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Bitladon used to be one of the easiest ways for Europeans to buy cryptocurrency without needing to understand wallets, private keys, or order books. Launched in 2017, it wasn’t built for traders who wanted to chart Bitcoin or set limit orders. It was built for people who just wanted to buy Ethereum with their bank account and move on with their day. But if you’re searching for Bitladon today, you won’t find it. The platform doesn’t exist anymore - not because it collapsed, but because it changed.

Bitladon Wasn’t Just Another Exchange

Most crypto exchanges in 2017 looked like stock trading platforms - full of charts, tickers, and confusing terminology. Bitladon was different. It looked like a simple online store. You picked a coin, typed in how much you wanted to spend, and clicked buy. No need to deposit fiat first. No need to trade BTC to ETH and then ETH to something else. Bitladon’s "Any to Any" feature let you swap any coin for any other coin in one step. That was rare back then. Most exchanges forced you to go through Bitcoin or Ethereum as a middleman, adding extra fees and delays.

It was run by Coin Meester B.V., a Dutch company registered with the Dutch Central Bank. That meant it followed strict anti-money laundering rules. Users had to verify their identity, upload a photo of their passport, prove their address, and even take a selfie holding their ID. It wasn’t quick, but it was legal - and that gave people confidence.

How It Worked (Back When It Was Alive)

If you were in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, or another EU country, getting started was straightforward. You could deposit euros using iDEAL, Bancontact, Giropay, or direct bank transfer. Funds usually cleared the same day. Withdrawals were just as fast. And here’s the kicker: Bitladon didn’t charge you anything to deposit or withdraw crypto. You only paid network fees - the same ones you’d pay on any wallet. That’s unusual. Most exchanges charge withdrawal fees on top of network costs.

Trading fees started at 2%, but that wasn’t fixed. If you traded more than €5,000 in a month, your fee dropped. At €50,000, it fell to 0.5%. The highest-tier users paying under €100,000 monthly could get down to 0.25%. That’s competitive, especially for beginners who didn’t want to juggle multiple platforms.

You didn’t need a separate wallet. Everything was stored on Bitladon’s platform. That’s risky if you’re a power user, but for casual buyers, it made sense. No seed phrases to lose. No cold storage to manage. Just log in and see your coins.

Who Was It For?

Bitladon wasn’t for people who wanted to HODL Bitcoin for ten years. It wasn’t for arbitrage traders or DeFi farmers. It was for someone like a teacher in Amsterdam who wanted to buy some Ethereum because her friend told her it was a good investment. Or a small business owner in Berlin who wanted to accept crypto payments and needed to convert euros to Litecoin quickly.

The platform blocked U.S. users entirely. That wasn’t a bug - it was a feature. The U.S. has a patchwork of state-level crypto regulations. Europe, especially the Netherlands, had clearer rules. By focusing only on the EU, Bitladon could offer faster bank integrations and smoother compliance. That’s why it worked so well for Europeans.

Side-by-side cartoon: chaotic old crypto exchange vs. clean Bitladon interface with easy trading.

Customer Support and Security

Support was available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CET. No 24/7 chatbots. No automated tickets. Real people answered emails within an hour during business hours. Phone and live chat were also options. That level of access was rare in 2019 and 2020, when most exchanges were drowning in support requests.

Security was basic but solid. Two-factor authentication via Google Authenticator was mandatory. Email confirmations were required for withdrawals. No major hacks were ever reported during its six-year run. That’s impressive, considering how many exchanges got breached in that period.

The downside? No weekend support. If you had an issue on Saturday, you waited until Monday. And if you were outside the EU, you couldn’t use it at all. That limited its global appeal, but it also kept the platform focused and efficient.

Why Bitladon Disappeared

On February 1, 2023, Bitladon quietly shut down its website and redirected users to BCM Exchange. There was no fanfare. No press release. Just a message on the site: "We’ve upgraded. Welcome to BCM Exchange." This wasn’t a failure. It was a rebrand. The same team. The same Dutch registration. The same banking partners. The same team of support staff. The only thing that changed was the name.

Why? Likely because "Bitladon" had become associated with the early, chaotic days of crypto. The name sounded like a startup from 2017. "BCM" - short for Coin Meester - sounded more professional, more corporate. It aligned better with the growing regulatory expectations in Europe. The Dutch Central Bank was tightening rules. Exchanges needed to look more like banks than apps.

Cryptowisser, a well-known crypto directory, moved Bitladon to its "Exchange Graveyard" and now lists BCM Exchange as the active platform. That’s the official signal: Bitladon is gone. BCM is its successor.

Bitladon transforms into BCM Exchange as users step through a portal with more coins and improved design.

What BCM Exchange Does Differently

BCM Exchange keeps most of what made Bitladon work:

  • Same "Any to Any" trading
  • Same EU-focused payment methods
  • Same 2% starting fee with VIP discounts
  • Same KYC requirements
  • Same no-deposit/withdrawal-fee policy
But BCM has improved a few things:

  • More coins - over 220 now, including newer tokens like Arbitrum and Polygon
  • Better mobile app
  • Updated interface with clearer pricing
  • Improved customer support response times
If you’re looking for the old Bitladon experience, you’re not out of luck. You just need to go to BCM Exchange instead.

Is BCM Exchange Worth It Today?

Yes - if you’re in Europe and you want simplicity. You don’t need to learn how to use a DEX. You don’t need to understand gas fees or liquidity pools. You just need to know how to use a bank transfer.

The fees are still higher than Binance or Kraken, but you’re paying for convenience, not volume. If you’re buying €50 of Solana once a month, BCM is easier than signing up for a global exchange, verifying your identity across three countries, and waiting three days for your bank transfer to clear.

It’s not for everyone. If you trade daily, need advanced charting, or want to stake your coins, BCM isn’t for you. But if you’re a casual buyer, a small business owner, or someone who just wants to own crypto without the tech headaches - it’s still one of the cleanest options in Europe.

Final Thoughts

Bitladon didn’t fail. It evolved. It was one of the first exchanges to prove that crypto didn’t have to be complicated to be useful. It showed that ordinary people - not just tech-savvy investors - could buy and hold digital assets if the experience was simple and trustworthy.

Today, BCM Exchange carries that legacy forward. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t have a billion-dollar valuation. But it does what it promises: let Europeans buy crypto quickly, legally, and without stress.

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense crypto broker in Europe, skip the big names that feel like stock trading platforms. Go straight to BCM Exchange. It’s the quiet successor to a platform that changed how thousands of people first entered crypto.

Is Bitladon still operating as a crypto exchange?

No, Bitladon stopped operating on February 1, 2023. It was rebranded as BCM Exchange. All services, accounts, and support were moved over to the new platform. If you try to visit bitladon.com now, you’ll be redirected to bcmexchange.com.

Can I still use Bitladon to buy crypto?

You cannot use Bitladon anymore. The platform no longer exists. If you had an account, your funds and data were automatically transferred to BCM Exchange. You need to log in to bcmexchange.com using your old credentials. If you don’t remember your login, use the "Forgot Password" option on the BCM site.

Is BCM Exchange safe to use?

Yes. BCM Exchange is registered with the Dutch Central Bank and follows all European anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules. It uses two-factor authentication, email verification, and internal wallet storage. There have been no reported security breaches since its launch as Bitladon in 2017. It’s one of the most regulated crypto brokers in the EU.

Does BCM Exchange support U.S. customers?

No. BCM Exchange only serves customers in European Union countries. It does not accept users from the United States, Canada, Australia, or any non-EU region. This is due to regulatory restrictions and the platform’s focus on seamless Euro bank transfers through local payment systems like iDEAL and Bancontact.

What are the trading fees on BCM Exchange?

The standard trading fee is 2.00% per transaction. But if you trade more than €5,000 in a 30-day period, your fee drops. At €25,000 monthly volume, it falls to 0.5%. Users trading over €100,000 per month can get fees as low as 0.25%. There are no fees for depositing or withdrawing crypto - only network fees apply.

Can I trade any crypto for any other crypto on BCM Exchange?

Yes. BCM Exchange still offers the "Any to Any" trading feature that made Bitladon popular. You can swap Bitcoin for Dogecoin, Ethereum for Solana, or Cardano for Polkadot - all in one click. No need to convert to EUR or BTC first. This saves time and reduces trading fees compared to platforms that require multiple steps.

How long does verification take on BCM Exchange?

Verification usually takes 1 to 3 business days. You’ll need to upload a photo of your ID, proof of address (like a utility bill), verify your phone number, and take a selfie holding your ID. The process is strict because of Dutch regulations, but once done, you can start trading immediately. Many users report faster processing if they submit clear documents during business hours.

Does BCM Exchange have a mobile app?

Yes. BCM Exchange has a mobile app available for iOS and Android. It’s clean, simple, and mirrors the desktop experience. You can buy, sell, and view your portfolio on the go. The app supports biometric login (Face ID or fingerprint) and two-factor authentication. It’s one of the most user-friendly crypto apps for beginners in Europe.

18 Comments

  1. Daniel Verreault

    man bitladon was the only exchange i ever trusted to just buy eth and forget about it. no seed phrases, no wallet drama. just bank transfer and boom, crypto in my account. i miss that simplicity. bcm is basically the same but with a less cringe name.

  2. Jacky Baltes

    The transition from Bitladon to BCM isn’t a failure-it’s evolution. Most platforms chase hype. This one chased compliance, user safety, and clarity. The fact that they kept the Any-to-Any model while upgrading infrastructure shows restraint. Rare in crypto.

  3. Emily L

    so like… you’re telling me i gotta sign up for another crypto site just because they changed the name? lol no thanks. i already got 7 accounts and 3 of them are locked because i forgot my password. this is why i hate crypto.

  4. Gavin Hill

    Bitladon was the anti-exchange. No charts. No FUD. Just buy. And now BCM keeps that spirit. Most platforms treat you like a gambler. This one treated you like a person who just wanted to own some digital gold. That’s worth preserving.

  5. SUMIT RAI

    lol why do you all act like this is some revolutionary change? it’s just a rebrand. they didn’t even change the fee structure. 🤡

  6. Andrea Stewart

    If you’re in the EU and you’re not trading daily, BCM is still the easiest option. The fact that they kept no withdrawal fees and the same KYC process means you don’t have to relearn everything. That’s rare. Most platforms just vanish and leave you stranded.

  7. Josh Seeto

    Oh wow. So Bitladon didn’t die. It just got a corporate makeover. Like a startup that suddenly starts wearing blazers and says "synergy" unironically. Congrats, you’ve become the thing you swore to oppose.

  8. Khaitlynn Ashworth

    they rebranded to BCM? sounds like a failed startup that got bought by a bank. 🤭 also why does everyone act like this is a good thing? it’s the same platform with a new logo. no magic here.

  9. NIKHIL CHHOKAR

    Let me be honest - this is exactly how crypto kills innovation. Instead of competing on features, they just change names and call it progress. Bitladon was honest. BCM? It’s just another financial product dressed up as tech.

  10. Mike Pontillo

    so you’re telling me i spent 5 years using bitladon and now i just gotta type bcm.com instead? cool. guess i’ll just… keep using it. no big deal. lol

  11. Joydeep Malati Das

    The quiet transition speaks volumes. No panic, no PR stunt, no token launch. Just a clean handover to a better-designed interface. In an industry full of noise, this is the most respectful thing I’ve seen in years.

  12. rachael deal

    YESSSS this is the kind of crypto I can get behind. No chaos. No drama. Just buy what you need and move on. BCM is keeping the soul of Bitladon alive. Keep it up!

  13. nayan keshari

    rebranding to avoid the "cringe" of a 2017 name? please. you’re just scared of being seen as outdated. the tech didn’t change. the people didn’t change. only the branding. that’s not progress. that’s insecurity.

  14. Johnny Delirious

    It is my solemn duty to observe that the corporate evolution from Bitladon to BCM Exchange constitutes a paradigmatic shift in user-centric financial infrastructure, wherein regulatory alignment supersedes ephemeral branding concerns, thereby fostering a more resilient and compliant digital asset ecosystem.

  15. Prateek Chitransh

    Look, I get it. You’re mad they changed the name. But think about it - if you were a bank regulator, would you trust a company called "Bitladon"? Or would you feel better about "BCM Exchange"? This wasn’t about hiding. It was about being taken seriously.

  16. Michelle Slayden

    The rebrand reflects a maturation of the entire European crypto landscape. Bitladon was a pioneer. BCM is a steward. The fact that they preserved the Any-to-Any model while upgrading compliance infrastructure is a quiet triumph. I applaud their restraint.

  17. christopher charles

    Okay, but can we just talk about how insane it is that they didn’t charge withdrawal fees? Like… zero? That’s not a feature. That’s a miracle. Most exchanges nickel-and-dime you to death. BCM? They just let you move your coins. Respect.

  18. Vernon Hughes

    Bitladon was simple. BCM is still simple. That’s all that matters. The rest is noise.

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