- 15 Dec 2025
- Elara Crowthorne
- 0
When you're looking for a crypto exchange in Europe and you care about safety more than flashy features, Paymium stands out. It’s not the biggest, it doesn’t offer hundreds of coins, and you won’t find leverage or mobile apps that feel like gaming platforms. But if you want to buy Bitcoin with Euros on a platform that’s legally supervised by France’s financial authority, Paymium is one of the few real options left.
What Is Paymium, Really?
Paymium started in 2011 as Bitcoin Central - one of the earliest crypto exchanges in Europe. It rebranded to Paymium in 2014 and has stayed under the same leadership ever since. Unlike exchanges that popped up during the 2021 bull run and vanished by 2023, Paymium survived multiple crypto winters. Why? Because it never chased hype. It focused on compliance. It’s regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France’s financial markets watchdog. That means your funds are handled under strict EU payment service rules. Most exchanges claim to be secure. Paymium is legally required to be secure. That’s a big difference. It’s not for everyone. If you want to trade Solana, Shiba Inu, or 200 other altcoins, you’ll be disappointed. Paymium supports around 10 cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin (BTC) as its main focus. Ethereum (ETH) is the only other major coin you’ll find in any volume. Everything else is niche or low-liquidity.How Much Does It Cost to Trade on Paymium?
Fees on Paymium are weird - in a good way. For makers (people who add liquidity by placing limit orders), the fee is -0.10%. That’s right - you get paid to trade. If you place a buy order that doesn’t fill immediately, and someone else takes it, Paymium gives you 0.10% of the trade value as a reward. This is rare. Most exchanges charge makers 0.1% to 0.2%. Paymium flips it. Takers (people who remove liquidity by using market orders) pay 0.50%. That’s higher than the global average of 0.25% to 0.30%. So if you’re day trading or using market orders constantly, you’ll pay more than on Binance or Kraken. The fee structure makes sense if you think about it: Paymium wants to attract long-term buyers and sellers who hold Bitcoin, not high-frequency traders. It’s built for people who want to buy BTC and hold it, not flip it every hour. Withdrawals? Free. Paymium covers Bitcoin network fees. That’s not common. Most exchanges charge $1 to $5 per BTC withdrawal. Paymium doesn’t. You get your Bitcoin out without extra cost.Deposits and Withdrawals: EUR Only
You can only deposit and withdraw in Euros (EUR). No USD, no GBP, no AUD. If you’re in Europe, that’s fine. If you’re outside Europe, you’ll need to convert your currency first. Deposits come via SEPA bank transfer or Visa card. SEPA transfers are free and usually take 1-2 business days. Card deposits are instant but come with a small processing fee - around 2.5% to 3.5%, depending on your bank. Deposit limits are generous. After a banking partner switch in 2019, daily limits jumped from €10,000 to €100,000. Monthly? Up to €500,000. That’s enough for most individuals and small businesses. Withdrawals are straightforward. You can withdraw EUR to your bank account via SEPA, or BTC to any external wallet. No hidden fees. No delays. Just follow the steps.Security: Cold Storage and 2FA
Paymium stores 95% of user funds in cold storage - offline wallets with no internet connection. The rest is kept in hot wallets for daily trading needs. This is standard for reputable exchanges, but Paymium doesn’t just say it - they’re audited by French regulators. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is mandatory. You can’t skip it. You must use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. SMS 2FA isn’t supported, which is good - SMS is easy to hack. KYC (Know Your Customer) is required for all users. You need to upload a government ID and a selfie. It takes 1-3 business days to verify. If you’re privacy-focused, this will frustrate you. But if you want a regulated, legal platform, this is the price of admission. There’s also a dormant account fee. If your account stays inactive for more than three years, Paymium charges a small fee to cover storage costs. It’s rare, but worth noting if you’re planning to hold BTC for a decade.
User Experience: Simple, But Too Simple
The interface is clean. No clutter. No charts with 15 indicators. No trading bots you don’t understand. It’s like a basic bank app - easy for someone who’s never traded before. Buy Bitcoin? Click “Buy,” pick EUR, enter amount, confirm. Done. Sell Bitcoin? Same thing. It’s perfect for beginners. If you’re new to crypto and just want to buy your first Bitcoin without getting lost in a maze of tabs, Paymium is one of the easiest places to start. But if you’re experienced? You’ll feel bored. No advanced order types. No stop-losses. No trailing stops. No API access for automated trading. No charting tools beyond basic candlesticks. Paymium doesn’t want you to trade - it wants you to hold.Customer Support: Limited Hours
Support is available Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM CET. No weekends. No 24/7 live chat. You contact them via email or ticket system. Responses usually take 1-2 business days. That’s slower than Binance or Kraken, which offer instant chat. But again - this isn’t a global exchange chasing volume. It’s a small, regulated platform with a lean team. You’re trading with a bank, not a tech startup. Users on G2.com complain about language support. Paymium supports English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. But some users want Latin American Spanish or Portuguese. It’s a small gap, but noticeable if you’re not in Western Europe.Who Is Paymium For?
Paymium isn’t for crypto speculators. It’s not for DeFi farmers. It’s not for altcoin hunters. It’s for:- European residents who want to buy Bitcoin legally and safely
- People who trust regulated institutions over anonymous platforms
- Long-term holders who don’t trade daily
- Small businesses or freelancers who get paid in crypto and need to convert to EUR
- Institutional clients with large EUR deposits (over €50,000) who can use the OTC desk
Who Should Avoid Paymium?
Skip Paymium if you:- Want to trade more than 10 cryptocurrencies
- Need leverage (Paymium doesn’t offer any)
- Trade multiple times a day
- Expect 24/7 customer support
- Live in a banned country (Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan, etc.)
How Does Paymium Compare to Other Exchanges?
| Feature | Paymium | Kraken | Binance | Swan Bitcoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated by EU authority | Yes (AMF) | Yes (FinCEN, MiCA) | No (offshore) | Yes (US) |
| Primary fiat currency | Euro (EUR) | USD, EUR, CAD | USD, EUR, BTC | USD |
| Cryptocurrencies offered | ~10 | 200+ | 350+ | 1 (BTC only) |
| Maker fee | -0.10% | 0.10% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Taker fee | 0.50% | 0.16% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Bitcoin withdrawal fee | Free | 0.0005 BTC | 0.0005 BTC | Free |
| 24/7 support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OTC desk for large trades | Yes (€50k+) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Final Verdict: A Niche Player With Big Advantages
Paymium isn’t trying to be the biggest. It’s trying to be the safest. And in a world where crypto exchanges collapse, get hacked, or vanish overnight, that’s worth something. If you’re in Europe, want to buy Bitcoin with Euros, and want to know your money is protected by law - Paymium is one of the best choices you have. If you want to trade altcoins, use leverage, or day trade - look elsewhere. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast-growing. But it’s still here in 2025, after 14 years, because it did one thing right: it followed the rules.Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paymium safe to use?
Yes, Paymium is one of the safest crypto exchanges in Europe. It’s regulated by France’s financial authority (AMF), stores 95% of funds in cold storage, requires mandatory 2FA and KYC, and covers Bitcoin withdrawal fees. Unlike unregulated exchanges, it’s legally required to protect user assets and report suspicious activity.
Can I trade altcoins on Paymium?
You can trade around 10 cryptocurrencies, but Bitcoin (BTC) is the only one with real liquidity. Ethereum (ETH) is available, but trading volume is low. Other coins like Litecoin or Dogecoin are listed but rarely traded. If you want to buy Solana, Polygon, or Shiba Inu, Paymium isn’t the place.
Does Paymium have a mobile app?
No, Paymium doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app. The platform works through a mobile-friendly website, but there’s no iOS or Android app. This is intentional - Paymium prioritizes security and simplicity over convenience. You can still buy and sell on your phone via the browser, but you won’t get push notifications or one-tap trading.
What are the deposit limits on Paymium?
After a banking upgrade in 2019, Paymium allows up to €100,000 in deposits per day and €500,000 per month via SEPA or card. This makes it suitable for individuals and small businesses. There’s no minimum deposit - you can start with €5.
Why is Paymium’s taker fee so high?
Paymium charges 0.50% for taker orders because it doesn’t rely on high-volume trading for revenue. Instead, it makes money through small spreads and the OTC desk. The negative maker fee (-0.10%) offsets this by encouraging long-term buyers to place limit orders. It’s designed for holding, not day trading.
Can I use Paymium if I’m not in Europe?
Yes, Paymium serves users in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and parts of Africa and Latin America. But you must deposit and withdraw in Euros. If you’re outside Europe, you’ll need to convert your local currency to EUR first, which adds cost and complexity. Residents of sanctioned countries (Iran, North Korea, Cuba, etc.) are blocked.
