Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser Disclosure

How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal

Step-by-step instructions on how to buy Bitcoin and other cryptos using PayPal.

OFFER

eToro USA LLC Cryptocurrency Trading

eToro USA LLC Cryptocurrency Trading logo
  • Buy, sell and trade 51 cryptos
  • Instant buy with USD & advanced trading options
  • Get $15 when you sign up and buy $100 of crypto. T&Cs apply.
Go to site
Disclaimer: eToro USA LLC; Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.

PayPal crypto allows you to buy, hold and sell four cryptocurrencies in the US: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Once you verify your identity, you can make a purchase through PayPal’s app or website and get started with as little as $1.

However, if you don’t want to buy cryptocurrency directly through PayPal, there are also exchanges that support PayPal as a deposit method. This allows you to transfer funds from your PayPal account on the exchange and then trade them for crypto.

How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal instantly

Buying and selling cryptocurrencies through PayPal can be done through the PayPal mobile app or by accessing your account via a web browser on your desktop and following a few simple steps.

  1. Sign up for a PayPal account.
    If you do not currently have a PayPal account, you will need to sign up before buying Bitcoin.
  2. Go PayPal’s Finances section.
    At the bottom of the app’s screen, click on the icon that reads ‘Finances’. Once there, click on the icon that reads “Crypto’ found at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Bitcoin and choose your amount.
    PayPal displays a choice of all their crypto assets which include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Select Bitcoin and set the quantity you’d like to purchase, then click ‘Buy’. If this is your first purchase, you will need to confirm your account after reading through PayPal’s terms and conditions.
  4. Enter payment method.
    You can typically use bank accounts, debit cards or your PayPal balance to buy cryptocurrencies. Review the details of your purchase and click ‘Buy Now’ to make your purchase. After buying cryptocurrency through PayPal, you’ll be able to see your total balance in your account.

Picture not described

PayPal crypto fees

Transaction fees are applied to your purchase when you buy or sell. Sometimes you can save on fees by buying a bit more cryptocurrency. For instance, you’ll pay less in fees to buy $201 in crypto than you would to buy $199.

Fees are accurate as of January 4, 2023.

Buy or Sell amountFee
$1 – $4.99$0.49
$5 – $24.99$0.99
$25.00 – $74.99$1.99
$75.00 – $200.00$2.49
$200.01 – $,1000.001.80%
$1,000.011.50%

Pros and cons of buying Bitcoin on PayPal

Pros

  • Easy to use. Buy cryptocurrencies through the PayPal app or through the website in a few clicks.
  • Track your portfolio. See your current crypto portfolio’s worth at a glance.
  • Flexible payment options. Pay with a debit card, from your bank account or using your existing PayPal account balance.
  • Instant transactions. Buy and sell crypto through PayPal instantaneously.
  • Purchase with crypto. Make purchases through PayPal’s network using cryptocurrency.
  • No need to self-custody. If you prefer not to manage the private keys to your crypto (known as self-custody) and want a third party to manage them for you, PayPal is a convenient option. PayPal custodies your crypto through Paxos.

Cons

  • High fees. You’ll be charged a fee based on the total amount of your purchase and the fees are higher than most crypto brokerages and exchanges. The fees get more expensive as your purchases approach the $200 threshold and reduce after said threshold.
  • You don’t control your private keys. PayPal doesn’t give you access to your cryptocurrency keys, so you won’t be able to store your purchase in an external wallet.
  • Limited crypto options. PayPal currently only supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
  • No transfers. PayPal does not currently let you move cryptocurrency in or out of your wallet. You will only be able to make purchases with the crypto you bought through the PayPal wallet.
  • You can only sell your crypto back to PayPal. Since you can’t transfer your assets when you’re ready to sell, you can only sell them back to PayPal, which might not offer the most competitive rate.

Quick look at PayPal supported cryptocurrencies

Although PayPal may add support for more cryptocurrencies in the future, currently only four are supported.

  • Bitcoin was released in 2009 and it is known as the world’s first cryptocurrency utilizing blockchain technology.
  • Bitcoin Cash was released in 2017 as a hard-fork (copy) of Bitcoin.
  • Ethereum was released in 2015 and has since brought thousands of software applications to the blockchain through the use of smart contracts.
  • Litecoin was released in 2011 and is thought of as the silver to Bitcoin’s gold

Buying crypto from an exchange using PayPal as a payment method

You can now use PayPal as a payment method on a number of different crypto exchanges and brokerages. These include but aren’t not limited to Binance.US, bitFlyer, Bitstamp, CEX.IO, Coinbase, eToro, Gemini, Huobi, KuCoin, LocalBitcoins, Paxful, Revolut and SoFi.

When you are ready to make your crypto purchases at these exchanges, select PayPal as the payment option. PayPal will then deduct the money from the balance that you hold on the app or the primary bank account or credit/debit card that you have linked to your PayPal account.

Compare exchanges that allow PayPal as a payment method

There are many crypto exchanges and platforms that accept PayPal as a deposit method where you can use your PayPal funds to purchase Bitcoin.

1 - 5 of 5
Name Product Deposit methods Fiat Currencies Cryptocurrencies Offer Disclaimer
Finder Award
OFFER
eToro USA LLC Cryptocurrency Trading
Bank transfer, Debit card, PayPal, Wire transfer
USD

52
cryptocurrencies

Get $15 when you sign up and buy $100 of crypto. T&Cs apply.
Disclaimer: eToro USA LLC; Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal.
OFFER
KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, P2P, Zelle
USD, EUR, GBP, RUB, CNY, AUD, KRW, JPY, TRY, VND

744
cryptocurrencies

Sign up and get up to US$10 in rewards. Make trades to get up to US$500 in rewards. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange
Bank transfer (ACH), Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT
USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, COP

102
cryptocurrencies

Finder Award
Crypto.com App
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, Wire transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT
USD, EUR, GBP, COP, CHF, HKD, SGD, AUD, CAD, KRW, SEK, CNY, TRY, RON, JPY, NOK, MYR, BRL, DKK, ZAR, BGN, THB, INR, TWD, PHP, IDR, MOP, MDL, SAR, MXN, CLP

272
cryptocurrencies

Finder Award
Coinbase Digital Currency Exchange
Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, PayPal, Wire transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay
USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, MXN, HRK, CZK, DKK, CLP, BGN

256
cryptocurrencies

Disclaimer: Star ratings are only displayed for products with 10 or more reviews.
loading

How to sell Bitcoin on PayPal

Because PayPal doesn’t allow you to send your crypto to another wallet or exchange, you’ll only be able to sell your crypto back to PayPal.
To sell cryptocurrency

  1. Using either the app or web browser version of PayPal, click the ‘Finances’ icon.
  2. Under ‘Crypto,’ select one of your existing crypto holdings and click ‘Sell’.
  3. Confirm your tax information (if it’s your first time selling).
  4. Enter the amount you want to sell and click ‘Next’.
  5. If you are sure of the amount you’d like to sell, click ‘Sell Now’.

Bottom line

Buying BTC or other cryptocurrencies on PayPal is easy and convenient, but the transaction costs are high and you can’t send your BTC or other cryptos from your PayPal account to another crypto wallet.

If being able to hold your BTC self-custody is important to you and you still want to use PayPal to purchase your BTC, you can do so through a traditional crypto exchange using PayPal as your payment method.

Many major crypto exchanges including Coinbase, Gemini and Paxful now support PayPal as a payment option and make it easy to buy BTC with your PayPal account.

FAQs

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site