Exchange & product reviews
In-depth reviews of crypto exchanges, wallets and cards for Baltic and Nordic users.
28 articles
Exchange review
XTB - Polish multi-asset broker with spot crypto
X-Trade Brokers DM SA (WSE: XTB) is a Polish multi-asset broker founded in 2002. In 2026 it launched spot crypto services via its Cyprus CySEC subsidiary, bypassing the Polish MiCA stalemate. Full LV/LT/EE localisation with partner managers in Baltic languages
XTB is a Polish multi-asset broker founded in 2002 and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE: XTB) since 2016. In 2026 it launched spot crypto services via its Cypriot CySEC subsidiary XTB Cyprus Ltd, bypassing the Polish MiCA stalemate (President Nawrocki refuses to sign the national law). 25+ spot crypto, 4,000+ stocks and ETFs, 50+ forex pairs in one account. Unique among the top 10 brokers - full LV/LT/EE localisation with local partner managers. In this detailed review we analyse XTB's crypto offering, multi-asset strategy and why it fits Baltic traders.
toms-abeltins· 9 Jun 2026· 7 min read
Exchange review
Safello - first Swedish MiCA crypto exchange
Safello Group AB (Nasdaq First North: SFL) is the first Swedish crypto exchange with a MiCA CASP licence from Finansinspektionen. 425,000+ active users, Q1 2026 financials, BankID and Swish integration. A deep dive for Baltic and Nordic users
Safello is the first Swedish crypto exchange with a full MiCA CASP licence from Finansinspektionen (2025-10-13). A public Nasdaq First North company (SFL.ST) founded in 2013, with 425,400+ active users and full Nordic integration (BankID, Swish, Trustly, Apple Pay). Q1 2026 net revenue of SEK 140.5M (-28% YoY) reflects a broader crypto market downturn. In this deep dive we analyse Safello's market position, financials, MiCA passport potential and why the 0.99-1.5% fees make it more expensive than competitors.
toms-abeltins· 8 Jun 2026· 7 min read
Exchange review
TWINO Investments - 6th LV MiCA CASP 2026
TWINO Investments (Bank of Latvia, 2026-06-04) is the 6th LV MiCA CASP and the first in the Baltics with a unique MiCA + Investment Firm licence combination.
On 4 June 2026 the Bank of Latvia granted MiCA CASP authorisation to AS TWINO Investments - the 6th LV MiCA CASP licence and the first in the Baltics with a unique combination of MiCA + Investment Firm licence. In this deep dive we analyse Twino Group history (founded 2009 by Armands Broks, 100% owner), the 22,000+ investor base, financial figures (2024 revenue €2.9M, profit €362K), services (custody, crypto-fiat, crypto-crypto, order execution), the unique MiCA + Investment Firm combination, and a comparison with Paybis Europe, Backpack EU, Bitvavo.
toms-abeltins· 6 Jun 2026· 7 min read
Exchange review
LHV Pank - MiCA crypto in an Estonian bank
Estonia's largest local bank obtained its MiCA CASP licence from Finantsinspektsioon (EFSA) in May 2026. Customers can now buy, sell and hold the 15 most popular cryptocurrencies directly in the LHV internet bank with a flat 0.5% fee
AS LHV Pank, Estonia's largest local bank, obtained a MiCA CASP licence from Finantsinspektsioon in May 2026. Customers can buy, sell and hold 15+ cryptocurrencies directly in the LHV internet bank and mobile app, with a flat 0.5% fee and free custody. Trading and cold storage are handled by the licensed Bitstamp and BitGo. In this friendly review we look at what this is, why it matters to the Estonian market, how it compares with Bitvavo and Robinhood Europe, and why the lack of external wallet withdrawals can be a serious drawback.
toms-abeltins· 5 Jun 2026· 5 min read
Exchange review
Robinhood Europe - first Lithuanian MiCA exchange
Robinhood Europe, UAB is the first holder of a Lithuanian MiCA CASP licence (2025-05-30). A NASDAQ:HOOD subsidiary with a 0% fee model, mobile retail focus and EU passporting rights in 30 EEA countries
On 30 May 2025 Robinhood Europe, UAB became the first holder of a Lithuanian MiCA CASP licence, issued by Lietuvos bankas. The NASDAQ-listed Robinhood Markets subsidiary enters Europe with 0% explicit fees, spread monetisation (~0.65%) and a mobile-first retail focus. In this friendly review we look at how Robinhood EU fits Baltic users with its 30+ coin set, how it compares with Bitvavo and Coinbase, and why the spread is a hidden cost.
toms-abeltins· 4 Jun 2026· 4 min read
Exchange review
Coinbase and Coinbase Card EU - 2026 deep dive
The first US-listed crypto exchange with a MiCA licence from Luxembourg CSSF, 120 million global users, $1.4 billion Q1 2026 revenue - but Coinbase Card EU without Apple Pay, Google Pay and cashback. What does that mean for Baltic and Nordic users?
Coinbase is the first US-based crypto exchange with a full MiCA licence (CSSF Luxembourg, June 2025) covering all 27 EU markets plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. 120 million global users, $1.4 billion in Q1 2026 revenue, Nasdaq-listed under the ticker COIN. In this deep dive we look at Coinbase EU services, fees, the Coinbase One subscription ($29.99/mo with zero fees up to $10k), the Coinbase Card EU quirks (no Apple Pay, no cashback) and how it compares with Bitvavo, Kraken and Bitstamp for Baltic and Nordic users.
toms-abeltins· 3 Jun 2026· 11 min read
Exchange review
CACEIS Bank - MiCA Article 60 institutional custody
French asset servicing giant with EUR 5.9 trillion under custody has received MiCA Article 60 authorisation for crypto services - what it means for Baltic and Nordic institutional clients
CACEIS Bank, the asset servicing arm 100% owned by Crédit Agricole with EUR 5.9 trillion in assets under custody and EUR 3.7 trillion in administration, received MiCA Article 60 authorisation from ACPR on 30 June 2025. It allows crypto-asset custody, order reception and transfers across the EEA. In this deep dive we look at what the Article 60 banking route means versus the Article 60(3) AIFM route (AKJ, GCEX), how the CACEIS Nordics team in Luxembourg serves Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Danish clients, and why this matters to Baltic professional investors.
toms-abeltins· 3 Jun 2026· 10 min read
Card review
Bleap non-custodial crypto card - deep dive 2026
Bleap (bleap.finance) is the 2024-founded non-custodial Mastercard project by ex-Revolut founders with MPC tech (no seed phrase), 0% FX, 2-20% USDC cashback and Unlimit as card issuer. 20,000+ users, £21.8m transactions in 2025, $8m+ raised from Ethereal Ventures and Blossom Capital.
Bleap (bleap.finance) is a 2024-founded non-custodial crypto Mastercard built by ex-Revolut founders Joao Alves and Guilherme Gomes. Unlike Crypto.com, Nexo or Krak cards, Bleap runs on MPC (Multi-Party Computation) - the user controls assets until the moment of purchase, with no seed phrases. 20,000+ users in EEA, £21.8m transactions in 2025, $8m+ raised (pre-seed from Ethereal Ventures, growth from Blossom Capital). Card issued by Unlimit (Cyprus EMI). 0% FX, 2-20% USDC cashback direct on-chain. Comparison vs Krak Card, Nexo, Crypto.com and MetaMask Card in the Baltic and Nordic region.
toms-abeltins· 2 Jun 2026· 8 min read
Exchange review
Northcrypto - Finnish crypto exchange 2026 deep dive
Northcrypto Oy (Turku, 2018) is a Finnish crypto exchange that since 2024 has been part of the Swedish publicly listed GreenMerc AB group together with Trijo. Deep dive: history, financials, MiCA status, services, ownership, position in the Nordic market.
Northcrypto Oy (Turku, 2018, reg. no. 2918254-9) is one of the 4-5 largest Nordic crypto exchanges, operating since 2024 as a subsidiary of the Swedish publicly listed GreenMerc AB group together with Trijo. In this deep dive we analyse Northcrypto's history, ownership structure, GreenMerc group financials (2024 revenue SEK 686.7m, +258% YoY), MiCA CASP status (authorised in 2025 H2, trading expansion in progress), services (Quickbuy, Autopilot, Advanced trading 1%, Northcrypto Private HNW), 260+ supported cryptocurrencies, the cold storage model, and its market position against Coinmotion, Bitvavo, Kraken and Kvarn X.
toms-abeltins· 2 Jun 2026· 7 min read
Card review
Lunar and Lunar Card — Scandinavian neobank guide 2026
What the Danish neobank Lunar is, what Lunar Card and Lunar Block offer, which markets they serve and how Lunar compares to Revolut, N26, Firi and Bitvavo — full MiCA CASP licence granted in October 2025.
Lunar Bank A/S is the Danish neobank that became the first Scandinavian financial institution with a full MiCA CASP licence in October 2025. This guide covers Lunar's history (founded 2015, banking licence 2019), product range (current account, Lunar Block crypto, stocks, Lunar Business), four pricing tiers (Free, Standard 39 DKK, Plus 79 DKK, Unlimited 149 DKK), market coverage (DK, SE, NO), MiCA passporting potential and key risks (closed crypto platform, DKK pricing, not available in the Baltics). Compared with Revolut, N26, Bunq, Bitvavo and Firi. For Baltic and Finnish users we list the locally MiCA-licensed alternatives: Paybis Europe, Kvarn X and Neverless.
toms-abeltins· 30 May 2026· 7 min read
Wallet review
Ledger vs Trezor 2026 — which hardware wallet to pick?
In-depth comparison of the two leading hardware wallet makers — Secure Element grade, open-source philosophy and historical incidents.
Ledger and Trezor are the two leading hardware wallet makers. Which is better for a Baltic or Nordic user in 2026? We compare Secure Element (EAL5+ vs EAL6+), firmware openness, security incidents, coin support and price — with a decision tree that walks you to the right pick.
toms-abeltins· 29 May 2026· 17 min read
Wallet review
Trezor wallet guide 2026 — Safe 3, Safe 5, Safe 7 & Trezor Suite
Full SatoshiLabs hardware wallet overview: three active models €79–€249, Bitcoin-only variants, Keep Metal seed plates, Trezor Suite with staking/swap/CoinJoin/Tor, an honest summary of security incidents (Mailchimp 2022, SendinBlue 2024, support form 2025) and European market position.
Trezor is the world's first hardware wallet, built in Prague in 2013. This guide explains what each of the three active models is for — entry-level Trezor Safe 3 (€79) with EAL6+ Secure Element, mid-range Trezor Safe 5 (€169) with colour touchscreen and Shamir Backup, and the 2025 flagship Trezor Safe 7 (€249) with post-quantum cryptography and dual Secure Element architecture. We review Trezor Suite's extras (buy/sell/swap, staking, CoinJoin, Tor), the company's history (SatoshiLabs founders Marek Palatinus and Pavol Rusnák), security incidents (Mailchimp 2022, SendinBlue 2024, support form 2025 — all outside the wallet itself) and Trezor's 28% European market share vs Ledger's 20%. Affiliate disclosure: Norriwire is a Trezor partner.
toms-abeltins· 29 May 2026· 8 min read