Relai is a breakthrough star in the challenging market of digital assets, securing a Series A funding round last year and reaching over 500,000 app downloads.
With today’s announcement, the company takes a big step forward. As one of the first Bitcoin companies, the Swiss startup successfully obtained authorization as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU’s MiCA regulation granted by the French Financial Market Authority (AMF).
This license allows Relai to take the next step and offer its award-winning app to users across the European Union, subject to completion of the passport issuance notification process. This is a milestone not only for Swiss Bitcoin startups, but also for Bitcoin in Europe.
So far, the company has built a loyal and attractive user base in Switzerland and Italy, but it aims to expose Bitcoin to even more users through its platform.
The MiCA license allows Relai to extend regulated services to EU users and offer a variety of features designed to enhance accessibility and transparency, including:
- Instant SEPA – Anyone in the EU can buy Bitcoin within seconds.
- Higher trading limits – Users will be able to purchase more BTC with EUR.
- Fixed price – Users can see the exact price when creating an order, ensuring complete transparency regarding costs and conversion rates.
- Educational content – Exclusive content with great learning engagement.
- Events across Europe – Relai hosts and sponsors exclusive events within the EU.
- Best-in-class security – This app utilizes the latest security technology.
“We are very proud to be one of the first Bitcoin companies to receive a MiCA license and we hope to expand first to France and then Europe as a second step.”
– Julian Liniger, Co-founder and CEO, Relai AG, Switzerland
Relais will also be guided by a distinguished advisory board, seated by Jean Guillaume, Daniel Astraud and Hervé de Kerdrel. All are industry veterans and are great additions to Relai’s European expansion.
“Relai is one of the first Bitcoin-only companies to receive a MiCA license. This is a milestone not only for us but also for the entire Bitcoin industry across Europe. Our goal is clear: to bring Bitcoin to as many people as possible: simple, secure and regulated.”
– Adem Bilican, Relai EU Co-Founder and President
MiCA allows Bitcoin-only providers to develop new and exciting products and gain a foothold in the ever-evolving market within the EU. The company’s next steps are planning marketing campaigns and events for 2026, as well as exciting updates to the app in the coming weeks.
Press contact:
Joël Kai Lenz, Head of Communications
joel@relai.app
Disclaimer: Relai is authorized to provide crypto asset services in Switzerland and throughout the European Union under the MiCA regulatory framework. The company is actively expanding its services to EU member states following the completion of passport applications.
About Relay
Relai is a Swiss startup founded in Zurich in 2020 by Julian Liniger and Adem Bilican. Their Bitcoin-specific app is designed to be intuitive and easy, allowing anyone to buy and sell Bitcoin within minutes. Relai stands out in the crowded crypto market with its unique approach to self-custody. Unlike other platforms, Relai does not hold user funds. Instead, users will be able to take control of their financial future with an easy-to-use self-custodial wallet. Relai is a Swiss licensed financial services provider with a trading volume of over $1 billion and has received the Crypto Asset Market Regulation (MiCA) license from the French Financial Markets Authority AMF. In 2024, Relai was named one of the fastest growing startups in Europe and in September 2025 received the Best Fintech award in the Swiss Startup Top 100. For more information, please visit relai.app.