Pocket vs Strike

Pocket Bitcoin stands out with its non-custodial model, sending Bitcoin directly to your wallet without holding funds, and a no-account, KYC-light approach for daily buys up to €1,000 | 0.01 BTC | 0.01 BTC, prioritizing privacy. It offers one-off or recurring buys via bank transfer, with a 1.5% fee and no withdrawal fees, supporting select hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger with message signing.

Pocket's mission is to make Bitcoin ownership frictionless and private, promoting self-custody without complexity and with a vision to expand to a dozen more European countries and enhance wallet integrations.

The mobile app, and the web portal for managing orders and wallet settings, are praised for their simple interface and fast transactions, but some find the fees slightly high.

Strike is a custodial bitcoin app focused on fast buys and cash like payments. The mobile interface puts bank, card, and direct deposit funding beside instant Lightning withdrawals, so you can move from fiat to bitcoin and back with minimal steps.

Funding options cover fee-free ACH, debit cards with a small processor fee, and same day wires. ACH deposits trade instantly yet stay pending for roughly five business days before you can withdraw, while wires settle in about one business day and debit card purchases clear immediately.

Recurring purchases waive the Strike fee after the first cycle, and optional auto-withdrawals move your balance to self custody once it reaches the threshold you set. Customer prompts inside the app highlight fee tiers, settlement speed, and the 12 hour cancel window Strike gives you before broadcasting auto-withdrawals.