The simplest way to get EURC is to send euros from your bank by SEPA, the same transfer you use for rent or salary. Here is how it works with a personal IBAN, how long it takes, what it costs and how to send euros back to your bank.

Most people already have the easiest way to get EURC: a bank account that can send euros by SEPA. Instead of buying on an exchange and moving the coins out, you send euros to an IBAN in your own name, and they arrive in your wallet as EURC.

This guide walks through it step by step, explains how long each part takes, and covers the way back to your bank.

What you need

  • A bank account in euros that can make SEPA transfers. Almost every bank in Europe can.
  • A wallet for EURC. In Defied, your wallet is created when you sign up, and only you control it.
  • A personal IBAN connected to that wallet. In Defied it is issued by Bridge.xyz, a regulated payment provider, after a one-time identity check, in the countries where it is available. The app tells you whether you can get one.

If you're new to EURC itself, start with what EURC is.

Step 1: Verify once

Open the IBAN section in the app and complete the identity check. It's a one-time step, the same kind of check a bank or payment app asks for, and it's done with Bridge.xyz rather than Defied.

When it's approved, your IBAN details appear in the app: the account holder (your name), the IBAN and the BIC.

Step 2: Send euros from your bank

In your banking app, create a new SEPA transfer:

  1. Copy the details from Defied, don't type them. A wrong digit sends money to the wrong place.
  2. Paste the IBAN and the account holder name into a new payee.
  3. Choose the amount. Start small the first time, so you can see the whole path work before you move more.
  4. Choose instant if your bank offers it. SEPA Instant reaches the receiving account in under ten seconds, any day of the year. EU rules require banks in the euro area to offer it and to charge no more than for a regular transfer.

You don't need a reference: the IBAN is yours alone, so the money finds your wallet.

Step 3: Receive EURC

When the euros reach your IBAN, they arrive in your wallet as EURC, one EURC for each euro received, minus the top-up fee. The fee is on our fees page and shown in the app.

How quickly you see it depends mostly on your bank. A SEPA Instant transfer arrives in seconds; a standard SEPA transfer arrives by the next business day, and transfers sent on a weekend usually leave on Monday.

Getting euros back to your bank

The way back works the same in reverse. Choose Withdraw in the app, pick your bank account and the amount, and confirm. EURC leaves your wallet and arrives in your bank account in euros by SEPA. Before you confirm, the app shows the fee and the amount that will arrive.

Other ways to get EURC

  • Crypto exchanges accept SEPA deposits and sell EURC. You then hold it in the exchange's account, and need to withdraw it to your own wallet, on the right network, if you want to control it yourself.
  • Swapping from USDC. If you already hold digital dollars, you can swap them to EURC in the app at the rate shown before you confirm.
  • Being paid in EURC. Anyone can send EURC to your wallet address or Defied username, from anywhere.

Our guide to the best EURC wallet compares the wallets that make this easy.

Before you start

  • Check the name. The account holder on your IBAN is you. Some banks show a warning if the name you type doesn't match; use the exact name from the app.
  • Start small. A first transfer of a few euros tests the whole path.
  • Know what you hold. EURC is issued by Circle and backed by euro reserves, and it's regulated in the EU as an e-money token under MiCA. It isn't a bank deposit, so there's no deposit guarantee. Read the risk disclosure before you deposit.

Sources

Start with Defied

Defied is a wallet for EURC and USDC that only you control. Hold, send and swap them, and lend in public onchain markets at variable rates, without a bank. Get the app for iPhone, or use it in your browser.

This article is for informational purposes only. Defied is a non-custodial software interface and does not provide financial advice. Please read our risk disclosure and terms of use before using the Services.

Last updated: 2026-10-31

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy EURC with a bank transfer?

Yes. With a personal IBAN connected to your wallet, euros you send by SEPA from your bank arrive as EURC. Exchanges also accept SEPA deposits, but then the EURC sits in the exchange's account until you withdraw it to a wallet.

How long does a SEPA transfer take?

A SEPA Instant transfer reaches the receiving account in under ten seconds, at any hour. A standard SEPA transfer arrives by the next business day. Which one your bank uses depends on your bank and the transfer you choose.

Do I need a reference when I send euros to my IBAN?

Not in Defied. The IBAN is yours alone, so the money is matched to your wallet without a reference. Always copy the details from the app rather than typing them.

Can I send EURC back to my bank account?

Yes. Choose Withdraw in the app and send EURC to your bank account by SEPA. It arrives in euros, and you see the amount that arrives before you confirm.

Is EURC in my wallet covered by a deposit guarantee?

No. EURC is an e-money token issued by Circle and backed by euro reserves, not a bank deposit, so the EU deposit guarantee does not apply to it.

This article is for general information only and is not investment, legal or tax advice. Any rates mentioned are third-party protocol or market rates at the time of writing; they change constantly and are not offered or guaranteed by Defied. Stablecoins are not bank deposits and are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes. Defied is a non-custodial software interface and does not hold customer assets. Read the Risk Disclosure before using the service.