Bitstamp by Robinhood is one of the longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges in the industry. It offers two levels designed to serve two different types of investors: Basic and Pro. 

Basic provides a quick and easy way for beginners and everyday traders to buy and sell cryptocurrency, while Pro is explicitly geared towards professional traders and cryptocurrency experts.

In this full review, we’ll explain how Bitstamp works to help you decide if it’s the right platform for you.

Bitstamp is a crypto exchange that was founded in 2011, just two years after the creation of Bitcoin. In fact, it may lay claim to the title of the longest-running crypto exchange on the planet. The company was acquired by brokerage platform Robinhood for $200 million in a deal that was completed in 2025. 

While the company offers advanced features that crypto trading enthusiasts require, Bitstamp continues to focus on everyday crypto traders. It simplifies the crypto buying process (account registration, funding, and trading) and provides a high level of security on its platform.

Bitstamp by Robinhood helps everyday people transition into crypto trading with an intuitive exchange and solid trading guides. But the company also supports advanced crypto traders with advanced order types, charting, API access, and trading rules.

Bitstamp supports more than 100 unique tokens, which are really just another name for cryptocurrency or crypto assets. Tokens mainly refer to cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin and Ethereum, even though those are technically tokens too.

Bitstamp Basic

Basic is Bitstamp’s trading platform for everyday investors who just want easy access to buy and sell crypto, and don’t require advanced order types or charting tools. Here are the key features: 

• Quick buy & sell functionality for all crypto assets
• Instant purchase with your debit/credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or bank transfer
• Intuitive user interface
• In-depth crypto learning centre  
• The ability to utilize and earn additional crypto with Bitstamp Earn*

* It should be noted that Bitstamp Earn Lending & Staking is not available in the following countries: Canada, Japan, Singapore, the UK, or the US. 

Bitstamp Pro is geared for advanced traders and crypto experts. It supports all kinds of advanced visualizations and trading options and can be accessed via the web or your mobile device. Here’s a list of key features: 

• Four different order types 
• Advanced insights and real-time market data 
• Customized market and asset view
• Buy, sell, and check transactions without switching screens 
• 24/7 real-time data streams 

Bitstamp Earn Stake allows users to stake some cryptocurrencies on Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks. This helps to support network operations and security. In exchange, users earn rewards that are paid in the same crypto. Bitstamp Earn Lend enables users to lend their cryptocurrency to institutions or market makers, earning interest in return, with current yields reaching as high as 4.40%. Unfortunately, neither Earn Stake nor Earn Lend is available to users in the US or several other countries. 

Bitstamp supports crypto investors from their first trade on the blockchain all the way to advanced traders. People preparing to make their first crypto purchase can deposit fiat currency (U.S. dollars) to Bitstamp and initiate their first trade through the platform. Investors can even buy crypto using a debit or credit card, Apple or Google Pay, or PayPal (though this requires paying a 4% fee).

Bitstamp also supports crypto-to-crypto trades and allows users to convert their crypto back to fiat currency at any time (prices are subject to market fluctuations).

Bitstamp by Robinhood uses a maker-taker model to calculate trading fees. Maker orders, which provide liquidity to the market, are charged differently from taker orders, which remove liquidity. The fee you pay depends on the pricing tier at the time the order is executed. Trading volume is measured across all trading pairs and is expressed in USD, based on the exchange rate at the time of each trade. 

Here’s a list of the standard maker/taker fees for the various USD trade volumes: 

For the full schedule, visit Bitstamp’s website.

While plenty of crypto exchanges have doubled down on crypto jargon and complexity, Bitstamp continues to make crypto more accessible to everyday people. It has a clear fee structure that’s competitive with other large exchanges, like Coinbase. 

It is not the cheapest exchange on the market—Binance is typically the low-cost leader—but it is well-insured and easy to use. Many people may dismiss these attributes, but they are important, especially for individuals concerned about crypto investing.

Bitstamp differentiates itself by offering Pro, its advanced platform made available to anyone who chooses to use it. Here’s another quick comparison:

Opening account with BitStamp involves a simple, 4-step process, whether you’re signing up as a Basic or Pro user. Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Start by downloading the Bitstamp by Robinhood mobile app for your iOS or Android device. Once downloaded, you can choose your desired mode: Basic or Pro. 
2. Follow the account opening process in the app. You’ll be asked to verify your account. 
3. Activate your device by logging into the app. You’ll be able to set up secure access using PIN, fingerprint, or Face ID. 
4. Fund your account and place your first trade. 

In 2015, Bitstamp suffered from a phishing attack and lost 18,866 BTC which was worth around $5 million at the time. While the company acted quickly, the loss highlights how big a target these crypto exchanges are.

Today, Bitstamp has multiple lines of defense to mitigate the risk of loss in the future. First, it has institutional-grade security. All users are required to use multi-factor authentication when accessing their accounts. Additionally, Bitstamp stores 95% of user assets offline in cold storage, which is largely impermeable to hacking attempts.

Personal information on the Bitstamp website or in the app is encrypted to decrease the likelihood that it falls into the wrong hands. All assets held at Bitstamp are fully insured against theft or hacking through one of two policies. This includes assets held in online storage or that are part of a transaction. This is an unusually high degree of insurance.

Overall, assets and information at Bitstamp are well protected. As long as the exchange continues to operate, users are unlikely to lose their assets or their personal information. Of course, there is no way to guarantee that the exchange won’t be hacked. All crypto investors must be prepared for this risk no matter what exchange they use.

Bitstamp by Robinhood is a global exchange. While it keeps its worldwide headquarters in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, it currently operates in over 100 countries. 

Investors based in the United States can speak with a live human agent 24/7 by calling 800-712-5702. They can also email [email protected].

Why Should You Trust Us?

We have been writing and researching cryptocurrency since 2016. We have been reviewing and testing all of the major cryptocurrency exchanges since 2017. Our team understands the crypto and NFT space, but also understands the intersection with TradFI (traditional finance). Our goal is to help bridge the gap between those in the cryptocurrency space, with those curious about it in the traditional finance space.

Furthermore, we have a compliance team that checks the accuracy of rates and service offerings regularly. 

Much like Coinbase, Bitstamp by Robinhood is a solid choice for the beginner crypto investor, due to its competitive pricing, ease of use, and intuitive platform. An added benefit is that users can grow into the Bitstamp Pro platform. You don’t have to pay extra for detailed chart views or API access, which makes it an excellent long-term choice.

However, Bitstamp’s staking program is lackluster and unavailable to U.S. residents. If this is important to you, you may want to skip the exchange and choose an alternative.