Juno Crypto: A Smart Investment Move?

Juno is a fintech company that offers high-yield checking accounts and crypto management services. It is not a bank, but it partners with Evolve Bank & Trust to provide banking features. The company is based in Singapore, with offices in San Francisco and Bengaluru, India. It was founded in 2019 and has recently changed its name from OnJuno to Juno.

Juno offers a range of features that make it a good option for those looking to manage both their cash and crypto assets. These include the ability to buy, sell, and store various cryptocurrencies, instant and free crypto cashouts, and a competitive international money transfer service. It also provides a rewards debit card with cash back and crypto rewards, and users can receive their paychecks in crypto.

However, there are some limitations to consider. For example, there is no option to earn interest on Bitcoin and Ethereum through lending or staking, and there are only 35 cryptocurrencies available on the platform. Additionally, there have been recent disruptions to its services due to issues with its partner companies, and it is not currently allowing new account creations.

Overall, Juno offers a unique set of features that cater to individuals looking for a seamless and cost-effective way to manage their fiat and crypto assets. However, it is important to remember that crypto is a highly volatile and speculative investment, and individuals should carefully consider their risk tolerance before investing.

Crypto bonuses and high-yield checking accounts

Juno offers a high-yield checking account with a debit card that allows you to make purchases in either US dollars or USDC. The account offers a competitive interest rate of 5% on balances up to $25,000 and 4% on balances between $25,000 and $250,000. The bonus rate is compounded monthly and paid out at the end of each month.

In addition to the high-yield checking account, Juno provides crypto bonuses for users who hold BTC, ETH, or USDC on the platform. While BTC and ETH deposits earn a 3% APY rate, USDC bonuses payout at 6% APY. These bonuses are paid monthly, making them a compounding bonus over time. Deposited funds can be withdrawn or sold at any time, giving customers flexibility.

The combination of the high-yield checking account and crypto bonuses makes Juno a compelling option for those seeking to maximise their returns on both fiat and crypto holdings.

Crypto conversion and withdrawal

Juno offers a seamless experience for converting fiat currency into cryptocurrency and vice versa. The platform currently supports 35 cryptocurrencies, including popular coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Solana.

One of the key advantages of using Juno for crypto conversions is the absence of holding periods for withdrawals. This means that users can buy crypto and withdraw it to their self-custody wallets whenever they want, without having to wait for days, which is a common issue with many other crypto exchanges.

Additionally, Juno supports popular transfer methods such as ACH and Wire transfers, which are often free of charge. This makes it convenient for users to move funds in and out of the platform.

The process of withdrawing crypto from Juno is straightforward:

• From the Home screen, tap the asset you want to withdraw.
• Press the "Withdraw" button.
• Enter the amount you wish to withdraw.
• Enter a wallet address manually or scan the QR code and save the address.
• The network fees will be displayed on the send confirmation page.
• Press the "Withdraw" button and confirm the transaction.

It is important to note that even after a successful confirmation on the blockchain, it can take up to 2 hours for the withdrawal to reflect in your external wallet. Additionally, a network fee is charged by the Bitcoin or Ethereum network for processing transactions, and this fee is paid directly to the network.

Juno also offers a rewards program where users can earn loyalty tokens called Juno Coins (JCOIN) by referring friends, setting up direct deposits, and using their debit cards. These tokens can be used to boost cashback rates and purchase gift cards.

Overall, Juno provides a user-friendly and efficient platform for crypto conversions and withdrawals, with no trading fees and instant access to funds.

Security and insurance

Juno offers advanced security measures for both checking and crypto accounts. Checking accounts offer FDIC insurance with up to $250,000 in protection. This is the standard in the U.S. banking industry. For crypto accounts, Juno keeps most assets in off-site managed wallets through its partner, Synapse. According to Juno, all crypto assets are "under the custody of trusted and licensed custodians who keep the majority of the crypto in cold storage, and have taken up necessary insurances".

Juno requires KYC on all accounts, protecting the platform from criminals, and offers SSL data encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) on the platform. As of June 2024, Juno has never been hacked, and user funds have never been lost.

To create an account with Juno, users must sign up with an email address and password or sign in with Google, verify their email address, and submit documentation for KYC (full name, address, tax identification number, and picture ID).

Juno allows only USD deposits into its bank account and only supported crypto can be deposited into the Juno crypto wallet. The deposit methods for USD include ACH, debit cards, and wire transfers. Limits vary by the deposit or withdrawal method. Wire transfers are not currently supported.

Juno's crypto trading platform allows users to buy and sell various cryptocurrencies, including US Dollar Coin (USDC), MUSDC (Polygon USDC), BTC, and ETH. Users can store, buy, and sell crypto directly starting from as low as $1. While there are no trading fees on Juno, there is a spread fee assessed by their exchange partner, which is typically around 2% per transaction.

Juno's crypto wallet is secured by BitGo, Juno's custodial partner. While users technically own their coins and can withdraw them to an external wallet, they don't have control over their private keys while their coins are in their Juno account.

Customer support and accessibility

Juno offers both phone and live chat support. The phone support line is available from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm PST, and the live chat support is available every day from 5 am to 6 pm PST. According to one review, the live chat support team responded to a query within 4 minutes and was able to promptly answer the questions. However, another review mentions that it took over three hours to get in touch with a customer service representative via the live chat feature, which may be due to the recent disruptions Juno has been facing.

Juno's Trustpilot rating is "Great," with a score of 3.9/5 from 309 customer reviews. However, the company is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has not responded to the complaints filed there.

Juno's website offers a comprehensive knowledge base of helpful articles, as well as email support and a ticketing system to track issues. The platform also provides real-time human chat for immediate assistance.

Juno is only available in the US to citizens and residents with a valid Social Security number. Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) are not accepted for identity verification.

Comparison to other platforms

Juno is a unique fintech company that offers an array of features for people seeking a single platform for their banking and crypto investing needs. However, it has its limitations, especially when compared to other platforms.

For instance, while Juno offers a high-yield checking account, it does not offer a savings account option. Additionally, there is no option to earn interest on Bitcoin and Ethereum through lending or staking. In terms of crypto offerings, Juno only supports 8 to 35 cryptocurrencies, depending on the source. This is a very limited selection when compared to other platforms like Binance, which offers a much wider range of coins.

When it comes to fees, Juno stands out for its 0% transaction fees on the first $250,000 in crypto trades. However, it's important to note that there is a spread fee assessed by their exchange partner, which is an average of 2% per transaction. This means that while Juno doesn't charge a trading fee, the market spread is higher than average when compared to higher-volume exchanges.

Juno's referral program is also worth mentioning, as it offers up to $100 for qualifying referrals, which is a higher amount than what is usually offered by similar platforms.

Some alternative platforms to Juno include Multis, Finary, Mayfair, Coinbase, and NOBI. These platforms offer a range of features such as checking accounts with corporate cards, portfolio tracking, and high-yield cash accounts. It's important to note that while these platforms may offer certain advantages over Juno, they may also have their own limitations, and it's important to do your own research before choosing any crypto platform.

Frequently asked questions