Revolut is one of the most popular financial apps in Ireland — used by millions of people for everything from spending abroad to splitting bills. It also lets you buy crypto directly in the app. So for many Irish people, the question is natural: why bother setting up a separate exchange when Revolut already has crypto built in?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you want to do. Revolut is fine for some things and genuinely poor for others. This article gives you the full picture so you can make the right call for your situation.
📋 What's covered in this guide
How Revolut Crypto Works
Buying crypto on Revolut is genuinely simple. You open the app, tap the Crypto section, select a coin, enter the amount in euros, and confirm. The transaction completes in seconds using the euros in your Revolut balance. You can also set up recurring purchases — for example, buying €50 of Bitcoin every week automatically.
Revolut holds the crypto on your behalf in a custodial setup. This means Revolut manages the actual digital assets — you see a balance in your app but you do not directly control the underlying cryptocurrency on the blockchain. Think of it like seeing a number on a screen rather than having coins in your own pocket.
This custodial model is common among beginner-friendly platforms and is not inherently dangerous, but it does have implications for fees, withdrawals, and security that are worth understanding before you commit.
Fees — The Full Breakdown
This is where Revolut's crypto offering starts to look less attractive, especially if you plan to buy regularly or in larger amounts.
Trading spread
Revolut does not charge a simple flat fee. Instead it applies a spread — it buys crypto at a slightly lower price than what it charges you. This spread is typically 1.5% to 2.5% above the real market price, depending on your plan. This cost is built into the exchange rate you see in the app and is not always obvious to first-time buyers.
For comparison, dedicated exchanges like Coinbase typically charge 0.5–1.5% in fees, while Kraken and Binance charge as little as 0.1–0.25% for regular traders. Over time, on larger amounts, this difference adds up significantly.
Monthly exchange limits
Standard plan users have a €1,000 per month exchange limit covering all exchanges — currencies, crypto, and commodities combined. Once you exceed this limit, a 1% fair usage fee applies to all further exchanges that month. Plus plan users get a €3,000 limit before the 0.5% fair usage fee kicks in. Premium, Metal, and Ultra plan users have no exchange limit and no fair usage fee.
Weekend fees
Standard plan users pay an additional 1% fee on all exchanges made at the weekend — defined as Friday 5pm to Sunday 6pm New York time. Plus users pay 0.5% extra on weekends. If you tend to buy crypto on a Saturday or Sunday — which many casual buyers do — this cost adds up quickly.
Example: A Standard plan user buying €500 of Bitcoin on a Saturday afternoon could pay up to 3.5% in total costs — the spread plus the weekend surcharge. On a dedicated exchange like Kraken, the same transaction might cost 0.4%.
Which Coins Can You Buy on Revolut?
Revolut supports over 200 cryptocurrencies as of 2026, which covers all the major coins comfortably — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB, XRP, Cardano, Avalanche, Polygon, and many others. For a beginner sticking to established cryptocurrencies, this selection is more than adequate.
Where Revolut falls short is in the long tail — newer DeFi tokens, smaller altcoins, and recently launched projects. Dedicated exchanges like Binance support 500+ trading pairs and Coinbase lists 200+ vetted assets. If you want to buy a specific lesser-known token, there is a reasonable chance Revolut does not list it.
Can You Withdraw Your Crypto From Revolut?
This is the most important limitation to understand as you grow as a crypto investor.
Revolut now allows withdrawals of selected cryptocurrencies to external wallets, but this feature is limited. Not all coins are eligible, not all account types have access, and the blockchain network options are restricted. Many users find that their crypto is effectively locked inside the Revolut ecosystem.
Why does this matter? In crypto, there is a widely held principle: not your keys, not your coins. If you cannot withdraw your crypto to your own wallet, you are trusting Revolut to always be solvent, always be available, and never freeze your account. For small amounts this risk may feel theoretical. For larger holdings it is a genuine concern.
If you ever want to move your Bitcoin or Ethereum to a hardware wallet like a Ledger for long-term secure storage, or to use it in DeFi applications, Revolut's limited withdrawal options become a real obstacle. See our wallet guide for more on why controlling your own keys matters.
Key point: If you plan to hold crypto long-term or in significant amounts, a dedicated exchange with full withdrawal support — and ideally a hardware wallet for storage — is the better choice over Revolut.
Is Revolut Crypto Regulated in Ireland?
This is a nuanced point that catches many Irish users off guard.
Revolut operates in Ireland as a licensed bank regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for its banking services — your euro deposits have regulatory protections. However, its crypto services are provided by Revolut Digital Assets Europe Limited (RDAEL), and Revolut's own fee pages note clearly that the crypto offering does not require licensing or authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland and is not covered by the same consumer protection rules.
This does not mean Revolut crypto is unsafe — it is a large, reputable company. But it is worth understanding that your crypto balance on Revolut does not carry the same legal protections as your bank balance.
Dedicated exchanges operating under MiCA (the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation) such as Coinbase and Kraken offer clearer regulatory frameworks for crypto specifically. See our exchanges guide for MiCA-registered options available to Irish users.
Pros and Cons
✓ Pros
- Extremely easy to use — most Irish people already have the app
- Buy crypto in seconds with euros already in your account
- No separate account or verification process needed
- Good for small, occasional purchases of major coins
- Recurring purchase feature is useful for euro-cost averaging
- 200+ coins available — covers all mainstream options
- Reputable, regulated company with strong brand trust
✗ Cons
- Higher fees than dedicated exchanges — spread of 1.5–2.5%
- Weekend surcharge adds further cost for Standard users
- €1,000 monthly exchange limit on Standard plan
- Limited withdrawal options — hard to move crypto to your own wallet
- No advanced trading features — no limit orders or stop-losses
- Crypto not covered by Central Bank of Ireland protections
- Custodial — you do not control your private keys
- Staking fees of 15–35% of rewards if using Revolut's staking feature
Revolut vs Dedicated Exchanges
| Feature | Revolut | Coinbase | Kraken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use for beginners | Excellent | Very good | Good |
| Trading fees | 1.5–2.5% spread | 0.5–1.5% | 0.1–0.25% |
| Weekend surcharge | Yes (Standard) | No | No |
| Withdraw to own wallet | Limited | Full support | Full support |
| Number of coins | 200+ | 200+ | 300+ |
| MiCA / EU regulated crypto | No | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced trading features | No | Basic | Full |
| Separate account needed | No | Yes | Yes |
The Verdict — Who Should Use Revolut for Crypto?
✅ Revolut is a reasonable choice if:
You are a complete beginner who wants to buy a small amount of Bitcoin or Ethereum quickly and conveniently. You already have a Revolut account, you are not concerned about moving the crypto elsewhere, and you are buying occasionally rather than regularly. The simplicity and familiarity of the Revolut app is a genuine advantage in this scenario, and the higher fees are a reasonable price to pay for that ease of entry.
⚠️ Consider a dedicated exchange if:
You plan to invest regularly, in larger amounts, or you want to move your crypto to your own wallet for long-term storage. The fee difference between Revolut and a dedicated exchange like Kraken becomes significant over time — if you invest €200 a month, you could be paying €30–50 more per year in fees on Revolut compared to Kraken. A dedicated exchange also gives you full withdrawal rights and stronger regulatory protections for your crypto specifically.
The most practical approach for many Irish investors is to use both — Revolut for the occasional small purchase when convenience matters most, and a dedicated exchange like Coinbase or Kraken for regular investing and for crypto you intend to hold long-term.
Looking for a dedicated exchange?
See our full comparison of the best exchanges for Irish users.