These days people often write, or call me asking how to buy bitcoin (btc). Most people want to know where to get bitcoin with PayPal, credit card, bank transfer or cash. The problem is that not much information exists to explain how in easy to understand steps that a beginner can follow. I feel that there should be an easy guide available for people looking to purchase bitcoin using these payment methods. Knowing some of the basics will help you to choose the best place to buy and store your bitcoins securely and easily. You should always do some independent research before using a service and depositing money anywhere. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference, and I would be delighted to hear your feeback, or answer your questions in the comments section.
Choosing a good wallet is the most important part of learning how to use bitcoin. Using a safe storage solution is not an easy task. In fact the most convenient wallet systems (web-wallets and mobile wallets) are usually the most unsafe. Thankfully there are many extremely safe options for holding your bitcoins.
To keep things simple, just remember that the private keys of your wallet are what enables sending the coins elsewhere. The safest storage solutions are those where the private keys are kept hidden away from the outside world to see.
Use the following table to quickly compare the advantages and disadvantages of each wallet type:
Wallet Type |
Safety |
Beginners |
Convenience |
Cost |
Web |
unsafe |
easy |
very convenient |
free |
Mobile |
unsafe |
easy |
very convenient |
free |
Desktop |
safe |
average |
average |
free |
Hardware |
very safe |
average |
not convenient |
90 – 400 usd |
Paper |
very safe |
difficult |
not convenient |
usually free |
Multi-sig |
safe |
difficult |
(variable) |
free |
A comparison of the different bitcoin wallet types
Online web-wallets are websites or even online exchanges that allow storage. As mentioned above, this is the least secure option as it usually involves leaving the management of your private keys to a web server. Web servers are prone to hacking, and users must also trust the online wallet operators to provide the best level of security. However, it is a really convenient way to keep a few dollars worth of bitcoin online for to allow for quick and easy payments. If you have large amounts, then never keep it all in a web-wallet.
Here are some good web-wallets:
A mobile or smartphone wallet is, as the name suggests, a bitcoin wallet on your smartphone. Mobile wallets are great, because it is really easy to scan QR codes with your phone’s camera to make quick payments to friends, merchants ad shops that accept bitcoin. The names may vary, but mobile wallets are as unsafe as web-wallets in terms of private key security. This is because most mobile apps automatically update by themselves. If a hacker gets access to the developer’s iTunes / GooglePlay account then they could potentially infect and steal millions of users wallets as their next update gets pushed through. Nevertheless, this type of wallet is great for having small amounts ready to pay when you are out and about.
The best mobile wallets for iOS and Android are:
Desktop wallets are apps installed on a desktop computer or laptop. Many people store significant proportions of their bitcoins in desktop wallets as these are much safer than web or mobile wallets. If you asked me a few years ago, I would have said that this is the safest way to store bitcoins. Now, in 2017, with all the backdoor hacking stories, I would prefer using a variety of offline wallets (desktop, hardware, paper) to store my bitcoins. If you are comfortable with ensuring your PC’s security and/or using a Linux system (Windows is considered the least secure operating system) then this may be a relatively secure option for you. A desktop wallet could also be an option for keeping a certain percentage of your portfolio.
I really like these desktop wallets:
Hardware wallets are very sophisticated semi-cold storage (mostly offline) systems. A piece of hardware is used to store the private keys to your bitcoins. Every time you want to send coins then you’ll just connect the hardware wallet to a PC and then take it offline again once the transaction is complete. Keep in mind that you have to buy hardware wallets, unlike the other types of storage solutions which are mostly free. Although you still have to trust the hardware-wallet manufacturer & suppliers, many people claim that this is the safest type of bitcoin wallet.
Here are some popular hardware wallet systems:
Note: some experts suggest that hardware wallets are not real cold storage (completely offline) because they require USB connections to make transactions.
In the opinion of many people using a paper wallet is the most secure cold-storage solution available (more so than hardware wallets). With a paper wallet you only have to trust the wallet-creating software and the physical location that it will be stored in (usually a safe in a bank or at home). As with all super-secure solutions, this is the least convenient as you’ll need to create a new paper wallet every time that you want to send bitcoins somewhere. If you are planning to hold on to your cryptocurrency for a long time without spending it, a paper wallet could be a super-safe option for you.
Here are some trustworthy paper wallet systems:
Most bitcoin wallets simply need one private key signature to make a transaction. Multi-signature wallets require multiple private key signatures to make a transaction. For example, if you wanted to send bitcoin you would first need to authorize the transaction, and then another trusted person would also need to authorize it. Neither you nor the other person can make a transaction on your own. Both parties require the other’s consent (signing) to make a transaction. This allows for some pretty advanced features and very safe storage solutions. This type of wallet is great for business using bitcoin.
Multi-signature capabilities are sometimes available in web, smartphone, desktop, and hardware wallets.
These wallets offer multi-sig capabilities:
The terms “hot” and “cold” are used to describe the online connectivity of a bitcoin wallet, and by extension, its risk factor. Here is the difference between the two:
A hot wallet is constantly connected to the internet with the private keys loaded ready for use. For this reason a hot wallet is riskier because a hacker can theoretically access the private keys if they find a vulnerability. Sometimes people use the term “online wallet” interchangeably with “hot wallet”. Hot wallets make it easy to do transactions quickly and on the go. Web, smartphone, and, to a certain extent, desktop wallets can all be considered “hot” wallets.
A cold wallet is not connected to the internet and the private keys are offline. Sometimes people use the term “offline wallet” interchangeably with “cold wallet”. Cold wallets are therefore safer because hackers would have a very hard time accessing your private keys. Some cold wallet systems need to connect in order for transactions to be made. Others allow transactions to be signed completely offline and subsequently broadcast it to the bitcoin network (without connecting the private keys). Hardware (USB) and paper wallets are popular cold wallet systems.
The term “warm wallet” is occasionally used by experts when describing cold wallet systems that must connect to the internet to make transactions (most hardware wallets must do this). A warm wallet can be defined as a mix between a cold wallet and a hot wallet. Warm wallets are therefore not as safe as pure “cold” wallet systems, but they offer some of the conveniences of a “hot” wallet.
Watch Andreas M. Antonopoulos (a bitcoin expert, author, and entrepreneur) talk about his personal wallet choices:
There are so many different payment options when purchasing bitcoin. To keep things simple, I will compare the most used methods: Credit Card, Bank Transfer, Cash, and PayPal. To get a quick glance at the advantages/disadvantages of each look over the following table. More detailed information is available below.
Payment Method |
Average Fees |
Anonymity |
Speed to Purchase |
Overall Difficulty |
Credit Card |
High |
Not great |
Very fast |
Easy |
Bank Transfer (SEPA/wire) |
Very low |
Not great |
Slow |
Easy/Medium |
PayPal |
Very high |
Good |
Fast |
Medium |
Cash |
Low |
Excellent |
Slow |
Medium |
Work for it |
No fees |
Good |
Slow |
Hard |
For buying large amounts of bitcoin, you should choose to buy with a bank transfer on a reputable exchange. Fees are always lowest when you choose to transfer funds directly via SEPA (Europe) or Wire (US). Alternatively credit card purchases will provide you with bitcoins in a much faster time span. This is because deposits are verified instantly so the exchange can immediately release the cryptocurrency to you. The downside is that credit card transactions entail larger fees, which make it inconvenient for getting many bitcoins.
What makes people want to transfer PayPal to bitcoin and vice versa? The simple fact that it’s instant and quite convenient. It also allows people to use their favorite payment processor. Most importantly, using PayPal is great for small amounts. However, it’s far cheaper to use other payment methods (credit card, bank transfer) for larger transactions. Credit card purchases are the simplest way. Fees are high, but generally not as high as when buying with PayPal.
There are two accepted ways to buy bitcoin with cash:
Generally speaking, buying bitcoins with cash will guarantee the highest levels of anonymity. Fees are higher than buying by bank transfer, but at least you will keep your ID secret and no one has to know who you are. Some people choose cash because they prefer to stay private. However, large transactions become quite inconvenient (and dangerous/risky) when using cash. Another downside is that you usually have to go to physical location to meet someone, rather than just being able to do it all online. Please note that not all bitcoin ATMs are anonymous. Some do require ID submission.
Did you know that it is actually possible to work for bitcoin? It’s really starting to kick-off within the freelancing community. If you’re a graphic designer, web developer, artist, producer, or anything else that can be done remotely – then I highly recommend looking into working for bitcoin. There are no exchange fees, since your employer simply sends you his bitcoins directly to your address. Granted, this is not the fastest method, but you sure would be riding the first wave of trend-setting digital freelancers. I like to look for freelancing gigs on the xbtfreelancer site or the /r/Jobs4Bitcoins sub-Reddit.
Yes, I know this identity verification craze really sucks! Back in 2013 I don’t remember any sites asking for my passport copies and photos of home electricity bills. Now in 2017 virtually every bitcoin exchange is obliged by law to do full KYC (know your customer). This is to prevent cyber-crime and money laundering… and some say the government worries that you might be gaining too much economic freedom.
Just realize that this is the new age where your ID is scattered all over the internet. For this reason I would recommend choosing the safest sites only. If you really need to stay anonymous when buying, this is possible but the cost per bitcoin will be significantly higher.
Here are the best places to get bitcoin without having to submit ID:
No one likes to get over-charged. Paying the cheapest fees is always important. Some exchanges are very transparent about how much you will pay to deposit, buy, sell, store, and withdraw. However, other places are more discreet about how they extract fees from your hard earned money. Most sites make their revenue by having a small margin on the buy/sell rate. Do look into this before you deposit money anywhere.
I’m yet to find a site that accepts all four of the most-used payment methods:
Most places will accept either one or two. Do check out the reviews of each site below for more information.
It is funny that some sites are still, in 2017, so hard to use. Sometimes I think that the creators actually asked themselves: “how can we make this as hard as possible for new users to understand…?”. It is really important to start off simple. Don’t try use a decentralized exchange if this is your first day on bitcoin. Choose a site which accommodates beginners. There are a couple of good choices listed below. Some of the best sites are actually very easy to use, but also offer more advanced features for experts.
If you are new to bitcoin, you may have heard mainstream media reports about how “bitcoin was hacked” or something similar. Thankfully you have gotten this far & ignored the prophecies of incompetent journalists. What actually happens is that bitcoin exchanges do themselves get hacked. This has nothing to do with bitcoin the protocol – which remains incredibly secure and has never been compromised since its creation (Edit: redditor /u/dooglus correctly points out this overflow incident in the early days of bitcoin). So it is indeed important to choose an exchange with good security.
Some indicators that an exchange is following security best practices are:
Some indicators that an exchange may have been compromised are
Rest assured, most people simply withdraw their coins to an offline wallet once purchased. That way you no longer need to worry about how safe the exchange is, because you now have sole control over the private keys.
It’s good to research each site’s customer service records before depositing. Some places are really fast to respond to customer queries, while others may take days to get back to you. Keep in mind that you will necessarily be interacting with support at some stage as most sites now require ID vetting. This stage usually involves several emails, so it’s important that the site has employed enough agents to respond to users in time.
As exchanges get more sophisticated and secure, some have developed account-flagging systems which may temporarily freeze users’ funds. Flags can be set off for a variety of reasons, but usually get sorted once you reach out to a customer support representative.
This aspect should be given more weight. After all, the bitcoin community is a thriving eco-system. Exchanges don’t exist in a void, and those that are reaping all reward without giving something back really don’t deserve your custom. Good examples of community interaction include:
Below is a table that summarizes the best places to buy bitcoin. Special emphasis has been put on clearly indicating available payment methods, fees, ease-of-use, and reputation. Some sites have multiple ways to deposit money (i usually prefer these), while others focus on one. Reputation is a overall view of feedback I have read about each site. Be sure to research reviews yourself too. The fee column gives a very brief idea of how high commissions and hidden costs are on each exchange. This should help you in making a decision about with site to use.
A table comparing the best places to buy bitcoin
Site |
PayPal |
Credit Card |
Bank Transfer |
Cash |
Reputation |
Fees |
Coinbase |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Excellent |
Average |
Kraken |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Excellent |
Good |
Localbitcoins |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Good |
Average |
Bitstamp |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Okay |
Average |
Cex |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Good |
Good |
Xcoins |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Okay |
High |
Paxful |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Okay |
High |
Coinmama |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Okay |
High |
Wesellcrypto |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Okay |
High |
Bitcoin.de |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Okay |
Good |
Coinatmradar |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
n/a |
High |
The first thing to consider before asking where to get bitcoin with a credit card, is that this service has only existed very recently. People find it quite incredible – why did no one offer card deposits before? Simply because credit card transactions were partially reversible by the bank. So these exchanges had to first gain lots of trust and goodwill before banks would allow them to operate over the SWIFT network. Using a card to buy bitcoin means confirmation waiting time has been significantly reduced.
The following list of sites accept credit cards:
Coinbase.com
Coinbase really is a great site for multiple reasons, but most importantly because it’s intuitive. The user interface is so appealing and simple to use. Coinbase is also one of the most secure exchanges site and has over 18 million happy users per month. Card purchases are real simple and fees remain very competitive. The best part is that all user wallets are insured. Expert users can even activate a super-advanced & secure mutli-signature wallet. This guarantees that in the event Coinbase were to go offline then these users could still move their coins.
While you may wish for a no verification process, like all exchanges Coinbase do require ID submission before you can finalize an order. Should you want to trade like a professional: use GDAX for larger volume transactions and cheaper fees. Where are they located? Based out of San Francisco, they allow you to buy with USD, Euros, GBP. Be sure to read up their information page which will help you get started.
Click here to get a $10 bonus when you sign up with Coinbase.
Cex.io
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CEX is an integral part of my guide, because they offer a diverse range of services. This tutorial would feel empty without including them here. I also really appreciate the fact that customers can learn how to buy cryptocurrency on CEX. This UK based altcoin exchange (LTC ETH BTC) originally was a cloud mining operator. Due to increasing demand, it was decided to start offering bitcoins for sale. They now have over 700 000 users and accept Euro, US Dollar, and Russian Ruble. Wire transfer and SEPA payments are also accepted. CEX have a Level 2 PCI DSS data security clearance meaning that this site is extremely trustworthy with users data and money.
Bitstamp.net
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Bitstamp is rapidly gaining popularity in Europe as the best place to buy btc online. With its recent new HQ in London, along with its well-acclaimed acceptance of Mastercard & VISA, Bitstamp has attracted quite a large user base among those asking how to get bitcoins with a debit card. As an added benefit, this is the cheapest place to trade BTC USD or EUR for high-volumes. The sign-up process is easy and once validated you will be able to purchase immediately. Withdrawing is just as fast. The ease of use here makes it an excellent choice. I would definitely recommend this to my mother.
The following list of sites accept PayPal:
Localbitcoins.com
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Localbitcoins have recently added the option for buyers and sellers to exchange bitcoins for PayPal. I think this is a pretty sweet feature. Due to the fear of reversible transactions and charge-backs, not many sites offer the use of this payment processor.
Most Localbitcoin sellers will allow purchases ranging between 10 usd to 1500 usd in PayPal. The big downside is that they require you to have community reputation (previous purchase history). Sellers do this in-order to minimize the risk that bad-actors reverse the PayPal transaction while keeping the bitcoins.
Paxful.com
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Paxful is located in Delaware, USA. This site is obligatory in any tutorial on how to invest bitcoin, simply because they offer a really wide range of features. Not only can you go from paypal to bitcoin on Paxful, but you can also use Amazon gift cards too (and others such as OneVanilla, Walmart, Bestbuy, and Gamestop). Google Wallet is also accepted by vendors here.
You will find that it is all about finding a vendor that is ready to trade with you. Yes, it is true that other sites offer an easier process, but where else can you exchange virtually anything for the most popular cryptocurrency in existence? Check out Paxful’s instructions and read up the FAQ. I do prefer LocalBitcoins to Paxful – especially so now that the former accepts PayPal.
Wesellcrypto.com
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Wesellcrypto used to be a popular platform for buying Dogecoin with PayPal. The operators realized that this payment method was so demanded that maybe they should also try it for bitcoin. The site has 100 thousand unique visits per month and growing by 10% each quarter. PayPal to bitcoin purchases can be done without ID verification for small amounts under 15 usd. Larger amounts require various stages of vetting depending on the weekly quantity. Fees are approximately on par with the competition. While the site owner remains discrete, users review are mostly positive, and I would still recommend this site a great alternative.
Xcoins.io
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Xcoins are a really trustworthy option. They have just moved into new offices (former Google building) in downtown Santa Monica, USA. The platform uses an innovative feature of lending bitcoins on peer to peer basis. This enables instant transactions and makes Xcoins the fastest of all sites to get BTC with PayPal. I have had a few opportunities to interact with support and they are very swift to respond and fix issues. In terms of popularity, Xcoins are definitely easier to use than WeSellCrypto and have twice the amount of traffic.
Let’s face it, some of us prefer to buy bitcoin anonymously, while others simply like to meetup in person and engage in some digital currency related conversation. When buying with cash this is all possible. It is always recommended to meet in a public place and double-check the seller’s review status. It is also possible to use a bitcion ATM to buy with cash. To find the nearest location to you, use CoinATMradar for an impressively interactive and very detailed ATM map.
The following list of sites enable & facilitate cash transactions:
Localbitcoins.com
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Still wondering how to buy bitcoin with cash? This is one of the first and largest P2P exchanges, and may be of interest. This site pairs your location with that of sellers in the area nearby. Two purchase options are available: you can either do a SEPA transfer (Europe) to the seller’s bank, or else arrange a meeting point and pay with cash. I prefer the second choice as this allows me to discuss and network with like-minded people that share an interest in digital currencies.
Localbitcoins is great because no verification is needed, meaning that it is possible to stay anonymous and invest small amounts. The average price is approximately 10 percent higher than elsewhere. This is what people are willing to pay to keep their privacy. Sometimes buyers / sellers may ask for identification before trading. They have even elaborated an instructions page to get you started hassle-free.
Coinmama.com
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Coinmama, based in the Virgin Islands, accepts both credit card and cash. This is the best place to use cash if you are familiar with using Werstern Union or MoneyGram. Due to their location and deposit methods, this is another excellent site to keep things as private as possible. This goes without saying, the website is nicely designed and works perfectly on a mobile browser as well as desktop. Customer support is truly amazing and live chat with agents is always possible. I strongly believe that Coinmama will rise to become a very popular option. I find that this is the easiest way to go about things. Why be on the darknet to stay private? Just use the right services.
Coinatmradar.com
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Coinatmradar is not an exchange. Rather, it is an interactive world map of over 1154 bitcoin ATMs over 58 countries. You may like to check the map and see if there is an ATM somewhere near you.
BitcoinATMs usually only accept cash in exchange for bitcoin. However some machines will go both ways and sell you cash in exchange for bitcoins. The ATMs look slightly different than traditional bank machines. These are generally smaller and more colorful.
Looking for the fastest way? Using a bank transfer may not be for you. However for those seeking to acquire large amounts, this is by far the best way to proceed. Why? Because fees are so much lower. Expect waiting times of between 48 to 72 hours for SEPA and wire transfers.
Note: I recommend Coinbase for bank transfer purchases (they also accept this deposit method) as it is really beginner-friendly (far more than the sites below).
Kraken.com
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For those looking to buy bitcoin stock, Kraken operates a professional exchange which has passed all of the highest security audits in this space. Operating out of San Francisco, USA since 2011 – this site is optimised for serious buyers wanting to actively trade BTC (Kraken uses the official “XBT” currency code). More and more Cryptocoin markets are up and running too.
Kraken offers the best service for a bank transfer (wire SEPA) deposits. For the time being this is the only deposit method available. Deposit currencies include euros, US dollars, and KRW (Korean Won). It is super cheap to deposit, withdraw, and trade on Kraken. Daily volumes are always high, and an excellent fee transparency guarantees low commissions and that you get the cheapest coins. Rumour has it that Kraken could add leveraged trading (yes – short selling) sometime soon.
Cryptopay.com
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While cryptopay’s centerpiece product is indeed its bitcoin credit card, there is a hugely underrated exchange platform available to its customers. Bank transfer deposits are quick to confirm and accepted in GBP, EUR, and USD. Fees are about 20 percent higher than Kraken, but this is well worth it because Cryptopay is so much easier to use. Thanks to a great user interface the site has managed to build up over 750 000 unique visits and plenty of good reviews online. As with all online wallets, I do not recommend storing your bitcoin here. It is best practice to always withdraw to your own offline wallet.
Bitcoin.de
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Bitcoin.de have built themselves quite a solid following and reputation in the European market. Based in Germany, this site is really easy to use and a great choice for people looking to purchase bitcoin in small to average amounts. Similarly to other p2p platforms, these guys have an escrow service. Liquidity is not as large as on Bitfinex for example, but safety and a user-friendly experience make it fine for beginners & newcomers. Fees are currently at 1 percent of selling price. Deposit currency is in EUR, by SEPA bank transfer.
Hopefully the above list of sites serves as a good reference for your endeavor. For purchasing large amounts of BTC I would recommend using Kraken (USD EUR CAD GBP JPY) or BitStamp, simply because these sites both have high volume trading. To purchase smaller amounts there are more options, which means finding the best site is slightly more time-intensive. All the same, sites like Coinbase, Localbitcoins, or Wesellcrypto are great for getting smaller amounts online. As you have seen, it is relatively easy to learn by testing a couple of different places and then deciding the most appropriate service for your needs. Once you know how to purchase bitcoin online with the best site then the process becomes more straightforward. The learning curve is not that steep anymore!
Should you have some extra time, I highly advise taking a moment to read the history of bitcoin which is actually quite interesting indeed. You may also like to take a look at the price history charts to have an idea of the important exchange rate evolution since Satoshi Nakamoto created it in late 2008. As a final note, I really recommend taking an active interest in the technology behind cryptocurrency, being the single most important innovation since the internet was invented. There is some great discussion on the /r/bitcoin subreddit and on the EpiCenter Podcast for enthusiasts.