Pocket Review: Fees, Features & Setup Guide

Updated: December 2025

Quick verdict

positive icon Best for: Buyers across the EU who want bank transfers to drop bitcoin straight into a wallet they control.

neutral icon Consider if: You value transparent pricing but are okay with your trades executing on a crypto exchange (Kraken).

negative icon Not ideal when: You need Lightning payouts or non-EU payment rails today.

Getting started

Getting started with Pocket

1. Create your Pocket order

1. Create your Pocket order

Setup time: ~5 minCost: FreeRisk: Low
  1. Visit pocketbitcoin.com and start a new one-off or auto-invest order.
  2. Paste a fresh receive address from your wallet or upload the file Pocket requests to validate it.
  3. Review the summary showing the 1.5% service fee and Kraken reference rate.

Gotcha: Use a new address for each long-term purchase so you do not expose your full balance.

2. Send your bank transfer

2. Send your bank transfer

Setup time: ~2 minCost: Depends on bankRisk: Low
  1. Log into your bank and send a SEPA transfer to Pocket's IBAN with the exact payment message shown.
  2. Set the transfer as a standing order if you plan to auto-invest on a cadence.
  3. Save the confirmation email so you can trace the payment if the bank asks for details.

Gotcha: Transfers that miss the payment message are refunded, so copy it exactly.

3. Watch the payout in your wallet

3. Watch the payout in your wallet

Setup time: ~10–60 minCost: Mining fee onlyRisk: Low
  1. Wait for Pocket's execution email that confirms your order ran on Kraken.
  2. Open your wallet or a block explorer to see the incoming transaction Pocket broadcast.
  3. Label the transaction so you can reconcile it with your bank transfer later.

Gotcha: High network congestion can slow confirmations even though the payout was broadcast.

Fees: what you pay and when

Fees: what you pay and when

Buy bitcoin

Buy bitcoin

Service fee: 1.5%

What happens:
Pocket deducts the 1.5% service fee, executes the remaining balance on Kraken, and converts it to bitcoin before payout.

Save money:
Send fewer, larger transfers so the flat 1.5% covers more sats instead of lots of tiny buys.

Learn more

The payout screen shows the Kraken price and timestamp so you can verify the execution.

Pay on-chain

Bitcoin network fee

Typically 500–1000 sats per payout

What happens:
Pocket batches many customer payouts into one transaction so everyone shares the mining fee.

Save money:
If you fund multiple buys in a day to the same address, Pocket can combine them into one payout to reuse the fee.

Learn more

Pocket publishes the miner fee on the receipt so you can see how much of the transaction cost you carried.

Quick answers

Does Pocket hide a spread in the exchange rate?

No. Pocket executes each order on Kraken and shows you the live rate they used so you can compare it to the public order book.

How big is the mining fee on a typical payout?

Pocket reports that batching keeps most payouts in the 500–1000 sat range, which equals roughly 10–25 euro cents at recent prices.

Can multiple transfers share one mining fee?

Yes. If you send several payments to the same address in one day, Pocket can include them in a single batched transaction so the fee is paid once.

Key terms
Pocket service fee
The flat 1.5% fee Pocket charges on every order before executing the buy on Kraken.
Batched payout
Pocket's process of combining many customer payouts into one transaction so each order shares the mining fee.
Kraken reference rate
The market price Pocket uses to execute your order and display on the payout receipt for verification.
Payment methods & limits

Payment methods & limits

SEPA bank transfer

Available
Fee Usually free from EU banks
Speed ~1 business day
Withdraw Not applicable

Best for: Eurozone customers funding recurring buys from their primary bank.

View limits & details
Min per transactionSet by your bank
Max per transactionSet by your bank
Max per daySet by your bank
Max per weekSet by your bank
Withdrawal eligibilityN/A

CHF bank transfer

Available
Fee Usually free inside Switzerland
Speed Instant (SEPA Instant) or 1 banking day
Withdraw Not applicable

Best for: Eurozone customers wanting instant settlement via SEPA Instant.

View limits & details
Min per transactionSet by your bank
Max per transactionSet by your bank
Max per daySet by your bank
Max per weekSet by your bank
Withdrawal eligibilityN/A
Pocket features & limits

Pocket features & limits

Direct-to-wallet payouts

Works

Self custody from day one No platform balances

Pocket never holds a custodial balance; every order pays straight to your address so your bitcoin stays under your control.

Show steps

Gotcha: If you rotate wallets, update your address before sending the next transfer so the payout does not land in an old account.

Batched network fees

Works

Shared mining cost Lower average sats spent

Pocket combines many payouts into one transaction so each account shoulders only a fraction of the mining fee.

Show steps

Gotcha: During heavy mempool congestion, Pocket may still pay a higher fee to clear the batch promptly.

Kraken price pass-through

Works, with caveat

Live exchange rate Caveat: Crypto exchange backend

Pocket routes your fiat through Kraken and hands you the exact rate so you can prove there is no hidden spread. That still leans on Kraken staying online, so keep a backup payout plan if the exchange stalls.

Show steps

Gotcha: Pocket is a broker, not a marketplace. Trades rely on Kraken's uptime and liquidity.

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA)

Works

Standing orders Auto-invest to your wallet

Pocket lets you automate SEPA transfers so every run stacks sats in your own wallet without manual withdrawals.

Show steps

Gotcha: If you change the payout address, update the recurring order first so the next batch does not go to the old one.

Self-custody: receive safely

Self-custody: receive safely

Pick a wallet

1. Pick your receive wallet

Time: ~5 minCost: $0–$200Risk: Low

Pocket pays every order to your address, so you need a wallet capable of receiving bitcoin securely.

Show steps
  1. Choose a wallet you trust, such as a hardware wallet for long-term savings.
  2. Update firmware or app versions so your wallet supports message signing if Pocket requests it.
  3. Write down or engrave your seed phrase and store it offline in separate locations.

Gotcha: Never store the seed digitally; Pocket cannot help you recover it if it is lost.

Make a safe receive code

2. Generate a fresh address

Time: ~2 minCost: FreeRisk: Low

Each order needs a fresh receive address so payouts stay private and trackable on your side.

Show steps
  1. Open your wallet and generate a new bech32 (bc1...) address.
  2. Copy the address exactly or use the QR export Pocket provides.
  3. Store the address reference so you can recognise matched payouts later.

Gotcha: Avoid reusing older addresses; Pocket's batch payouts make reused addresses easier to cluster.

Send a tiny test first

3. Start with a small order

Time: ~1–2 daysCost: Bank transfer feeRisk: Low

A test transfer confirms your bank message, payout address, and wallet notifications before scaling up.

Show steps
  1. Send a modest bank transfer using Pocket's reference code.
  2. Wait for the execution email and confirm the sats appear in your wallet.
  3. Check the transaction ID in a block explorer so you know what Pocket's receipts look like.

Gotcha: Your first transfer may settle slower if your bank flags the new beneficiary.

Move the rest

4. Automate your cadence

Time: ~5 minCost: Bank transfer feeRisk: Low

Once you trust the flow, a standing order keeps stacking sats directly to cold storage without daily effort.

Show steps
  1. Create a recurring transfer that matches your budget and reuse the standing payment message.
  2. Label each payout in your wallet so tax season is easier.
  3. Rotate to a fresh address whenever you need to reset privacy or change wallets.

Gotcha: Update the standing order before changing addresses; banks batch instructions by business day.

Quick answers

Do I need a new address for every order?

Pocket suggests fresh addresses for long-term privacy, but you can reuse the same one in a single day when you want payouts to share a mining fee.

Can Pocket pull bitcoin back if something goes wrong?

No. Once the transaction confirms, only wallets with that seed can spend the sats, so double-check addresses before you send the bank transfer.

What if my bank blocks the transfer?

Contact the bank with the invoice Pocket provides or try a different account. Pocket refunds unmatched transfers automatically.

Privacy & Safety

Privacy & Safety

Who can see what when you use Pocket

  • Pocket records your email, bank reference, and payout address so it can match transfers to bitcoin payouts.
  • Orders execute on Kraken, so the execution price is shared on receipts for transparency.
Do: Review your order history in the dashboard and export CSV files for accounting.
Don't: Assume bank transfers are private. Your bank still sees the recipient and amount.

Lost your phone? How Pocket recovery works

  • Use Pocket's support channel with your reference code if a bank transfer is delayed.
  • Retain your wallet's seed phrase because Pocket cannot resend bitcoin that already settled.
Do: Store payment confirmations and transaction IDs in the same secure folder as your accounting records.
Don't: Delete reference emails before your bank confirms the transfer settled.
Release & Trust

Release & Trust

Security & compliance

Non-custodial payout overview

Can Pocket access my bitcoin?
Privacy policy

Privacy policy October 2025

Privacy notice
Terms & conditions

Terms & conditions for EU users

Terms of service
Profile

Profile

Founder(s)
David Knezic
David Knezic
Company description

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 | 0.0...

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.

Founded in
2020

FAQs

How does Pocket deliver bitcoin to my wallet?

Pocket executes your buy on Kraken and broadcasts the payout straight to the address you confirmed, using the lowest mining fee it can attach. You can watch the transaction land in your wallet without waiting for a withdrawal queue.

What service fee does Pocket charge on each purchase?

Pocket applies a 1.5% service fee that covers all operating costs without touching the exchange rate. You can confirm the calculation on the payout screen before your transfer settles.

How does Pocket manage bitcoin network fees?

Pocket batches many customer payouts into one transaction so each order only pays a share of the mining fee, which usually lands around 500–1000 sats. You can reuse the same address for multiple transfers in a day when you want those payouts to share a fee.

Which exchange rate does Pocket pass through?

Pocket routes every buy through Kraken at the live market price and passes that rate to you without a hidden spread. You can match their timestamp against Kraken's public order book for verification.

Can I schedule recurring buys that settle to my wallet?

Pocket lets you set up one-off or auto-invest bank transfers that pay out directly to your own wallet instead of a custodial balance. You can build a position over time while staying in control of your keys.

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