8.1/10

Bitstamp

Strongranked 2 of 6 in crypto exchanges◆ Sources checked · 27 Sept 2026

One of the longest continuously operating exchanges in crypto and among the least eventful, which in this category is high praise. Owned by Robinhood since 2 Jun 2025, it holds a MiCA licence from Luxembourg and registrations in the UK, US and Singapore. Fees are low at the first tiers and the asset list is short. Its one theft, in 2015, the company said it absorbed in full.

Best for: European and UK users who want a boring exchange, in the good sense

Company file: Bitstamp, owners, incidents →

How this score was reached

8.1 is the weighted average of the five pillar findings below. Does the job well with no material unresolved concerns.

Custody & Security30%: 8.4
Cost & Fee Transparency20%: 7.4
Regulation & Legal Standing20%: 9.0
Performance & Reliability20%: 7.8
Access & Support10%: 7.9

Strengths

One of the longest operating records in the industry, most of it uneventful
MiCA licence plus UK, US and Singapore registrations, no current restrictions
First $1,000 a month trades free; first paid tier 0.30% / 0.40%

Against it

Short asset list compared with every other venue here
Depth outside the majors is thin
The 2015 payout is confirmed only by the company

The case for a boring exchange

Bitstamp has been operating since 2011 and almost nothing has happened. In a category where the notable events are collapses, freezes and enforcement actions, fifteen largely uneventful years is the single strongest thing a venue can put on its record — and it is exactly the quality that gets ignored in favour of fee comparisons. It now holds a MiCA licence from Luxembourg (May 2025), an FCA registration, a Singapore major payment institution licence and a US money-transmitter licence, with no fines on record.

The one theft is the part to read carefully. In January 2015 attackers took just under 19,000 BTC (about $5m) from a hot wallet. Bitstamp said balances held before the suspension would be honoured in full and absorbed the loss itself. We found no later reports of unpaid customers, but no independent audit of the payout either, so "made whole" is the company's account rather than a verified one.

What it is becoming

Robinhood bought Bitstamp for $200m in cash, closing on 2 Jun 2025, and it now trades as Bitstamp by Robinhood. It launched perpetual futures in the EU in April 2026 and has processed crypto trades for Robinhood's UK app since August 2026. Existing customers still contract with the Bitstamp entity for their region. The asset list stays short and depth outside major pairs is thin; the product is sound on every pillar and outstanding on none, which for a company holding your money is a respectable way to finish near the top.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bitstamp still a good exchange in 2026?+

For straightforward buying and holding of major assets in Europe or the UK, yes: MiCA and FCA-registered entities, segregated customer funds and one of the longest operating records in the industry. The first $1,000 of 30-day volume trades free, then 0.30% maker / 0.40% taker. For smaller tokens the coverage is not there.

What happened in the 2015 Bitstamp hack?+

An operational hot wallet was compromised and just under 19,000 BTC (about $5m) was taken. Bitstamp said pre-suspension balances would be honoured in full and that it absorbed the loss; that rests on the company's statement, with no independent audit. It falls far outside the 24-month window, so no penalty applies under our rubric, but it is reflected in the custody score.

Bitstamp or Kraken?+

Kraken scores higher overall, mainly on its recurring, user-checkable proof of reserves. Bitstamp is cheaper at the first paid tier (0.40% taker against 0.80% on Kraken Pro) and has the cleaner enforcement record. If you are in Europe and want the least eventful option, Bitstamp is a defensible choice.

Assessed by

By Emily Volker

Editor-in-Chief · September 27, 2026

◆ Disclosure

CoinRadar Daily is a non-commercial project. We have no commercial relationship with Bitstamp, earn nothing from any link on this page, and carry no advertising or sponsorship anywhere on the site. Findings rest on public sources; we did not open an account or transact.

Rubric v2.0How we score →

The rest of the crypto exchanges table

01KrakenTraders who use Kraken Pro and want reserve proofs they can check themselves8.4
02Bitstamp — you are hereEuropean and UK users who want a boring exchange, in the good sense8.1
03OKXDerivatives depth with better reserve disclosure than most offshore venues7.8
04CoinbaseUS users who value an audited, listed counterparty over cheap trading7.8
05GeminiUS users who want the strictest state custody regime and will pay for it7.1
06BinanceDepth and asset coverage outside the US and EU, if you accept the counterparty question5.9