Revolut and crypto explained.

Revolut holds a European banking licence for payments, but the crypto service runs through a separate entity within the group operating under relevant crypto regulation. Inside the app you buy a position in bitcoin or other coins that the group holds on your behalf.

It feels fast because your balance already sits in the same app: no separate transfer, no new login. That convenience is exactly why many users treat Revolut as their first exposure to crypto.

While the coins remain inside Revolut you hold a claim on the provider, not a coin in a wallet with a key only you know. It resembles a balance on an account: it's there, but it isn't the same as holding the keys yourself.

Withdrawal to an external wallet is generally possible but not equally available for every account or coin, and can come with its own conditions and waiting times. Check the current withdrawal terms in the app before buying at scale.

The rate shown in the app isn't the whole story: alongside an explicit percentage there's usually a spread built into the price you receive versus the market price. That spread is less visible than a stated fee but weighs on your return just the same.

It's worth comparing the price you get against a market price at the moment of the order, so you have a realistic view of the total cost, not just the stated fee.

Since the introduction of the European MiCA regulation, crypto service providers active in the EU need a licence and must meet custody, transparency and complaints rules. That also applies to the entity within a group like Revolut offering the crypto service.

A licence means supervision and minimum safeguards, not a guarantee against price loss or a provider's insolvency. Read the provider's own terms for the exact coverage of your balance.

For tax purposes, holdings and purchase history count regardless of which app you used. Keep transaction records from the app itself, since export options and detail level differ per provider and can change after an update.

Anyone who regularly swaps between coins inside the app should document those internal swaps too; tax authorities generally treat them as separate transactions.