bity vs Recap

Bity operates primarily as a non-custodial broker and payment gateway rather than an order-book trading venue. The core catalog emphasizes major market assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins such as Tether and USD Coin, alongside select regional utility tokens. Visitors do not register an internal multi-asset custodial balance. Instead, the interface functions around direct settlement pairs connecting Swiss Francs and Euros to specified blockchain public keys. Transaction routing handles both buying and selling, allowing account holders to off-ramp digital holdings straight to traditional European IBAN accounts.

In addition to web-based gateway interactions, Bity operates a physical network of two-way crypto ATMs across Switzerland. These terminals support cash-to-crypto purchases and crypto-to-cash redemptions for supported assets. The broker also distributes an application programming interface tailored for wallet developers, merchant payment setups, and institutional partners seeking embedded Swiss liquidity. Because the catalog intentionally bypasses volatile micro-cap tokens and complex leveraged derivative products, users looking for extensive altcoin discovery or yield-bearing contracts must look toward specialized global venues instead.

Recap operates as a dedicated non custodial tax calculation engine and comprehensive portfolio tracker. The software ingests trade histories across major centralized exchanges, decentralized protocols, and native blockchain addresses. Users can connect accounts using read only API keys or import standard CSV files directly into the desktop client. Once loaded, the engine tracks token balances, identifies transfers across personal wallets, and categorizes on chain operations into disposals, acquisitions, income, or internal self transfers.

The system provides specialized coverage for decentralized finance mechanisms, accurately identifying smart contract interactions including staking yields, liquidity pool deposits, token wrapping, and automated market maker swaps. Non fungible token mints and sales are recorded alongside fungible token trades. Recap also supports international cost basis accounting methods, while giving priority to the detailed UK HMRC requirements. The interface presents a consolidated ledger that allows users to review individual transactions, edit cost basis allocations manually when necessary, and reclassify custom events before generating final tax summaries.

The cost structure at Bity reflects its role as an over-the-counter broker and instant gateway. The service incorporates a variable brokerage fee into the quoted exchange rate, which generally fluctuates between 1.5 percent and 3.0 percent depending on transaction volume, funding method, and compliance tiers. These rates encompass market execution and standard operational overhead. Because transactions execute on-chain, incoming and outgoing cryptocurrency movements incur network mining costs. For smaller transfer amounts, fixed blockchain gas or miner fees can represent a noticeable proportion of the overall transaction expense.

Bank transfers via SEPA in Euros and Swiss clearing in Swiss Francs avoid the steep surcharges commonly tied to consumer credit card payment processing. However, users should confirm whether their own financial institutions apply intermediary currency conversion charges when remitting funds from non-Euro or non-CHF base accounts. For crypto off-ramping, funds move directly to customer bank accounts once the required number of blockchain network confirmations clears. Cash transactions completed at physical ATM terminals carry separate convenience fees that reflect hardware maintenance and cash-handling overhead, making online bank settlement the more economical pathway.

Recap structures its commercial model around tiered annual subscription plans determined by the total number of transactions processed across all connected wallets and exchanges. A basic free tier is generally accessible for low volume users to test the desktop interface, explore portfolio metrics, and calculate small transaction batches. For complete year end tax report downloads and active filing requirements, paid tiers scale incrementally to accommodate moderate traders, active DeFi participants, and high frequency accounts.

Subscribers pay via fiat currency or supported payment methods on an annual or monthly cycle depending on active promotions. Paid tiers unlock full capital gains summary exports, detailed audit trails, and tax return schedules compatible with self assessment filings. Because Recap is an analytical software provider rather than a custodial exchange or broker, it charges no trade spreads, liquidity fees, or withdrawal commissions. Users should evaluate their expected yearly transaction volume across automated bots and yield harvesting protocols, as jumping into higher transaction brackets increases overall software licensing expenses.

Custodial risk reduction forms the foundation of Bity's operating model. The company does not retain customer private keys, host persistent custodial web wallets, or pool digital assets on centralized internal exchange databases. When buying digital assets, users supply their own destination wallet address, ensuring complete control of private keys remains exclusively with the individual. This structural design insulates account holders from catastrophic exchange balance freezes, platform bankruptcies, or centralized wallet pool compromises that affect conventional trading platforms.

Security measures across user profiles incorporate mandatory multi-factor authentication, secure session management, and encrypted communication channels. When interacting with the web portal, users can configure verified bank details and destination address whitelists to reduce accidental transfer errors. Because transactions settle permanently on public decentralized blockchains, users carry full personal responsibility for verifying public wallet address accuracy, network compatibility, and private key backups. Bity cannot reverse confirmed blockchain transactions, retrieve misdirected tokens, or recover funds sent to incompatible smart contract addresses.

The core architectural principle of Recap is zero knowledge data handling through client side encryption. Unlike conventional cloud tax tools that store cleartext API keys, trade volumes, and wallet addresses on remote databases, Recap encrypts financial data on the local operating system. The platform cannot view, analyze, or monetize user transaction histories, protecting accounts from central database breaches that frequently target cloud accounting platforms.

Connections to centralized exchanges require only read only API permissions, preventing any risk of unauthorized token transfers or account withdrawals. Recap does not request or store private keys, seed phrases, or custody credentials. Users retain full physical responsibility for securing their local device, managing operating system updates, and creating encrypted local backups. Account access is helps protect by strong master password requirements and optional local authentication controls, ensuring that personal financial logs remain strictly within the operator perimeter.

Bity operates under Swiss financial market regulations as a recognized financial intermediary. The entity maintains formal affiliation with the Financial Services Standards Association, also known as VQF, an officially recognized self-regulatory organisation subject to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. This regulatory footing establishes strict adherence to Swiss Anti-Money Laundering legislation. The platform enforces tiered customer due diligence. Low-tier transactions below specific daily thresholds can proceed with streamlined mobile or identity validation, whereas higher limits necessitate comprehensive know-your-customer document submission, proof of residence, and declaration of beneficial ownership.

The service focuses primarily on European and Swiss residents, restricting access for jurisdictions subject to international sanctions, high-risk financial jurisdictions, and United States persons due to foreign regulatory constraints. Customer assistance operates through an online ticketing desk, structured knowledge documentation, and direct email communication during standard Swiss business hours. While direct phone support remains limited to specialized institutional accounts, the online support team assists with banking confirmation queries, transaction hash verifications, and account limit upgrades.

Recap is designed with deep alignment toward United Kingdom tax legislation while supporting international standards. The calculation engine applies specific statutory pooling rules defined by HM Revenue and Customs, generating clear capital gains summaries and income breakdowns suitable for inclusion in UK Self Assessment tax returns. The software also assists users in other jurisdictions by calculating baseline capital gains, trading income, and cost basis schedules under standard accounting principles.

Customer assistance is provided through a structured knowledge base, comprehensive setup tutorials, and a web based help desk ticketing system. The company maintains community forums and documentation covering exchange API integrations, custom CSV formatting, and DeFi transaction tagging. Because Recap functions purely as an analytical tool, it does not provide formal legal or chartered financial advice. Users managing complex corporate structures or ambiguous decentralized protocol distributions can export detailed audit logs directly to their independent accountants or tax advisers.