Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency exchange company based in Singapore that offers a range of financial services around digital assets. These include a consumer app for buying and selling crypto, a trading exchange, a payments product, an NFT marketplace, and a non-custodial DeFi wallet. The exchange and app sit at the center of the business, which is built for everyday users as much as active traders.
The company was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 by Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo under the name Monaco. In 2018 it was renamed Crypto.com after buying the domain from cryptography researcher and professor Matt Blaze. The business is operated by Foris DAX Asia, a Singapore-based company that is a subsidiary of a Malta-registered parent. Crypto.com is privately held.
For its exchange and app services, Crypto.com runs a custodial model: the company holds the private keys to assets you keep in your account, and you rely on it to safeguard them. Separately, it offers a non-custodial DeFi wallet, a product in which the user holds the keys and controls the funds directly rather than handing custody to the company. The two are distinct, and which one applies depends on the product you use.
Crypto.com is widely known for its consumer marketing and its Visa-linked card program, which lets users spend crypto and earn rewards. Its mobile app is aimed at newcomers. It also backs Cronos, a blockchain network tied to the wider platform.
The company has a notable security and regulatory record. In January 2022, Crypto.com was the victim of a hack totaling about US$15 million in stolen Ether; after some users reported suspicious activity on their accounts, the company paused withdrawals while it investigated. Later that year, during the broader market downturn, it cut a large share of its workforce. On the regulatory side, Crypto.com has pursued licenses and registrations in several jurisdictions, including approvals in the United Kingdom and Cyprus in 2022 and an in-principle approval toward a payment-institution license in Singapore. Available products and approvals differ by country.
Anyone considering Crypto.com should confirm what is offered where they live and read the current terms for each product. Fees vary by tier and by product, so check the current schedule before trading.