Bitonic
Bitonic is the Netherlands' oldest and only bitcoin-only broker, founded in 2012 and MiCAR-licensed by the Dutch AFM. It serves Dutch and European consumers, high-net-worth OTC clients, and enterprises via mobile app, web trading, OTC desk, and Auto Invest services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBaarn, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bitonic does
Bitonic, founded in 2012 and operating as Bitonic B.V. from Amsterdam, is the first and only bitcoin-only cryptocurrency broker in the Netherlands. It serves Dutch and European individual investors, high-net-worth OTC clients, and business customers through a mobile app (iOS and Android), a web trading interface, a tiered OTC desk for trades of €200,000 and above, a dedicated Business service for enterprise treasury needs, and an Auto Invest product for automated dollar-cost averaging. Bitonic is MiCAR-licensed by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM authorization number 41000024, granted 21 November 2025), with prudential supervision by De Nederlandsche Bank, and segregates user funds under a Dutch foundation, Stichting Bitonic Payments, that holds assets in cold-storage multi-signature wallets outside Bitonic's operating estate.
The platform is built on self-designed and developed infrastructure combined with open-source software, with Lightning Network support for faster bitcoin deposits and withdrawals, integration into European payment rails (iDEAL, Wero, Bancontact, SEPA) via processors Mollie, Volt, and Worldline, and a public REST API for pricing and volume. The product surface spans standard Trade (1% buy and sell), Bitonic Instant (0.99% buy / 1.24% sell plus payment and network fees), Target Orders (price-triggered automated execution), Auto Invest (0% on the first €250 per calendar month, then 0.89%), a custodial Bitonic Portfolio, and a tiered OTC desk from 0.9% down to 0.3% for trades above €5 million. Customer support is delivered through weekday phone hours plus chat and email, with chat provided through MessageBird.
Bitonic generates revenue almost entirely through transaction fees on consumer trading, OTC block trades, and Auto Invest subscriptions, augmented by a bitcoin-denominated referral program paying 15% of referees' fees for six months. Distribution is primarily self-serve via the website and mobile apps, supplemented by inside-sales for OTC and field-style account management for business clients. Marketing relies on the Bitcoin.nl educational platform, Academy partnerships with TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, the Openbaar Ministerie, and the Ministry of Finance, and the referral scheme. The stated geographic footprint is the Netherlands, the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland, with US persons explicitly excluded.
Bitonic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bitonic
- Legal name
- Bitonic B.V.
- Website
- https://bitonic.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bitonic is the Netherlands' oldest and only bitcoin-only broker, founded in 2012 and MiCAR-licensed by the Dutch AFM. It serves Dutch and European consumers, high-net-worth OTC clients, and enterprises via mobile app, web trading, OTC desk, and Auto Invest services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bitonic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Brokerage
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (5232), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On/Off-Ramp Providers (Fiat↔Crypto) & Cash-In/Cash-Out Networks (FSADAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Asset Custody & Wallet Infrastructure for Institutions (MPC/HSM, key mgmt, policy controls) (FSAPAIAE), Crypto Payment Gateways & Checkout APIs (FSADAIAA)
Keywords
Where Bitonic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baarn
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bitonic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Trading Fees: Standard trading fees of 1.0% for both buying and selling bitcoin through the app or website. Discounts may be offered based on trading volume.
- Instant Trading: Service fee of 0.99% for buying and 1.24% for selling via Instant feature, plus payment method fees (€0.51 for iDEAL/Wero, €0.61 + 0.23% for Bancontact) and dynamic network fees.
- Auto Invest: 0% fee on first €250 per calendar month, 0.89% on amounts above €250, plus €0.15 SEPA processing fee and dynamic network fees.
- OTC Trading: Tiered service fees starting at 0.9% for amounts ≥€200,000, decreasing to 0.3% for amounts ≥€5,000,000, with pre-agreed all-in pricing.
- Referral Program Commission: 15% of trading fees paid by referred users for 6 months, up to €500 per month, paid out in bitcoin.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Trading: 1.0% fee for buy/sell |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Instant Trading: 0.99% buy / 1.24% sell + payment fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Auto Invest: 0% up to €250/month, then 0.89% |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | OTC: 0.3%-0.9% tiered pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Bitonic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bitonic is a bitcoin-only cryptocurrency broker and exchange founded in 2012, allowing individuals and businesses to buy, sell, store, and trade bitcoin through its website, mobile app (iOS/Android), OTC trading desk, and automated investment plans. The platform offers standard trading at 1.0% fees, instant wallet-to-wallet trading, target-price auto-orders, dollar-cost averaging through Auto Invest, and enterprise business services, with all user funds segregated in a Dutch foundation (Stichting Bitonic Payments).
Product overview
Bitonic is a Netherlands-based, bitcoin-only cryptocurrency exchange and financial services platform. It operates a unified platform offering multiple integrated service layers: a mobile app (iOS/Android) for buying, selling, and storing bitcoin; the core Bitonic Trade service for standard bitcoin trading; Bitonic Instant for direct wallet-to-wallet transactions; Target Orders for price-triggered automated trading; Bitonic Auto Invest (formerly Bits, rebranded to Bitonic Savings) for dollar-cost averaging investment plans; Bitonic Portfolio for custodial bitcoin and euro storage; Bitonic OTC for large-volume over-the-counter trades; and Bitonic Business for enterprise clients. The platform also operates Lightning Network support for faster transactions, a referral program, and the Bitcoin.nl informational sub-brand. All user funds are held by Stichting Bitonic Payments, a Dutch foundation that segregates assets from Bitonic's own estate. Bitonic is licensed by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) under MiCA regulation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bitonic App Mobile application available on iOS and Android enabling individual consumers and businesses to buy, sell, and store bitcoin, execute Target Orders, run Auto Invest plans, and manage their portfolio. Supports euro deposits via iDEAL, Wero, Bancontact, and SEPA.
- Bitonic Trade Core service for buying and selling bitcoin through the app or website at a standard 1% fee, with instant execution and free euro withdrawals to bank accounts.
- Bitonic Instant Service for buying bitcoin directly to a personal wallet or selling from a personal wallet via the website, with a guaranteed all-in price for a limited time at 0.99% (buy) and 1.24% (sell) service fees plus payment method fees.
- Bitonic Auto Invest (formerly Bits / Bitonic Savings) Dollar-cost averaging service for automated periodic bitcoin purchases via SEPA bank transfers, with 0% fees on the first €250 purchased per calendar month and 0.89% above that threshold. Supports multiple named investment plans with bundled purchases to minimize network fees.
- Bitonic OTC Over-the-counter trading desk for buying and selling large amounts of bitcoin (≥€200,000) at a pre-agreed price quote with personalized service. Tiered service fees from 0.9% down to 0.3% depending on volume.
- Bitonic Business Dedicated business account services for enterprise clients seeking personalized guidance for incorporating bitcoin into treasury or operations.
- Bitonic Public API Public REST API (JSON) at bitonic.nl/api with endpoints returning buy price, sell price, average exchange rate, and 24-hour volume for bitcoin in euros, supporting payment methods including iDEAL and Bancontact.
Quantifiable outcome
- 0% transaction fees on first €250 of Auto Invest purchases per calendar month
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bitonic
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bitonic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Bitonic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- TU DelftminorAcademic partnership through the Bitonic Academy program for bitcoin research and education.
- TU EindhovenminorAcademic partnership through the Bitonic Academy program for bitcoin research and education.
- Openbaar MinisterieminorAcademic partnership through the Bitonic Academy program for bitcoin education and compliance research.
- Ministerie van FinanciënminorAcademic partnership through the Bitonic Academy program for bitcoin education and policy research.
- Stichting Bitonic PaymentscoreFoundation that holds user funds separately to create a separate estate from Bitonic, protecting funds against bankruptcy. Registered at Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 58799117.
- Mollie, Volt, WorldlinecorePayment processors facilitating payment processing for deposits and withdrawals. Mollie, Volt, and Worldline are Netherlands-based payment service providers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bitonic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- eToro: eToro is a multi-asset European brokerage offering crypto trading alongside stocks, ETFs, and CFDs. It competes with Bitonic in the Dutch retail market as a wider-portfolio incumbent rather than a bitcoin-purist.
- Coinbase: Coinbase is a US-listed, large-scale cryptocurrency exchange offering retail and institutional trading across hundreds of assets. It serves Bitonic's same Dutch/European retail use cases as a much broader incumbent with deeper liquidity and a multi-asset product surface.
- Kraken: Kraken is a US-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange offering euro-denominated trading across many digital assets to European customers. It overlaps Bitonic's on-ramp and OTC functions but as a larger, broader multi-asset incumbent.
- Revolut: Revolut is a UK/EU-licensed digital banking super-app with embedded crypto buy/sell for European consumers. It is a competing distribution channel for euro-to-bitcoin purchases, bundled into a broader personal finance product rather than a standalone brokerage.
Direct peers
- Relai: Relai is a Switzerland-based bitcoin-only buying and saving app operating across Europe with SEPA integration. Like Bitonic it focuses exclusively on BTC, mobile-first experience, and DCA-style savings plans for European consumers.
- BTC Direct: BTC Direct is a Dutch-founded cryptocurrency broker also headquartered in the Netherlands, offering euro-to-crypto on-ramp services. It is the closest direct competitor to Bitonic in the Dutch retail market, with overlapping fiat on-ramp, brokerage, and AML/KYC stack.
- Knaken: Knaken is a Dutch crypto broker (formerly Satoshi.nl) serving Dutch and European customers with euro-to-bitcoin trading and iDEAL/SEPA deposits. It competes head-to-head with Bitonic in the same Dutch retail segment using similar payment rails.
- Bitstamp: Bitstamp is a Europe-headquartered (Luxembourg) regulated cryptocurrency exchange serving retail and institutional clients across the EEA. It overlaps Bitonic's European fiat-to-crypto brokerage capability with broader multi-asset coverage and stronger institutional presence.
- Swan Bitcoin: Swan Bitcoin is a bitcoin-only retail and IRA platform focused exclusively on BTC accumulation via DCA and OTC. Like Bitonic, it is a bitcoin-purist operator (no altcoins) targeting high-conviction savers with automated recurring buys and a similar product/positioning alignment.
- Bitcoin Meester: Bitcoin Meester is a Dutch-registered cryptocurrency broker acquired by Coinmerce, providing euro-to-bitcoin and altcoin trading to Dutch users via iDEAL/SEPA. It competes with Bitonic for the same Dutch-speaking retail audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bitonic social profiles
Digital presenceBitonic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Bitonic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bitonic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bitonic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bitonic 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 Bitonic
What does Bitonic do?
Bitonic is a bitcoin-only cryptocurrency broker and exchange founded in 2012, allowing individuals and businesses to buy, sell, store, and trade bitcoin through its website, mobile app (iOS/Android), OTC trading desk, and automated investment plans. The platform offers standard trading at 1.0% fees, instant wallet-to-wallet trading, target-price auto-orders, dollar-cost averaging through Auto Invest, and enterprise business services, with all user funds segregated in a Dutch foundation (Stichting Bitonic Payments).
Is Bitonic a public or private company?
Bitonic is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bitonic founded?
Bitonic was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bitonic based?
Bitonic is headquartered in Baarn, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Bitonic make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Trading Fees are the primary driver. The others are instant Trading, auto Invest, OTC Trading and referral Program Commission.
Who are Bitonic's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are eToro, Coinbase, Kraken and Revolut. Direct peers are Relai, BTC Direct, Knaken, Bitstamp, Swan Bitcoin and Bitcoin Meester.
Does Bitonic have an API?
Yes. Bitonic offers a public REST API (JSON-formatted) available at https://bitonic.nl/api/ with a rate limit of 10 requests per minute. It provides three endpoints: GET /api/buy (returns buy price for bitcoin in euros with optional parameters for btc amount, eur amount, and payment method including iDEAL and Bancontact), GET /api/sell (returns sell price for bitcoin with optional btc or eur amount), and GET /api/price (returns average exchange rate and 24-hour volume). The API is used to exchange pricing and volume information between Bitonic and the user. Developer documentation is at bitonic.nl/en/api.
What industry is Bitonic in?
Bitonic's product category is Cryptocurrency Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAIAE, On/Off-Ramp Providers (Fiat↔Crypto) & Cash-In/Cash-Out Networks, with a secondary code of FSAPAIAE, Digital Asset Custody & Wallet Infrastructure for Institutions (MPC/HSM, key mgmt, policy controls). Its NAICS code is 5232 and its SIC code is 6200.