KuCoin vs Relai Comparison
| 0.1% maker/taker (spot) | Fees | 1 % |
| — | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| — | Cryptos | 1 |
| — | Payment Methods | Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| MiCA licence from the FMA (Austria) since 27 Nov 2025, FMA does not yet permit commencement of operations | Regulation | MiCA licence (CASP) from the French AMF since 23 Oct 2025 (no. A2025-006), passported across the EU incl. Germany, Austria and Spain. Switzerland: Relai AG is a member of the SRO VQF |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, calculated from the disclosed trading fee. A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| — | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 10.00 |
| 0.1% maker/taker (spot) | Fees | 1 % |
| — | Wallet transfer | € 0 (Bitcoin network fee only, variable) |
| — | Cost transparency | Yes |
| €10 per order (BTC/EUR) | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| — | Payment Methods | Instant SEPA transfer, credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay |
Pros & Cons
- 700+ coins – a vast altcoin selection
- Low fees from 0.1% on spot, with KCS discounts
- MiCA CASP licence (FMA Austria, November 2025)
- Wide feature set: spot, futures, bots, earn products
- EU operations not yet cleared despite the licence (as of July 2026)
- Historically no local European support structures
- 2023 US settlement still weighs on its record
- Self-custody wallet directly in the app – Bitcoin is held in your own wallet
- Savings plan available for weekly or monthly Bitcoin purchases
- Wallet transfer to your own and external wallets (incl. hardware wallets) possible
- VASP license in Switzerland and MiCAR application submitted
- Deposits via SEPA bank transfer and credit card
- Only Bitcoin tradable – altcoin selection occasionally criticized by users
- Minimum amount of 50 € is room for improvement compared with other providers
- Setup of external wallet transfers, according to users, is room for improvement
Score Comparison
User Experiences
AI AnalysisAccording to the analyzed user data, Relai is frequently praised by users for its intuitive and clear app. At the same time, users occasionally report hurdles with support, verification, and individual app launches, so the overall experience varies depending on the usage situation.
Investing in crypto assets carries a high level of risk, up to and including total loss of capital. This is not investment advice. Figures as of July 2026, without guarantee – check current conditions with the provider.
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Self-custody wallet | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card payment | ✓ |
| ✓ | VASP license (Switzerland) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Hardware wallet support | ✓ |
- Altcoin heavyweight with 700+ coins
- MiCA licence in hand, EU launch still pending – worth watching
- Bitcoin-only approach with self-custody directly in the app
- Savings plan with automatic transfer to your own wallet or hardware wallet
- Swiss company with VASP license and MiCAR application
- Relai Private from 100.000 CHF/EUR and Relai Business for companies
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Spot: from 0.1% maker/taker, with discounts when paying in KCS. Futures are cheaper. Deposit and withdrawal costs depend on the method (as of July 2026).
When it comes to fees and costs, the user data paints a mixed picture. Some users describe Relai as cost-effective, while others rate the fees as high. Overall, opinions on the costs differ clearly.
Usability & User Experience
Not enough reviews available.
Users particularly appreciate Relai’s intuitive app, which in many reviews is described as clear and easy to use. According to reviews, getting started also works without much prior knowledge, which stands out positively, especially in everyday use. Occasionally, however, users report that the app does not open directly.
Features & Offering
Not enough reviews available.
In the analyzed user reviews, some users would like dark mode, automatic orders, tax documents, or a settlement account. In addition, precautionary transfers, coins on the homepage, and more coins are mentioned. Overall, the feedback on features mainly relates to such additional requests.
Stability & Security
Not enough reviews available.
Regarding stability and reliability, individual reviews report that the app does not start, cannot be opened, or crashes. Overall, this area is occasionally criticized by users.
Customer Support
Not enough reviews available.
According to reviews, the sentiment around support is rather critical. While competent service is mentioned occasionally, users also criticize in some cases that support is not reachable or that responses take a long time. Overall, users report mixed experiences with support.
Details
| KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH | Company | Relai AG (CH) / Relai EU SASU (EU) |
| — | Headquarters | & |
| 2017 | Founded | 2020 |
| MiCA licence from the FMA (Austria) since 27 Nov 2025, FMA does not yet permit commencement of operations | Regulation | MiCA licence (CASP) from the French AMF since 23 Oct 2025 (no. A2025-006), passported across the EU incl. Germany, Austria and Spain. Switzerland: Relai AG is a member of the SRO VQF |
| €10 per order (BTC/EUR) | Minimum Amount | € 50 |
| — | KYC | ID card or passport (with MRZ), NFC chip scan, selfie |
Verdict
In our overall rating Relai leads with 4.2 against 3.9 for KuCoin.
For most investors Relai is therefore the better choice.
KuCoin has been a fixture for altcoin traders for years. Its EU position, however, is complicated as of July 2026: the Austrian MiCA licence has been granted, but the exchange has not yet been cleared to begin EU operations while the process runs its course. If regulatory certainty inside the EU is your priority, fully operational MiCA venues such as Bitpanda, Bybit EU or Kraken are the safer bet for now.
Relai has established itself in the DACH region as one of the best-known Bitcoin-only apps and is especially appreciated by the Bitcoin community. The Swiss company follows a consistent self-custody approach: Bitcoin is held directly in the in-app wallet, and transfers to external wallets — including hardware wallets — are possible. With a VASP license in Switzerland and an ongoing MiCAR license application, Relai is considered to be on solid regulatory footing.
The savings plan functionality is particularly valued, enabling automatic Bitcoin purchases with direct transfer to your own wallet or a hardware wallet. For investors who see Bitcoin as a long-term store of value and place importance on self-custody, Relai is regarded as one of the most accessible solutions. Fees of 0.9 % are in the mid-range of the brokers compared.
Since only Bitcoin can be traded, Relai is not suitable for investors interested in altcoins — something occasionally criticized by some users. The minimum amount of 50 € and the setup of external wallet transfers are also seen as room for improvement. Relai is therefore especially suited to Bitcoin-focused investors who want to combine self-custody and automated saving with Swiss regulation.