What Makes a Good Crypto App: What to Look For Before You Download One

Every crypto app on your phone's app store claims to be fast, secure, and beginner-friendly. Those claims don't tell you much on their own. Here's what to check before picking one.

Security Fundamentals

Look for a clear account setup process built around identity verification tied to withdrawals, not deposits. This "verify at withdrawal" model is standard across regulated platforms: it means you can create an account and browse markets quickly, but you should still expect a standard identity check before your first withdrawal. Beyond that, check whether the app supports two-factor authentication and whether it publishes any information about how it secures user funds.

Fee Transparency

A published, specific fee schedule is worth more than a vague "low fees" claim. Look for exact maker and taker percentages for spot and futures trading, separately, since these are usually structured differently. On Bitval, spot trading fees are 0.12% maker and 0.145% taker, and futures fees are 0.014% maker and 0.035% taker. If an app won't tell you its exact numbers before you sign up, that's worth noting.

Asset Coverage and Order Types

Check what the app supports before assuming it covers what you need. Some apps list only a handful of well-known assets; others offer both spot markets and derivatives like perpetual futures. For most people starting out, spot markets, along with basic order types like market orders (fill immediately at the current price) and limit orders (fill only at a price you set), cover what's needed.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Most apps, including Bitval, don't charge a deposit fee. Withdrawals are a different story: they typically involve a network fee (set by the blockchain, not the app) plus, in some cases, a flat platform fee. These vary by asset and network, so check the specific fee for what you're withdrawing before you do it, rather than assuming it matches the deposit experience.

Custody: Who Holds Your Assets

Once you've bought something, you have a choice: leave it on the app for easy access to trading, or move it to a personal wallet for self-custody. Keeping assets on an app is convenient if you plan to trade actively, since funds stay available for your next order. Moving assets to a personal wallet gives you direct control over your private keys, at the cost of taking on responsibility for securing that wallet yourself. Neither approach is universally correct; it depends on how you plan to use the funds.

If you want to see what this looks like in practice, you can create an account on Bitval and browse markets and pricing before submitting any documents.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It does not recommend any specific app, platform, or asset.