How to buy bitcoin with PayPal in the US

There are many different ways to buy cryptocurrency, but using PayPal has long been seen as one of the most difficult and inconvenient methods available. PayPal is only accepted as a form of payment on a limited number of platforms, and often incurs additional fees.

That said, it’s still possible to buy bitcoin with PayPal if you want to. Keep reading to find out where and how to do it.

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eToro USA Cryptocurrency Trading		Wire transfer Online banking	USD	15 cryptocurrencies	Disclaimer: eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro. Your capital is at risk. Copy the trades of leading cryptocurrency investors on this unique social investment platform. Non-US residents can read our review of eToro's global site here.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Paxful P2P Cryptocurrency Marketplace		Cash Credit card Cryptocurrency PayPal Western Union	DZD, XCD, ARS, AMD, AWG, AUD, AZN, BSD, BHD, BDT & 140+ more	1 cryptocurrency	Connect with bitcoin buyers and sellers through this peer-to-peer marketplace that accepts cash, credit and more than 300 other payment methods.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LocalBitcoins P2P Exchange		Bank transfer (ACH) BPAY Cash Credit card Cryptocurrency	AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY & 120+ more	1 cryptocurrency	Trade fiat currency for bitcoin in person or online with this peer-to-peer exchange offering competitive fees and wide delivery options.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
xCoins P2P Bitcoin Lending		Bank transfer Credit card Debit card eCheck PayPal	USD	1 cryptocurrency	Buy bitcoin instantly with credit card, PayPal or bank account on this peer-to-peer lending platform.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Cancoin P2P Crypto Exchange		Cash Flexepin PayPal SWIFT Western Union	CAD, USD	2 cryptocurrencies	Buy and sell bitcoin with privacy on this multi-signature, peer-to-peer exchange that supports a wide range of payment options.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Types of platforms you can use

There are a few different options to choose from if you want to use your PayPal account to buy cryptocurrency:

• Peer-to-peer marketplaces. The first option is to buy crypto through a peer-to-peer marketplace, such as LocalBitcoins or Paxful. These exchanges allow buyers and sellers to trade directly with one another, giving the seller the freedom to set their own exchange rate and accepted payment methods. Some sellers accept PayPal, and you can filter your search of available deals on the marketplace by payment method to help find a suitable seller.
• Cryptocurrency exchanges. Most exchanges don’t accept PayPal payments; however, you can use the eligible platforms to exchange fiat currency for SLL (Second Life Linden Dollars), which you can then use to acquire bitcoin.
• Peer-to-peer lending platforms. xCoins is a peer-to-peer lending platform for bitcoin lenders and borrowers. It accepts PayPal as a payment method for people wanting to access a “secured loan” of bitcoin.

Pros and cons of buying crypto with PayPal

4 sites you can use to buy bitcoin with PayPal

Let’s take a closer look at how to buy bitcoin with PayPal on four popular platforms.

• 1. How to buy bitcoin with PayPal on LocalBitcoins

  LocalBitcoins is a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can connect with bitcoin buyers and sellers in your local area, and make the transfer in a way that suits you both.

  To buy bitcoin with PayPal you’ll need to:

  1. Register for a LocalBitcoins account.
  2. You then have two options:

  • Browse existing ads from BTC sellers on the “Quick Buy” screen. Use the drop-down menu provided to select PayPal as your desired payment method, and click “Buy” if you find a suitable ad. You’ll then be able to view the trade details, enter the amount of USD you want to spend or the amount of BTC you want to buy, and click “Send trade request.”
  • Place your own ad. This allows you to specify your desired payment method, currency and transaction amount. Please note that you’ll need to complete ID verification before you can post an ad for a trade.

  Pros and cons of using LocalBitcoins

  Pros

  • You can buy bitcoin with USD
  • Platform is simple to use
  • Freedom to search for the price you want

  Cons

  • It might take a while to find a seller that accepts PayPal
  • The rate you get depends on the deals available on the platform

  Find out more in our full review of LocalBitcoins

• 2. How to buy bitcoin with PayPal on Paxful

  Paxful is another peer-to-peer bitcoin marketplace that accepts a long list of payment methods, including PayPal. Here’s an example of how to buy BTC using PayPal on Paxful:

  1. Create a Paxful account.
  2. Link your phone number and set your security questions and settings.
  3. Click the “Buy Bitcoin” link at the top of the screen, then select USD as your currency and enter the amount you want to spend. Choose “PayPal” as your desired payment method and click “Search.”
  4. You’ll be shown a list of open offers that meet your search criteria. Click “Buy” next to one that satisfies all your requirements.
  5. You’ll then be able to view the trade details and enter the amount of USD you want to spend or the amount of BTC you want to buy. Click “Buy Now” when you’re ready to proceed with your purchase.

  

  Pros and cons of using Paxful

  Pros

  • Simple, quick and easy.
  • Potentially one of the most cost-effective ways to buy bitcoin with PayPal.
  • Freedom to search for the deal you want.

  Cons

  • Might take some time to find a suitable seller.
  • The rate you get depends on the deals available on the platform.

  Find out more in our full review of Paxful

• 3. How to buy bitcoin with PayPal on xCoins

  xCoins is a bitcoin lending platform where you can use PayPal to acquire a secured bitcoin loan. Instead of buying or selling bitcoin, users offer loans to each other and set an “interest rate.” Sellers “lend” bitcoin, and buyers take this loan and then repay it in a single payment later on.

  This may sound complicated but in practice it’s quite similar to using a more traditional crypto exchange. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  1. Sign up for an xCoins account.
  2. Enable 2-factor authentication and verify your ID.
  3. Enter the amount of BTC you want to buy and click “Get Bitcoin.”
  4. Take a moment to review the total cost of the transaction and the amount of bitcoin you will receive.
  5. If you’re happy with the terms, accept the loan agreement and click “Continue to Payment.”
  6. You will be redirected to the lender’s PayPal page where you can enter your PayPal account details and finalize payment.

  

  Pros and cons of using xCoins

  Pros

  • Much simpler than it sounds.
  • Quick way to acquire BTC.

  Cons

  • High fees.
  • Low transaction limits for new users.

  Find out more in our complete review of xCoins

Bottom line

It’s possible to buy cryptocurrency with PayPal, but should you? The high fees involved and shortage of platforms that accept PayPal payments means that there are other more cost-effective and convenient options available.

For example, rather than funding your PayPal account from your credit card and then using that balance to buy crypto, you could use a platform that allows you to buy crypto directly with your credit card.

Having said that, there are several trading platforms that support PayPal if you insist on buying using this method. Compare the features and fees of those platforms to find one that’s right for you.

Compare platforms that accept PayPal

FAQs

• Can I buy bitcoin with PayPal on Coinbase?

  No, Coinbase does not currently accept PayPal transfers. At the time of writing, the only supported payment methods for US buyers are debit cards, bank transfers and wire transfers.

• Can I buy bitcoin through PayPal anonymously?

  Not really. While there are some platforms that allow you to buy cryptocurrency without providing any proof of ID, PayPal isn’t an anonymous payment method. This is due to the fact that you’ll need to fund your PayPal account from a linked bank account or credit card, which will in turn be linked to your identity.

• Is it possible to cash out BTC to PayPal?

  Yes. One option is to sell bitcoin through a peer-to-peer marketplace that accepts PayPal, such as LocalBitcoins or Paxful, or place a trade on an exchange like VirWox. Another alternative is to use an exchange where you can sell bitcoin for USD, then withdraw your dollars to the credit card or bank account linked to your PayPal balance.

• Can I store bitcoin in my PayPal wallet?

  No, you can’t fund your PayPal wallet with bitcoin and BTC cannot be stored in your PayPal wallet. Your BTC will instead need to be held in a dedicated cryptocurrency wallet.

• Are there other ways to buy cryptocurrency with US dollars?

  Yes, there are several crypto exchanges that offer fiat-to-crypto trading and accept deposits via bank account transfer, credit card, debit card and even cash.

Disclosure: At the time of writing the author holds ADA, ICX, IOTA, POWR and XLM.