Bitstamp is one of the pioneering cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2011 by Nejc Kodrič and Damijan Merlak in Slovenia, starting from a garage with just two laptops and a server to create a secure alternative after the Mt. Gox hack. It quickly grew into a global player, becoming the first nationally licensed Bitcoin exchange in the EU in 2016, and was acquired by Robinhood in 2024 to expand its crypto offerings. Today, it allows users to buy, sell, and trade over 80 cryptocurrencies with fiat currencies like USD and EUR, featuring spot trading, staking rewards up to 5% APY, advanced APIs for pros, and institutional services, all backed by top-tier security like cold storage for 95% of assets and annual Big Four audits.
Bitstamp keeps things strictly business, with no splashy DEI initiatives, Pride month shoutouts, or donations to social justice causes cluttering their site or feeds, just a focus on secure crypto trading without the corporate virtue parade. They do comply with EU-mandated ESG reporting for environmental transparency in crypto, but it's more about ticking regulatory boxes than preaching climate sermons.
