Before we dive into the detailed analysis, here's a summary of the most important data from wave.space at a glance.
Quick Overview of wave.space
About wave.space: Its Origins and Who It's Intended For
wave.space is a self-custody Bitcoin neobank: a single app that lets you buy Bitcoin directly into your own wallet, spend it with a Visa debit card, and transfer between Bitcoin and euros using a personal IBAN in your name. Since this is a self-custody solution, your Bitcoin remains in your own custody at all times, without ever passing through the company’s balance sheet.
Pros
True Self-Custody: Bitcoin Always in Your Wallet
MiCA License Starting in July 2026
wavecard: A Visa card connected to your Lightning wallet
Personal IBAN for buying Bitcoin via bank transfer
Cons
Bitcoin only—no altcoins or stablecoins
A young company, founded in 2024
ATM withdrawals are limited to €350 per day and €3,000 per month
The project was born out of a very specific premise: anyone who treats Bitcoin as money needs it to work in a world of euros—to pay rent, groceries, or subscriptions—without giving up control of their private keys. It was founded in 2024 by Felix Billert and Eivydas Račkauskas, both with more than seven years of experience in the Bitcoin ecosystem, and launched its first product in January 2025 to exchange Bitcoin and euros between a bank account and the user’s wallet. Within a few months, it introduced a debit card, and in July 2026, it completed the transition to a MiCA-licensed banking suite.
Unlike Finst, Bitvavo, or Coinbase, wave.space is not a multi-crypto exchange: it is a «Bitcoin-only» product that prioritizes the simplicity of a single asset over the variety of hundreds of cryptocurrencies. Its most direct comparison isn’t so much with the major exchanges as with other self-custodial crypto neobanks that have begun to emerge in Europe in the wake of MiCA.
Who is wave.space for? For users who are already convinced of Bitcoin's value and want to use it in their daily lives—earning, saving, paying, and spending—without relying on an exchange's balance sheet.
The most distinctive feature of wave.space is the wavecard: while most crypto cards spend from a balance held in custody by the company, this card connects to the user’s Lightning wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), an open protocol that allows payments to be authorized within limits defined and revocable by the user. The card can request from the wallet only the Bitcoin needed for each payment—what the company calls “Spending Power”—and it is automatically reloaded from the wallet after each payment.
What level of security does wave.space offer?
wave.space’s security is based on a principle different from that of an exchange: since it is a self-custodial product, much of the counterparty risk present on a centralized platform disappears, because Bitcoin is never under the company’s direct control. In return, account security depends largely on how the user manages their own wallet and backups.
Public ratings from users are displayed as follows:
European Regulation and MiCA Licensing via Lightspark
wave.space, as a brand, is a product developed by Wave Space Exploration UAB, a company incorporated in Lithuania. The regulated services that support the product—including euro accounts, virtual IBANs, Bitcoin accounts, the exchange, and the issuance of Visa cards, are provided by Lightspark Payments Europe AS, headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, under the supervision of the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority (Finantsinspektsioon).
On July 1, 2026—the same day the MiCA transition period ended—Lightspark Payments Europe obtained both CASP authorization and an electronic money institution (EMI) license, becoming the first company to secure a MiCA license in Estonia. This places wave.space among the platforms that adapted to the new European framework in time, just as other global exchanges were forced to suspend their services in the EU.
In practice, euro accounts, personal IBANs, and conversions between Bitcoin and euros are covered by Lightspark’s authorization, while wave.space acts as the product layer built on top of it. If you want to see which other platforms are subject to this same regulation, you can check out our comparison of the best MiCA-regulated exchanges in Europe.
Important note: wave.space is primarily available to users in the EEA and Switzerland, although availability may vary depending on the product and regulatory requirements.
Self-custody model using a personal wallet and NWC
The self-custody model ensures that the user's Bitcoin remains in their own wallet, rather than being deposited in a wallet controlled by the company. Each purchase is settled directly in the user’s on-chain or Lightning wallet; the card spends from that same wallet, and the proceeds from a sale are sent to the user’s bank account. The access keys remain under the user’s control, and neither wave.space nor Lightspark can access them.
This way, the funds are not exposed to the risks associated with centralized custody, such as potential insolvency or a freeze by an exchange. In return, the user assumes greater responsibility for protecting their wallet, their access keys, and their recovery phrase.
Account Security
At the user level, wave.space relies on Nostr Wallet Connect to limit the card’s exposure: instead of maintaining a permanent available balance, the wavecard holds only the amount of Bitcoin necessary for the current purchase. This reduces the impact of a potential card compromise, since there is never a large balance sitting there waiting to be spent.
Access to the account is subject to the standard security measures of a financial app, as well as the user's responsibility for their own wallet, including the safekeeping of their recovery phrase.
Pros
Spending Power model without large exposed balances
Nostr Wallet Connect, which can be revoked by the user
Lightspark Payments Europe's MiCA and EMI Licenses
Bitcoin Off the Company's Balance Sheet
Cons
Security depends on how the wallet is managed
No Traditional Proof of Reserves
A new product with little track record
Where is wave.space available?
wave.space is available to individuals over the age of 18 who are citizens or residents of an EEA country or Switzerland. This coverage is based on Lightspark’s MiCA and EMI license, granted by the Estonian regulator.
The platform is available to residents of the European Economic Area and Switzerland. This includes Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, as well as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It is also available in Switzerland.
wave.space Fees: How Much Does Trading Really Cost?
wave.space's fee structure is designed for the everyday use of Bitcoin as money, rather than for trading. Instead of a maker/taker-style trading fee, the platform charges a conversion fee between Bitcoin and euros that is applied uniformly to purchases, sales, and card payments.
Conversion fee: 1 % + up to 0.5 % spread
For every conversion between Bitcoin and euros, the platform charges a service fee of 1 %, whether you’re buying, selling, or paying with the Wavecard, and this fee remains the same regardless of the amount. Added to this fee is a spread of up to 0.5 %, which is included in the displayed price, so the total cost of the transaction can be around 1.5 %.
| Platform | Standard commission | Minimum Purchase |
|---|---|---|
wave.space
|
1 % + spread up to 0.5 % | Starting at 1 € |
Relay
|
1 % + dynamic spread | 50 € |
Pocket Bitcoin
|
1.5 % + network cost | No fixed minimum |
wave.space is more expensive than an exchange that specializes in Bitcoin trading, but it offers a different service: converting and spending Bitcoin as everyday money, with SEPA, Lightning, and a card included at no additional cost.
Did you know? The wave.space referral program allows you to permanently reduce the conversion fee: a 10 % discount with 1 referral, 25 % with 3, 50 % with 10, and a 0 % commission for life once you reach 21 referrals.
Deposits and withdrawals: free via SEPA and Lightning
Incoming and outgoing bank transfers are free, as are deposits and withdrawals via Lightning. On-chain withdrawals incur only the network fee; there is no surcharge from wave.space. Euros sent to LINK’s IBAN via SEPA Instant are converted to Bitcoin in seconds.
Wavecard fees and ATM withdrawals
The Wavecard has a one-time issuance fee: €2.99 for the virtual version and €29.99 for the physical version, both payable in Bitcoin, with no monthly fee. There is no currency conversion fee in more than 40 countries. ATM withdrawals cost €2 plus 3 %, with limits of €350 per day and €3,000 per month.
| Concept | Cost on wave.space |
|---|---|
| BTC/EUR Conversion Fee | 1 % + up to 0.5 % spread (≈1.5 % total) |
| Bank transfers (incoming and outgoing) | Free |
| Lightning Deposits and Withdrawals | Free |
| On-chain withdrawal | Network fee only |
| virtual wavecard | €2.99 (one-time payment in Bitcoin) |
| physical wavecard | €29.99 (one-time payment in Bitcoin) |
| Monthly/annual card fee | 0 € |
| ATM Withdrawal | 2 € + 3 %, limit of 350 € per day and 3,000 € per month |
Referral Program: Up to 0 % in lifetime commission
In addition to reducing its own commission for each friend invited, wave.space pays 21 % of the commission generated by referrals during their first 12 months, paid out in Bitcoin. This mechanism is designed to reward organic community growth rather than high-volume trading.
Overall, wave.space's fee policy is reasonable for everyday Bitcoin use, especially if you take advantage of the referral program, although it cannot compete on price with a specialized exchange if your goal is solely to buy and hold Bitcoin at the lowest possible cost.
How to Open an Account on wave.space, Step by Step
Opening an account on wave.space is designed to take just a few minutes on a mobile device, with a digital verification process linked to the euro accounts provided by Lightspark Payments Europe.
Step 1: Initial registration
The process begins by downloading the app and providing an email address and password. Next, the app asks you to confirm your country of residence and accept the terms and conditions of both wave.space and Lightspark, the entity that provides the regulated services.
Step 2: Identity Verification (KYC)
Since wave.space offers euro accounts and personal IBANs under MiCA and EMI licenses, it requires identity verification for users to conduct transactions normally. The process includes a photo of a valid ID, such as a national ID card or passport depending on the user’s nationality, and a proof-of-life photo or selfie taken with a cell phone to confirm that the user matches the ID.
Step 3: Set up your wallet and, optionally, your personal IBAN (LINK)
Once the account is verified, users can purchase Bitcoin directly into their on-chain or Lightning wallet. Those who prefer can activate LINK, a personal IBAN linked to their Bitcoin address: any transfer received there is automatically converted into Bitcoin.
Did you know? Setting up a recurring order to LINK's IBAN allows you to average down in euros into self-custody without having to open the app every month.
Step 4: Order the Wavecard and start spending Bitcoin
Bitcoin can be purchased from 1 € and be sent directly to the user’s own wallet, whether on-chain or via Lightning. In addition, users can request a Wavecard—in either virtual or physical format—connect it to their Lightning wallet using Nostr Wallet Connect, and pay directly with their own Bitcoin at any merchant that accepts Visa.
Summary of Requirements for Opening an Account on wave.space
Opening an account on wave.space requires meeting a series of basic conditions. These are the main requirements that users must meet:
| Requirement | Wave.space |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | Be at least 18 years old |
| Eligible country | Be a citizen or resident of an eligible country |
| Identification Card | Have a valid identification document |
| Identity Verification | Complete the required verification |
| AML Controls | Pass the relevant AML checks |
| Bank account | Use a compatible bank account |
Important note: wave.space does not support altcoins or stablecoins; the entire product—from purchase to the card—is built exclusively around Bitcoin.
Available assets: Bitcoin only; no altcoins or stablecoins
Wave.space's offering focuses exclusively on Bitcoin and the euro. There are no altcoins, stablecoins, or swaps between cryptoassets—a design choice aimed at those who have already decided that Bitcoin is the asset they want to trade, save, and spend with.
This approach clearly limits the platform compared to a multi-crypto exchange, but it also eliminates much of the complexity typically associated with such platforms. Instead of competing on the number of assets, wave.space focuses on an experience centered on buying, saving, and spending Bitcoin.
wavecard: a Visa card that lets you spend directly from your own wallet
wave.space's most distinctive product is the wavecard, a Visa debit card that—unlike most crypto cards on the market—does not draw from a balance held in custody by the company, but rather directly from the user's own Lightning wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect.
| Function | Details |
|---|---|
| Connection | Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), which the user can revoke at any time |
| Balance Model | Spending Power: It only holds the amount of Bitcoin needed for the current purchase |
| Conversion Fee | 1 % at the time of payment |
| Foreign Exchange (FX) Fees | 0 %, accepted in more than 40 countries |
| Compatibility | Visa Network (100+ million merchants), Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| Issuance Cost | €2.99 (digital) / €29.99 (physical), one-time payment in Bitcoin, no monthly fee |
Beyond the table, it works quite simply in practice: when making a payment, the card requests exactly the amount of Bitcoin needed from the wallet, which is converted to euros at that very moment. The user can revoke spending limits at any time, while the Spending Power system prevents the card from maintaining a high balance that is permanently exposed.
LINK: A personal IBAN to buy Bitcoin without opening the app
LINK is a dedicated IBAN linked to the user's Bitcoin address. Any transfer received there is automatically converted to Bitcoin, and conversely, it allows users to sell Bitcoin and receive euros via SEPA Instant.
Its main purpose is to automate the conversion of euros into Bitcoin. By setting up a recurring transfer, users can convert their euros into Bitcoin on a regular basis without having to log into the app every month.
Did you know? You can set up a recurring transfer to your LINK IBAN to automatically convert your euros into Bitcoin on a regular basis, without having to open the app every time.
wave.space vs. Deblock
The most natural comparison for wave.space pits the platform against Deblock, a French crypto neobank that shares the same philosophy of self-custody with traditional banking, although it takes a broader approach to assets compared to wave.space's "Bitcoin-only" model.
| Characteristic | wave.space | Deblock |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 2024 (Lithuania) | 2024 (France) |
| Regulation | MiCA and EMI via Lightspark Payments Europe (Estonia) | MiCA and In-House EMI, France's First MiCA License |
| Assets | Bitcoin Only | Bitcoin and stablecoins, with yield vaults in euros |
| Custody Arrangement | Self-custody model using a personal wallet and NWC | Non-custodial wallet combined with managed DeFi products |
| Conversion Fee | 1 % + up to 0.5 % spread (≈1.5 %) | Varies depending on the product and the vault used |
| Card | wavecard, spend directly from your wallet via NWC | Physical and virtual cards linked to the account |
| Personal IBAN | Yes (LINK), linked to your own Bitcoin address | Yes, a French IBAN associated with the account |
| Performance | It does not offer its own high-yield product | Vaults offering up to 6 % in annual returns in euros via stablecoins |
| Ideal for | Anyone who wants to live exclusively on Bitcoin without diversifying | Anyone looking for self-custody combined with returns in euros and stablecoins |
wave.space is committed to the simplicity of a single asset and a card that never relinquishes self-custody, not even when making payments. Deblock expands into stablecoins and yield vaults denominated in euros, so while both platforms are based on a similar philosophy, they ultimately offer different products.
For those who are committed to Bitcoin and want to build their entire ecosystem around that asset, wave.space is the most logical choice. For those looking for self-custody combined with returns in euros and stablecoins, Deblock offers a more comprehensive solution.
App and platform: How is wave.space used on a day-to-day basis?
wave.space offers a mobile app designed for everyday Bitcoin use rather than trading: buying, selling, managing the wavecard, and configuring LINK through a simple interface. The platform deliberately omits many of the tools typically found on an advanced exchange to keep the focus on day-to-day transactions.
Navigation is structured into a few clear sections:
- Wallet: Bitcoin balance, on-chain and Lightning transaction history.
- Card: Wavecard management, spending limits, and Nostr Wallet Connect.
- LINK: Setting up your personal IBAN and recurring purchase orders.
- Earn: tracking the referral program and accumulated commission discounts.
In terms of execution, wave.space does not offer advanced order types such as limit or stop-loss orders. Buying and selling take place at the market price at the time of the trade, in line with its approach to Bitcoin as money rather than a speculative asset.
Pros
Simple, user-friendly interface
Personal IBAN with SEPA and SEPA Instant
Compatible with Lightning and NWC
An approach focused on self-custody
Virtual and physical Wavecard with no monthly fee
Cons
It only allows trading in Bitcoin
No advanced trading or derivatives
Availability is primarily focused on Europe
Final Verdict: Is wave.space Worth It in 2026?
wave.space works especially well for those who are already convinced about Bitcoin and want to use it as real money, without giving up self-custody—even when paying with a card. Its combination of the wavecard, a personal IBAN (LINK), and a MiCA license valid starting in July 2026 forms a cohesive offering that is rarely replicated by the other exchanges in this comparison.
That said, wave.space has clear limitations. It’s not an option for diversifying into altcoins, active trading, or accessing staking and derivatives. Its total conversion fee, around 1.5 %, is higher than that of a specialized exchange like Finst or Bitvavo, although it makes up for this with free SEPA and Lightning transfers and a card with no monthly fee.
With all this in mind, wave.space is a good option for European Bitcoiners who want to make a living from their Bitcoin without placing their trust in an exchange’s balance sheet. Those who prioritize the lowest possible costs or are looking for other cryptocurrencies will find a specialized exchange more suitable; those who value self-custody above all else will find wave.space to be one of the most comprehensive options of 2026.
This review is based on our actual experience using wave.space. We tested the platform by making deposits, purchases, sales, and withdrawals of cryptocurrencies, and we also evaluated its fees, security, and ease of use. The assessment you are reading reflects our hands-on experience—not a first impression or financial advice.
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(FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions About wave.space
