River Review - My Thoughts After Using It
| River snapshot | |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer |
| iOS app score |
4.9
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of June 14, 2026.
|
| Android app score |
4.8
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of June 14, 2026.
|
- Zero fees for recurring buys
- Low fees for larger buys
- Earns 3.3% interest on cash, paid in BTC
- Bitcoin-only
- Not available in NY or Nevada
Table of Contents
What is River.com?
River.com is a Bitcoin-only cryptocurrency exchange.
River's goal is to be the easiest and simplest exchange to buy bitcoins.
Is River.com Safe?
River.com is registered in the USA with federal and state entities.
Here are some key facts about River's Bitcoin security, if you plan to store your coins with the company:
- River stores all bitcoins offline and in secure cold storage
- River.com requires 2FA authentication for all accounts
- The company secures all of its cold storage using military grade technology
Is River.com Legit?
River.com is a VC funded crypto exchange. In 2021, it raised $12 million USD in Series A financing, led by Goldcrest Capital.
River is based in San Francisco and has over 25 employees. Here are some of the employees names from River.com's about page
How Does River.com Work?
In short, River works like this:
- Create an account
- Connect bank account
- Buy Bitcoin
How to Buy Bitcoin on River
Once you sign up, you'll be greeted with this dashboard:
You can hit "Buy Bitcoin" to connect a bank account. Selecting "Deposit Cash" will allow you to make a direct wire transfer to deposit cash.
Interest on Cash Balances, Paid in Bitcoin
One feature that I've been enjoying on River is the ability to earn interest on my cash, but paid in Bitcoin.
Most banks in the USA are earning 3.3% on your money, but don't pay you anything!
River pays you 3.3% interest on your cash, in Bitcoin, daily!
With Bitcoin on average going up 50% per year over the last 10 years, this can add up to a lot over a long time and end up being a lot more than 3.3%!
A major benefit of this is if you want to buy bitcoin at a lower price, you can deposit cash and have it earning interest until Bitcoin hits the price you want to buy at.
Cash on River is also FDIC insured up to $250,000.
Free Withdrawals
As a Bitcoiner that savuors every satoshi, River's once a month free withdrawal is a key feature.
Nothing major, but a nice touch and very appreciated!
Private Client
River offers a service called "Private Client".
The main benefit of this service is the ability to buy larger amounts and also speak with someone on the phone.
Most Bitcoin exchanges make you buy online, however, with River Private Client you can have someone walk you through the entire process.
While I have not personally used Private Client, I've had many interactions with the River team and am confident it's personally tailored to your needs.
Fees & Rates
River charges fees based on how much Bitcoin you buy:
| Order Size | River Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | 0.70% |
| $5,000,000 to $15,000,000 | 0.40% |
| $15,000,000+ | 0.25% |
River offers recurring buys for no fees. A recurring buy is when you tell River to automatically debit your bank account either monthly or weekly to buy bitcoins.
Supported Regions
River.com works in 48 states. Nevada and New York residents are not able to use River at this time. If you're comparing your options, see our full guide to the best ways to buy Bitcoin in the USA.
App
The River.com app is available on iOS and Android, and they are rated 4.9 and 4.8 stars respectively.
The app allows you to buy bitcoin from your phone, setup recurring buys, set cash to earn interest as I mentioned above, and more.
River.com Alternatives
River.com's biggest competitor in the USA is Swan Bitcoin and Strike.
You can compare River against the other two exchanges in our guides: