Circle Rolls Out Crypto Investment App in 46 US States

Four months after first announcing it, digital payments company Circle has officially launched its digital investment and storage app, Circle Invest.

Describing it as “an app that’s actually built around investing, not trends,” the company released the product for download via Apple’s App Store or Google Play on Tuesday in 46 states, excluding Minnesota, Wyoming, Hawaii and New York. The app was previously available to a select number of users for testing.

However, the company is working on making the app available in New York "very soon,” according to an email sent to customers. Circle is one of four companies to receive a BitLicense from the state, which has stringent regulations on cryptocurrency exchanges.

According to a blog post, the app is still in the “early access availability” phase, though anyone can download it. 

Users are invited to provide feedback on this version of the app, according to the post, which highlighted the app's planned benefits:

The app allows users to invest or trade bitcoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash, ethereum classic and litecoin, with more tokens coming in the future, according to Circle's website. While XRP appeared in a screenshot in the initial announcement, the token was not listed on the app’s website as of press time.

Users can connect their bank accounts to facilitate instant deposits, while the platform also supplies market data.

Notably, the app offers commission-free trading. According to its website, Circle Invest makes its money by taking a 1.5-2 percent difference between a coin’s buy and sell prices.

For customer protection, users are offered offline storage, two-step verification and "privacy protection," according to an email.

The app's launch comes weeks after Circle announced it had acquired cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex, which will serve as the foundation for a future crypto supermarket of sorts where all manner of digital tokens would be traded.

Bitcoin image via CoinDesk's archive.