Finst

Finst is an Amsterdam-based cryptocurrency investment platform founded in 2022 by Julien Vallet and Marcel Putina. The founders, who were part of the core team at the European online stockbroker DEGIRO, established Finst with the mission to make crypto investing safer, more transparent, and more affordable. They identified that the crypto market suffered from similar issues as traditional financial markets in the past, such as high fees, lack of transparency, and limited trading capabilities.

Finst operates as a regulated crypto-asset service provider, holding a MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This regulatory compliance allows the platform to serve clients across the European Union. The company's business model is centered on charging a flat, transparent transaction fee of 0.15% per trade, with no hidden spreads, deposit fees, or inactivity fees. This fee structure is positioned to be significantly lower than many competitors in the market.

The platform serves both retail and institutional investors, including brokers, fintech companies, banks, and family offices. For individual investors, Finst offers a user-friendly platform for buying, selling, and swapping over 340 cryptocurrencies. Key features include Crypto Bundles for diversified investing, an Auto Invest option for automated purchasing, and staking services to earn rewards on crypto holdings. For institutional clients, Finst provides a 'crypto-as-a-service' solution that includes trading, custody, settlement, and staking via a single API integration. Security is a major focus, with Finst utilizing segregated custody for client assets and being the first Dutch exchange to provide an audited Proof of Reserves.

Since its launch in 2023, Finst has experienced rapid growth, reaching nearly 100,000 verified users and processing billions of euros in annual trading volume while maintaining operational profitability. The company has secured a total of €15 million in funding, including a €8 million Series A round in early 2026 led by Endeit Capital. These funds are aimed at fueling European expansion, with a specific focus on the German market, and further product development. Finst also expanded its footprint by acquiring competitor Anycoin Direct in 2024.

Keywords: cryptocurrency exchange, crypto investment platform, digital assets, low-fee crypto trading, regulated crypto services, MiCAR license, institutional crypto, crypto-as-a-service, crypto custody, crypto staking, Julien Vallet, Marcel Putina, DEGIRO, Amsterdam, Dutch crypto, European crypto market, Crypto Bundles, Auto Invest, Proof of Reserves, prime brokerage, fiat on-ramp, retail investors, institutional investors, crypto trading, blockchain, fintech, asset management, digital finance