As one of the world’s largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, XRP (XRP) is one of the most traded currencies on global crypto exchanges. The native asset of the open-source XRP Ledger, XRP is designed to facilitate fast and affordable transactions between the world’s different fiat currencies.
XRP is most famously used by cross-border payments provider Ripple, but can be bought and sold by everyday users on a wide range of exchanges. If you want to know how to buy XRP with fiat or cryptocurrency, read on for step-by-step instructions.
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Unsure about the difference between Ripple and XRP?
Ripple is the name of a US technology company that aims to make it easier and cheaper to send money overseas. Meanwhile, XRP is the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger and is used to facilitate transactions between different fiat currencies.
If you’re a cryptocurrency novice, you’ll most likely find that buying XRP with fiat currency is the easiest and most convenient option. However, you can find simple, step-by-step instructions below on how to buy XRP with either fiat or digital currency.
If you want to buy XRP, here’s an example of how to do it:
Step 1. Register for an account with an exchange that allows you to buy XRP
XRP is listed on a wide range of exchanges, so search for an exchange that offers your desired XRP pairings. You can then register for an account by supplying your email address and setting up a password.
At this stage of the process, some exchanges will allow you to start trading straight away. However, other exchanges will need further information to satisfy Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, in which case you’ll have to provide your name, contact information and proof of ID.
Before depositing any funds, you should also enable two-factor authentication on your account for increased security.
Step 2. Deposit funds into your account
Many cryptocurrency exchanges don’t allow you to exchange GBP or other fiat currency for XRP. If this is the case on the platform you choose, you’ll need to first use your GBP to acquire a crypto that’s listed in a currency pairing with XRP, such as Ether (ETH) or bitcoin (BTC), and then exchange it for XRP.
Step 3. Buy XRP
Click through to the markets or exchange section on your trading platform and search for the currency pairing you want, such as BTC/XRP.
Click on the “Buy XRP” link and enter the desired purchase amount in either XRP or GBP. Before finalising the order, make sure you review the full details of the transaction and any fees that apply.
It’s also possible to buy XRP with another digital currency, for example bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH). Read on for an example of how to do this.
Step 1. Register for an account with Binance
You can trade XRP on an extensive range of cryptocurrency exchanges, so compare the features of a number of platforms before choosing one that’s right for your needs.
Binance is one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges and it lists XRP in multiple trading pairs. You can sign up for a Binance account by providing your email address and creating a password. Make sure you also enable two-factor authentication on your account before depositing any funds.
Step 2. Deposit funds into your account
You’ll now need to ensure that the cryptocurrency you’ll use to buy XRP is in your exchange wallet. If it’s already there, skip ahead to step 3.
To transfer funds into your account, you’ll need to make sure you’re depositing them to the right address. On Binance, this means clicking “Funds” and selecting “Deposits”, and then searching for the coin or token you want to deposit – Binance lists XRP in trading pairs alongside bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether and Binance Coin.
Choose your desired currency and then copy the relevant wallet address or scan the QR code. You can then use this address to deposit funds from your external wallet.
Step 3. Buy XRP
Once the funds have arrived in your account you can navigate to the exchange page and buy XRP.
On Binance, you’ll need to click the “Exchange” tab and select either the “Basic” or “Advanced” trading view, then search for the pair you want to trade, such as “XRP/BTC”. Select a Limit, Market or Stop-Limit Order before entering the amount of XRP you want to buy.
Make sure you take a moment to review the transaction details before you click “Buy XRP”.
If you want to sell XRP, the process for doing so is quite similar to the buying process outlined in Step 3. Depending on the exchange you choose, it’s possible to exchange XRP for a decent range of fiat and cryptocurrencies, so do your research to find the right platform for you.
However, keep in mind that XRP isn’t listed in trading pairs with every possible currency, so it may not be possible to make a direct exchange for the coin you want.
While you can store your XRP on an exchange if you wish, this is generally not recommended due to the security risks associated with centralised trading platforms. Instead, it’s a good idea to transfer your tokens to a secure, private wallet.
Ripple doesn’t offer an official wallet for XRP, but there are several third-party providers that offer wallet support for this popular crypto. Examples you may want to consider include the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet, or a mobile/web wallet like Uphold or Cryptonator.
Find out more about securely storing your XRP in our guide to the best XRP wallets.
Ripple is a San Francisco-based tech company that also has offices in New York, London, Sydney, India, Singapore and Luxembourg. Founded in 2012 and currently led by CEO Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple is focused on making it quicker, easier and cheaper to send cross-border payments.
Ripple aims to create a global settlement network that allows for more efficient transactions between financial institutions around the world. Its network, RippleNet, is designed to connect banks, payment providers, digital asset exchanges and corporate entities around the world, linking independent payment infrastructures to allow for fast and affordable international transfers.
And this is where XRP comes in. XRP is the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger and acts as a bridge currency, facilitating fast transfers between different fiat currencies. Transactions using XRP can be processed within four seconds, as opposed to the lengthy waiting times that currently plague international bank transfers.
XRP is also designed to be scalable, making it capable of processing 1,500 transactions per second. This, combined with low transaction fees (currently set at a minimum of 0.00001 XRP per transaction), has seen Ripple strike up partnerships with more than 100 financial institutions.
Ripple offers three main solutions for banks and other corporate entities:
To find out more about Ripple, check out our introductory guide.
Cryptocurrencies are complicated and volatile assets, so it’s essential that you do your own research before purchasing any digital coin or token. There are myriad factors that can potentially impact the price movements of any given crypto, so if you’re thinking of buying any XRP, make sure you consider the following:
Consider all these factors and any other potential risks before deciding whether you should buy XRP.
No, Ripple does not endorse or recommend any XRP wallets.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 of the most popular choices in our guide to the best XRP wallets.
Images: Shutterstock
Disclosure: At the time of writing the author holds ADA, ICX, IOTA and XLM.
