How to Buy Bitcoin (BTC)

Buying bitcoin takes minutes, and some exchanges let you purchase as little as $5 — less than the cost of your Starbucks order.

The process is pretty straightforward, too: you pick a place to buy it, connect a payment method and place your order.

But there are a few important choices along the way — which platform to use, how to pay, where to keep your bitcoin afterward — and this guide walks you through each one in plain terms, so you can go from zero to owning bitcoin without second-guessing every step.

Quick glance: How do you want to buy bitcoin?

There’s no single way to buy bitcoin — the right one depends on how much control, convenience or exposure you’re after. Find the row that sounds like you and start there.

If you want to…	Consider…	Example
Buy actual BTC with simplicity	Crypto exchange	Best crypto exchanges
Use an existing investment account	Brokerage or trading app that supports crypto	Robinhood; Interactive Brokers; SoFi
Get bitcoin exposure without owning BTC	Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF)	Best bitcoin ETFs
Hold your BTC yourself	Hardware wallet	Best hardware wallets
Gain exposure to the crypto industry as a whole	Crypto stocks	Best crypto stocks
Buy bitcoin with cash	Bitcoin ATM	Locate bitcoin ATMs

Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile. It’s gone from being worth about $3,800 in March 2020 to $69,000 in September 2021 and back to $37,000 in November 2023. In October 2025, bitcoin’s price set a new all-time high of over $126,000. Investors are at risk of considerable losses as well as gains. Exercise caution when investing in bitcoin.

How to buy bitcoin on an exchange

The most straightforward way for most people to buy bitcoin is through a crypto exchange, and some exchanges even offer bonuses to jumpstart your investment. Signing up is pretty simple, and the steps are similar to opening a bank or brokerage account.

1. Choose a crypto exchange. Compare fees, payment methods, security features and whether the platform operates in your country.
2. Create an account. Provide your email address, create a password and complete identity verification.
3. Deposit funds. Add money using an available payment method, such as a bank transfer or debit card.
4. Find bitcoin. Search for bitcoin or its ticker, BTC, on the exchange.
5. Enter your order. Choose how much bitcoin you want to buy and review the quoted price and fees.
6. Place the order. Confirm the transaction. Your BTC will appear in your exchange account once the order is completed.
7. Decide where to keep it. You can leave your bitcoin on the exchange or transfer it to a personal crypto wallet for self-custody.

What to look for in a crypto platform

Not all crypto platforms offer the same fees, features or level of protection. Before choosing one, consider:

• Fees. Compare trading, deposit and withdrawal fees.
• Security. Look for strong account protections and security practices.
• Bitcoin availability. Make sure you can buy and withdraw bitcoin.
• Payment methods. Check whether it supports your preferred payment method.
• Withdrawal options. Confirm you can transfer bitcoin to your own wallet.
• Ease of use. Beginners may prefer a simple, intuitive interface.
• Regulation. Check whether the platform operates legally in your jurisdiction.
• Customer support. Look for accessible support when something goes wrong.
• Reputation. Research the platform’s track record and user complaints.

How to buy bitcoin through a traditional broker

If you already have an investment account, buying bitcoin through a traditional brokerage can be more convenient than opening a separate crypto account. The exact process varies by broker and whether it offers direct bitcoin trading or bitcoin ETFs.

1. Check whether your broker offers bitcoin. Look for direct BTC trading or a bitcoin ETF.
2. Open or log into your account. Complete any required identity verification.
3. Fund your account. Deposit money if you don’t already have enough available to invest.
4. Find bitcoin or a bitcoin ETF. Search for BTC or the ETF’s ticker symbol.
5. Enter your order. Choose the amount you want to invest and select your order type.
6. Review the transaction. Check the price, fees and estimated investment amount.
7. Place the order. Confirm the purchase and check your account for the completed transaction.
8. Understand what you own. Direct BTC gives you bitcoin exposure, while a bitcoin ETF gives you shares of a fund that tracks bitcoin and generally doesn’t let you withdraw BTC.

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Other ways to buy bitcoin

No exchange? No problem. Bitcoin has quietly woven itself into apps and machines you might already use — here’s where else to find it.

• Payment apps. Popular apps like PayPal, Cash App and Venmo now allow you to buy, sell and hold bitcoin alongside your regular money. They’re beginner-friendly and easy to use, though some don’t allow transfers to an external wallet.
• Bitcoin wallet apps. Many crypto wallet apps let you buy bitcoin directly within the app, often through a partnered payment processor. You purchase and store your coins in one place, and because you control the wallet’s keys, you keep custody of your bitcoin.
• Bitcoin ATMs. These are physical kiosks, often found in convenience stores or malls, where you can buy bitcoin with cash or a debit card. You scan your wallet’s QR code and the machine sends the coins to you.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces. These platforms connect you directly with other individuals who want to sell bitcoin, allowing you to negotiate the price and choose from a range of payment methods.

How much does it cost to buy bitcoin?

The cost of buying bitcoin depends on where you buy it and how you pay. The advertised trading fee is only part of the picture. Depending on the platform, you may also pay a spread, payment-method fee or withdrawal fee.

Cost	What it means
Trading fee	The platform’s fee for executing your bitcoin purchase.
Spread	The difference between bitcoin’s market price and the price you pay.
Payment-method fee	A fee for using certain deposit methods, such as a debit card.
Withdrawal/network fee	A fee for moving bitcoin off the platform to another wallet.
ETF expense ratio	An annual fee charged by a bitcoin ETF, rather than a fee on each purchase.

Example: Buying $100 of bitcoin

Suppose you deposit $100 using a debit card. The exchange charges a 3% payment-method fee, a 2% trading fee and a 1% spread.

• Payment-method fee (debit card): $3
• Trading fee: $2
• Spread: $1
• Amount effectively invested: about $94
• Withdrawal/network fee (if you move the bitcoin to your own wallet): a flat fee on top, often a few dollars

So your $100 bought about $94 of bitcoin, and that’s without any withdrawal fees. Before choosing a platform and placing an order, check all the fees it charges — not just the trading fee.

How much bitcoin do you need to buy?

You don’t need to buy a whole bitcoin. Bitcoin can be divided into 100 million units called satoshis, or sats, so even a small investment can give you fractional ownership.
The minimum amount you can buy depends on the platform. Some exchanges allow purchases of just a few dollars, while others set a higher minimum. Check the exchange’s minimum order size before buying.
For example, if bitcoin were priced at $100,000:

Amount you spend	Approximate BTC
$10	0.0001 BTC
$100	0.001 BTC
$500	0.005 BTC
$1,000	0.01 BTC

These examples don’t account for fees, and the amount of BTC you receive will change as bitcoin’s price changes.
There is no required amount of bitcoin to own — only the minimum purchase your platform requires. You can always increase your holdings gradually through additional purchases.

Is now a good time to buy Bitcoin?

How are investors feeling about Bitcoin right now? You can use the scale below to get a sense of whether the market is optimistic or pessimistic about the price of Bitcoin. This index is calculated using a number of data sources including trading volume, social media sentiment and Google Trends.

Bitcoin’s price outlook

Bitcoin’s price is expected to rise to $127,000 by year-end 2026, according to the average prediction from Finder’s panelists. This is down from $133,688 in the January 2026 report.

Our most bullish panelists see BTC trading at $286,000 by the end of 2026, while our most bearish panelist sees it dropping well below where it is now, reaching $85,000 by the end of 2026.

Our panelists also predict BTC will hit $490,000 by 2030 and $825,625 by 2035. The panel is far more bullish than last quarter, when the long-term prediction came in at $372,235 for 2030 and $695,882 for 2035.

Where should you store bitcoin?

After buying bitcoin, you need to decide where to keep it. The main options are exchange custody, hot wallets and cold wallets.

• Exchange custody. The exchange holds your bitcoin for you. This is convenient, but you don’t control the private keys directly.
• Hot wallet. A software wallet stores your bitcoin while remaining connected to the internet. You control the private keys, but the wallet is more exposed to online threats.
• Cold wallet. A hardware wallet stores your private keys offline. It offers stronger protection against online attacks but requires more responsibility from you.

For beginners, exchange custody is the simplest, while a cold wallet generally offers greater control and security for long-term holdings as you grow your investment.

How to buy bitcoin safely

Buying bitcoin is relatively simple, but protecting your account and assets requires some extra care.

• Watch for scams. Ignore unsolicited investment offers, guaranteed returns and anyone asking you to send bitcoin to “verify” your account.
• Secure your account. Use a unique, strong password that you don’t use for other accounts.
• Enable 2FA. Turn on two-factor authentication to add another layer of protection to your account.
• Verify withdrawals. Double-check the bitcoin address and network before confirming a withdrawal. A mistake can permanently send your bitcoin to the wrong destination.
• Protect your seed phrase. Never share your wallet’s seed phrase with anyone or enter it into a website. Anyone with it can potentially access your bitcoin.
• Remember transactions are irreversible. Bitcoin transactions generally cannot be reversed once confirmed. Check the recipient address and amount carefully before sending.

Related: Read up on common bitcoin and crypto scams to learn how to protect yourself

Bitcoin taxes

In the US, owning bitcoin is generally treated as property for tax purposes, not currency. Buying bitcoin with US dollars generally isn’t taxable, but selling, exchanging or spending it can create a taxable capital gain or loss.
Your tax treatment can depend on how you acquired and used your bitcoin, as well as your cost basis and holding period. Do your future self a favor and line up the right crypto tax software before tax season lines up for you.

Bottom line

Before purchasing bitcoin, compare a range of crypto exchanges and brokerages. Consider their features, fees, security and overall reputation to decide which platform best suits your needs.

Remember that owning and using bitcoin is not without its risks. Consider investing in bitcoin as part of a broader investment strategy, and consult a financial advisor if you have any questions about cryptocurrency investing.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I start buying bitcoin?

  You can buy bitcoin in many ways. The most common include buying bitcoin on a crypto exchange, through a traditional broker or through a trading app. However, you can also buy BTC through payment apps, a bitcoin ATM or the native software for a crypto wallet. You can buy a whole coin or just a fraction, and some platforms let you purchase as little as $1.

• What happens if you invest $100 in bitcoin today?

  Like most volatile assets, if you invest $100 in bitcoin today, the value of your bitcoin or sats will likely fluctuate in the coming days, weeks and months. Historically, anyone who has bought and held bitcoin for more than four years has been in profit when measuring bitcoin's value in the national or fiat currency they used to buy it. However, past performance does not guarantee future results.

• Is it worth buying $100 of bitcoin?

  Buying $100 of bitcoin can be a reasonable way to get started without committing a large amount of money. Because bitcoin is divisible into 100 million satoshis, you can buy a fraction of a BTC rather than a whole coin.
  Whether it's worth it depends on your goals, risk tolerance and the fees you pay. A $100 purchase can gain or lose value significantly as bitcoin's price moves, and high trading, spread or withdrawal fees can take a noticeable portion of a small investment. Treat it as money you can afford to lose, not a guaranteed return.

• How to invest in bitcoin for beginners?

  Don't invest more than you are willing to lose, and take time to learn how to custody your bitcoin so you don't have to rely on a third party to hold your private keys. When you're ready, compare platforms and choose the one you want to use to buy bitcoin.

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