How to Buy Crypto Online: The Complete 2025 Beginner-to-Pro Guide

However, setting aside buying crypto using the aforementioned exchanges or cash, there’s one more way to do that – Peer-to-Peer (P2P). CEX.IO is easy to use and very secure, just like Coinbase and Coinmama! The best thing about CEX.IO is that it is also a trading exchange. This means that, once you have bought your crypto, you can trade it for other cryptos by buying and selling it to other people on CEX.IO. You can also use it to earn additional income through staking or lending. Bybit is not only a regular crypto trading platform but also one of the biggest derivates exchanges.

Create and Verify Your Account

All you need is the wallet address of the crypto wallet you want to withdraw your cryptocurrencies to. Crypto exchanges offer a wider range of so-called trading pairs, i.e. currencies that can be traded with each other. Trading pairs can consist of traditional fiat currencies and crypto, for example Euro and Bitcoin, but also of two different cryptos, such as Ethereum and Solana. Scams, phishing attacks, and fraudulent investment market liquidity basics schemes are quite common. Never enter any link without verifying its URL, avoid unsolicited offers, and, above all, never share private keys or recovery phrases. The best way to defend against losing hard-earned assets is through self-education and caution.

Some crypto exchanges allow customers to buy crypto with a credit card. If that’s something you want to do, you’ll need to read the fine print and make sure that you choose a platform where using a credit card is allowed. As for the fees charged for buying crypto with credit / debit cards, Bybit charges up to 3.05% based on the card issuing region and card scheme. Binance is one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges, globally.

• Many exchanges allow you to buy as little as $1 worth of bitcoin.
• On the other hand, cold wallets (Ledger, Trezor, etc.), or hardware wallets, for that matter, store the private keys outside a network, thereby, risking unauthorized access immensely.
• Regulated crypto exchanges are required to follow identity verification rules, often called KYC (Know Your Customer).
• You can buy cryptocurrencies through top exchanges, some traditional brokers, payment apps, Bitcoin ATMs, and peer-to-peer marketplaces.
• You can use an app like Google Authenticator or receive codes via text message.

Corporate Services

Then, you’ll have to pass KYC, or, in other words, verify your identity. For doing that you normally need a passport or a driving license. Lastly, you’ll be asked to set up Two-Factor Authentication to secure your account. The next step is to find out which is the best place to buy a cryptocurrency and how to pay for it. The wallet you need will depend on which cryptocurrency you want to buy. If you buy Bitcoin, for example, you’ll need a wallet that can store Bitcoin.

Available cryptocurrencies

Most beginners start with custodial storage on the exchange where they bought their crypto. This is perfectly fine for small balances while you’re learning. As you become more comfortable and your holdings grow, you can explore non-custodial wallets for greater control and security. When you buy cryptocurrency, your coins are stored in a “wallet” on the exchange. This is called custodial storage because the exchange holds the coins for you.

Fees

• Yes, cryptocurrency is very volatile compared to traditional investments, and prices can fluctuate quickly.
• Some of the most popular cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin.
• A financial system free of banks and other central institutions means that you are responsible for the security of your crypto investment yourself.
• The platform may ask you to submit a copy of your driver’s license or passport, and you may even be asked to upload a selfie to prove your appearance matches the documents you submit.
• In addition, the platform uses cold storage solutions for the majority of user funds, meaning your assets are kept offline.

Beyond this, there’s a growing demand for digital-native assets as more aspects of finance and life in general shift online. Here’s how to set up your crypto wallet to secure digital assets. With beginner-friendly platforms, low fees and simple signup options, you can make your first purchase in minutes with no experience required.

What is the best crypto to buy for beginners?

Robinhood and SoFi are two of the most well-known crypto brokers. Make sure to scrutinize the fees, so you know what you’re paying and how much of the selected coin you’ll receive in exchange for your money, especially with a bank transfer. It can be difficult to determine the total fee ahead of time since you’ll be charged transaction fees, regulatory fees, and in most cases, a spread fee. We also recommend avoiding peer to peer marketplaces until you are more familiar with how to trade crypto. In layman’s terms, a cryptocurrency exchange is a place where you meet and exchange cryptocurrencies with another person.

Buy crypto fast, easily and securely with Switchere!

Bitcoin ATMs provide a straightforward way to purchase bitcoin using traditional payment methods like cash and bank cards. These machines frequently leverage two-factor authentication, which requires multiple steps to verify a user, to help ensure the security of transactions. Be it through crypto exchanges, crypto funds or even direct investments in crypto companies, buying crypto today is often already as easy as investing in the stock market. Some digital payment methods today, like PayPal and Revolut, offer integrated cryptocurrency trading options. This means they let you buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency directly on their platforms. Coinbase is one of the best investment platforms for crypto trading, staking rewards, and crypto storage.

If you’re looking at how to buy cryptocurrency for the first time, the platform in question should definitely be at the top of your list. At the same time, the tax regulations for cryptocurrencies tend to differ extremely from country to country. Investors can purchase shares of the trust, which represent a portion of the assets held by the trust. Crypto trusts typically charge a management fee and can be traded on public exchanges.

The verification process typically involves submitting an official ID (most commonly a passport or driver’s license) and a live passport-style photo to match the photo on your ID. We may also request proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, to confirm your place of residence. After choosing your preferred cryptocurrency exchange, the next step is to create and verify your account.

What is a crypto exchange?

Hybrid exchanges aim to combine the best features of both CEXs and DEXs. They seek to offer the high liquidity and user trust of centralized platforms with the enhanced security and user-controlled custody of decentralized platforms. First, one needs to make an account with the exchange on which they choose to buy it. For example, on CoinGeko, the registration process requires only an email and a government ID for verification, then two-factor authentication for security. Here are the most common mistakes people make and how to avoid them when buying crypto online.

Carefully copy your wallet’s receiving address and paste it into the withdrawal form on the exchange. Always double-check the address before confirming the transaction to avoid permanent loss of your funds. Selecting the right exchange involves balancing security, user interface, fees, and regulatory compliance. You can start with small amounts on a few different exchanges to see which one you find most comfortable to use. For newcomers wondering how and where to start, this step-by-step guide simplifies the process of buying your first cryptocurrency.