In recent years, Bitcoin (BTC) adoption has exploded. While it was once taboo to invest in this alternative asset, more and more people around the globe are now buying and holding it, making Bitcoin more mainstream.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned investor looking to diversify your portfolio, this article will guide you through a range of ways to buy BTC in 2023, including using crypto exchanges, payment apps like PayPal or even Bitcoin ATMs.
Keep in mind that 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 $25,000 in February 2023. This means that investors are at risk of considerable losses as well as gains, and you should exercise caution appropriately.
Today BTC is trading for $26,201.00, which is slightly up from yesterday's trading price of $26,595.80. Bitcoin's seen an increase of 38% over the past year. It reached an all-time-high price of $69,045.00 in November 2021.
The following steps are for US residents and should work with most cryptocurrency exchanges, investing apps and brokerages.
Some of the most common places to buy Bitcoin are through exchanges or trading apps. These accept US dollars via bank transfer or card, which makes purchasing BTC convenient and relatively quick compared to other methods.
If you’re unsure which exchange might be right for you, please review our list of the best crypto exchanges for 2023 to help you decide.
If you plan to buy BTC through one of the less common methods — via a Bitcoin ATM or a peer-to-peer marketplace — you’ll have to learn how to self-custody your BTC first.
Most common ways to buy BTC
More ways to buy BTC
While it’s up to you to decide how you feel most comfortable buying Bitcoin, we have provided a breakdown of the different ways and places you can buy Bitcoin.
We began by focusing on the more common ways to buy BTC before moving on to the less common ways to buy the asset.
Buying BTC on a crypto exchange is the most common way to invest in Bitcoin.
Exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken, eToro, Binance.US and Crypto.com are some of the most widely used crypto exchanges. They also enable you to buy other cryptocurrencies if you want to expand your portfolio beyond BTC.
The crypto exchange you choose will depend on your investment style and requirements. Some exchanges support instant buy features, which allow you to purchase Bitcoin directly from the platform using a credit or debit card or a bank account.
Other exchanges support spot market trading — a slightly advanced way to buy BTC, and it requires placing bids and offers. Trading fees are often low when you use this method, but, as we mentioned, it can be difficult.
Holding your Bitcoin on a centralized platform like an exchange means trusting the exchange to protect your assets. Assets held on an exchange are at risk of hacks, phishing attacks and potential mismanagement by the exchange operators.
To avoid counterparty risk and have complete control over your Bitcoin, consider withdrawing your funds to a personal wallet after you have completed your purchase or trade.
Crypto exchange: what to consider
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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.
Trading apps allow you to manage various investments, such as cryptocurrency and stocks, in one location.
If you’re familiar with traditional stock and commodities trading apps such as SoFi, Webull or Robinhood, then you can quickly utilize these platforms to start trading Bitcoin. They tend to focus on ease of use and are mobile-friendly.
Although trading apps and brokerages will give you direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin, they may not give you the actual coins to control. This means you can’t move your BTC off the platform to your personal wallet or another trading platform. This simplifies the experience but may be an issue for anyone who wants the full experience and security of using crypto.
Trading app: what to consider
It’s really convenient to purchase Bitcoin on PayPal, considering PayPal’s interface is easy to navigate. You can even use the Bitcoin on your PayPal to make purchases on millions of online stores confidently, knowing PayPal’s fraud protection covers you.
Some exchanges also support PayPal as a deposit method. You can transfer funds from your PayPal account to the exchange and purchase Bitcoin directly.
PayPal charges higher fees than most traditional crypto exchanges, with purchases over $200 incurring a 1.8% fee. If you’re looking to purchase large amounts of Bitcoin, PayPal may not be your best option.
Also, please keep in mind that you can’t send BTC purchase on PayPal to an external crypto wallet. PayPal custodies your Bitcoin for you.
PayPal crypto: what to consider
It’s quite convenient to purchase Bitcoin on Venmo, as well. Much like PayPal, Venmo’s interface is clean and user-friendly.
One of the main differences between Venmo and PayPal, though, is that Venmo is a social app through which you can broadcast your Bitcoin purchases if you’d like.
Like PayPal, Venmo charges higher fees than most crypto exchanges, as you’ll pay 1.8% on Bitcoin purchases between $200 and $1,000.
Also, like PayPal, you can’t send the Bitcoin you purchase on Venmo to an external crypto wallet.
Venmo crypto: what to consider
Cash app is another handy app through which you can purchase Bitcoin.
Like PayPal and Venmo, Cash App makes buying Bitcoin simple. But like PayPal and Venmo, the fees for purchasing BTC are quite high — approximately 1.75%.
However, there is one major differentiator between Cash App and PayPal and Venmo — you can send your Bitcoin from your Cash App wallet to another crypto wallet.
Hence, you get the convenience of buying Bitcoin in an easy-to-use app and the option of sending it to a more secure, offline wallet if you so please.
Cash app crypto: what to consider
You cannot buy Bitcoin directly from traditional financial brokers like Charles Schwab or Fidelity.
Instead, you can buy financial products based on Bitcoin’s price, like Bitcoin futures products (e.g., the Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF) or shares of the Greyscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC).
When you buy these types of Bitcoin-related financial products, you don’t technically own any Bitcoin. These products are mostly used for speculative purposes.
Traditional broker: what to consider
Buying Bitcoin using an ATM is a way to purchase the digital currency in a physical location. The process typically involves using cash or a debit card to purchase Bitcoin, which is then transferred to a digital wallet, which you must have set up before using the ATM.
The benefit of buying Bitcoin through an ATM is the convenience and immediacy of the transaction.
However, it’s worth noting that the fees associated are often much higher than purchasing via an online exchange, and Bitcoin ATMs are only available in some locations. Also, newbies might feel uncomfortable setting up a Bitcoin wallet address and entering the long string of letters and numbers of the address via the ATM screen.
Bitcoin ATM: what to consider
A (peer-to-peer) P2P crypto marketplace is a platform that allows individuals to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly with one another through offers, a bit like eBay. An example of such a marketplace is Paxful.
The exchange or platform helps facilitate Bitcoin transactions by holding funds in escrow via smart contracts on a blockchain network. This ensures that the terms of the trade are met and that the cryptocurrency is transferred securely and transparently.
P2P marketplaces typically support a wide range of fiat currencies, including US dollars.
Low or no fees are common for P2P trades, and since order prices are fixed, you can potentially find Bitcoin below market value.
Purchasing Bitcoin through P2P exchanges regularly can be challenging, as it may be hard to consistently find a seller willing to sell you the exact amount you want each time.
P2P marketplace: what to consider
For those who believe in the concept of “not your keys, not your Bitcoin“, using a hardware wallet to buy Bitcoin may be a good option. These wallets offer exchange services like Changelly and Simplex, which are integrated into the software apps for wallets from companies like Ledger or Trezor. These apps are easy to use and typically accept credit or debit card payments.
Hardware wallets provide a secure and private way to hold your Bitcoin, which is stored directly on the blockchain rather than being entrusted to a third-party exchange or platform.
Although the Bitcoin blockchain is more secure than exchanges and has never been hacked, your security depends on you. You are responsible for managing your private key or seed phrase, which, if lost, may result in inaccessible funds.
Crypto wallets: what to consider
If this is your first time buying cryptocurrency, look for a platform that accepts US dollars. Once you’ve purchased your Bitcoin, you should be able to transfer it to another exchange later, so don’t worry too much about extra features for now.
Use the table to choose a platform that meets your needs, and select the Go to site button to get started.
Bitcoin is the world’s oldest and most valuable cryptocurrency by market capitalization — or the total amount of money invested in the asset. Created in 2009 by a pseudonymous person or persons known as Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is a decentralized and cryptographically-secured digital payment blockchain network, and the asset on it — BTC — was designed to provide an alternative to traditional fiat currencies like US dollars or euros.
Rather than dealing with a centralized authority such as a bank to process transactions, BTC holders can transfer their coins directly to one another on the peer-to-peer Bitcoin network.
The maximum coin supply of Bitcoin is limited to 21 million, but it’s possible to buy a small fraction of a coin — each coin can be divided into 0.00000001 BTC.
All investments have risk associated. Before you buy Bitcoin, make sure you do due diligence in research and understand these risks:
Bitcoin’s price is largely based on speculation, meaning it can rise or fall quickly. It’s common for Bitcoin to move by 5% or more in a single day.
Leaving your Bitcoin on a crypto platform exposes you to several counterparty risks, including scams, hacks and theft, and fiscal mismanagement, as we saw in the case of FTX in 2022. To reduce this risk, it’s best to keep your Bitcoin in a non-custodial wallet.
The regulatory environment for Bitcoin and other cryptos is constantly changing. In some countries owning and trading Bitcoin is legal, and in others, it isn’t. Even in countries in which it is legal to own Bitcoin or other cryptos, there can still be some jurisdictions that don’t permit certain Bitcoin or crypto services and platforms. For example, only a few crypto companies are permitted to operate in New York State, so there are only certain ways to buy Bitcoin in NY.
Bitcoin was created in 2009, making it relatively new as a form of technology and currency. Bitcoin doesn’t yet have the same track record or performance history as some other asset classes.
If you plan to invest in Bitcoin and custody the asset on your own, you’ll have to learn how to use a non-custodial crypto wallet.
The Bitcoin network is near-impossible to hack, but the hardware and software used to manage your funds — known as wallets — can still be vulnerable. We researched BTC wallets and shared which ones we felt were best.
Once you’ve submitted a transaction to the Bitcoin network, it can’t be canceled or reversed. Double-check the receiving address before sending a Bitcoin payment or moving Bitcoin off an exchange. One good way to do this is to check the first and last four digits of the wallet address you are sending to before setting the transaction in motion. There is no way to refund BTC sent to the wrong address.
There are a few key factors to keep in mind when looking for where to buy Bitcoin.
If you choose to buy Bitcoin via a crypto exchange, it’s good practice to use a locally registered exchange. It’s more likely to accept US dollars and local payment methods like SWIFT, which helps avoid foreign exchange fees. Choosing a US-based exchange also means the exchange is likely to be registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which means it has to comply with local laws in the US.
Crypto exchanges founded and based in the US are required to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the US Department of the Treasury. This bureau safeguards the US financial system by working to prevent money laundering, terrorist-financing activity and other financial crimes.
FinCEN-registered exchanges contribute to a more secure financial system in the US and provide you with better consumer protections compared to exchanges based in other countries.
Other reasons for using a FinCEN-registered exchange may include the following:
Whether you use an exchange or a financial app, look at the platform’s security features, like 2-factor authentication and PGP-encrypted emails. Cold storage of user funds is considered an industry standard, but insurance funds are less common and indicative of good security practices.
A small number of exchanges now offer insurance on users’ funds. Two of these exchanges are Coinbase and Gemini. Beware that policies vary significantly between exchanges, so research this thoroughly if insurance is important to you.
Where is your Bitcoin stored? If you plan to keep it on the platform you purchased it on, you may want to learn more about their storage practices and how they manage customer funds. Certain platforms like PayPal and Venmo don’t allow you to custody your own Bitcoin. These apps hold your Bitcoin in their custody. Others like Coinbase or Binance.US allow you to move the funds you purchase via the exchange into a crypto wallet. But when you do this, the responsibility to manage your assets responsibly falls entirely on you. If you lose the private keys to your Bitcoin, that Bitcoin is lost forever.
BTC is expected to close out 2023 at US$35,458, according to the average prediction provided by Finder's panel of fintech specialists.
These specialists also predict BTC will hit US$99,781 by 2025 and US$297,848 by 2030.
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Before purchasing Bitcoin, compare a range of crypto exchanges and brokerages available in the US. Look at their features, fees, security and overall reputation to decide which platform best suits your needs. Consider an exchange registered with FinCEN for added peace of mind.
Remember that owning and using Bitcoin is not without its risks. Consider investing in Bitcoin as part of a wider investment strategy, and talk to a financial advisor if you have any questions about cryptocurrency investing.
Once you’ve purchased Bitcoin, think about your short- and long-term goals. This will help you decide whether to keep it on an exchange or move it to a non-custodial wallet.
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A panel of industry specialists give us their predictions on the price of Bitcoin to 2030.
Learn about what cryptocurrency regulation looks like around the world in 2023.
Want to buy bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency with PayPal but don’t know how? Find all the information you need in this handy guide.
Hi I’m Sinethemba from South Africa.I want to ask how to join or do trading in bit coin I have try many times to register in bit coin please help me to make money
Hi Sinethemba,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Sorry to hear you are having a hard time to register at a bitcoin site. The information above where it says “QUICK GUIDE: HOW TO BUY BITCOIN IN THE US” carefully explains how you can trade Bitcoins in the US.
On the page, you can also choose which bitcoin site is best for your needs. Simply choose from the table above that compares deposit method, fiat currency and supported currencies. Click GO TO SITE if you want to go straight to the providers website or view details to read more info on our site.
This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade. 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.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki