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In a little over a decade, Bitcoin (BTC) has evolved from an obscure digital token used by a small group of people into a payment method and store of value that millions believe is the currency of the future.
If you're interested in buying Bitcoin, you'll first need to open an exchange or platform that allows Bitcoin trading. Below we cover our top picks for the best places to buy Bitcoin, along with why we're fans.
Bottom Line
One of the largest selections in the U.S. with a deep bench of available cryptocurrencies. Coinbase isn't the cheapest place to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, but it is one of the most versatile and a clear standout.
Fees:
Variable fees (Coinbase), 0%-0.60% (Coinbase Advanced Trade), $29.99 monthly (Coinbase One)
Account Minimum:
$2
Bottom Line
Offers a nice range of cryptocurrencies and a simple-to-use app experience. Popular with beginner investors, Gemini prides itself on its security and is available in all 50 U.S. states.
Fees:
$0.99-$2.99 orders under $200, 1.49% for orders over $200 (default), 0% - 0.40% (Gemini ActiveTrader)
Account Minimum:
$0
Bottom Line
You can buy and sell Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, stocks, and options with no transaction fee. Plus, outside of the platforms that are solely made for cryptocurrency, Robinhood has one of the best crypto selections out there.
Fees:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies
Account Minimum:
$0
Limitations Apply
Bottom Line
The versatile trading platform is a standout, as is the CopyTrader feature that allows you to copy your favorite investors. It has a broad range of products for investors who want to manage all their assets in one place.
Fees:
1% for trading crypto plus spread, $0 commission for stocks & ETFs
Account Minimum:
$10
Special Offer
Limited time offer: Deposit $100 and get a $10 bonus. Terms apply.
eToro USA LLC; Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Bottom Line
Cash App is one of the most user-friendly ways for beginners to trade Bitcoin. There's no separate account needed -- if you use the Cash App to send money, you're already equipped to buy Bitcoin and stocks.
Fees:
$0 for stocks, fees vary for Bitcoin
Account Minimum:
$0
TIP
Investing in crypto can be extremely risky. We think investors should approach these assets like any other technological investment — with a long-term mindset and the expectation of ups and downs. The Fool realizes there may be opportunities for investors. We do actively recommend select cryptocurrencies to our community. But we encourage everyone to be well versed prior to investing to understand the potential risks and rewards.
There are dozens, if not hundreds of different places you can buy Bitcoin, but they mostly fall into one of these three categories.
Cryptocurrency exchanges are in the business of facilitating the purchase, sale, and storage of cryptocurrencies only. Coinbase and Gemini are examples of some of the best cryptocurrency exchanges.
Some stock brokers that allow users to buy stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles also allow investors to buy and sell certain cryptocurrencies. Robinhood is a good example of a brokerage with cryptocurrency offerings.
Some of the platforms in the previous two categories certainly have apps. However, there are some apps that aren't official cryptocurrency exchanges or brokerages that facilitate the purchase and sale of Bitcoin. Cash App and Venmo fall into this category.
Feature | Exchanges | Brokerages | Apps |
---|---|---|---|
Great selection of cryptocurrencies | Yes | Not usually | Sometimes |
Advanced cryptocurrency trading platforms | Yes | No | No |
Ability to buy stocks and other investments | No | Yes | Sometimes |
Lots of cryptocurrency educational resources | Yes | Sometimes | No |
No-commission Bitcoin trading | No | Sometimes | Sometimes |
Safety is a relative term when it comes to cryptocurrency. This is still a fairly new and unregulated industry, and there are limited consumer protections in place. As we saw with the high profile collapse of FTX and other cryptocurrency platforms, crypto assets are not covered by SIPC insurance or FDIC insurance. If you keep your Bitcoin in a custodial wallet, it could be at risk if the exchange fails.
Safety-wise, if you're looking for the best place to buy Bitcoin, here are some factors to consider:
Finally, it's important to note that many exchanges don't provide any protection against unauthorized account access. Be sure to activate user-level security features such as two-factor authentication. And keep your passwords and other authentication methods secure.
RELATED: Check out The Ascent's guide to the best NFT wallets.
We have yet to find a perfect place to buy Bitcoin. But if you want to know the best place to buy Bitcoin for you, the answer will depend on the features that matter most to you. Here are a few that you should consider when evaluating the best cryptocurrency exchanges, brokers, and apps.
The cost of buying and selling Bitcoin can vary dramatically from one crypto exchange platform to another. While it shouldn't be the only factor you consider, it's important to know what you'll pay on each platform you're considering. When considering fees, check to see what spread the platform charges, as this can push the cost up considerably.
All of the places on the above list will let you buy Bitcoin. But if you want to invest in other cryptocurrencies or begin crypto trading, you'll want to look for a platform that has a good selection. If you'd like to invest in Bitcoin and stocks in the same place, you'll need a platform that offers that.
Some of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges have extensive libraries of articles, videos, and tutorials to help users learn about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This can be a big differentiator when looking for the best place to buy Bitcoin, even for people who already understand how Bitcoin works.
Depending on the investor, this could mean different things. For example, someone who is looking to buy their first Bitcoin and only plans to occasionally buy and sell the digital currency may want as simple of a user interface as possible. On the other hand, an active and experienced Bitcoin trader might want a trading platform with many features (charting tools, order options, etc.).
We touched on safety above, but it bears repeating. There's no point in investing in Bitcoin only to lose your assets if the platform collapses or is hacked. Research the risks involved and look for crypto exchanges that are transparent about their security, assets, and insurance.
The cost to buy Bitcoin depends on the platform you're using. This should certainly be a major consideration for you when deciding where is the best place to buy Bitcoin.
Although there are different terms used by platforms, virtually all of them make money on the "spread." This is the difference between the price an exchange is willing to buy Bitcoin for and the price it is willing to sell it for. For example, a few popular platforms add 0.5% to their quoted price for buying transactions and subtract 0.5% for selling transactions to create a spread.
Additionally, some (but not all) platforms also charge a transaction fee. This often depends on the size of the purchase or sale, the method of payment, and the user's location.
In addition to the trading fee, you may also be charged a withdrawal fee to take your crypto or traditional money off the platform. It's also worth watching out for any charges to deposit money.
TIP
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It has never been easier to buy Bitcoin. Just follow these five steps:
One key difference between cryptocurrency and more traditional investments is the relative lack of consumer protections, particularly against exchange failure. In addition to deciding where to buy Bitcoin, think about where you might store it. If you leave your cryptocurrency on the platform you bought it -- also known as a custodial wallet -- your assets could be at risk.
The alternative is a non-custodial crypto wallet. These come in several forms:
It's easy to move funds from most crypto exchanges to and from a wallet of your choice. Brokerages are a different story. Robinhood is unusual among crypto brokers in that it has a crypto wallet you can use for deposits and withdrawals.
Offer | Best For | Commissions | Next Steps | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trading platform and crypto selection |
Variable fees (Coinbase), 0%-0.60% (Coinbase Advanced Trade), $29.99 monthly (Coinbase One) |
||
|
Investing simplicity |
$0.99-$2.99 orders under $200, 1.49% for orders over $200 (default), 0% - 0.40% (Gemini ActiveTrader) |
||
|
Diversified investing needs |
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies |
Open Account for Robinhood
Limitations Apply |
|
|
Socially-driven investing |
1% for trading crypto plus spread, $0 commission for stocks & ETFs |
Open Account for eToro
eToro USA LLC; Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. |
|
Cash App Investing |
|
User-friendly Bitcoin trading |
$0 for stocks, fees vary for Bitcoin |
It depends what you mean by "safe." Many cryptocurrency exchanges maintain some insurance to protect against theft of crypto assets, and hacking is generally less of a threat than it once was. On the other hand, there is little in the way of protection if your crypto is deposited on a platform that fails. Plus, Bitcoin is still a speculative asset and its price can be rather volatile.
The fees to buy Bitcoin vary from platform to platform. Virtually all exchanges and brokers make money from the "spread," or the difference in price between what they'll buy and sell Bitcoin for. On the other hand, transaction fees are zero on some platforms but are significantly higher elsewhere and should definitely be a factor in deciding the best place to buy Bitcoin for you.
There are a few different options when it comes to buying Bitcoin. You can use a cryptocurrency exchange, an app that allows for Bitcoin purchases, or a brokerage that offers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as an investment option.
Yes. One of the attractions of cryptocurrency is that the transactions are stored on a blockchain ledger that's extremely difficult to hack. Difficult, but not impossible -- there's something called a 51% attack in which bad actors take control of more than half of a specific blockchain. Bitcoin has never had a 51% attack.
However, there are bigger risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions. For example, crypto exchanges can collapse. And if your crypto account gets compromised, someone could gain access to your assets. Unfortunately it can be incredibly hard to recover lost or stolen crypto funds. There's also been an uptick in crypto phishing attacks where users are tricked into revealing their personal information through fraudulent websites or emails.
A crypto exchange is a platform where people can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. Many crypto exchanges also let customers store their crypto assets on the platform, and some even offer ways to earn passive income from crypto investments. Crypto exchanges usually only allow cryptocurrency trading, unlike a crypto broker, which also trades in securities like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
There's no specific amount of money you need to buy Bitcoin. Depending on the transaction minimums on the platform you use, you can buy some Bitcoin for $1 or even less. Don't be put off by the misconception you have to buy a whole Bitcoin -- you can spend as much or as little as you choose.
A Bitcoin exchange is a place where you can buy and sell Bitcoin, though many exchanges also operate wallets as well. A wallet is a place where you can store your Bitcoin keys. Your cryptocurrency has a public and private key -- a bit like a bank account has an account number and PIN.
There are several different types of wallets. Crypto exchanges often manage custodial wallets on your behalf, which means you don't have direct control over your crypto keys. If you want more control, you can move your assets to a hardware wallet. This is usually around the size of a USB or flash drive and kept offline for security. You can also open a hot wallet online, which is an account you control that's connected to the internet for convenience.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Emma Newbery owns Bitcoin.
Robinhood disclosure
This advertisement contains information and materials provided by Robinhood Financial LLC and its affiliates (“Robinhood”) and Publisher, a third party not affiliated with Robinhood. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC and Robinhood Securities LLC, which are members of FINRA and SIPC. Publisher is not a member of FINRA or SIPC.
Robinhood Crypto disclosure
This advertisement contains information and materials provided by Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities LLC and its affiliates (“Robinhood”) and Publisher, a third party not affiliated with Robinhood. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, a member of FINRA and SIPC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc. Cryptocurrency trading offered through Robinhood Crypto LLC. Robinhood Crypto and Publisher are not a members of FINRA or SIPC and cryptocurrencies are not stocks and your cryptocurrency investments are not protected by either FDIC or SIPC insurance.