How & where to buy Bitcoin online
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This beginner-friendly guide takes you through everything you need to know to buy Bitcoin today. Learn all the steps and methods available to buy BTC, what to consider when buying and selling coins, and whether you should dip into the market right now.
What are the best exchanges to buy Bitcoin on?
If you’re ready to get started, simply click one of the links in the table below to visit one of our trusted partners and our article at this link. We have compared all the top trading platforms to help you find one that suits your style and budget. If you need to know a little more before you spend your money, then scroll down to keep reading.
How to buy BTC online – step-by-step guide
Step 1. Find an exchange
There are a wide variety of crypto exchanges that offer Bitcoin. Every platform has its own benefits and drawbacks, and our in-depth reviews and quick comparison tables can help you make the right choice. For now, here are two of our favourite Bitcoin exchanges:
- Binance: Binance is one of the largest and best cryptocurrency exchanges around, with the option to trade Bitcoin along with a huge variety of other coins. It has a user-friendly app, and offers very competitive fees. You can open an account right here >
- Bitpanda: Bitpanda is a user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange that lets you invest quickly and easily. The registration process is simple, and it offers more than 50 different coins and coin pairs in total. Register with Bitpanda by clicking this link >
Step 2. Sign up and fund your account
To use an exchange, you’ll usually have to sign up and register for an account. The exact steps this will require vary from platform to platform, but expect to be asked to provide an email address, phone number, and photo ID.
In terms of funding your account, the payment methods accepted again will depend on your chosen platform. Some exchanges only allow you to make deposits in cryptocurrency, and those that accept fiat deposits won’t always accept e-wallets such as PayPal.
Step 3. Purchase
Once your account is funded, look for ‘Bitcoin’ in the list of available coins, or select the trading pair for the coins you’re trading (e.g. BTC/GBP if you’re using the British Pound) and execute your trade.
Step 4. (Optional) Get a suitable wallet
With most exchanges, you can hold your Bitcoin on the exchange platform. While this is convenient if you’re looking to trade Bitcoin, it can be worth getting your own personal wallet if you’re going to hold the coins for a long time. This is the best way of keeping your tokens secure, and these are two of our recommended options:
- Ledger Nano S: Ledger is one of the biggest names in the cryptocurrency wallet space, with a range of secure hardware wallets designed to be the same size as standard USB drives. The Ledger Nano S is an easy-to-use way of storing cryptos. Get a secure crypto wallet today >
- Trezor One: With state-of-the-art security features and the ability to hold 1000s of different coins, the Trezor One is one of the most popular crypto wallets for people concerned about the safety of their coins. Get a Trezor One for your Bitcoins >
How to trade Bitcoin – step-by-step guide
Step 1. Find a broker
If you’re looking to trade Bitcoin, then the best option is to use an online broker that allows you to open and close positions quickly. Pretty much all brokers that allow cryptocurrency trading will allow you to do so with Bitcoin, and here are two of our top picks:
- eToro: One of Europe’s most popular brokers, eToro allows users to trade a variety of assets including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Using your eToro account you can also trade forex, commodities, and stocks – so your investments don’t have to purely crypto-based. Register for an eToro account now >
Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in some EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk.
- Plus500: Similarly to eToro, Plus500 is a well-known online broker that supports CFD trading for number of different cryptocurrencies and other assets. You can trade other large-cap cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin and Ethereum on Plus500. Start trading with Plus500 today >
Step 2. Deposit money
Before starting to trade you’ll need to make a deposit into your account. Brokers will usually accept deposits only in fiat currencies (e.g. GBP an dUSD), and there will typically be fees associated with deposits and withdrawals. Have a read of our reviews to find the best deal.
Step 3. Decide how you’d like to trade
The two trading options you’ll have with most brokers will be CFDs (contracts for difference) or spread betting. With both of these approaches, you’ll be trading against the value of Bitcoin rather than actually taking ownership of the coins yourself. You can read more about both of these approaches here on Invezz to help make your decision.
Step 4. Start trading
It’s best to start trading with a demo account first if you’re new to Bitcoin. This way you can learn the ropes without risking any money – which is particularly useful in a volatile market such as cryptocurrency.
When trading the crypto markets you’ll be speculating on the movements in the Bitcoin price – taking either a long (buy) position or a short (sell) position. You’ll want to keep up-to-date with all the latest news and come up with strategies that can help you determine which way the market will move.
Once you get more experienced, you might also consider trading with leverage. Many brokers will allow you to trade large amounts with you only having to pay a small ‘margin.’ Be careful of leveraged trading though, as it can lead to big losses just as quickly as it can lead to big profits.
Still undecided?
To help you make your decision, we’ve condensed everything into these quick pros and cons. Keep reading below to read more about what you should consider before you start, and whether now is the right time.
Pros
- Bitcoin is the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency
- It’s increasingly widely accepted as payment method
- Built in scarcity gives BTC intrinsic value
- Has previously skyrocketed in price in short spaces of time
Cons
In addition to these pros and cons, here’s a quick run through of three things to consider when investing in Bitcoin.
1. Is now a good time to buy Bitcoin?
The answer depends on what your goals are. If you’re looking to own some Bitcoin in order to use and spend it, then it’s rarely a bad time to do so (as long as you can afford the coins). If, however, your aim is to make a profit in either the long or short term, then there are more things to consider.
You want to look at how it has performed over time – both recently and over the long term. The BTC price has often seen steep rises and sharp falls over short periods of time, and you want to do everything you can to ensure you’re buying the dip rather than the peak. For this, it’s important to keep up to date with the most recent analysis of the Bitcoin market. Here’s the latest from our experts:
Bitcoin price analysis for May
Bitcoin (BTC) price analysis for 2021 as crypto adoption ramps up
Bitcoin (BTC) price analysis as Central Bank of Turkey bans crypto payments
2. What problem does Bitcoin solve, and what are the coin’s investment prospects?
The problem that Bitcoin solves is the same as it has been since its launch in 2008: how to have a viable currency without the need for a centralised institution. Bitcoin’s fame and value have been built on its ability to function as a currency without the need for the backing of banks.
Since Bitcoin emerged, thousands of other coins have followed, but none has (as of yet) knocked Bitcoin off its perch as the leading cryptocurrency in the world. Many of the coins that have come after have built themselves on ambitious projects trying to apply the blockchain to new problems, but Bitcoin remains just as it ever was: a currency enabled by blockchain technology.
This could make it sound like Bitcoin has had its day and is now somewhat old fashioned in the crypto space. However, many people have made similar arguments over the years and Bitcoin is still here, with no sign of disappearing any time soon. You can find all the latest news right here and keep on top of any recent developments that could impact its investment prospects:
Pro: Bitcoin’s region of maximum pressure likely in the $10K-$14.5K range
Narrative is false about Ethereum’s price action post-Merge announcement
Will FOMC minutes give the crypto market a boost? Expert’s view
3. Do you want to hold Bitcoin for the long term?
There are times when it’s best to hold for a long time, and others when it might be better to get in and out quickly. It basically comes down to how soon you want to see your returns. Here’s some things to consider for the long or short term, along with advice on which platforms to use, depending on your strategy.
Considerations for a long term investment strategy
Long term investing is best if you believe that Bitcoin’s price is going to trend upwards in the coming months and years. If you’re going to invest this way, use our table above to find the best place to buy Bitcoin and then transfer your new coins to a secure personal wallet.
Considerations for a short term trading strategy
Short term investing is more focused on taking advantage of volatility to make small amounts of money quickly and often. If you want to be more of a trader, then you should sign up to a broker with low trading fees, and maybe consider looking for other options such as leveraged trading. You can also check out our list of robots like Bitcoin Code, Bitcoin Revolution, Yuan Pay Group and many more.
FAQs
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