Amdax

Amdax is an Amsterdam-based cryptocurrency investment platform founded in 2019 by Lucas Wensing, Melvin Lazeron, and Valentino Cremona. Positioned as a regulated gateway for serious crypto investors in Europe, the firm combines self-directed trading, managed portfolios, full-reserve custody, and staking services under one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the European Union.

Regulatory Foundation

Amdax became the first crypto service provider in the Netherlands to register with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in 2020—well ahead of most competitors. In June 2025, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) granted Amdax one of the first MiCAR licenses covering four regulated service categories simultaneously: order execution, custody of digital assets, asset transfer, and portfolio management on behalf of clients. Holding all four under a single license is unusual in the Dutch market. MiCA passporting now enables Amdax to serve clients across all 27 EU member states without separate national authorizations.

In 2025, Amdax became the first crypto service provider in the European Union to complete an ISAE 3000 Type II audit—a rigorous attestation standard that tests operational controls over an extended period rather than a single point in time. Combined with dual regulatory recognition from DNB and AFM, this places Amdax among the most compliance-oriented crypto firms operating in Europe.

Services

Amdax operates two principal tracks for clients:

• Self-directed investing: Users build their own portfolios from a curated list of approximately 40 screened crypto assets through the web-based platform, at a flat 0.70% trading fee on both maker and taker orders.
• Managed investing: Clients work with personal relationship managers who construct and actively monitor portfolios according to individual risk profiles and goals.

Business entities—including BVs and foundations—can open corporate accounts, making Amdax one of the few European platforms with dedicated infrastructure for companies holding digital assets through regulated structures.

Both service tracks share the same custody infrastructure. Amdax operates on a full-reserve model: every digital asset held on behalf of clients is maintained 1-to-1 with no lending, rehypothecation, or counterparty exposure. This distinguishes it from exchanges that deploy client assets to generate yield. Annual custody fees run 0.60% of assets under management; crypto withdrawals cost approximately €15 per transaction.

Staking is offered as an additional service. Ethereum staking is delivered through an institutional partnership with Kiln, a professional staking infrastructure provider. Amdax's public materials do not itemize every staking-eligible network, so users interested in specific assets—including Solana—should confirm availability directly with the platform.

Research

Amdax produces original research aimed at what it describes as the serious crypto investor. Output formats include in-depth analytical reports, a weekly newsletter covering price developments and thematic commentary, and short educational guides tied to current market events. A Dutch-language podcast, "Een Nieuwe Koers" (A New Course), accompanies the written work and walks investors through cryptocurrency market developments. All research is produced by crypto professionals affiliated with the firm.

Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy

In mid-2025, Amdax launched a separate entity, Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy B.V. (AMBTS), modeled on the corporate Bitcoin accumulation approach pioneered by MicroStrategy. AMBTS raised approximately €20 million ($23 million) in an initial private round and plans to raise an additional €10 million before seeking a listing on Euronext Amsterdam—one of the first Bitcoin treasury vehicles to pursue a listing on a major European regulated exchange. The long-term ambition is to accumulate 210,000 BTC, representing 1% of the fixed Bitcoin supply.

CEO Lucas Wensing described the rationale: "Bitcoin has been the best performing major asset in the past 10 years. But it is still relatively small in investment portfolios." The AMBTS initiative targets institutional and large private investors seeking regulated European exposure to Bitcoin as a treasury asset. AMBTS operates independently from Amdax's core brokerage and custody business but leverages the parent company's established regulatory infrastructure and operational track record.

Team and Background

Amdax was incorporated in Amsterdam in March 2019. CEO Lucas Wensing leads the company's strategic direction and has been the primary spokesperson for its regulatory milestones. Co-founder Valentino Cremona was an early public advocate for formalized crypto regulation in the Netherlands, supporting the DNB registration framework from the outset. The company has operated continuously from its Amsterdam base for over six years and employs relationship managers alongside its digital platform—maintaining a personal-service model uncommon among crypto-native firms.

Solana Ecosystem Fit

Amdax offers trading and staking access to a screened set of approximately 40 digital assets. While the company's public materials call out Bitcoin and Ethereum specifically, Solana's status as one of Europe's most actively held proof-of-stake assets makes it a plausible component of Amdax's curated list. The platform's full-reserve custody model, MiCA licensing, and EU-wide passporting position it as a regulated gateway for European investors seeking compliant access to digital asset markets. Prospective users should confirm SOL availability and staking terms directly with the platform.