Onramp Business vs River: Bitcoin Accounts for Companies Compared
Jackson Mikalic | Head of Business Development
Published
River and Onramp Business both open free, bitcoin-only accounts for companies. River's business account supports one authorized person and holds client bitcoin itself in full-reserve custody. Onramp Business supports up to 3 users with owner, admin and view-only roles, and an approval policy can put a second person on withdrawals. Companies can upgrade to Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody.
Facts last verified: November 3, 2026
River and Onramp Business are both bitcoin-only accounts that a company can open for free. River is a well-run exchange with full-reserve custody and a simple account built around one authorized person. Onramp Business is built for a company with a team: several users, set roles, and a second person on withdrawals. The difference shows up when someone else needs access, when a withdrawal should need approval, or when the person with the login is no longer around.
This page compares the two using each company's own published information. Every River fact links to River's site. Terms change, so confirm current details with each provider before you decide. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.
Key Takeaways:
- Users and approvals. River's business account supports one authorized individual who can buy, sell, send and receive. Onramp Business supports up to 3 users with owner, admin and view-only roles, and an approval policy can put a second person on withdrawals.
- Who holds the bitcoin. River holds client bitcoin itself and says it does so in full-reserve custody, with proof of reserves. Onramp Business holds bitcoin at a qualified custodian in cold storage.
- A path to more protection. Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody, moves the company's bitcoin into a vault in its own name, protected by three institutions. River doesn't describe a multi-institution or multisig option for businesses.
- Fees. Both accounts are free to open. One-time buys cost 0.85% on Onramp Business and 0.65% on Treasury. River charges 1.00% up to $1 million, with lower rates above that.
- Cash. River pays interest on cash held through its partner bank. Onramp lets a company deposit cash to buy bitcoin, and cash accounts for businesses are coming.
Onramp Business and River at a Glance
| Onramp Business | River | |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $0 to open or maintain | $0 to open or maintain (River) |
| Who holds the bitcoin | A qualified custodian, in cold storage | River, which says it holds client bitcoin in full-reserve cold storage and publishes proof of reserves, and its terms say it doesn't lend out client bitcoin (reserves, security, terms) |
| Users | Up to 3 on Business, up to 5 on Treasury | One authorized individual (River) |
| Roles | Owner, admin and view-only | One authorized individual who can buy, sell, send and receive |
| Withdrawal approvals | An approval policy can put a second person on withdrawals. Custom approval rules on Treasury are coming soon | Not described |
| If the person with access leaves or is no longer around | Control follows the company's ownership documents from verification | Not described. River's beneficiary plan isn't available on business accounts (River) |
| One-time buys | 0.85% (0.65% on Treasury) | 1.00% up to $1M, falling to 0.25% above $15M (fees) |
| Recurring buys | No Onramp trading fee after the first purchase in each schedule | Free starting 7 days after the schedule is set up; the first order pays the standard fee (fees) |
| Cash | Deposit cash to buy bitcoin. Cash accounts for businesses are coming | Interest on cash through a partner bank (River Business) |
| Bitcoin-backed loans | Yes | Not offered on River's site |
| Custody upgrade | Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody: a vault in the company's name protected by Onramp, Tetra Trust and CoinCover | Not offered for business accounts |
| Entity types | LLCs, corporations, partnerships, trusts, solo 401(k)s, IRA LLCs, IRA trusts and other entities | LLCs, corporations, trusts, partnerships, nonprofits, sole proprietorships, solo 401(k)s, IRA LLCs and IRA trusts (River) |
| Opening an account | Most companies are verified within a business day, once every owner has verified their ID | River says it sends a status update on business applications within one business day (River) |
| Companies outside the US | Accepted | US customers only, not Nevada or New York (terms) |
| Assets | Bitcoin only | Bitcoin only |
Users, Roles and Approvals
This is the biggest difference between the two accounts.
River gives a business account one authorized individual. That person can buy, sell, send and receive. For a founder buying bitcoin alone, that's simple and it works.
Onramp Business is built for a company with more than one person involved. Every account has owner, admin and view-only roles, so a bookkeeper or partner can see the balance without being able to move it. An approval policy means one person starts a withdrawal and another approves it before it goes through, the same way many companies handle a wire. Onramp Business includes up to 3 users. Onramp Treasury includes up to 5. Custom approval rules, which let the company decide how many people have to approve a withdrawal, are coming soon to Treasury. Onramp Enterprise supports larger teams.
Who Holds the Bitcoin
River holds client bitcoin itself. It says it keeps client bitcoin in full-reserve cold storage and publishes proof of reserves (reserves, security). The company's bitcoin sits with one institution.
Onramp Business holds the company's bitcoin at a qualified custodian, in cold storage. Onramp is a custody solution, not a custodian.
Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody, is the step up. Three institutions protect the company's bitcoin. No one of them can lose it, move it, or use it, and nothing moves without your permission. Multi-institution custody works like a bank vault that needs two keyholders to open: it takes two of the three (Onramp, Tetra Trust, and CoinCover) to move your bitcoin. The vault is in the company's name, and anyone the company chooses, including its accountant or auditor, can verify it on-chain at any time. There are no hardware wallets, seed phrases, backups, or PINs to manage. Onramp holds $1B+ in bitcoin under Multi-Institution Custody.
Fees
| Onramp Business | Onramp Treasury | River | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account or custody fee | $0 | Starts at $375 a month or $3,600 a year and scales with bitcoin held, plus a $500 onboarding fee when you activate Multi-Institution Custody | $0 |
| One-time buys | 0.85% | 0.65% | 1.00% up to $1M, 0.70% to $5M, 0.40% to $15M, 0.25% above $15M |
| Recurring buys | No Onramp trading fee after the first purchase in each schedule | No Onramp trading fee after the first purchase in each schedule | Free starting 7 days after setup; the first order pays the standard fee |
River fees as published on River's fee page, checked November 3, 2026.
For a company buying on a schedule, Onramp charges no trading fee on recurring buys after the first, and River's are free starting 7 days after setup. For one-time purchases under $1 million, Onramp Business costs less per trade, and Treasury less again. River pays interest on cash. Cash accounts for businesses are coming to Onramp, so for now a company that keeps a large cash balance on the platform should weigh that too.
To mark the launch, businesses that activate Onramp Treasury by December 31, 2026 will receive white-glove onboarding from Onramp's team and no onboarding fee. Inquire about a reduction in custody fees based on bitcoin trade volume.
Continuity: When Someone Leaves
People leave companies. On Onramp, control of the account follows the ownership structure in the company's verification documents, not one person's device or password. If someone with access leaves or is no longer around, the company keeps control.
River's business pages don't describe what happens when the one authorized individual leaves, and River's beneficiary plan isn't available on business accounts. A company should ask River how it handles a change of authorized person.
Where Each Fits
River may fit better if:
- one founder or owner is buying bitcoin and no one else needs access;
- the company wants interest on cash held at the same place it buys bitcoin;
- the company mines and wants payouts converted to cash automatically (River Business).
Onramp Business may fit better if:
- more than one person needs access, with different roles;
- a second person should approve withdrawals;
- the company's bitcoin shouldn't depend on one person's login;
- the company wants lower fees on one-time buys under $1 million;
- the company wants a path to Multi-Institution Custody later, with Onramp Treasury, without changing providers;
- the company is based outside the US.
Companies that want to hold their own keys have good options too. See Best Bitcoin Business Accounts in 2026 and Onramp Treasury vs Unchained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Onramp Business and River?
Both are free, bitcoin-only accounts for companies. River's business account supports one authorized individual and holds client bitcoin itself. Onramp Business supports up to 3 users with owner, admin and view-only roles, and an approval policy can put a second person on withdrawals. Companies can upgrade to Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody.
Can more than one person use a River business account?
River's help center says a business account supports one authorized individual, who can buy, sell, send and receive (River). Onramp Business supports up to 3 users, and Onramp Treasury up to 5.
Can a business require two people to approve a bitcoin withdrawal?
On Onramp, yes. Any business account can set up an approval policy: one person starts a withdrawal and another approves it before it goes through. Custom approval rules on Onramp Treasury, which set how many people must approve, are coming soon.
Is Onramp a River alternative for businesses?
Yes. Onramp Business is a free, bitcoin-only account like River's, with multiple users, roles and withdrawal approvals. Companies that want more protection can activate Onramp Treasury, built on Multi-Institution Custody.
How do Onramp Business and River fees compare?
Both are free to open. One-time buys cost 0.85% on Onramp Business and 0.65% on Onramp Treasury. River charges 1.00% up to $1 million, with lower rates on larger purchases. Onramp charges no trading fee on recurring buys after the first, and River's are free starting 7 days after setup.
Who holds the bitcoin in each account?
River holds client bitcoin itself, in what it describes as full-reserve cold storage. Onramp Business holds bitcoin at a qualified custodian in cold storage. On Onramp Treasury, three institutions protect the company's bitcoin: Onramp, Tetra Trust and CoinCover. It takes two of the three to move it, and nothing moves without the company's permission.
How long does it take to open each account?
Most companies are verified on Onramp within a business day, once every owner has verified their ID. River says it sends a status update on business applications within one business day.
Can I move my company's bitcoin from River to Onramp?
Yes. Open an Onramp Business account, verify the company, and send the bitcoin from River to your Onramp deposit address. If you activate Onramp Treasury, our team walks you through moving it into the company's vault.
Go Deeper
- Onramp for business
- Best Bitcoin Business Accounts in 2026
- How to Buy and Hold Bitcoin Through Your Business or LLC
- Onramp Treasury vs Unchained
- What is Multi-Institution Custody?
- Onramp vs River (for individuals)
- The corporate bitcoin playbook: Occams Advisory
- Onramp Trust Center
- CTA: Open a business account · Schedule a consultation
Sources: River (checked November 3, 2026)
| Fact | Source |
|---|---|
| Entity types; no cost to open or maintain; one authorized individual who can buy, sell, send and receive; a status update within one business day (article updated Oct 26, 2026) | support.river.com, "How do I create a business account with River?" |
| One-time buy fees 1.00% up to $1M, 0.70% for $1M to $5M, 0.40% for $5M to $15M, 0.25% above $15M; recurring buys free starting 7 days after setup, first order at the standard fee | support.river.com, "What are River's fees?" |
| Full-reserve custody and proof of reserves | river.com/reserves |
| Client deposits in cold storage after purchase | river.com/security |
| Interest on cash through Lead Bank; auto-convert of received bitcoin, including mining payouts | river.com/business; support.river.com, "What is Bitcoin Interest on Cash?" |
| Beneficiary plan not available on business accounts | support.river.com, beneficiary plan article |
| No lending of client bitcoin; River Financial Inc. holds client bitcoin as custodial assets | river.com/legal/terms (updated Aug 24, 2026) |
| US customers only, not Nevada or New York | river.com/legal/terms; support.river.com |