CeDeFi · Review

hi Review 2026: Crypto Neobank With a Shrinking Footprint

hi is a mobile crypto-and-fiat neobank co-founded by a former Crypto.com marketing chief, with its own HI token. It left the UK in 2024, and fees, licences and current availability are not clearly published.

By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated Nov 5, 2026

DappsAtlas score

5.0/10

Mixed

Our verdict on hi

5.0/10

hi suits curious users who want a simple app that blends crypto and fiat and who are in a region where it still operates. Its main strength is an easy, mobile-first approach backed by an experienced crypto marketing founder. The main caveat is trust: it exited the UK in 2024, publishes no fee schedule, licence or audit details in the sources reviewed, and the HI token is small and thinly traded. Check local availability, keep deposits modest and test withdrawals first.

Score breakdown

How hi scores

Security: n/a
Ease of use: 7.0/10
Fees: n/a
Features: 6.0/10

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is hi?

hi is a mobile crypto neobank that launched in 2021. It positions itself as a bridge between crypto and traditional finance, letting members buy and sell crypto and fiat currencies, save and spend from one app.

One of its co-founders, Sean Rach, previously served as chief marketing officer of Crypto.com. In a 2022 interview he said hi had passed 3.5 million members through referrals alone and was working toward a debit card, a merchant payment gateway and its own Ethereum sidechain.

The picture has since narrowed. A notice states that Hi.com is ceasing all UK operations and that UK users had to move their crypto out by 21 June 2024. The app is still listed in app stores, but the sources reviewed do not confirm where it currently operates or whether the card and sidechain plans were delivered.

There is also a HI token. One price listing shows a market cap around 1.2 million US dollars and no recent trading volume, so it is a small and illiquid asset.

How hi works

hi works like a neobank for crypto users. You create an account in the mobile app, add funds from a bank account or other supported method, and can then hold, buy or sell crypto and fiat balances inside the same interface. The company holds the assets on your behalf, which is the custodial model common to exchange-style apps.

The project also describes Web3 extras. Its whitepaper outlines a DApps Browser so members can reach other blockchain services without leaving the app, and the team talked about a native token, HI, and a sidechain called Hi Protocol on Ethereum. How much of that is live today is not confirmed.

Growth came mainly through referrals. The co-founder said the app passed 3.5 million members in just over a year after its 2021 launch without paid advertising. That is a company claim that has not been independently verified in the sources reviewed.

6 features

Key features

Crypto and fiat in one app

One app for buying and selling crypto and fiat, with bank-based funding described in promotional material.

Chat-app origins

The founders say the service was first designed to be available on WhatsApp and Telegram to cut sign-up friction, alongside the standalone app.

Save, earn and spend

The project talks of earning, saving and spending, and says it was working toward a debit card for spending balances.

DApps Browser

The 2022 whitepaper describes a DApps Browser that lets members move between Web3 services from within the app.

Merchant payment gateway

A payment gateway for merchants was described as upcoming in a 2022 interview. Whether it launched is not stated.

Hi Protocol sidechain

The team said it was developing and testing Hi Protocol, its own sidechain on Ethereum. Its current status is not confirmed.

Pros and cons

What we like

Simple, mobile-first onboarding aimed at newcomers
Combines crypto and fiat features in a single app
Founding team includes a former Crypto.com marketing chief
Claimed 3.5 million members by 2022, built through referrals
Roadmap included a DApps Browser, debit card and merchant gateway

Watch out for

Ceased all UK operations, with UK users told to move assets out by 21 June 2024
Fees, licences and custody arrangements are not published in the sources reviewed
Custodial, app-based model means users depend on the company to hold and return funds
HI token has a very small market cap and thin trading, according to one price listing
Debit card, merchant gateway and Hi Protocol sidechain were described as in progress; delivery is not confirmed
Availability by country is unclear outside the UK

hi fees

hi does not publish a fee schedule in the sources reviewed. Trading, card, withdrawal and conversion costs are not stated.

Users would need to check fee screens inside the app and the terms of service for their country before depositing or trading.

Is hi safe?

The sources reviewed do not mention audits, insurance cover, proof of reserves or regulatory licences for hi. The company does not publish these in the material reviewed, so readers should look for them in the app and its terms before depositing.

As a custodial app, hi holds user assets, so you carry counterparty risk. The 2024 withdrawal from the UK, which forced UK users to move their assets out by a deadline, shows that access can change quickly. The HI token is small and thinly traded, which adds price and liquidity risk.

6 steps

How to get started with hi

1
Check that hi is offered in your country. It stopped serving UK users in 2024.
2
Download the app only from an official store listing and verify the publisher.
3
Create an account and complete any identity checks the app requests.
4
Read the in-app fee and terms pages before adding funds.
5
Start with a small deposit and test a withdrawal.
6
Do not leave more than you can afford to lose on any custodial platform.

Who hi is for

hi is aimed at newcomers who want crypto and everyday money features in one mobile app without learning wallets and exchanges. It is less suited to anyone who needs clear regulatory standing, published fees or guaranteed availability, and UK residents can no longer use it.

hi FAQs

What is hi?

hi is a mobile app that mixes crypto and traditional money features. It was described as a Web3 neobank where users can buy and sell crypto and fiat, save and spend. It launched in 2021.

Is hi still available in the UK?

Yes. A notice states that Hi.com is ceasing all UK operations and that UK users had to transfer crypto assets out of the platform by 21 June 2024. Availability elsewhere is not detailed in the sources reviewed.

Who is behind hi?

Sean Rach, a co-founder of hi, is described as the former chief marketing officer of Crypto.com. He says the project aims to serve 1 billion users with a crypto-fiat super app. Other team members are not named in the sources reviewed.

Does hi have a token?

The app has a token called HI. One price listing shows a market cap of roughly 1.2 million US dollars and no 24-hour volume at the time, which points to a small, thinly traded asset. Treat it as high risk.

What are hi's fees?

The sources reviewed do not publish a fee schedule. Check the in-app fee screens and terms for your region before depositing, and confirm the app is offered where you live.

Is hi safe to use?

Nothing in the sources reviewed describes audits, insurance or regulatory licences. Because it is a custodial app, you rely on the company to hold your funds, so only deposit what you can afford to lose.

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