lisbon.money lets you hold stablecoins and crypto in a wallet only you control and spend them in the real world. That's useful, but it carries risks that a bank account doesn't. Please read this before you use it.
The short version
- Stablecoins and crypto aren't bank deposits. They aren't covered by any deposit guarantee scheme, including Lithuania's.
- CC, cBTC and cETH aren't stable. Their price can fall sharply, including between topping up and paying.
- You hold your own keys. If you lose your phone and your backup, nobody can recover your funds, including us.
- Blockchain payments can't be reversed once they're confirmed.
- Nothing on lisbon.money is investment advice.
Stablecoins
USDC and other stablecoins are designed to stay worth one US dollar, but that isn't guaranteed. A stablecoin can lose its peg if its issuer has financial, legal or operational problems, or if markets are under stress. The issuer, not Bohemian Technologies, is responsible for backing and redeeming the stablecoin. Stablecoins aren't legal tender.
CC, cBTC, cETH and other crypto
Unlike stablecoins, these assets aren't designed to hold a fixed value. Their prices can move a lot in minutes, and you could lose some or all of their value.
- CC (Canton Coin) is the native token of Canton Network. Its value depends on demand for the network.
- cBTC and cETH are tokens on Canton Network that represent bitcoin and ether. Their value depends on the bitcoin or ether behind them and on the systems that hold and bridge it. A failure in those systems could make them worth less than the original asset.
When you pay with one of these assets, it's converted at the rate shown at that moment. We'll add more assets over time, and each will come with its own risks.
Virtual IBAN
Your virtual IBAN is provided by a licensed payments partner. Euros you receive are converted to stablecoins and sent to your wallet. While euros are held by the partner, they're safeguarded under payments law but aren't covered by deposit insurance. Conversions happen at the rate shown at the time, and transfers may be delayed by bank holidays, compliance checks or SEPA outages.
Self-custody
lisbon.money is non-custodial. Your wallet's keys are created and stored on your device, and we never have a copy. This means:
- Only you can approve payments. We can't reverse, freeze or recover them for you.
- If you lose your device and your encrypted backup, or forget how to restore it, your funds are lost permanently.
- If someone gets control of your unlocked device or your backup, they may be able to move your funds.
Keep your backup safe, use a device passcode and biometric lock, and keep your phone's software up to date.
Blockchains
Payments settle on public blockchains such as Canton Network, Solana and Base. These networks are run by third parties, and:
- a confirmed transaction is final and can't be undone, so sending to a wrong address means the funds are usually lost
- networks can slow down, stop temporarily, or charge higher fees when busy
- software, including smart contracts, can contain bugs or be attacked
- activity on public blockchains can be seen by anyone, though it isn't directly linked to your name
Exchange rates
When you pay in a local currency, your USDC is converted at the rate shown before you confirm. Rates change all the time, so a payment made later may cost more or less in USDC. Refunds from merchants may be returned at a different rate from the original payment.
Third-party services
Card payments, local QR payments and phone wallets depend on partners, including card issuers, card networks, national QR schemes, and Apple, Google and Samsung. If a partner's service is unavailable, changes its rules or stops working with us, some payments may fail or features may be withdrawn.
Regulation and tax
In the EU, crypto-assets and stablecoins are regulated by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), and the rules elsewhere are changing too. A change in the law could limit or end lisbon.money in your country, or affect which assets you can use. lisbon.money may not be available everywhere.
You're responsible for any taxes on your transactions. Spending crypto can count as selling it, so a payment with CC, cBTC or cETH may create a taxable gain in many countries, including Lithuania. Ask a tax adviser if you're unsure.
Scams
We will never ask for your recovery phrase, backup or passcode, or ask you to send funds to "verify" your wallet. Anyone who does is a scammer. If something looks wrong, contact us at danny@lisbon.money before you act.