Bison promo & referral 2026 — Börse Stuttgart's crypto app
Bison is the official crypto trading app of Börse Stuttgart Group — Germany's second-largest stock exchange. Operated by EUWAX AG and BaFin-supervised end-to-end, Bison offers German residents 30+ crypto assets, transparent spreads, and a €15 referral bonus on first deposit and trade.
Bison — the Börse Stuttgart route into crypto
Bison is unusual among European crypto apps in that its parent isn't a startup or a bank-fintech — it's a regional stock exchange. Börse Stuttgart Group is Germany's second-largest securities venue, and its subsidiary EUWAX AG operates Bison under BaFin supervision with custody handled by Blocknox GmbH (also Börse Stuttgart Group). For German retail investors who want a domestically operated, BaFin-anchored, tax-clean route into crypto, Bison occupies a niche that no Binance, Coinbase or Kraken regional entity can match. The 2026 product supports 30+ coins, including BTC, ETH, XRP, ADA, DOT, SOL and the major DeFi blue-chips.
Activation flow
Download Bison on iOS or Android. Verify identity with the standard German Postident or VideoIdent procedure. Fund the integrated Solaris SE EUR account via SEPA. The €15 referral bonus is split between inviter and invitee after the invitee makes a first qualifying trade (typically €25+ within 30 days). Trades execute via Börse Stuttgart's Frankfurt-based matching engine with bid-ask spreads displayed transparently in-app. Crypto stays in Blocknox custody by default; no self-custody withdrawal as of 2026.
How spreads work
Bison does not charge a percentage commission. Revenue comes from the spread between buy and sell quotes — typically 0.75–1.25% on BTC and ETH, wider on smaller-cap assets. This is more expensive than CEX.IO Pro's 0.16–0.25% maker/taker but materially cheaper than Revolut's 1.49–2.49% retail tier or N26's 1–1.5%. For long-hold buy-and-keep investors operating inside Germany's one-year tax-free holding rule, the spread cost is amortised across years of compounding.
Pros and cons
✅ Strengths
- Born inside Börse Stuttgart Group — German exchange-grade regulatory pedigree.
- Automatic German tax statement (Steuerbescheinigung) at year-end.
- Free SEPA deposits and withdrawals via Solaris SE escrow.
- Clean, simple mobile-first interface ideal for first-time crypto buyers.
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Spreads (0.75–1.25%) are wider than maker/taker pro venues.
- Only 30+ crypto assets — limited altcoin breadth.
- Custodial-only — no self-custody withdrawals as of 2026.
- German residents only (no Austria, Switzerland or wider EU coverage).
Bison vs Trade Republic vs N26 Crypto
| Metric | Bison | Trade Republic | N26 Crypto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | €15 referral | €15 equity | €15 |
| Crypto fee | 0.75–1.25% spread | €1 flat per trade | 1–1.5% spread |
| Regulator | BaFin (DE) | BaFin (DE) | BaFin (DE) |
| Tax statement | Yes, auto-generated | Yes, auto-generated | Partial |
| Best for | Cautious German first-time buyers | EU DCA + multi-asset users | N26 banking customers |
Editor's personal take
Bison's strongest argument is its corporate parentage. Most German first-time crypto buyers are nervous about counterparty risk, and "the app from Börse Stuttgart" is the cleanest possible answer to that worry. The product is not the cheapest, not the most feature-rich, and not the broadest by asset — but for the specific demographic of German retail investors making their first move into BTC and ETH with a sub-€10,000 allocation that they intend to hold a year, Bison is hard to fault. Active traders should still use a maker/taker venue like CEX.IO or Kraken Pro.
FAQ
Is Bison the same company as Börse Stuttgart?
Bison is operated by EUWAX AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Börse Stuttgart Holding GmbH. Custody is handled by Blocknox GmbH, also part of Börse Stuttgart Group.
Can I use Bison if I don't live in Germany?
No. Bison is restricted to German tax residents as of 2026. EU users in Austria or the Netherlands should use Bitpanda or Trade Republic.
What's the German one-year crypto tax rule?
Under §23 EStG, crypto held by private investors for more than 12 months and then sold is fully tax-free in Germany. Bison's tax statement makes this trivial to evidence to the Finanzamt.