs (Institutional On-Chain Venues) (FSADABAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Centralized Crypto Lending Platforms (CeFi) (FSADAFAA)
Keywords
Where Knaken is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Knaken business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Knaken product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Knaken operated an online cryptocurrency trading and exchange platform for individual customers, supporting trading, deposits, withdrawals, and transfers of crypto assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The service was delivered via a web-based customer portal and a mobile app, with customer assets held in a segregated foundation (Stichting Knaken Payments). The company has ceased operations and is in wind-down, unable to continue crypto asset services without the required MiCAR license.
Product overview
Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. operated as a cryptocurrency trading and exchange platform, providing services for trading crypto assets, deposits, withdrawals, and transfers. The company has ceased all business operations and is currently in wind-down status, unable to continue crypto asset services without the required MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license. The wind-down process is expected to begin before July 1, 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Knaken
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Knaken technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Knaken partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stichting Knaken PaymentscoreStichting Knaken Payments is a separate foundation that holds and manages customer-related assets. The foundation is structured to keep these assets separate from the business operations of Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. This separation ensures customer assets are protected during the wind-down process.
- knakencollectief.nlminorKnaken confirms it is in contact with knakencollectief.nl. This contact does not change the current status and planning described on the website. Support cannot make individual commitments about this at this time.
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Knaken competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coinbase: Coinbase is a global, publicly listed cryptocurrency exchange with active operations across the EU including the Netherlands. It is a broad incumbent in the same retail crypto trading category as Knaken, and has obtained MiCAR-aligned licensing in key EU markets.
- Kraken: Kraken is a US-headquartered global cryptocurrency exchange with significant EU presence and active pursuit of MiCAR licensing. It overlaps with Knaken in crypto trading and custody for retail customers, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Direct peers
- Coinmerce: Coinmerce is a Dutch-registered cryptocurrency broker targeting European retail and SME customers with trading and custody services. It is comparable to Knaken in geography, customer profile, and regulatory context (operating under MiCAR in the Netherlands).
- BTC Direct: BTC Direct is a Dutch-founded cryptocurrency broker serving European retail customers with buying, selling, and custody services. It is a direct peer in product, customer base (Dutch/European retail), and regulatory positioning (MiCAR compliance).
- Bitvavo: Bitvavo is the largest Dutch-headquartered retail cryptocurrency exchange and the most direct peer to Knaken, serving Dutch and EU retail customers with a comparable trading and custody product set. Its successful navigation of MiCAR licensing contrasts with Knaken's inability to obtain such a license.
- LiteBit: LiteBit was a Dutch-headquartered cryptocurrency broker offering retail trading of a wide range of crypto assets. It is comparable to Knaken in geography, target customer (Dutch/European retail), and product offering, and has also navigated significant regulatory change in the Dutch market.
- Anycoin Direct: Anycoin Direct is a Dutch-based cryptocurrency broker serving European retail customers with a similar buy/sell and trading offering. It is directly comparable to Knaken in terms of customer segment, geography, and product scope.
Emerging players
- Finst: Finst is a newer Dutch-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange targeting retail customers with low-fee trading. It overlaps with Knaken's intended customer base and product set, positioning it as a comparable emerging player in the Dutch retail CEX space.
- SATOS: SATOS is a Dutch-registered cryptocurrency exchange and custodian operating under De Nederlandsche Bank supervision. It is comparable to Knaken as a Dutch regulated crypto venue, and its successful licensing underscores the regulatory bar Knaken could not meet.
Regional players
- Bison (Boerse Stuttgart Group): Bison is the retail crypto app of Boerse Stuttgart Group, Germany's largest exchange operator, offering trading and custody to German-speaking retail customers. It is comparable to Knaken as a regulated European retail crypto venue, though focused on the German-speaking market.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Knaken social profiles
Digital presenceKnaken financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Knaken leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Knaken subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Knaken funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Knaken M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Knaken
What does Knaken do?
Knaken operated an online cryptocurrency trading and exchange platform for individual customers, supporting trading, deposits, withdrawals, and transfers of crypto assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The service was delivered via a web-based customer portal and a mobile app, with customer assets held in a segregated foundation (Stichting Knaken Payments). The company has ceased operations and is in wind-down, unable to continue crypto asset services without the required MiCAR license.
Is Knaken a public or private company?
Knaken is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently closed.
When was Knaken founded?
Knaken was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Knaken based?
Knaken is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
Who are Knaken's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coinbase and Kraken. Direct peers are Coinmerce, BTC Direct, Bitvavo, LiteBit and Anycoin Direct. Emerging players are Finst and SATOS. Bison (Boerse Stuttgart Group) is listed as a regional player.
Does Knaken have an API?
No public API is recorded for Knaken.
What industry is Knaken in?
Knaken's product category is Cryptocurrency Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADABAN, Permissioned / KYC DEXs (Institutional On-Chain Venues), with a secondary code of FSADAFAA, Centralized Crypto Lending Platforms (CeFi). Its NAICS code is 5232 and its SIC code is 6200.