Hey bunqers 🌈,

You can safely invest in cryptocurrencies directly from the bunq app. Before you start investing, it’s important to understand the risks involved.

This product is offered by Kraken, and all crypto activity is handled directly by them. Please, read the following risk information carefully before making any investment decisions.

Why is crypto a high-risk investment?

Crypto prices can go up and down very quickly. This happens because the market is always changing, and prices depend on things like how many people are buying or selling, news, or online trends. This means:

• You could lose all the money you put in;

• Just because a coin made money before doesn’t mean it will again;

Is my money protected when I invest in crypto?

No, crypto investments aren’t protected like regular bank savings. If something goes wrong, like if the platform has issues, there’s a major security problem, or your funds are lost, you might not be able to get your money back.

Do I own the crypto I buy through bunq?

Yes, Kraken will store any crypto you buy in your name. However, you won’t have the private keys yourself.

What about laws and taxes?

Laws and tax rules are different in every country.

• You usually need to report any money you make (or lose) from crypto in your tax return;

• bunq and Kraken don’t report this for you. You’re responsible for keeping track and staying within the rules.

Are my cryptoinvestments protected?

Your cryptocurrencies are safeguarded by Safety Shield, an automatic feature that temporarily holds any money you receive from selling crypto for 24 hours before it’s released to your Bank Account. This security measure provides you with extra time to detect and report any suspicious activity, ensuring that even if someone gains access to your account, they cannot immediately withdraw your funds.

Safety Shield is enabled by default for all users, and you’ll always see a note in your payment details if it’s active during a crypto sale. You can turn off Safety Shield anytime in the Crypto tab, but there’s a 24-hour delay before it’s fully disabled for your protection.

You can read more about Safety Shield here.

Can I sell my crypto whenever I want?

Yes, you can sell your crypto whenever you want with bunq. Thanks to Safety Shield, any money you receive from a crypto sale will be held securely for 24 hours before it’s released to your Bank Account.

Should I invest in crypto?

Crypto isn’t the right choice for everyone. Only invest if:

• You fully understand how it works and what the risks are;

• You’re okay with the chance of losing all the money you put in;

• You know what your legal and tax responsibilities are.

If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to talk to a financial advisor before getting started.

Virtual currency risks for 🇧🇪 Belgian users

• The value of your virtual currencies can rise or fall sharply, and your initial investment may be lost completely;

• Virtual currencies are not covered by the guarantee funds that cover bank deposits;

• There is no legal mechanism on the virtual currencies market to prevent market manipulation or insider dealing;

• Virtual currencies depend entirely on a specific computer technology and infrastructure, which in certain cases may be very recent and not yet adequately tested;

• If one loses the identification code or password giving access to the virtual wallet in which the virtual currency is stored, the currency held therein will be irretrievably lost;

• Virtual currencies are currently accepted as a means of payment to a limited extent, and in most countries there is no legal obligation to accept them;

For more information about the risks associated with an investment in virtual currencies, we advise you to read the Wikifin page.