Wavespace Launches MiCA-Compliant Self-Custodial Bitcoin Debit Card Powered By Lightning And NWC

Wavespace, a leading Bitcoin neobank operating in the Eurozone, has recently announced that its ‘self-custodial’ debit card is now MiCA compliant. This innovative fintech company is revolutionizing Bitcoin payments technology in Europe by offering support for the Lightning Network and enabling auto Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) to self-custody.

Traditional debit cards in the Bitcoin and crypto industry have typically required users to preload custodial accounts with bitcoin or stablecoins. This process was time-consuming and often involved manual input from users to transfer funds from self-custody wallets or cold storage. If the preloaded balance on the card ran out, spending would be halted.

Wavespace’s self-custody debit card addresses these issues with Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), a groundbreaking Bitcoin technology. The NWC protocol, detailed in NIP-47, allows users to connect their debit card to a self-hosted Lightning node. Users can set a minimum balance, such as $200, and every time they make a purchase using the VISA network, Wavespace automatically tops up the card by pulling funds from the user’s self-custodial wallet. This process reduces custodial exchange risk, increases user exposure to the asset, and streamlines the spending of bitcoin.

NWC is a technology developed by the Nostr ecosystem, a cutting-edge niche within the Bitcoin industry that is expanding into social media and other communication protocols.

The Wavespace neobank offers users a personal IBAN account to deposit fiat currency for purchasing Bitcoin. Their automated DCA services can be configured to withdraw bitcoin to a chosen address upon purchase. The company is fully compliant with MiCA regulations, positioning it as one of the few compliant Bitcoin exchanges in Europe amidst the evolving crypto regulatory landscape.

Wavespace’s deep integration with the Lightning network enables users to access the banking system in a secure and compliant manner without exposing their payment data on the public Bitcoin blockchain. Lightning payments are off-chain, ensuring that transactions move through private payment channels, preserving user privacy and confidentiality.

In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Eivydas Račkauskas, Chief Orange Pill Giver at Wavespace, disclosed that 70% of payments on the platform utilize the Lightning Network. The company is exploring the ARK protocol for additional self-custody payment integrations and is poised for expansion into the USA with existing integration with Lightspark.

Račkauskas revealed that Wavespace has been predominantly self-funded and bootstrapped, with an early angel investor from Relai in 2025. The company is currently engaged in a fundraising round to support its growth and innovation in the Bitcoin payments space.