Question 1

What's the difference between a crypto bank, a crypto exchange, and a crypto wallet?

Accepted Answer

A crypto bank combines traditional banking features (IBAN, debit card, SEPA/ACH transfers) with crypto custody, yield, and trading — Revolut and Nexo are examples. A crypto exchange is a trading venue that matches buyers and sellers — Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance are examples. A wallet stores private keys; hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor hold them offline, software wallets like MetaMask hold them on a device. Most users need at least a bank or exchange (for buying / off-ramping) and a wallet (for self-custody of long-term holdings).

Question 2

How do you score and rank platforms?

Accepted Answer

We use a transparent 8-axis composite weighted to regulatory safety (20%), yield rates (15%), banking integration (13%), debit card (12%), fees (12%), coin selection (10%), user experience (10%), and customer support (8%). Each axis is scored 0–10 from regulator filings, first-hand field tests (we open accounts on every platform we review), and published Proof of Reserves where available. The full methodology, with axis definitions and per-axis sources, is published at /methodology/.

Question 3

How do you stay independent if you take affiliate commissions?

Accepted Answer

Affiliate commissions never influence scores. The 8-axis rubric is fixed; affiliate status is not a scoring input. Platforms without affiliate programs (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Phantom, Trezor, BTCPay Server) are reviewed and recommended on the same terms. Every page with an affiliate link discloses the relationship before the call-to-action, not buried in the footer. Material claims about insurance, deposit protection, or regulatory status go through a two-person review before publication. See /editorial-guidelines/ and /corrections-policy/ for the full posture.

Question 4

Which platforms are safest in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Safety depends on jurisdiction. EU users get the strongest baseline via MiCA-licensed CASPs (Bitvavo, Kraken EU, Coinbase EU) and EU-passported banks (Revolut, N26 with crypto). US users with FDIC-partner banks (Kraken Bank, Coinbase Cash) sit at the top of the regulatory stack. Hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) for long-term storage. Always read the platform-specific safety review for your jurisdiction — see /safest-crypto-banks/ for the cross-vertical safety ranking.

Crypto banks, exchanges, wallets, and payments — ranked.

Top picks for Europe, by category.

Six verticals. 70 platforms.

Crypto Banks

Exchanges

Wallets

Payment methods

B2B processors

Tax software

Rankings by region

Rankings by use

Compare two

What changed this week.

Yields fell 140bps across the top ten this week

Safer alternatives after Juno's September closure

We opened a Revolut account from São Paulo

Nexo review — 16% peak APY, MiCA submission, no US