Austrian platform 21bitcoin has launched an interest-bearing program for idle euro balances. Starting today, users can earn an annual interest rate of 1.21% on their uninvested funds. The company allows customers to receive these payouts directly in bitcoin without incurring any conversion fees.
The interest applies to all euro holdings, including cash reserved for limit orders or pending savings-plan purchases. There are no minimum deposit requirements or lock-up periods for these accounts. According to the company, this initiative is supported by the German bank Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte eG, which has held a stake in 21bitcoin since 2023.
Customer funds are held in a segregated trust account at the partner bank, providing instant access. 21bitcoin states that it passes the interest to users in full without retaining any margin. This model is presented as a transparent alternative to the high-yield structures previously utilized by various failed crypto lending firms.
Founded in 2021, 21bitcoin operates under a MiCAR license in Austria and holds authorization from the German regulator BaFin. The platform currently reports a user base exceeding 100,000 and a total trading volume surpassing €650 million. Future product plans for 2027 include bitcoin-backed loans, insured cold storage, and multisig inheritance custody.
