BUX Crypto Exchange Review: Zero Fees, Hidden Costs, and What You Really Get

Most crypto apps make you pay to trade. BUX Crypto says you don’t. But here’s the catch: you have to hold their tokens to get that deal. If you’re new to crypto and live in Europe, BUX looks like a dream. No fees. Easy app. Start with €5. But is it really free? Or just disguised as free?

What Is BUX Crypto, Really?

BUX Crypto isn’t a full-blown crypto exchange like Binance or Kraken. It’s a hybrid investment app built by a Dutch fintech company that started in 2014. In 2020, they bought Blockport and turned it into BUX Crypto. Now, after being acquired by ABN Amro - one of the Netherlands’ biggest banks - in December 2023, it’s got serious backing.

You can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and a handful of other top coins directly with Euros. No USD conversion fees. No complex wallets. Just tap, buy, and hold. The app is designed for people who want to invest casually, not day-trade. It’s built for your phone. Not your laptop.

What makes it different? You can buy fractions of a Bitcoin. Spend €5 and own 0.0001 BTC. That’s huge for beginners. You don’t need €500 to get started. And onboarding takes 15 minutes - just upload your ID and tax number. No paperwork hell.

The Zero-Fee Promise - And the Fine Print

BUX markets itself as commission-free. And technically, that’s true - if you meet their rules.

When you sign up, the first 5,000 users got zero fees forever. That’s over. Now, to avoid trading fees, you need to hold 2,500 BUX tokens in your portfolio. That’s not cash. It’s their internal token. You can’t cash it out. You can’t use it elsewhere. It only works inside the app.

Here’s the real cost: a €2.99 monthly service fee. That’s €36 a year. Even if you trade once a month, that’s still a fee. And if you don’t hold the tokens? You pay €1 per trade. So if you buy Bitcoin once a week, you’re paying €4 a month in fees - plus the subscription.

There’s also a 0.25% FX fee if you trade in USD-denominated assets. And if you use a credit card to deposit, you might get charged extra by your bank. BUX doesn’t hide this - but they don’t scream it either.

Compare that to Coinbase: 0.5% fee per trade, no monthly fee. Or Kraken: 0.16% fee, no token lock-in. BUX’s model only makes sense if you’re trading often and already believe in their token. For most people, it’s a trap.

Security - Backed by a Bank, But Not a Crypto Exchange

BUX Crypto isn’t regulated like a crypto exchange. It’s regulated as a financial services provider by the Dutch AFM. That means your crypto isn’t stored in cold wallets like on Coinbase. It’s held by ABN Amro Clearing. And here’s the good part: your assets are protected up to €100,000 under the EU’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS).

That’s better than most crypto-only platforms. If BUX went under, you’d get your money back - up to that limit. But here’s the flip side: you don’t own the actual crypto. You own a contract representing it. You can’t withdraw Bitcoin to your own wallet. You can’t send it to another exchange. You’re locked in.

If you want to move your crypto elsewhere, you have to sell it first. That means paying fees and losing time. For long-term holders, this is a dealbreaker.

What You Can Trade - And What You Can’t

BUX offers about 15 cryptocurrencies. That’s it. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, Chainlink, Litecoin, Dogecoin - the usual suspects. No Shiba Inu. No meme coins. No obscure altcoins.

But here’s the twist: you can also trade stocks, ETFs, and ETCs. Apple, Tesla, Netflix, the S&P 500 - all in the same app. That’s the real value. If you want one app for both crypto and traditional investing, BUX fits. It’s like eToro or Revolut, but with a cleaner design.

But if you’re looking for the full crypto experience - staking, DeFi, NFTs, lending - forget it. BUX doesn’t offer any of that. It’s a simple buy-and-hold tool. No advanced features. No trading bots. No margin.

Who Is This For? And Who Should Skip It?

Best for: Europeans under 35 who want to start investing with small amounts. People who like simple apps. Those who want to buy Bitcoin once a month and forget about it. Investors who also want to dip into stocks without opening another account.

Avoid if: You trade often and don’t want to hold tokens. You want to withdraw crypto to a hardware wallet. You’re outside the EU (BUX doesn’t serve the U.S., UK, or Canada). You’re looking for low fees without hidden conditions. You’re serious about building a crypto portfolio beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Many users on Reddit say they love the app - until they realize they’re paying €36 a year just to access a basic feature. One user said: "I bought €100 of Bitcoin. Paid €36 in fees over a year. I could’ve bought it on Coinbase for €0.50 more."

Customer Support and User Experience

The app is easy. Really easy. Clean interface. No clutter. The educational videos from influencers like Puck Landewé help new users understand what they’re buying. That’s a big plus.

Support is available 24/7 via email and phone. Response times are decent for technical issues - like login problems or app crashes. But if you ask about taxes, withdrawals, or token rules? You’ll wait days. And the answers are often generic.

Belgian users report tax headaches. The platform doesn’t auto-generate tax reports for all EU countries. You’re on your own to track buys and sells. That’s a red flag for serious investors.

The gamified design - badges, streaks, progress bars - makes trading feel like a game. That’s fun at first. But it can lead to impulse buys. One user told me: "I bought Dogecoin because I got a badge for 7-day streak. I didn’t even know what it was."

Is BUX Crypto Worth It in 2025?

It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the most flexible. But it’s one of the few platforms in Europe that lets you buy crypto with Euros, start with €5, and trade without commissions - if you play by their rules.

If you’re a beginner, and you want to dip your toes into crypto without getting lost in a sea of coins and wallets, BUX is a solid starter app. The ABN Amro backing gives it credibility. The security is better than most crypto-only apps. The interface is unmatched for ease of use.

But if you’re serious about crypto, you’ll outgrow it fast. The lack of withdrawals, the token lock-in, the monthly fee - these aren’t bugs. They’re features. And they’re designed to keep you inside their ecosystem.

For long-term holding? Better to use a wallet and buy on a low-fee exchange. For casual, mobile-first investing? BUX works. Just know what you’re signing up for.

Alternatives to Consider

• Coinbase: Higher fees, but you own real crypto. Withdraw anywhere. Better for long-term holders.
• Kraken: Lower fees than BUX. No monthly charge. More coins. But steeper learning curve.
• Revolut: Similar model. Buy crypto in app. No withdrawal. Monthly fee. Wider asset selection.
• eToro: Copy traders. Social features. Crypto and stocks. No token lock-in. Higher spreads.

If you want to own crypto - not just a claim on it - skip BUX. If you want to start small, learn, and invest without stress - give it a try. Just don’t expect it to be free.

If you’re just starting out and want to learn crypto without getting overwhelmed, BUX is a good place to begin. But if you’re serious about building wealth, you’ll eventually need to move to a platform that gives you real ownership - and true freedom.