Summary: The Lydia App in France currently offers investment services that allows users to buy and sell over 20 cryptocurrencies through its mobile banking platform. However, the fees to invest with Lydia are the most expensive in Europe, with fees and spreads as high as 2% per transaction.
As an alternative, we recommend a platform like Uphold that is available in France and offers over 250 cryptocurrencies to buy and stake with zero fees. Uphold is licensed & regulated and accepts instant Euro (EUR) deposits from Lydia Bank and all other French banks.
Best Crypto Exchange Alternative to Lydia
Platform Highlights
- Trade over 220 Cryptos with fast and cheap EUR deposits from any French or European Bank.
- Regulated and Licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FinCEN and has audited Proof-of-Reserves for customer funds.
- Trusted by over 10 million users in France and Europe.
Can You Buy Crypto with Lydia?
Yes, the Lydia App offers investors the ability to buy and sell over 20 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and many others. However, they are one of the most expensive exchanges in France with high fees and wide spreads that result in a charge of over 2% per transaction. We recommend avoiding this platform to buy and sell digital assets, and using an alternative exchange in the country that specializes in cryptocurrencies and offers lower fees, more coins and better spreads.
How to Buy Bitcoin and Crypto with Lydia
The easiest and most cost-effective way to buy cryptocurrencies with Lydia is by transferring Euros (EUR) from their bank account to a regulated crypto exchange. The top regulated exchange in France is Uphold, as they offer over 250 cryptocurrencies to buy and stake with zero fees and over 10 million users in the country.
You can get started in minutes with this simple guide:
- Sign Up: Create an account on Uphold and complete your verification (personal or company).
- Connect Account: Select the currency you want deposit on the Uphold Platform (EUR + 30 more).
- Deposit Funds: Connect your French Bank account to quickly deposit your selected fiat currency.
- Buy Crypto: The final step is to find the cryptocurrency you want to buy and execute your trade.

Why are Lydia Fees so Expensive?
Lydia is expensive because they use an external crypto exchange to execute investments through their mobile banking app. This means that users get charged two fees, one by Lydia and another by the external broker (BitPanda) for each transaction.
Additionally, depending on the market liquidity and volatility, Lydia's pricing engine can add up to 2% spread between the buy and sell price of a cryptocurrency. This means that users buying cryptocurrencies with Lydia may be paying more than they would if they used a regulated crypto exchange like Uphold.
What is Lydia App?
Lydia App is a mobile app that allows people to manage their finances and make payments in one place. Lydia’s user-friendly interface enables users to connect all of their bank accounts and cards, follow their expenses, invest in stocks & crypto, track their budget, pay friends and merchants, get cashback rewards and find discounts from local partners. Lydia also provides personalized recommendations on everything from budgeting and savings to insurance.
Lydia is available in France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, with plans to expand globally soon. Lydia is a secure and easy-to-use platform that enables its users to stay on top of their finances and make payments with just a few clicks. Lydia is free, fast and trusted by over 5 million people worldwide.

Final Thoughts
In summary, while the Lydia App in France allows users to buy and sell over 20 cryptocurrencies through its platform, it is one of the most expensive options, with fees and spreads as high as 2% per transaction. We recommend using a more cost-effective and specialized platform like Uphold, which offers zero fees, better spreads, and access to over 250 cryptocurrencies. Users can easily deposit Euros (EUR) from their Lydia Bank account or other French banks to Uphold.
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Author
Co-Founder & former Investment Banker (Finance MBA) turned Full-Time analyst and Head of Research at Buy Bitcoin Bank. Left traditional finance to pursue my interest in digital assets and decentralized finance.