Founded in 2020 by Julian Liniger and Adem Bilican, Relai set out to remove the complexities, barriers and risks associated with traditional crypto exchanges. Instead of cumbersome onboarding processes, complicated trading interfaces and counterparty risk, Relai offers a self-custodial, regulation-compliant and user-friendly platform for bitcoin investment.

With over 100,000 active users and total trading volume of more than $600 million, Relai has quickly established itself as the go-to bitcoin brokerage for retail investors, businesses and high net worth individuals.

A frictionless approach to bitcoin investing

The Relai app was designed with one core principle in mind: simplicity. While other platforms require extensive verification processes and custodial accounts, Relai allows users to buy bitcoin in minutes – with no prior crypto experience or complicated technical setups:

What makes Relai different:

Bitcoin-only focus – Unlike most platforms that offer a wide range of cryptocurrencies, Relai remains laser-focused on Bitcoin, reinforcing its position as the most trusted and decentralised investment asset.
Self-custodial model – users have full control over their private keys, eliminating third-party risks and strengthening security.
Swiss regulatory advantage – operating from Switzerland, Relai benefits from a stable financial ecosystem, strong data protection laws and regulatory clarity, setting it apart from many global competitors.
Auto-Invest feature – Encourages long-term wealth accumulation through recurring bitcoin purchases.

This focus on simplicity, security and accessibility has made Relai particularly attractive to millennial retail investors, SMEs and high net worth individuals (HNWIs) looking for an easy yet secure way to diversify into bitcoin.

A strong business model with market recognition

Relai's approach has been thoroughly evaluated by the experts at SEF.Growth, who see strong scalability and competitive positioning in its business model. The company's decision to operate as an all-bitcoin, self-custodial platform is seen as a key differentiator that builds long-term trust and credibility with investors.

From a regulatory perspective, Relai is well positioned to adapt to the European Union-wide MiCA regulations, ensuring smooth market expansion across multiple countries.

Its financial model has also demonstrated impressive growth metrics, particularly in customer acquisition and retention. However, experts emphasise that maintaining these metrics while scaling internationally will be a key challenge.

Relai

Pioneering bitcoin simplicity in Europe