Exchanges For Bitcoin And Lightning from Fiat
[edit sep 2024 – mt. pelerin has an api we can use. Not sure if it can be used to set up the regular payments. But probably.]
So far we have one definitely ok exchange (mt pelerin) and one untried but promising exchange (strike). Both allow you to exchange up to 1000 dollars without having to do KYC nonsense. It’s fairly easy to do so we can ask sponsors to use them.
We will only list here exchanges where you can easily exchange and if you want to you can also send a regular amount to an address.
Mt Pelerin - We've used them a few times now and they are prompt. As soon as they get the bank transfer they send the btc over lightning to your account. The support is helpful and done by people with at least an IQ of 100 which is much better than most "support".
They also have a feature to send regular amounts from your bank.
https://www.mtpelerin.com/
Strike - This is mobile-only. It's also bank transfer only whereas Mt Pelerin also does cards. But cards add on another 5% in fees to that's no use anyway. This is being tried out now so we will update when we know how good they are.
https://strike.me/
Update Jan 2026
I am having problems contacting Mt pelerin with our own emal, due to the security circus designed to get people to use the giant corporate email services so, here are some alternatives to mt. pelerin.
Mt Pelerin specializes in non-custodial, direct delivery to your Lightning wallet with SEPA transfers, low fees (0-1.3%), and no KYC up to ~CHF 1,000/day or 100,000/year. Based on current info, here are solid alternatives available in the EU (including Ireland). I prioritized ones with Lightning support, SEPA for EUR, and lower KYC hurdles where possible. These are regulated or reputable, but always check their sites for latest terms, as crypto rules evolve.
| Exchange | Key Features | Fees | KYC Requirements | Limits | Availability & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Bitcoin (pocketbitcoin.com) | Direct buy BTC to your Lightning wallet via SEPA. Non-custodial, Swiss-based like Mt Pelerin. Simple: Enter amount, wallet address, pay via bank app. | 1.5% (no min/max). Zero for referrals or promos sometimes. | None—no signup, just email for confirmations. | Any amount, but practical SEPA limits apply (~€50k/day via bank). | EU-wide, including IE. Similar to Mt Pelerin but even simpler/no app required. Great for privacy-focused users. |
| Relai (relai.app) | App-based, buy BTC via SEPA, deliver to Lightning wallet. Non-custodial, auto-buy/DCA options. Swiss-regulated. | 1-2.5% (lower with volume/subscription). | No KYC up to CHF 900/day (~€950) or 100k/year. Full verification for higher. | Min €10, no strict max. | EU/IE supported. Very close to Mt Pelerin in ease and low-KYC threshold; mobile-first with recurring buys. |
| Peach Bitcoin (peachbitcoin.com) | P2P app—no middleman. Buyers pay via SEPA, sellers send BTC to your Lightning wallet. Escrow protected. | 0% platform fee; spreads vary by peer (typically 1-3%). | None—anonymous via app, no personal data shared. | Depends on peer offers; small to large amounts. | EU/IE, focuses on Europe. More decentralized than Mt Pelerin; great for avoiding centralized control, but requires matching with peers (usually quick). |
| Kraken (kraken.com) | Deposit EUR via SEPA (free), buy BTC, withdraw to Lightning wallet. Established US/EU exchange. | Trading: 0.16-0.26%. Lightning withdraw: Free. | Full KYC required (ID upload). | Min withdraw 100 sats; high limits post-verification. | EU/IE. More “big player” than Mt Pelerin, with higher security but mandatory KYC—might feel like the “circus” you mentioned, but reliable for larger amounts. |
| Binance (binance.com) | SEPA deposit (free), buy BTC, withdraw via Lightning. Huge selection, but focus on BTC here. | Trading: 0.1%. Lightning withdraw: ~0.0002 BTC fee. | Full KYC (ID + address proof). | High limits after verification. | EU/IE (via Binance Europe). Similar to Kraken—corporate feel, but fast SEPA and Lightning support. Avoid if you hate verification. |
These should work well as drop-in replacements. Pocket and Relai are the closest matches for Mt Pelerin’s low-friction vibe. If you want no KYC at all, Peach or even P2P options like RoboSats (robosats.com—Lightning-focused P2P) could be worth a look, though they’re more manual. For any, start small to test. If none fit or you need help with setup, share more details!