# Bitwala


> Bitwala is a Berlin-based crypto banking app that combines self-custodial Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC wallets with a Visa debit card, instant euro IBAN, crypto trading, savings plans, crypto-backed loans, and Lightning Network payments. Founded in 2014 and regulated in Europe, Bitwala lets users in the European Economic Area hold, spend, trade, and borrow against crypto from a single mobile app while keeping full ownership of their assets.


Key features and benefits:
- Bitwala combines a self-custodial crypto wallet with a fully featured euro bank account, so users can hold, send, and receive both crypto and euros from one app.
- Bitwala's wallet is seed-phrase-free: the private key is split in two encrypted shards (one on the user's phone, one in the cloud), making the wallet recoverable from backup while keeping the user in full custody.
- The Bitwala Visa card lets users spend BTC, ETH, USDC, or EUR anywhere Visa is accepted, online, in-store, and at ATMs, with crypto converted to fiat at the moment of payment.
- Bitwala supports buying and selling Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC 24/7 with a flat €1 + 1% fee and a personal virtual IBAN for instant euro deposits and withdrawals.
- Bitwala offers automated savings plans (daily, weekly, monthly) to help users dollar-cost average into BTC, ETH, and USDC.
- Bitwala provides one-click crypto-backed DeFi loans at a 7% flat interest rate, so users can unlock liquidity from their crypto without selling and triggering a tax event.
- Bitwala supports the Bitcoin Lightning Network for near-instant, low-fee BTC sends and receives directly inside the app.
- The BWALA token is a tokenized equity share in Bitwala GmbH issued via Tokenize.it on the Ethereum ERC-20 standard, giving holders dividend, exit, and liquidation rights.
- Bitwala is made in Germany and regulated in Europe, with services available across the European Economic Area and Switzerland.


## Products
- [Wallet](https://bitwala.com/wallet): Self-custody crypto wallet for Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC. No seed phrases — keys are split between the user's device and an encrypted cloud backup, so funds are always recoverable.
- [Card](https://bitwala.com/card): Bitwala Visa debit card for spending BTC, ETH, USDC, or EUR anywhere Visa is accepted, including online, in-store, and ATM withdrawals. Available as both virtual and physical cards.
- [Trade](https://bitwala.com/trade): Buy and sell Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC 24/7 with a flat €1 + 1% fee. Includes automated savings plans (daily, weekly, monthly) and instant euro deposits/withdrawals via a personal virtual IBAN.
- [Loan](https://bitwala.com/loan): One-click crypto-backed DeFi loan at a 7% flat interest rate. Users borrow against their BTC or ETH holdings to bridge cash gaps without selling their crypto.
- [Token](https://bitwala.com/token): The BWALA token — tokenized equity shares of Bitwala GmbH on Ethereum (ERC-20), issued via Tokenize.it. Each token represents one share of Bitwala GmbH and entitles holders to dividends, exit participation, and liquidation proceeds.


## Learn
Educational articles covering crypto fundamentals, wallets, investing, spending, and regulation for European users.
- [Learn hub](https://bitwala.com/learn): Crypto, explained right. The starting point for all Bitwala Learn articles.
- [All articles](https://bitwala.com/articles): Full listing of all published Learn articles.

### Crypto 101
- [What is Bitcoin?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-bitcoin): Beginner's guide to Bitcoin — what it is, how it works, why it has value, and how to buy it in Europe.
- [What is Ethereum?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-ethereum): What Ethereum is, how it differs from Bitcoin, smart contracts, and ETH as an investment.
- [What is blockchain?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-blockchain): How blockchain technology works, why it matters, and its role in Bitcoin and crypto.
- [What is a stablecoin?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-a-stablecoin): What stablecoins are, how they maintain their peg, types of stablecoins, and their role in crypto.
- [Types of cryptocurrency](https://bitwala.com/articles/types-of-cryptocurrency): Guide to cryptocurrency types — payments (BTC), smart contracts (ETH), stablecoins, DeFi tokens, and utility tokens.
- [What is Bitcoin mining?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-bitcoin-mining): How Bitcoin mining works, why it uses energy, and whether it is still profitable in 2026.
- [What is proof of work?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-proof-of-work): How proof of work secures Bitcoin, why it uses energy, and how it compares to proof of stake.
- [Bitcoin halving explained](https://bitwala.com/articles/bitcoin-halving-explained): What the Bitcoin halving is, how it reduces inflation, historical price impact, and when the next halving occurs.
- [What is the Lightning Network?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-the-lightning-network): How the Lightning Network enables instant, near-free Bitcoin payments as a Layer 2 solution.
- [What is a blockchain explorer?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-a-blockchain-explorer): How to use blockchain explorers to verify Bitcoin transactions, check balances, and understand on-chain transparency.
- [What is market cap?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-market-cap): Why market cap matters more than coin price, how to calculate it, and what it signals about risk.
- [Is Bitcoin safe?](https://bitwala.com/articles/is-bitcoin-safe): Bitcoin network security, platform risk, self-custody protection, and basic security hygiene for holders.
- [How to explain Bitcoin to your family](https://bitwala.com/articles/how-to-explain-bitcoin-to-your-family): Three analogies that work, how to handle common objections, and why confidence beats enthusiasm.
- [Common crypto mistakes beginners make](https://bitwala.com/articles/common-crypto-mistakes-beginners-make): Ten mistakes that cost beginners money — FOMO buying, leaving BTC on exchanges, ignoring taxes, and more.

### Wallets
- [What is self-custody?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-self-custody): What self-custody means, why it matters, how it works, and how to set it up safely in Europe.

### Investing
- [Is Bitcoin worth buying in 2026?](https://bitwala.com/articles/is-bitcoin-worth-buying-in-2026): Balanced analysis of Bitcoin's value proposition. Risk vs reward, how to start small with DCA.
- [What is a Bitcoin ETF?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-a-bitcoin-etf): Bitcoin ETFs vs real Bitcoin ownership — fees, tax treatment, and why self-custody may be better long-term.

### Spending
- [How to spend crypto with a Visa card](https://bitwala.com/articles/how-to-spend-crypto-with-a-visa-card): How crypto Visa cards work in Europe — fees, tax implications, and which platforms offer the best experience.
- [What is a SEPA transfer?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-a-sepa-transfer): How SEPA works, why it is the cheapest way to fund a crypto account, and how to automate DCA with standing orders.

### Tax & regulation
- [What is MiCA?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-mica): The EU's comprehensive crypto regulation framework — what MiCA means for European users, platforms, and investor rights.
- [What is KYC?](https://bitwala.com/articles/what-is-kyc): Why KYC exists, what the process involves, and how it applies to the platform (not your Bitcoin).

### Learn categories
- [Crypto 101](https://bitwala.com/categories/crypto101): All beginner-friendly articles covering Bitcoin, blockchain, and crypto fundamentals.
- [Wallets](https://bitwala.com/categories/wallets): Articles about crypto wallets, self-custody, and key management.
- [Investing](https://bitwala.com/categories/investing): Articles about buying crypto, DCA strategies, ETFs, and portfolio thinking.
- [Spending](https://bitwala.com/categories/spending): Articles about spending crypto with cards, SEPA transfers, and real-world usage.
- [Tax & regulation](https://bitwala.com/categories/tax-regulation): Articles about MiCA, KYC, and crypto tax rules in Europe.


## Resources
- [Blog](https://bitwala.com/blog): Articles on Bitcoin, crypto investing, market analysis, product updates, and Bitwala's vision for crypto banking.
- [Support Center](https://support.bitwala.com): Help articles, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides covering wallets, cards, trading, IBAN, KYC, and account management.
- [CryptoKnights](https://bitwala.com/cryptoknights): Bitwala's appearance on the CryptoKnights reality TV series, which spotlights Web3 projects and competitive crypto investing.


## Getting started
- [Bitwala iOS app](https://apps.apple.com/app/bitwala-buy-bitcoin-ether/id1454003161): Download Bitwala for iPhone to open an account, verify identity, and start buying, sending, or spending crypto.
- [Bitwala Android app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitwala.app): Download Bitwala for Android to open an account, verify identity, and start buying, sending, or spending crypto.
- [Homepage](https://bitwala.com/): Bitwala product overview, sign-up entry point, and links to wallet, card, trade, loan, and token pages.


## Featured blog posts
- [A new bitwala.com for a new era](https://bitwala.com/blog/a-new-bitwala.com-for-a-new-era): Announcement of Bitwala's relaunch and current product direction.
- [The story of Bitwala](https://bitwala.com/blog/the-story-of-bitwala): Company history, mission, and the path from founding in 2015 to today.
- [Goodbye Nuri](https://bitwala.com/blog/goodbye-nuri): How the brand returned to Bitwala from Nuri and what changed for users.
- [Why Nuri failed](https://bitwala.com/blog/why-nuri-failed): Post-mortem on the Nuri insolvency and lessons learned.
- [Going public for the Bitcoin community: the BWALA Token](https://bitwala.com/blog/going-public-for-the-bitcoin-community-the-bwala-token): Overview of the BWALA equity token offering and how community ownership works.
- [Join the BWALA revolution: from insolvency to security token](https://bitwala.com/blog/join-the-bwala-revolution-from-insolvency-to-security-token): The story of Bitwala's restructuring and the launch of its security token.
- [Trade the BWALA token on tokenize.it](https://bitwala.com/blog/trade-the-bwala-token-on-tokenize.it): How to buy, sell, and trade BWALA equity tokens on the Tokenize.it platform.
- [How self-custody and custody wallets in one app are the best of both worlds](https://bitwala.com/blog/how-self-custody-and-custody-wallets-in-one-app-are-the-best-of-both-worlds): Bitwala's hybrid wallet model and the trade-offs between self-custody and custodial setups.
- [Lightning-fast Bitcoin payments with Bitwala](https://bitwala.com/blog/bitcoin-lighting-with-bitwala): How Bitwala uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network to deliver near-instant, low-fee BTC transactions.
- [USDC on Bitwala](https://bitwala.com/blog/usdc-on-bitwala): Announcement and walkthrough of USDC stablecoin support inside the Bitwala app.
- [Instant deposits & withdrawals in euros, Bitcoin, and Ether](https://bitwala.com/blog/instant-deposits-withdrawals-in-euros-bitcoin-and-ether): How Bitwala's virtual IBAN enables instant euro and crypto movement in and out of the account.
- [Savings plan](https://bitwala.com/blog/savings-plan): How Bitwala's automated daily, weekly, and monthly savings plans work for BTC, ETH, and USDC.
- [Dollar-cost averaging](https://bitwala.com/blog/dollar-cost-averaging): An explainer on dollar-cost averaging as an investment strategy and how to set one up inside Bitwala.
- [New Bitwala Visa card features](https://bitwala.com/blog/new-bitwala-visa-card-features): Latest improvements to the Bitwala Visa debit card, including spending controls and crypto-pay options.
- [Get your physical Bitwala card](https://bitwala.com/blog/physical-debit-card): How to order and activate the physical Bitwala Visa debit card.
- [The new Bitwala card for crypto enthusiasts](https://bitwala.com/blog/the-new-debit-card-for-crypto-enthusiasts): Overview of the redesigned Bitwala card and what makes it different from generic crypto debit cards.
- [Unlock the power of crypto with Bitwala x Curve](https://bitwala.com/blog/unlock-the-power-of-crypto-with-bitwala-x-curve): How Bitwala integrates with the Curve card stack for more flexibility when paying with crypto.
- [Bitwala is building with Starknet](https://bitwala.com/blog/bitwala-is-building-with-starknet): How Bitwala uses Starknet, an Ethereum L2, to scale its crypto banking infrastructure.
- [How Bitwala drives Bitcoin adoption](https://bitwala.com/blog/how-bitwala-drives-bitcoin-adoption): Bitwala's thesis on consumer adoption and how the product moves Bitcoin from speculation to spending.
- [Why the crypto wallet market is a red ocean and how Bitwala swims in a blue one](https://bitwala.com/blog/why-the-crypto-wallet-market-is-a-red-ocean-and-how-bitwala-swims-in-a-blue-one): Bitwala's positioning versus the broader crypto wallet competitive landscape.
- [Bitcoin spot ETF and mainstream adoption](https://bitwala.com/blog/bitcoin-spot-etf-and-mainstream-adoption): How spot Bitcoin ETFs change the adoption story and what it means for retail crypto users.
- [Expanding Bitcoin accessibility in Europe](https://bitwala.com/blog/expanding-bitcoin-accessibility-in-europe): Bitwala's roadmap for making Bitcoin banking available across more European markets.


## Legal
- [Imprint](https://bitwala.com/imprint): Bitwala GmbH legal company information as required by German law.
- [Privacy policy](https://bitwala.com/privacy-policy): How Bitwala collects, processes, and stores user data.
- [Terms of use](https://bitwala.com/terms-of-use): Terms governing the use of bitwala.com and the Bitwala app.
- [Block series terms](https://bitwala.com/block-series-terms): Specific terms for Bitwala's Block series promotional or product offering.
- [Fee-free month terms](https://bitwala.com/fee-free-month-terms): Terms and conditions for the fee-free month promotional offering.


## Apps & social
- [Bitwala on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/bitwala-buy-bitcoin-ether/id1454003161): Bitwala iOS app — buy, sell, send, and spend Bitcoin and Ether.
- [Bitwala on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitwala.app): Bitwala Android app — buy, sell, send, and spend Bitcoin and Ether.
- [Bitwala on X](https://x.com/bitwala): Company updates, crypto commentary, and community engagement.
- [Bitwala on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitwala): Company updates, hiring announcements, and team news.
- [Bitwala on Telegram](https://t.me/bitwala_app): Community channel for Bitwala users.


## Last updated
June 25, 2026