Not your keys, not your coins. It is the most repeated principle in Bitcoin, and the most ignored by cryptocurrency exchanges.
Today, Aureo launched a product in Mexico that respects this first principle. We are proud to announce "Direct to Wallet."
When you buy Bitcoin in Mexico, the normal thing is for the platform to hold it for you. Your name on the screen, their bitcoins on the server. To move it to your own wallet, you ask permission.
The standard model works like this: you buy Bitcoin, the exchange holds it in custody, and if you want to move it to your own wallet, you pay. Exchanges have a real incentive to keep your Bitcoin on their platform: they use those funds to generate yield for themselves. That has always meant risk: hacked platforms, blocked withdrawals, frozen funds.
We have spent nearly a decade building Bitcoin infrastructure. First in Canada, now in Mexico. And the first thing we wanted to solve was exactly this.
What is Direct to Wallet (D2W)
Direct to Wallet is an Aureo Bitcoin service that allows you to buy Bitcoin with Mexican pesos and receive it directly in a self-custody wallet. Your Bitcoin goes straight to your wallet. No intermediary custody, no withdrawal fee, no asking permission. Because there is no withdrawal.
Unlike traditional exchanges in Mexico, where the Bitcoin you buy remains under the platform's custody until the user pays to withdraw it, Direct to Wallet (D2W) sends the Bitcoin directly to the wallet address the user chooses. Lightning or on-chain.
It is not a feature we added later. It is the first product we built, and the foundation for everything that comes next.
How to buy Bitcoin with Direct to Wallet (D2W)
The process has four steps:
- Create your account and complete identity verification. The process complies with current Mexican regulation.
- Enter your wallet address. Compatible with Lightning wallets (for now only Lightning addresses, not invoices), on-chain wallets, and hardware wallets. If you already send your Bitcoin to cold storage, D2W simplifies the entire process. If you do not yet have your own wallet, we have guides to help you set one up, and if you prefer direct help, there is a team of experts ready to assist you. Just tap the help button in the app.
- Transfer pesos via SPEI. From any bank in Mexico. The SPEI deposit is confirmed in seconds.
- Bitcoin arrives directly in your wallet. It does not pass through Aureo's custody. There is no intermediate step. Yours from the very first moment.
Who Direct to Wallet (D2W) is for
Direct to Wallet (D2W) was designed for three types of users in Mexico:
Investors who accumulate Bitcoin regularly (DCA). If your strategy is to buy Bitcoin every week or every month, D2W eliminates the friction of manual withdrawals. Every purchase arrives directly in your self-custody wallet.
Those who prefer self-custody from the very beginning. Not everyone wants to leave their Bitcoin on a platform. With Direct to Wallet (D2W), that decision is already made before buying.
For those who want to recommend Bitcoin to friends and family with confidence. If you know Binance or Bitso, you are probably afraid to recommend them to someone who is not technical. With Aureo, every new user receives personalized guidance, especially those who come through referrals. D2W is the product you can recommend without worrying.
For amounts greater than 100,000 MXN, Aureo's OTC desk offers personalized execution and institutional custody.
Flat fee: how much it costs to buy Bitcoin with Aureo
Direct to Wallet has a limit of 100,000 MXN per transaction in the app. For larger purchases, you can make multiple transactions or contact the Large Positions team.
The fee is a flat 1.96% per transaction. Visible. Not hidden in the spread.
On most exchanges in Mexico, the real fee is hidden in the difference between the purchase price and the market price (spread). When you buy 50,000 pesos worth of Bitcoin, that spread can cost you thousands without you noticing. At Aureo, the fee is flat and transparent. What you see is what you pay.
For positions greater than 100,000 MXN, Aureo offers OTC execution with personalized service, and we have an institutional custody solution insured by Lloyd's of London, with segregated vaults and a multi-institution structure. Learn more here.
Why we built this first
Aureo is more than an exchange. It is Bitcoin wealth management infrastructure, built in Mexico with international standards. Aureo's founders built Veriphi in Canada and brought that experience to Mexico.
Direct to Wallet (D2W) is the first step. What comes next is built on this same foundation: that your Bitcoin should be yours from the moment you buy it.
We are building. And this is only the beginning.
Frequently asked questions about Direct to Wallet (D2W)
What is Aureo's Direct to Wallet (D2W)?
Direct to Wallet (D2W) is an Aureo Bitcoin service that allows you to buy Bitcoin with Mexican pesos via SPEI and receive it directly in a self-custody wallet. There is no intermediary custody and no withdrawal fee.
How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin with Direct to Wallet (D2W)?
The fee is a flat 1.96% per transaction, with no hidden spreads. The limit per transaction is 100,000 MXN in the app.
Do I need to have my own wallet to use Direct to Wallet (D2W)?
Yes, you need a self-custody wallet. It works with Lightning wallets, on-chain wallets, and hardware wallets. If you do not have one, we have guides to help you set it up (guide on Bitcoin, and guide on Lightning) and a team of experts available if you prefer direct help. You can contact our team directly in Aureo's web app.
How does Aureo compare with other exchanges in Mexico?
Unlike most exchanges in Mexico, Aureo does not hold the user's Bitcoin in custody. With Direct to Wallet (D2W), the Bitcoin goes directly to your wallet with no intermediate step. The 1.96% fee is flat and transparent, with no variable spreads.
What if I want to buy a large amount of Bitcoin, one million pesos or more?
The D2W limit is 100,000 MXN per transaction, but there is no limit on the number of transactions. If you want to buy 500,000 MXN, you can do so without issue. For amounts of one million or more, Aureo offers an OTC desk with personalized execution, institutional custody with Lloyd's insurance, and segregated vaults.