How to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto with PostFinance

Please note: PostFinance is not a payment method on CEX.IO. However, the PostFinance Debit Mastercard can be used to fund crypto purchases on CEX.IO directly through Instant Buy, making it a practical entry point for PostFinance customers who want access to a broader range of digital assets.

PostFinance offers its own cryptocurrency trading service, making it one of the most crypto-forward traditional banks in Switzerland. If you're a PostFinance customer, you can buy digital assets directly within your existing PostFinance account — or go further and use your PostFinance Debit Mastercard on CEX.IO, where 300+ cryptocurrencies are available, external wallet withdrawals are supported, and a broader suite of trading tools awaits. This guide covers both paths: how PostFinance's own crypto service works, and how to buy Bitcoin on CEX.IO using your PostFinance card.

What is PostFinance?

PostFinance AG is a Swiss financial institution and a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss Post. Its origins trace back to 1906, when Switzerland introduced postal cheque and giro services under new federal legislation — one of the earliest state-backed payment networks in the country. PostFinance operated as the financial arm of Swiss Post for over a century before receiving a full banking licence from FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, in 2013. In 2015, the Swiss National Bank designated PostFinance a systemically important financial institution — a status shared only by the country's largest banks, reflecting PostFinance's central role in Swiss payment infrastructure.

Today, PostFinance AG serves more than 2.5 million customers and holds approximately CHF 104.8 billion in total assets, making it the fifth-largest bank in Switzerland by assets. It offers a full range of personal banking services, including current accounts, savings products, mortgages, investments, and the PostFinance Card — a dual-branded debit card that combines the PostFinance identity with a Debit Mastercard, available in both CHF and EUR denominations.

In February 2024, PostFinance launched Crypto by PostFinance, becoming the first systemically important Swiss bank to offer direct cryptocurrency trading. The service is available within PostFinance's e-finance platform and mobile app.

How PostFinance Users Can Buy Crypto

PostFinance customers have two distinct pathways to access cryptocurrency: directly through PostFinance's native service, or through CEX.IO using the PostFinance Debit Mastercard. Each option has different characteristics in terms of asset selection, fees, and wallet flexibility.

Crypto by PostFinance allows customers to buy and sell 22 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, and USDC — directly within their PostFinance account at a spread of approximately 1.8% plus portfolio management fees. Purchases are held in custody by PostFinance, and the service does not currently support deposits or withdrawals to external wallets, meaning crypto bought through PostFinance cannot be transferred to a hardware wallet or a third-party exchange.

For customers who want to trade a broader range of assets, withdraw crypto to an external wallet, or access additional trading tools, the PostFinance Debit Mastercard provides a direct link to CEX.IO's Instant Buy service — where 300+ digital assets are available, and crypto can be freely moved to any supported external wallet address.

How to Buy Bitcoin on CEX.IO with a PostFinance Card

CEX.IO accepts the PostFinance Debit Mastercard through its Instant Buy service. The process is the same as any standard Mastercard debit purchase — add your card, confirm the transaction, and receive crypto in your CEX.IO Wallet.

Step 1: Create a CEX.IO Account

Sign up on the CEX.IO website or mobile app, then complete the identity verification process by submitting your documents and confirming your personal details. Verification is required to enable card-based purchases and access the full range of CEX.IO services.

Step 2: Access Instant Buy

Once your profile is verified, you're ready to proceed:

• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to Buy Cryptocurrency from the dashboard.
• Specify the fiat currency you want to use for your purchase.
• Determine the amount of fiat you wish to spend.
• Choose BTC or another supported asset from the list.
• Click Buy Crypto Instantly. This will take you to the Add Funds page.

Step 3: Add Your PostFinance Card

From the Add Funds page, navigate to Select Payment Method and choose Credit/Debit Card. Enter your PostFinance Debit Mastercard details — card number, expiry date, and CVV. If your card is denominated in CHF, CEX.IO automatically converts the amount to your selected deposit currency (EUR, USD, or GBP) at the point of transaction. Review the transaction summary before confirming.

Step 4: Receive BTC in Your Wallet

After the payment clears, your BTC will appear in your CEX.IO Wallet shortly. You can check your balance by navigating to Wallet from your dashboard or under the Products menu. From there, you can store your assets, exchange them for other crypto or fiat using CEX.IO Convert, access Spot Trading tools, or withdraw to an external wallet at any time.

PostFinance on CEX.IO: Fees and Limits

When using a PostFinance Debit Mastercard on CEX.IO, the applicable fees follow CEX.IO's standard Mastercard card structure. CEX.IO charges a commission of 0.49% to 4.99% + service charge, which varies by transaction size. PostFinance does not add cryptocurrency-specific surcharges on the card side — your total at checkout reflects only CEX.IO's standard card-processing fees.

The minimum deposit is €20 (or equivalent in CHF, USD, or GBP after automatic conversion). Mastercard withdrawals on CEX.IO are supported up to €2,500 per day. New CEX.IO users (within the first 3 months from identity verification) have a maximum daily deposit limit of $1,000 and a monthly limit of $3,000; standard limits apply after that period.

For users who prefer bank-based funding, CEX.IO also supports SEPA bank transfers from Swiss bank accounts where applicable (€2.99 flat fee, min. €20), providing an alternative to card-based deposits for larger planned purchases. PostFinance Debit Mastercard can also be linked to Apple Pay and Google Pay (min. €20, max. €1,000/day) for mobile checkout on CEX.IO.

Why Use CEX.IO alongside PostFinance?

PostFinance's native crypto service provides a convenient starting point, but it operates within a set of constraints: 22 available assets, a spread of approximately 1.8%, and no support for external wallet transfers. For users who want to go further — accessing a wider range of digital assets, moving crypto to a personal wallet, or trading on deeper markets — CEX.IO extends what's possible with the same PostFinance account.

CEX.IO is regulated and licensed in the United States and registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the EU, ensuring a compliance-first environment that aligns with the regulated standards Swiss PostFinance customers expect. With more than a decade of operating history, 300+ supported cryptocurrencies, and access to Spot Trading and CEX.IO Convert for frictionless asset swaps, CEX.IO provides a natural extension to PostFinance's banking ecosystem. Verification typically completes within minutes, after which Instant Buy is immediately available.