Our take
bison
BISON provides a structured, approachable pathway into digital asset markets for European retail investors. Powered by Boerse Stuttgart Digital Ventures and its affiliated entities, BISON focuses on compliance, reliability, and ease of use. Instead of overwhelming users with derivatives, complex charting interfaces, or thousands of speculative altcoins, the platform delivers a streamlined experience oriented around buying, selling, and holding major digital currencies.
The service eliminates explicit transaction commissions by embedding trading costs entirely within an average spread of approximately 1.25 percent. Custody is handled directly by Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody GmbH, a German entity holding a BaFin crypto custody licence. While experienced high-frequency traders may find the curated asset library and spread pricing restrictive compared to deep multi-tier order books, BISON represents a dependable, transparent gateway for long-term allocators and newcomers prioritizing regulatory safety.
bity
Bity provides a non-custodial fiat gateway and crypto brokerage established in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Operating since 2014, the service connects European banking rails including SEPA and Swiss domestic transfers directly to on-chain cryptocurrency deliveries. Unlike centralized trading hubs that hold account balances on centralized ledgers, Bity functions as a direct execution intermediary. Purchased assets settle immediately into personal self-custody addresses, while crypto sales convert into bank payouts or physical cash through its regional ATM network.
This operational architecture eliminates counterparty insolvency custody exposure, appealing directly to users who prioritize wallet autonomy and Swiss regulatory standards. The tradeoff emerges in transaction costs, as integrated broker fees and network mining charges exceed standard maker and taker tiers on deep order books. For retail buyers and institutional clients demanding direct on-ramp execution without exchange-side asset custody, Bity delivers a focused and transparent Swiss service.