Neobanks that never hold your money
short answer53 of the 382 neobanks tracked here are self-custodial neobanks. These are software, not institutions: you hold the keys and the company cannot freeze, lend or lose your balance. The largest by disclosed users are Phantom, MiniPay and Zengo; all 53 are listed below with custody, license and geography.
These are software, not institutions: you hold the keys and the company cannot freeze, lend or lose your balance. Company risk is replaced by key-management risk, and any card is issued by a licensed partner rather than by the app itself.
All 53 self-custodial neobanks
| neobank | type | hq | custody | license / structure | reported users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom | web3-native | San Francisco, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | 15M MAU (2025) |
| MiniPay | web3-native | Oslo, NO | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | 10M wallets (2025) |
| Zengo | web3-native | Tel Aviv, IL | MPC self-custodial | MPC self-custody; no seed phrase | 2M users (2026) |
| 1inch Card | web3-native | Dubai, AE | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; card via Baanx/Crypto Life | — |
| AllScale | web3-native | — | Custodial | Self-custodial stablecoin platform; not a bank; compliance and settlement via licensed partners | — |
| Avalanche Card | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; issuer partners | — |
| Avici | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Bitget Wallet | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; cards via DCS (Asia), Immersve (EU/UK/LatAm), Fiat24 (CN virtual) | — |
| Bleap | web3-native | London, UK | MPC self-custodial | MPC self-custody; MC principal member | — |
| COCA | hybrid | Dubai, AE | MPC self-custodial | MPC self-custody; e-money card partners (UK/EU) | — |
| Cypher | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; principal card programs | — |
| Daimo | web3-native | New York, US | Self-custodial | Open-source self-custodial software | — |
| Dakota | web3-native | New York, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Decaf | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; issuer partners | — |
| Eco (Beam) | web3-native | New York, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial (Eco protocol) | — |
| El Dorado | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Ethena Pay | web3-native | Malta, MT | Self-custodial | Self-custodial wallet; Ethena Pay Ltd (Malta) is a software company, not a bank; secured Visa card issued by Third National (Puerto Rico) under a Rain-managed program | — |
| EtherFi Cash | web3-native | Miami, US | Self-custodial | DeFi protocol + issuer partners | — |
| Exa | web3-native | Buenos Aires, AR | Self-custodial | DeFi protocol (Exactly); card via partners | — |
| Exodus | web3-native | Omaha, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Fizen | web3-native | Ho Chi Minh, VN | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Hyperbeat | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial smart accounts (HyperEVM); Paxos Labs stablecoin infra | — |
| Infini | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Karta | web3-native | Redwood City, US | MPC self-custodial | Self-custodial (MPC via Privy); Visa issued by Rain | — |
| MetaMask | web3-native | Consensys (global) | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software — no banking license needed; card via licensed issuer partners | — |
| Mine | web3-native | Zug, CH | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software (EMM Ventures AG, Zug); card via Unblock Atomo SARL, EEA e-money institution; IBAN via regulated Swiss intermediary | — |
| Moon | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Onboard | web3-native | Lagos, NG | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Oobit | web3-native | Singapore, SG | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Payy | web3-native | New York, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial ZK L2; card via issuer partners | — |
| Peanut | web3-native | Zug, CH | Self-custodial | Open-source protocol; no custody | — |
| Plasma One | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Own L1; card via issuer partners | — |
| Plutus | hybrid | London, UK | Custodial | E-money card via Modulr (FCA EMI; Lithuanian EMI for EEA); PLU rewards self-custodial | — |
| Rainbow | web3-native | New York, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Ready | web3-native | London, UK | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software; card via Kulipa (non-EEA cut Jun 2026; issuer wound down Jul 2026) | — |
| Rizon | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| SafePal | web3-native | Singapore, SG | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Slush | web3-native | Palo Alto, US | Self-custodial | Self-custodial Sui wallet software | — |
| Solayer Emerald | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; Visa principal program | — |
| Solflare | web3-native | Belgrade, RS | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software; card via Kulipa (issuer wound down Jul 2026; replacement expected Aug 2026) | — |
| Solid | web3-native | Gibraltar, GI | MPC self-custodial | Self-custodial Safe smart-accounts + MPC | — |
| Startale | web3-native | Singapore, SG | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; co-develops Soneium with Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony Group JV) | — |
| Superform | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| SurfCash | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial (BVI entity); decentralized protocols + licensed local partners; Circle Alliance | — |
| Tangem | web3-native | Zug, CH | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; funds in a user-controlled smart contract (USDC on Polygon); card by Paera LLC, issued by Third National via Rain | — |
| Tria | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Trust Wallet | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Tuyo | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Veera | web3-native | Singapore, SG | Self-custodial | Self-custodial; passkey-secured non-exportable keys | — |
| WeFi | web3-native | — | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| XPlace | hybrid | Dubai, AE | Custodial | Self-custodial (non-custodial Solana smart contracts); cards issued via Rain (Signify Holdings) under Visa license | — |
| xPortal | web3-native | Sibiu, RO | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
| Xverse | web3-native | London, UK | Self-custodial | Self-custodial software | — |
Common questions
Neobanks that never hold your money: how many are there?
53 of the 382 neobanks tracked here are self-custodial neobanks. Every entry is verified active and listed on this page with its custody model, license detail and the regions it serves.
Which are the biggest self-custodial neobanks?
By self-reported users, Phantom, MiniPay and Zengo. Only 3 of these 53 disclose a user figure, so treat any ranking by size as partial rather than complete.
What does this category actually mean?
These are software, not institutions: you hold the keys and the company cannot freeze, lend or lose your balance. Company risk is replaced by key-management risk, and any card is issued by a licensed partner rather than by the app itself.
Related
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (81) · Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks operating under crypto and money-transmitter licenses (25) · Neobanks authorised as e-money institutions (49) · Neobanks authorised as crypto-asset service providers under MiCA (9) · Neobanks authorised as payment institutions (13)
go deeperFilter these live in the interactive directory, browse every cut of the dataset, or take the raw fields from data.json.
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.