Is LHV crypto friendly?

Yes. Crypto trading is built into the Estonian app, and the UK arm banks Coinbase and Bitstamp, but coins cannot leave the bank.

CBL Score: 9 of 16

CriterionScoreSource
Accepts exchange transfersyes (2)source · checked 8 September 2026
Stablecoin off-rampno (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Business accounts for Web3yes (2)source · checked 8 September 2026
Custodypartial (1)source · checked 8 September 2026
Staking and yieldno (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Cardpartial (1)source · checked 8 September 2026
Multiple jurisdictionspartial (1)source · checked 8 September 2026
Open to retailyes (2)source · checked 8 September 2026

Total 9 of 16. Yes scores 2, partial 1, no 0. A secondary source is press or a third party rather than the bank or its regulator. Unverified means no source could be found; the score stands until one is.

Score history

Scores are revised when a bank's documents change. Each revision is dated and sourced.

8 September 2026Stablecoin off-rampyes to nosource

Standing

JurisdictionEstonia · UK
TypeBusiness banking
Health tagSolid Listed parent, unrestricted UK and Estonian banking licences, profitable. · checked 26 August 2026
P2P toleranceRelaxed The most crypto-open bank in its market, with in-app trading via Bitstamp and Coinbase, and over 200 fintech clients, crypto firms among them. Thin retail P2P data, but the structural posture is tolerant. · community-reported, separate from the score
Last verified8 September 2026

What LHV allows and blocks

Allowed

  • Buying, selling and holding 15 crypto assets inside the LHV mobile and internet bank, 24 hours a day
  • Euro transfers in to fund a purchase and euro withdrawals after a sale, as ordinary bank payments
  • Crypto purchases by both private individuals and companies (companies need an LEI code)
  • Pre-filled tax forms for Estonian private customers who trade crypto through LHV
  • Business banking for crypto and virtual asset service providers, fintechs and other financial intermediaries through LHV Bank Ltd in the UK
  • GBP Faster Payments and SEPA Instant euro rails for fintech and crypto clients, with virtual IBANs
  • Estonian debit and credit cards, and a fee-free UK debit card with no foreign spending fees

Blocked or restricted

  • Transferring crypto from LHV to an external wallet or exchange, and sending crypto into LHV. You must sell inside the bank to move value out
  • Using crypto bought at LHV to pay for goods or services on other platforms
  • Stablecoins. LHV offers only 'other crypto assets' under MiCA, not e-money tokens or asset-referenced tokens
  • Staking. LHV says it plans to add staking after its 2026 MiCA licence, but it is not live
  • US persons and residents of sanctioned regions are excluded from the crypto service
  • Payments in Estonia may be restricted when linked to industries LHV treats as high financial crime risk, including currency exchange and payment intermediation

Opening an account

Fees that matter

Regulatory history

2023LHV Bank Ltd authorised as a UK credit institution by the PRA in May, the first licence granted without restrictions that year; the Estonian branch's UK business transferred to it in August source
2023Finantsinspektsioon fined AS LHV Pank 900,000 euros and issued a precept over anti-money laundering shortcomings in correspondent banking services source
2026Finantsinspektsioon granted AS LHV Pank a MiCA crypto-asset service provider licence covering custody and order transmission, the first for a bank in Estonia source

Questions about LHV

Does LHV let me send money to Coinbase or Kraken?

LHV does not publish a retail rule on paying crypto exchanges. Its UK arm is Coinbase's main bank in Europe and has served Bitstamp since 2019, which points to a tolerant stance. The Estonian payments page does say LHV may restrict payments tied to industries it sees as high financial crime risk, so a block is possible on a case-by-case basis.

Can I withdraw crypto from LHV to my own wallet?

No. LHV's terms say it does not provide crypto transfer services. Coins bought at LHV stay in omnibus accounts held with Bitstamp Europe and Coinbase Luxembourg, and the only way out is to sell for euros inside the bank.

What does LHV charge to buy Bitcoin?

The fee is 0.5% on each purchase and sale, with no charge for holding. The minimum buy is 20 euros, the minimum sale is 10 euros, and a single order is capped at 100,000 euros.

Can a foreigner open an LHV account?

Yes, if you can show a connection to Estonia such as a lease, job or business, and you visit an LHV office in person. E-residency alone does not qualify. Non-resident private accounts cost 100 or 200 euros to open plus 10 or 20 euros a month depending on whether you live in the EU.

Closest alternatives

13/16Revolut
Yes for individuals, with the deepest crypto stack of any app-bank. No for crypto businesses.
15/16Swissquote
Yes, with fenced on-chain flows: crypto comes in only from six named exchanges or your own wallet, and never goes out to an exchange.
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