Relai
Relai is Europe’s easiest Bitcoin app, allowing users to buy and sell Bitcoin within minutes without complex registration.
What you should know about Relai
- Non-Custodial: You hold your own private keys, ensuring full control and ownership of your Bitcoin.
- Easy Auto-Invest: Setup recurring buys (DCA) with no fees for your first 100 EUR/CHF each month.
- No Registration: Buy Bitcoin up to certain limits without the need for complex KYC or account registration.
- Low Fees: Base fees can be reduced to as low as 1% through volume discounts and referral codes.
Facts about the Relai
Relai FAQ
How does Relai's non-custodial architecture impact the recovery process if I lose access to my wallet?
Relai operates strictly as a non-custodial platform, meaning the user retains full control over their private keys at all times. If you lose access to the app or your device, your funds are only recoverable via the 12-word seed phrase generated during your initial wallet setup. Relai does not store a copy of your seed phrase or private keys on its servers, making it technically impossible for their support team to recover lost funds or restore access on your behalf.
What specific conditions must be met to achieve the lowest possible fee tier of 1.00% on Bitcoin purchases?
To reduce the base transaction fee from 2.50% down to the minimum of 1.00%, users must fulfill three distinct criteria simultaneously. First, the transaction must be configured as a recurring Auto-Invest plan rather than a single purchase, which removes 0.50%. Second, you must apply a valid referral code, which deducts another 0.50%. Finally, the order volume must exceed 100 EUR or CHF per transaction to eliminate the final 0.50% volume surcharge.
Can I utilize Relai's no-KYC tier indefinitely, or are there aggregate limits beyond the daily threshold?
Relai permits users to buy and sell up to 1,000 EUR or CHF per day without undergoing standard identity verification, leveraging Swiss regulatory provisions for light-touch onboarding. While the daily limit is strictly enforced, you can continue using this tier indefinitely up to an annual limit of 100,000 CHF. Exceeding this annual threshold, or engaging in suspicious transaction patterns, will trigger mandatory compliance checks requiring full passport and proof of residence verification.
Are there hidden spread costs or network fees added on top of the stated transaction fees when buying via SEPA?
When purchasing Bitcoin via SEPA bank transfer, Relai applies its stated transaction fee, but users should also be aware of the spread and network routing. Relai aggregates liquidity through institutional brokers and applies a nominal spread between the buy and sell price to cover market volatility during execution. Additionally, while standard network mining fees are often absorbed or batched to minimize costs, periods of extreme Bitcoin network congestion may result in dynamic on-chain fee adjustments that affect the final fiat-to-BTC conversion rate.
Does the Auto-Invest feature lock in the Bitcoin price at the time of the bank transfer initiation or at the time of settlement?
The exchange rate for an Auto-Invest transaction is not locked in when your bank initiates the SEPA transfer. Instead, the transaction is executed and the price is finalized only when the fiat funds physically arrive and settle in Relai's brokerage accounts. Because SEPA transfers can take between one to two business days depending on your banking institution, users are exposed to interim market volatility, meaning the final executed price may differ from the price at the time the transfer was dispatched.
Relai FAQ
How does Relai's non-custodial architecture eliminate counterparty risk during the execution of Bitcoin purchases?
Unlike centralized exchanges that hold user funds in omnibus wallets, Relai operates on a strict non-custodial model. When a user initiates a purchase, the fiat funds are routed through Relai's brokerage partners directly into a Bitcoin transaction that deposits the newly acquired BTC straight into a self-custodied wallet on the user's device. This architecture ensures that Relai never holds the user's private keys or Bitcoin, effectively neutralizing the risk of exchange insolvency or centralized hacks.
What are the specific mechanisms by which users can optimize their trading fees down to the 1.00% minimum on the Relai platform?
Relai's base trading fee starts at 2.50%, but users can systematically reduce this by stacking three distinct discounts. First, setting up a recurring Auto-Invest plan (Dollar-Cost Averaging) grants a 0.50% reduction. Second, applying a valid referral code during the transaction provides another 0.50% discount. Finally, executing a single transaction volume exceeding 100 EUR or CHF subtracts a final 0.50%. By combining all three criteria, traders can achieve the optimal 1.00% fee tier.
How does the 1,000 EUR/CHF daily limit without mandatory KYC comply with European anti-money laundering regulations?
Relai leverages specific provisions within Swiss financial regulations that allow for light-KYC onboarding for micro-transactions. By capping the trading volume at 1,000 EUR or CHF per day and 100,000 EUR or CHF annually, the platform satisfies regulatory requirements without forcing users through a burdensome, document-heavy identity verification process. This approach preserves user privacy while remaining fully compliant with the applicable legal frameworks.
What are the distinct cost implications of using credit or debit cards versus SEPA bank transfers for funding Relai auto-invest plans?
While Relai supports multiple payment gateways for user convenience, the underlying settlement costs vary significantly. SEPA bank transfers are the most cost-effective method, typically incurring zero additional processing fees from Relai's banking partners, making them ideal for recurring Auto-Invest setups. Conversely, utilizing credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay introduces third-party payment processor fees, which are passed on to the user and can noticeably inflate the total acquisition cost of the Bitcoin.
As a Bitcoin-only platform, does Relai support advanced network features such as Lightning Network routing or custom UTXO management?
Relai's primary value proposition is streamlined, frictionless Bitcoin accumulation for retail investors. While it rigorously adheres to a Bitcoin-only philosophy, its current technical infrastructure is optimized for standard Layer 1 on-chain transactions. It does not currently expose advanced UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) coin control features or native Lightning Network routing within its default mobile interface, focusing instead on simplifying the dollar-cost averaging process directly into cold storage.