You can buy crypto on Revolut in under five minutes: open the Crypto tab, choose a coin, enter the amount in euros, and confirm. Since a huge number of Slovenes already use Revolut, it’s the easiest first step into the world of cryptocurrencies. But because of higher fees and certain limitations, it isn’t always the best choice for larger amounts.
In this article I’ll show you both: how to buy your first cryptocurrency on Revolut step by step, and when it makes more sense to move your funds to a real crypto exchange.
Why did I even write this article? Because at my talks and in messages, people often ask me the same thing: “Žan, I already have Revolut. Can I just buy Bitcoin there?” The answer is yes. Revolut has a European license for crypto, buying is simple, and you don’t need a new account, a new verification, or a transfer to an unfamiliar exchange.
However, simplicity comes at a price. If you buy often or in larger amounts, you can leave considerably more in fees on Revolut each year than on a specialized exchange. That’s why I’ll explain how to use Revolut smartly: as an entry point, not necessarily as your final stop.
If you’d like the basics of cryptocurrency gathered in one place, download my free e-book on earning with cryptocurrencies.
What is crypto on Revolut, and is it safe?
Revolut is a digital bank that, in addition to an account and a card, also offers cryptocurrency purchases in its app. Crypto services for Europeans are provided by Revolut Digital Assets Europe Ltd, based in Cyprus. This company holds a MiCA license issued by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
MiCA is a European regulation that uniformly governs crypto companies in all EU countries. A company licensed in one country can legally operate throughout the European Economic Area, including Slovenia.
What this means for you
- Revolut is regulated for crypto. This isn’t a gray area or an unsupervised foreign exchange.
- Crypto is not a bank deposit. The euros in your Revolut account and cryptocurrencies are two different things. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes, and their value can fall sharply.
- Crypto is separate from your account. When you buy Bitcoin, Revolut holds it on your behalf in a separate crypto section of the app.
Two ways to trade on Revolut
Revolut actually has two crypto products, which confuses a lot of people:
- Crypto in the regular Revolut app. Simple one-button purchasing, suitable for beginners. There’s a wider selection of coins here, but the fees are higher.
- Revolut X. A separate crypto exchange from the same company, intended for more experienced users. It has an order book, charts, and significantly lower fees. You log in with your existing Revolut account, and you transfer euros between the account and the exchange.
Below, I’ll first show how to buy in the regular app, and then explain when it’s worth switching to Revolut X.
How to buy cryptocurrency on Revolut: step by step
If you already have a Revolut account, your identity has already been verified. That’s a big advantage, since you don’t have to upload your ID again, as you would on a new exchange.
- Open the Revolut app and log in.
- Find the Crypto tab. On your first visit, the app asks you to accept the terms of use for crypto services and answer a few questions about your experience with cryptocurrencies. This is a MiCA requirement, which lets the provider check whether you understand the risks. Answer honestly.
- Top up your account with euros, if you haven’t already. You can do this with a regular transfer from a Slovenian bank or with a card.
- Choose a cryptocurrency. To start, I recommend Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), since they are the largest and most established.
- Enter the amount in euros, for example €50. You don’t have to buy a whole Bitcoin; you can buy just a small fraction.
- Review the purchase summary. Before you confirm, the app shows you the price, the fee, and the amount of the coin you’ll receive. This is the moment you see how much the purchase actually costs you.
- Confirm the purchase. Within a few seconds, the cryptocurrency appears in your crypto portfolio.
That’s it. The whole process takes a few minutes the first time, and less than a minute every time after that.
Tip: Don’t buy everything at once. It’s better to set up a recurring purchase of a smaller amount, which I write about in the section on earning.
Fees for buying cryptocurrency on Revolut
This is the part most people skip, but it’s the one they should read first. The fee on Revolut depends on the plan you pay for and on the amount you’ve traded over the last 30 days.
| Plan | Base fee (for smaller amounts) | Additional limit |
| Standard and Plus | 1.49% | Additional fair usage fee above the monthly limit |
| Premium and Metal | 0.99% | No additional fair usage fee |
| Ultra | 0.49% | No additional fair usage fee |
Source: Revolut’s crypto pricing. With higher monthly volume, the percentage gradually decreases.
Three things to watch out for
- Minimum fee. On smaller purchases, you pay a fixed minimum amount if it’s higher than the percentage. If you’re buying just a few euros’ worth, the fee as a percentage can be very high. The exception is recurring buys, which have no minimum fee.
- Price difference (spread). In addition to the fee, Revolut adds a difference between the buy and sell price, which according to the company usually ranges from 0 to 3%. You don’t see this difference as a separate line item, but you do see it in the price.
- Fair usage fee. On the Standard and Plus plans, you pay an additional percentage above a certain monthly amount. If you’re buying larger amounts, this quickly becomes expensive.
An example in numbers
Say you have the Standard plan and buy €200 worth of Bitcoin. At a 1.49% fee, you pay around €3 in fees, plus any price difference. When you sell, you pay the fee again. On a real exchange with a limit order, you’d pay significantly less for the same round trip.
For €50 a month, this isn’t a big difference. But at €5,000, the buy and sell fees alone on the Standard plan come to around €150, while on Revolut X with instant orders (0.09%) they come to less than €10.
How to earn money with crypto on Revolut
Revolut isn’t just for buying and waiting. The app has three features that I recommend to every beginner.
1. Recurring buy (DCA)
DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) means that every week or month you buy the same amount of cryptocurrency, regardless of the current price. When the price is low, you get more coins for the same amount; when it’s high, fewer. Over the long term, you end up with an average price and avoid buying everything at the top.
On Revolut, you set up a recurring buy in a few clicks: you choose the coin, the amount, and the frequency. An added advantage is that the minimum fee doesn’t apply to recurring buys, so on Revolut this method is cheaper than individual small purchases.
2. Staking
Staking means lending your coins to a network that needs them to validate transactions. In return, you receive rewards in the same cryptocurrency, similar to interest on a savings account.
On Revolut, you can stake selected coins, such as Ethereum, Solana, or Cardano. Revolut takes part of the rewards as a fee, which depends on the coin. Before you turn it on, the app shows you the expected annual yield after the fee.
Note: You receive rewards in cryptocurrency. If the price of the coin falls by 20%, the reward won’t cover a loss of that size, as it only amounts to a few percent.
3. Limit orders
A limit order means you set the price at which you want to buy or sell. For example: “Buy Bitcoin if it drops by 10%.” The order is executed automatically when the price reaches your limit. This way, you don’t need to watch charts all day.
My favorite combination for beginners
Every month, automatically buy Ethereum with an amount you don’t need, and stake it as you go. This way you build your position and earn rewards at the same time. I show more strategies for taking this further in my free webinar on earning with cryptocurrencies.
How to move crypto from Revolut to a wallet or back to euros
When you buy cryptocurrency on Revolut, Revolut holds it on your behalf. But you can transfer it elsewhere or sell it back for euros at any time.
Selling back to euros
This is the simplest option. In your crypto portfolio, you select the coin, click Sell, enter the amount, and confirm. The euros are in your Revolut account within seconds, and from there you can transfer them to your account at a Slovenian bank or spend them with your card. You also pay a fee when selling, according to your plan.
Transferring to your own wallet
A crypto wallet is an app or device where you hold your coins under your own control, without an intermediary. Revolut allows withdrawal of most coins to an external address.
- In your crypto portfolio, select the coin and click Send.
- Choose an external address and enter your wallet address.
- Check the network. The same coin can travel across different networks. If you choose the wrong one, you can lose your funds forever.
- First send a small test amount, and only then the rest.
For withdrawals, Revolut charges a small fixed fee plus a network fee, which you pay to the network. The app shows you the exact amount before you confirm.
I explained how to choose the right wallet in the article Choosing a Crypto Wallet.
Revolut’s limitations: when it’s better to switch to a real crypto exchange
Revolut is great for your first steps. But there are situations where its simplicity costs you too much. Here is my rule: if you recognize yourself in at least one of the points below, it’s time to reconsider.
1. You invest more than a few hundred euros a month
With a 1.49% fee on the Standard plan and an additional fair usage fee above the monthly limit, costs add up quickly. On a specialized exchange with limit orders, fees are often ten times lower.
A solution within Revolut: Before you switch providers, try Revolut X. It’s an exchange from the same company with zero-fee limit orders and instant orders at 0.09%. You log in with the same account.
2. You buy frequently or trade
If you buy and sell several times a week, the spread “the difference between the buy and sell price” and the fee in a regular app eat away at your returns. For active trading, you need an order book, charts, and low fees. Revolut X or an exchange like OKX has all of that.
3. You want coins that Revolut doesn’t have
Revolut offers a growing number of coins, but you won’t find smaller and newer projects there. For those, you need a larger exchange or a decentralized exchange through your own wallet.
4. You want to use DeFi
DeFi (decentralized finance) refers to financial services that operate without a bank, through programs on a blockchain, such as Aave or Uniswap. For this you need your own wallet, and Revolut serves only as an entry point: you buy a coin and send it to your wallet.
5. You already have a larger amount on Revolut
In the crypto world, there’s a rule: “not your keys, not your coins.” When a provider holds your crypto, technically they control it. For amounts whose loss would really hurt, consider a hardware wallet that you keep physically with you.
So where to go?
If you need a real exchange, I recommend providers with a MiCA license that accept euros: Kraken for staking and long-term investing, Coinbase for simplicity, and OKX for low fees. The good news: you can transfer euros from Revolut to them via SEPA just as you would from any bank.
Revolut, Revolut X, or a real crypto exchange: a comparison
| Revolut (app) | Revolut X | Specialized exchange (Kraken, Coinbase, OKX) | |
| Who it’s for | Complete beginners, small amounts | More experienced Revolut users | Regular investing, larger amounts, more features |
| Opening an account | Not needed if you already have Revolut | Log in with your Revolut account | New account and new verification |
| Purchase fee | 0.49–1.49% depending on plan + spread | 0% (limit) / 0.09% (instant) | Depends on the exchange; with limit orders usually lower than in the Revolut app |
| Recurring buy (DCA) | Yes | Use the Revolut app | Yes |
| Staking | Yes, for selected coins | Use the Revolut app | Yes (Kraken, Coinbase) |
| Withdrawal to your own wallet | Yes | Via the Revolut app | Yes |
| MiCA license | Yes | Yes | Yes |
My conclusion: For your first few hundred euros, the Revolut app is perfectly fine. When you invest more, Revolut X is the fastest way to lower your costs without a new account. But when you want higher-level staking, a wider selection, or DeFi, it’s time for a specialized exchange.
Security on Revolut and the most common mistakes
Revolut is a popular target for scammers precisely because so many people use it. Protect yourself with these steps.
How to protect your account
- Turn on biometric login (fingerprint or face) and set a strong passcode for the app.
- Never share codes from SMS messages or the app. Revolut will never call you and ask for a code or for you to transfer funds to a “safe account.” This is the most common scam.
- Be careful with notifications and links. Fake messages that look like Revolut redirect you to a fake login page. Always open the app directly, not through links.
- Use the app’s security features, such as transaction notifications and spending limits.
5 mistakes I see most often
- Buying small amounts one at a time. Because of the minimum fee, you pay a disproportionately large amount when buying just a few euros’ worth. Set up a recurring buy instead.
- Overlooking the spread. People look only at the fee, not at the price difference. Always compare how much of the coin you get for your money.
- Using the wrong network when withdrawing. Always check the network before sending, and send a small test amount first.
- Buying because of hype. When a coin rises 50% in a week, it’s often already too late. A DCA strategy protects you from this.
- Investing money you need. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. Only invest an amount that you could stand to see temporarily drop by half without panicking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crypto on Revolut
How do I buy crypto on Revolut?
In the app, open the Crypto tab, choose a coin, enter the amount in euros, and confirm the purchase. On your first purchase, you have to accept the crypto services terms and answer a few questions about your experience. The coin appears in your portfolio within seconds.
Is buying crypto on Revolut safe?
Revolut holds a MiCA license for crypto services in the EU, issued by the Cypriot regulator. This means the provider is regulated. However, cryptocurrencies are not insured like a bank deposit, and their value can fluctuate sharply.
How much does it cost to buy crypto on Revolut?
The fee depends on your plan: around 1.49% on the Standard plan, 0.99% on the Premium and Metal plans, and 0.49% on the Ultra plan. In addition, the spread between the buy and sell price is built into the price. On Revolut X, fees are significantly lower.
Can I send crypto from Revolut to my own wallet?
Yes. You can withdraw most coins to an external address. You pay a small fixed Revolut fee plus the network fee. Always check the network before sending.
What is Revolut X?
Revolut X is Revolut’s separate crypto exchange for more experienced users. It has an order book, charts, and low fees: 0% for limit orders and 0.09% for market orders. You log in with your existing Revolut account.
Can I earn with staking on Revolut?
Yes, for selected coins such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. Revolut takes a portion of the rewards as a fee, which depends on the coin. The app shows you the expected yield before you turn staking on.
Is it better to buy crypto on Revolut or on an exchange?
For your first small purchases, Revolut is the easiest choice. For regular larger purchases, active trading, or DeFi, a specialized exchange or Revolut X is cheaper and more flexible.
Conclusion: Revolut as an Entry Point, Not Necessarily the Final Stop
If you already have Revolut, you have no excuse left not to take the first step. Your first crypto purchase takes less time than a cup of coffee.
My suggestion for getting started:
- Buy Bitcoin or Ethereum on Revolut for a small amount, for example €50.
- Set up a recurring monthly purchase that won’t strain your budget.
- Put your selected coins into staking.
- Once your monthly amounts grow, switch to Revolut X or a specialized exchange and save on fees.
Revolut is an excellent entry point. But once you start taking crypto more seriously, it pays to know the tools that experienced investors use. I’ve collected everything in my free crypto e-book.
In the free webinar, I’ll show you how I set up recurring investing and staking, and how I split my money between exchanges and my own wallet.
👉 Sign up for the free webinar on earning with cryptocurrencies
