River Financial: Bitcoin-Only Financial Institution

Description

River Financial is a bitcoin exchange that allows you to buy, sell, and mine bitcoin in the USA (excluding New York and Nevada). It also has zero-fee DCA (dollar cost averaging) process on recurring orders with daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly frequency. Deposit and withdraw funds are possible on-chain or via the Lightning Network. River Financial offers both individual and entity accounts.

The platform provides custodial services; it stores all bitcoin offline in secure cold storage.

How River Financial Works

River Financial has a straightforward process for buying and selling Bitcoin in the US. The Bitcoin-only exchange serves individuals, private clients, and businesses. Private clients are investors purchasing over $100,000 worth of Bitcoin.

To begin, you must first create an account on River Bitcoin exchange by providing basic personal details such as name, surname, email, and password. After signing up, account confirmation is completed by clicking a link sent via email, followed by setting up two-factor authentication using a mobile phone number. Further verification of identity is required by filling in additional personal information.

River Financial allows you to buy Bitcoin with a bank account in the US. Therefore, once the account is open, you can link your bank account to fund your River account, enabling them to initiate Bitcoin transactions. Account funding can be done via the web or River Financial app available for Android and iOS. River Financial offers two methods for sending or receiving Bitcoin: on-chain transactions and over the Lightning Network, provided you have a Lightning wallet.

Acting as a brokerage, River facilitates direct buying and selling of Bitcoin, charging a small spread to manage price risk and slippage inherent to Bitcoin’s volatility. You are able to set up automatic purchases at preferred intervals (weekly or monthly) without incurring fees. Additionally, you can automate buying Bitcoin at specified price points, even during periods of inactivity. Notably, River Financial exclusively serves customers based in the United States.

River Financial Features

River Financial exchange has many features to support you in your Bitcoin trading journey. Key features include the following:

• Performance Tracking Tool. This feature helps monitor and analyze portfolio performance.
• Private Client. To become a private client, you must be looking to invest more than $100,000 in bitcoin and fill in the website form. This status gives an opportunity to use the services of a Private Client Advisor.
• Tax Optimization. River makes it easy for you to quickly generate Form 1099-B (the form contains information on your taxable trades for the reporting year) and submit it directly to the IRS.
• Bitcoin Inheritance. This feature makes it possible to designate individuals, trusts, or organizations as account beneficiaries to get funds upon the death of its owner.
• Bitcoin Mining. River Mining helps clients find the most reliable hardware in the market and has technical support to set up the miner. Clients receive their profits in the form of bitcoin directly to their River account.
• River Financial Account Statements. The statements are available in print and electronic formats; they are emailed to the customer’s email address. They cover three main sections: account summary, bitcoin details, and cash and money details.
• Mobile Bitcoin Purchases. Buy, sell, and track bitcoin with River Financial’s app for iOS and Android.
• Hardware Wallet Account. This is a beta feature serving as an extension of hardware wallets. It is used to view your balance, track your investments, and generate deposit addresses. River currently supports two hardware wallet providers: Trezor and Ledger.

River Financial Limits

River Financial sets certain limits to ensure secure transactions. To start, there’s a minimum requirement of $10 for both buying and selling orders. For ACH deposits, there’s a weekly limit of $150,000, while the Instant Buy limit is capped at $100,000 per business day. However, there are no limits on the amount you can buy or sell in a single transaction, allowing for transactions up to $1,000,000 each time. These limits are in place to manage transactions effectively and protect users’ funds.

Additionally, there are no limits for sends and receives, providing flexibility in managing your Bitcoin transactions. If you need higher limits, you can request an increase by contacting Client Services.

River Financial Fees

Fees depend on how much bitcoin you buy.

There are also bitcoin network fees when sending bitcoin. They are small but can vary depending on the transaction size and network congestion.

Is River Financial Legit and Safe?

River Financial is a trusted and secure exchange where you can safely buy, sell, and store Bitcoin. The company is licensed and regulated under US financial regulations, including FinCEN and the New York State Department of Financial Services, ensuring compliance and accountability. They use advanced security measures such as multi-signature cold storage for offline secure storage to reduce the risk of theft. River accounts require mandatory multi-factor authentication (TOTP or SMS), adding an extra layer of protection to your account.

With a 100% full reserve custody policy, all assets on River are held in a 1:1 ratio, meaning that your Bitcoin is not used or lent out. However, it’s essential to note that your Bitcoin is not FDIC or SIPC insured. For added security, it’s advisable to transfer your Bitcoin to a noncustodial wallet as soon as possible after purchasing. Self-custody is considered the most secure option for long-term storage of your Bitcoin.

Is River Financial Best Place to Buy and Sell Bitcoin?

If you regularly trade large volumes of Bitcoin as a high net worth individual, River’s higher purchase limits could be a significant advantage. When considering the suitability of River Financial as the primary platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in the US, its security and safety features stand out as prominent strengths. They maintain a 100% full reserve and use multi-signature cold storage. Moreover, the platform ensures compliance with US financial regulations.

They offer a user-friendly experience, a simple interface and features like recurring buys and target price orders. In terms of pricing, River Financial offers competitive rates by aggregating quotes from multiple over-the-counter (OTC) desks. However, it’s worth noting that while fees are not exorbitant, they may be slightly higher compared to certain exchanges, particularly for smaller transactions.

One of River Financial’s standout features is its excellent customer service, with a dedicated team providing personalized support for troubleshooting and addressing user inquiries. Moreover, River Financial’s exclusive focus on Bitcoin appeals to investors with a specific interest in long-term Bitcoin holdings. Additionally, the integration of the Lightning Network enables fast Bitcoin transactions with low fees.

However, it’s important to note that while River Financial offers an impressive array of features and benefits, it does have some limitations. For instance, international availability is currently not present. Additionally, while fees are competitive, they may not be the most cost-effective option for all users, particularly those conducting smaller transactions. Moreover, after buying Bitcoin from River, there’s a waiting period of 7–14 days before you can transfer it to your own wallet. This is because ACH transfers are reversible by the sender’s bank for up to 14 days after the transaction is made. The reason for this is to prevent fraud.

River Financial Alternatives

Several alternatives to River Financial exist, allowing you to buy Bitcoin in the United States. Here are some options you might explore:

• Bitstamp
• Crtpto.com
• Kraken
• Swan Bitcoin
• Coinbase

More Information

• Updates: @River
• Support