Bitstamp is one of the oldest European cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2011, offering spot trading. Per our June 2026 research, it holds EU MiCA CASP authorisation via Luxembourg, which we mark verified against the ESMA-register angle. Bitstamp's long operating history and EU base are central to its positioning. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no fees, supported-coin counts, withdrawal limits or rating until confirmed against a primary source. Crypto is high-risk; nothing here is financial advice.
Regulatory standing
Bitstamp is a private, EU-based exchange and one of the longest-running in the world, and per our research holds EU MiCA CASP authorisation through Luxembourg — checkable on the ESMA register and the CSSF. A Luxembourg CASP authorisation passports across the EU/EEA, underpinning its EU service. A long history and EU regulation are reassuring signals, but neither removes the inherent risk of holding cryptoassets.
Confirm Bitstamp's terms for your country and verify its standing on the ESMA register before depositing. Availability and products still vary by jurisdiction.
Track record
Operating since 2011, Bitstamp is among the most established exchanges still running, which gives it a longer track record than most. A long history is informative but not a guarantee; read the current security and custody documentation rather than relying on longevity alone, and secure your own account with strong two-factor authentication and withdrawal whitelisting.
As with any exchange, cryptoassets held with Bitstamp sit largely outside deposit-compensation protection. We do not publish security or custody specifics we have not verified against its current pages.
Fees, coins and limits
Bitstamp publishes its own fee schedule, supported-asset list and withdrawal limits, which vary by product and verification level. We do not reproduce a figure we have not confirmed against its current pages. Check the live schedule on Bitstamp's own site before you trade.
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- One of the oldest exchanges in the world (since 2011), EU-based.
- Holds EU MiCA CASP authorisation via Luxembourg per our research, checkable on the ESMA register.
Limitations
- Private company; verify current security/custody terms rather than relying on longevity.
- Availability and products vary by country and verification level — verify first.
- We have not completed a hands-on test, so we publish no fees, limits or rating.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitstamp regulated in the EU?
Per our June 2026 research, Bitstamp holds EU MiCA CASP authorisation via Luxembourg, checkable on the ESMA register, and it is one of the oldest EU-based exchanges. A Luxembourg CASP authorisation passports across the EU/EEA. Confirm its terms for your country before depositing. This is information, not financial advice.
Is Bitstamp safe given how old it is?
Bitstamp's long operating history since 2011 and its EU MiCA CASP authorisation per our research are reassuring signals, but longevity is not a guarantee: read its current security and custody documentation, and remember cryptoassets are volatile and largely outside compensation-scheme protection. Verify its standing before depositing. This is information, not financial advice.