Cryptos
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Litecoin
  • Bitcoin Cash
  • Dash
  • IOTA
  • Monero
  • NEM
  • Ripple
Additional info
  • 1.25-10% (currency dependent)
    Trading Fees
  • helpdesk@spectrocoin.com
    Email
Target Market
  • Czech Republic, Georgia, Poland
Deposit
  • Credit Card, Bank Wire, SEPA, Debit Card, OKPay, Perfect Money, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort
Currencies
  • USD, EUR, GBP, CZK, PLN
Pros
  • Local deposit options for Eastern European clients
  • Visa debit card automatically converts bitcoin to fiat at point of sale.
  • Really easy registration and KYC process
Cons
  • Fees a bit high depending on base currency
  • Brokerage only, no exchange

Summary

Spectrocoin offers a very good all-in-one solution to European and CIS states including a brokerage service accepting a number of different local currencies, a visa debit card which can be denominated in USD, EUR or GBP, and merchant services. There are a number of important deposit and withdrawal options that will appeal to Russian and Eastern European clientele – including local bank deposits in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania. With live and multilingual support and very good native apps for both Android and iOS platforms, Spectrocoin is a great product for its target Eastern European/Eurasian market.  That not you? Compare exchanges to find a more appropriate fit.

Security

Two factor authentication is offered via SMS, google authenticator, or by email for client side protection. According to CEO Vytautas Karalevicius, 95% of client bitcoin is held in deep cold storage.

Opening an Account

Jot down your email and password, confirm you are not a robot, set up a second factor authentication and you are the proud owner of a new spectro account. Please find below account privileges based on verification.

 Not VerifiedVerified
KYC RequirementsSign up Additional biographical, upload one government-issued ID
Deposit OptionsOKPay, Payeer, Perfect Money Wire, SEPA, Credit and Debit Cards

Please note that OKPay has a $1,000 or equivalent deposit limit on non-verified, Payeer and Perfect money $500. Unverified accounts actually have a fair bit that can be done, as bitcoin depositors may load up to $2500 onto their debit cards or, if you are an Amazon fan, buy some vouchers directly from Spectro. So two interesting ways of getting some bitcoin out of the network without too much KYC hassle.  Please find below limitations on the Spectrocoin debit card by verification.

 UnverifiedVerified
Max Top Up$€£2,500$€10,000, £8,000
Single ATM Withdrawal$€200, £160$€1,000, £800
Max ATM Withdrawals Daily22
Withdrawal Total Limit $€£1,000No Limit
Maximum POS Purchase Daily $€£2,500No Limit
Lifetime Load $€2,500, £2,000No Limit
$€£2,500 $€£2,500

Spectrocoin Product

Spectrocoin is a universal service provider offering a bitcoin brokerage service, debit card, wallet, and merchant solution.

Spectro Brokerage

Spectro runs a brokerage service in which bitcoins may be bought and sold in exchange for a number of different currencies. Spreads on USD and EUR pairs, which are the most liquid and easily settled markets, are only approximately 2.5%, which means there is a cost of about 1.25% per trade. Less liquid or more difficult markets, including PLN, GEL, CZK and even GBP, offer much higher spreads, from 7.5% on the Pound to 20% on the Lari. Spectro also offer gold as a market against bitcoin if you are into that sort of speculation.

Debit Card

Spectro offer a plastic or virtual Visa that may be denominated in GBP, EUR or USD. The card loads instantly at POS, with bitcoins automatically exchanged using the internal brokerage service according to the amount of fiat needed. Please find below the charges.

 PlasticVirtual
CurrenciesUSD/EUR/GBPUSD/EUR/GBP
Price9/8/60.50
Delivery time3-4 weeksInstant
Monthly Service1.001.00
Top UpFreeFree
ATM withdrawal in base currency2.50/2.25/1.75NA
ATM withdrawal in different currency3.50/2.75/2.25NA
POS internationalFreeNA
Currency exchange3%3%
Normal shipping (3-4 weeks)FreeNA
Expedited (4-5 days)75/69/50NA

Merchant Services

Spectro offers an API that allows merchants to accept of bitcoin at either point of sale or through a website shopping cart. Even more convenient, they have developed plugins that can be easily integrated if you use Drupal, Magento, Opencart, Prestashop or WHMCS for your ecommerce site. Settlements are automatically made in USD, EUR or GBP, with the exchange taking place through the Spectro brokerage, with funds transferred, at latest, the following day to your account. Even better, there are no fees for the first 1 million EUR in turnover processed.

Mobile

Spectro offers native iOS and Android applications allowing buying and selling through the brokerage and sending or requesting bitcoin on the go.

Support

Live chat is available from 9 am to 2100 GMT, accessible when clicking on the question mark in the lower right hand corner of the site. There are direct support lines with UK and Lithuanian local numbers, and the heldesk is available via email, and agents speak a number of different languages.

You Might be Better off using a different Exchange if:

You live in the eurozone or UK.

Yeah they have got SEPA for you EU dwellers, but you are spoilt for cheaper choice.  Check out the best bitcoin exchanges in Europe for alternatives.  Brits, check out the best UK exchanges before taking the Spectro plunge.

Bottom Line

While fees might be a bit high for more developed and competitive bitcoin markets, Spectrocoin offers Eastern European clients an excellent all-in-one service with local deposit and withdrawal options and a simple KYC.