Trade Republic built its name as a slick German brokerage app, but its crypto push is the feature quietly turning heads across Europe. With millions of users already buying ETFs and stocks commission-free, the platform is now positioning itself as a one-stop shop for digital assets too. Here's the no-fluff breakdown of what Trade Republic crypto actually offers in 2025.

What Is Trade Republic and Why Is It Suddenly Talking Crypto?

Trade Republic launched in Berlin in 2015 as a mobile-first broker promising zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs, and derivatives. Fast forward a decade and the app holds a full banking license, sits under the supervision of BaFin, and has become one of Europe's most-downloaded investment platforms. The crypto pivot didn't happen overnight, but the recent expansion of supported coins and the launch of a dedicated crypto wallet have made digital assets a first-class citizen on the app.

Unlike native crypto exchanges, Trade Republic bundles traditional securities with tokenized assets in a single interface. That means a first-time investor in Frankfurt, Paris, or Amsterdam can buy a fraction of a Bitcoin or a euro-pegged stablecoin in the same swipe they use to buy an MSCI World ETF. For regulators, that's convenient. For retail traders, it raises the question of whether convenience is worth the trade-offs.

Which Cryptocurrencies Can You Actually Trade?

The current lineup is lean, but it's growing. As of this year, Trade Republic supports a curated basket of major tokens rather than the sprawling altcoin catalogue you'll find on Binance or Kraken. The exact list can change, but expect the heavyweights to be present.

  • Bitcoin (BTC) — the default store-of-value pick for most European retail inflows.
  • Ethereum (ETH) — the second-largest asset by market cap and the backbone of DeFi.
  • Solana (SOL) — added as the platform chased faster, cheaper chain exposure.
  • Cardano (ADA), Litecoin (LTC), and XRP — established names with deep liquidity.
  • Stablecoins — including euro and dollar-pegged tokens for users who want a crypto-native parking spot.

Notably absent are the meme-coin wildcards and long-tail DeFi tokens. Trade Republic has signalled a conservative approach, prioritising assets with proven liquidity and regulatory clarity. That's a deliberate filter, and depending on your style, it can feel either reassuring or limiting.

Fees, Limits, and the True Cost of Convenience

Trade Republic's headline pitch has always been low fees, and the crypto side mostly honours that promise — with a few asterisks. Stock and ETF trading sits at zero commission, and crypto trades follow a similar "no-commission" marketing line. In practice, the platform embeds its cost inside the spread, the gap between the buy and sell price you see on screen.

  • Trading fees: No explicit commission on crypto spot trades for most retail users.
  • Spread: Roughly 1% on major coins during normal market conditions, wider during volatility.
  • External transfer fees: Moving crypto to a private self-custody wallet incurs network gas costs and a small flat service fee.
  • Staking rewards: Available on selected proof-of-stake assets, with rates disclosed in-app.

The killer feature, however, is the crypto wallet. Trade Republic lets you hold your coins directly on the platform or withdraw them to an external address, a step that many legacy brokers have refused to offer. Self-custody is still the gold standard in crypto, and Trade Republic deserves credit for not locking users in. Just remember that with on-chain transfers, you inherit the usual risks: wrong addresses, network congestion, and gas-fee spikes.

Pros, Cons, and Who Should Actually Use It

Trade Republic isn't trying to out-Binance Binance. It's trying to be the default European brokerage app, and crypto is part of that bundle. That positioning has clear strengths and equally clear weaknesses.

The Case For Trade Republic Crypto

The platform is regulated, user-friendly, and integrates seamlessly with existing securities accounts. For someone already investing in ETFs and wanting small, recurring crypto allocations, the friction is minimal. The app experience is polished, customer support is reachable in multiple European languages, and the custody setup is backed by institutional partners rather than a hot wallet experiment. Recurring buys, savings plans for Bitcoin, and tax-friendly wrappers for German residents add real practical value.

The Case Against Trade Republic Crypto

Active crypto traders will hit a wall fast. The asset selection is shallow, advanced order types are missing, derivatives and margin are unavailable, and the spread can sting during choppy markets. There's no native DeFi access, no NFT marketplace, and no way to interact with Web3 apps directly from the app. If you want to farm yield, mint tokens, or move capital across chains, you still need a dedicated on-chain wallet and a non-custodial exchange.

Key Takeaways

Trade Republic's crypto offering is best understood as a gateway, not a destination. It's the easiest on-ramp for European retail investors who want regulated, low-friction exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a handful of blue-chip tokens — all from an app they may already use for stocks and ETFs. For power users, the limitations are obvious, but for the masses the platform is doing for crypto what Revolut did for forex: removing friction at the cost of choice.

  • Trade Republic supports a curated list of major cryptocurrencies, not long-tail altcoins.
  • Crypto trading is commission-free on the surface, with costs baked into the spread.
  • Self-custody withdrawals are supported, but incur network fees.
  • It's ideal for casual investors and DCA strategies, less so for active traders.
  • Regulation through BaFin adds a layer of trust rarely seen in pure crypto venues.

Before clicking buy, decide whether you want a broker that sells crypto or a crypto-native platform. Trade Republic is firmly in the first camp, and that's either exactly what you need or a deal-breaker, depending on where you sit on the spectrum.