Where & How to Buy Bitcoin (BTC) for Beginners in 2025

Use our step-by-step guide to learn how and where to buy Bitcoin on 5+ highly rated crypto platforms.
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Reviewed by
Updated on Oct 10, 2024
Reading time 4 minutes

Bitcoin coins are available buy via a cryptocurrency exchange, which functions similar to a stock trading platform. It takes just a few minutes to buy Bitcoin this way. Follow our quick step guide below.

How to buy Bitcoin quickly in 3 steps

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To buy Bitcoin you need a smartphone or a computer and an internet connection. It takes 10-15 minutes the first time and you should have some photo ID to hand. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1. Sign up to a crypto platform

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Sign up to one of the best crypto platforms to start trading. Alternatively, there are several other options to select from below. Anyway, create an account and supply a copy of your photo ID for verification.

We found 23 crypto platforms for users based in

eToro review
4.6
eToro
Min. Deposit $100
Fees 1%
No. assets 50+
Demo account Yes

eToro review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Plus500 review
4.5
Plus500
Min. Deposit $100
Fees From 2%
No. assets 2800+
Demo account Yes

Plus500 review

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorised by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

Coinbase review
4.2
Coinbase
Min. Deposit $10
Fees Up to 0.6%
No. assets 150+
Demo account No

Coinbase review

Step 2. Make a deposit

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Add funds via a card payment, bank transfer or an alternative payment method. You can start with as little as $100 on most services.

Step 3. Buy Bitcoin token

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Locate the search box and type BTC. Once you locate the coin trading page, enter how much money you want to spend and hit ‘trade now’.

Now you own Bitcoin tokens! Not a big deal, right?

Where to buy BTC easily

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The overall best platform to buy Bitcoin for beginners is eToro .

Here are the top five places to buy Bitcoin, ranked according to their simplicity for beginners, fees, customer reviews, and safety ratings.

  1. eToro: Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account
  2. Plus500: Best for international trading*
  3. Coinbase: Best secure trading platform for all types of trader
  4. Kraken: Best for simple, global cryptocurrency trading from your phone
  5. Uphold: Best for building long term wealth

Read more about how we rate, rank and review platforms.

Best exchanges to buy Bitcoin (BTC), reviewed

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We found 23 crypto platforms for users based in

1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

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4.5
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

0% commission

Fees

50

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s a crypto trading platform built with beginners and casual traders in mind. The platform combines an interactive, social trading experience with an easy-to-use interface, making it ideal for novice traders.

The far-reaching catalog of 100 cryptocurrencies includes big names like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as smaller crypto tokens with high growth potential. Some supported tokens can be seamlessly transferred to the eToro Money crypto wallet for safekeeping.

One feature we particularly appreciate is the ability to interact with eToro’s 35 million users on any asset, market, or portfolio page. If you find traders whose strategies match your risk tolerance, you can copy their portfolios automatically using eToro’s flagship copy trading functionality. eToro crypto’s Smart Portfolios offer a great entry point into digital currencies, an opportunity to learn and potentially benefit from the expertise of more experienced traders.

If you don’t feel comfortable investing your cash straight away, you can use a free demo account, credited with $100,000 virtual dollars. This offers plenty of opportunities to try out a trading strategy that works for you across the 100 crypto tokens available.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

2. Plus500. Best for international trading*

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4.5
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.8%

Fees

2,800

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to futures for a range of instruments, including forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies among several others.

Plus500 has something for all types of traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $20) and different contracts make it a top choice for day traders. At the same time, its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: Plus500 charges a commission of $0.49 per Micro contract and $0.89 per Standard contract (per side). There is an Auto-Liquidation fee of $10 per contract. Other exchange fees may be applicable and can be found on the CME group website. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3. Coinbase. Best secure trading platform for all types of trader

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4
Ratings

$10

Min. deposit

Up to 0.6%

Fees

200

No. assets

No

Demo account

Overview

We love Coinbase because it’s the leading public crypto platform. Coinbase offers more than 170 cryptocurrencies to trade, a secure wallet to store your coins in, and automatic staking rewards on 10+ cryptos through Coinbase Earn.

Coinbase’s user-friendly platform simplifies the buying, selling, and trading processes, making it one of the top crypto exchanges for all levels of trader. But, Coinbase isn’t just an easy to use platform, it’s one of the safest and most secure. 

A public company brings transparency and renown, so you can trust that any money on Coinbase is safe and you’re sharing the platform with over 100 million other users. It stores 98% of customer assets offline in cold storage, minimizing the risk of theft. There is also insurance on all cash balances up to $250,000

The fees: Trading fees start from 0.6% but reduce the higher your trading volume. Bank transfer deposits and withdrawals are free, other payment methods may be charged. There is no fee for wallet-to-wallet crypto transactions but you will have to pay blockchain fees. Coinbase charges a 25% fee for its staking services.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

4. Kraken: Best for simple, global cryptocurrency trading from your phone

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4
Ratings

$10

Min. deposit

0.10% – 0.26% (volume dependent)

Fees

200

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Kraken because it’s a beginner-friendly crypto trading platform, one that’s designed to make it quick and convenient to buy and sell crypto on the go. The Kraken mobile app provides access to over 200 cryptocurrencies making it one of the most diverse platforms around. 

With an intuitive interface and many advanced features, the Kraken crypto app is suitable for those just starting, or experienced traders wanting to enhance their trading experience. The Kraken mobile app caters to different trading styles and preferences with spot, margin, and futures all available. 

Kraken’s mobile app also supports up to 5:1 leverage allowing you to amplify your position and potentially increase your returns. With such a wide selection of tokens available and a solid range of features and tools, the Kraken app is one of the top cryptocurrency trading platforms while on the go. 

The fees: Kraken charges a fee of between 0-0.26% on every crypto trade. There are no costs to set up an account and no flat trading fees.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

5. Uphold. Best for building long term wealth

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4
Ratings

$1

Min. deposit

$0

Fees

300

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Uphold because it’s a regulated and transparent digital asset platform. Uphold is an excellent platform for discovering important new tokens early, making it ideal for investors looking to get in on the ground floor of emerging cryptocurrencies. 

Uphold offers a broad selection of coins, with over 250 tokens available catering to both seasoned and novice crypto traders. The platform regularly adds new assets allowing users to invest in promising projects before they gain mainstream attention. 

Uphold isn’t just a platform for investing early. One of the main advantages of using Uphold is its transparent and competitive fee structure. The platform does not charge for deposits or withdrawals, and trading fees are clearly stated. You can also trade between different asset classes including fiat currencies. 

The fees: Crypto spreads start from 0.9% and are usually lower than 1.3% for BTC and ETH. Other cryptocurrency spreads are higher. Average spreads on fiat currency are 0.2%. There is a $0.99 fee for transactions under $100 made with the Uphold card.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

How to trade BTC

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You can trade Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange using a few simple steps. Here’s a quick example that clearly lays out how BTC crypto trading works:

  1. Monitor the price: For simplicity, let’s say the price of BTC/USDT is $1. You read the price charts and decide that now is a good time to start purchasing BTC.
  2. Open a trade: You trade one USDT for one BTC ($1 USD for 1 BTC).
  3. Continue to monitor the price: The following month, one BTC token is now worth $2, a 100% increase.
  4. Close your trade: You trade your BTC token back to USDT for $2.

In this example, you buy and sell Bitcoin, doubling your money (trading). While the steps are simple, executing them in a profitable way is not so easy. You need to spend countless hours learning to trade, reading charts, technical patterns, and understanding markets and margin trading; which you can do right here on Invezz.com.

What is the best way to pay for Bitcoin (BTC)?

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The simplest way to buy Bitcoin cryptocurrency is with your bank card. However, there are plenty of other options as well. Here are some of the top ways to pay for BTC.

  • Buy Bitcoin with a credit card or debit card. Card payments are convenient and instantaneous but you may have to pay a higher fee to make a deposit this way. Binance charges 1.8% for a card deposit and some platforms charge as much as 4%.
  • Buy Bitcoin with bank transfer. A bank transfer is usually the cheapest way to buy crypto. Crypto platforms like Crypto.com and Coinbase do not charge for bank transfer deposits, while Binance only charges a $1 fee, and these transactions are more or less instant as they run through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) in the US, Faster Payments System (FPS) in the UK, or Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in Europe.
  • Alternative payment methods. Crypto brokers often let you pay with other providers or money transfer services, like Neteller, Venmo, or Payoneer. The options vary by broker, though, so check what’s accepted before you sign up.

How do I store Bitcoin (BTC)?

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Most people keep their crypto on the exchange they used to buy it. If you only plan to hold onto it for a little while then that’s a perfectly acceptable option. If you want to hold it for years or you own a lot of Bitcoin then you should move it to a crypto wallet.

A crypto exchange is similar to a bank account, in that it means trusting a company to protect your funds for you. A wallet is like your personal wallet, or a safe, where you take responsibility for it yourself. Two of the best Bitcoin wallets to use are MetaMask and the Ledger Nano S.

Is now a good time to buy Bitcoin?

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The answer depends on the current price and your own investment goals. Put simply, buying Bitcoin, selling Bitcoin, and trading BTC are all the exact same process in literal terms. It’s really just your personal investing intentions that defines whether ‘now’ is a good time to invest or not.

  • If you’re a trader: as a cryptocurrency trader, your goal is to make money trading regularly. What do we mean by regularly? Hourly, daily, weekly. Traders buy and sell a coin quickly to secure their profit (or to avoid a loss). They don’t #HODL a coin long term in the hopes of larger profits. In this sense, any time is a good time to trade Bitcoin.
  • As a long-term investor: a long term investor is not concerned if the price is up or down 10% on any given day. Rather, they care that the price of the native token is overall up months or years later, when they’re ready to sell that investment. So if you’re a firm believer in the foundations of BTC, then a good time to purchase Bitcoin is on any major dip.

In our experience, most newcomers to the crypto market sit between the two. You don’t want to wait several years for a return, but buying Bitcoin and selling it the next day probably isn’t why you’re here either.

How has Bitcoin (BTC) performed this year?

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The current Bitcoin price today is $103,761.98, which is -4.16% versus its all time high of $108,268.45, which it reached on 17 December 2024. BTC is +150.32% this year, with a 52 week high of $108,268.45 and a 52 week low of $38,521.89. 

Regardless, closely following Bitcoin price news & analysis will help you decide when to pull the trigger.

Is Bitcoin (BTC) a good investment?

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Whether it’s good for you depends on your goals and the fundamentals of the project. Here are some key features of Bitcoin and its token to help you decide whether to invest in BTC.

  • Bitcoin’s goal is to create a viable currency outside of the control of a centralised institution. Bitcoin is built on a blockchain, a decentralised ledger that stores a public record of all transactions. It is not controlled by any one individual or company, so it represents an alternative to the traditional financial system.
  • Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency and is by far the most popular. Bitcoin was developed in response to the 2008 Financial Crisis. The Bitcoin white paper was released in the same year. It has a far longer track record of success than any other crypto, along with a simple aim.
  • There is a fixed maximum supply of Bitcoin. There will never be more than 21 million Bitcoin in existence. The Bitcoin code is written so that the incentive for mining new coins is reduced regularly – these events are known as a ‘halving’ – and the final Bitcoin won’t be created until about 2140. But the fixed supply means that it benefits from scarcity that drives up the price.
  • You can speculate on Bitcoin, use it as a store of value, or as a means of making payment online. While many cryptos are purely speculative assets, Bitcoin has a practical use as a means of buying things, or as a way of storing your wealth outside of a bank or financial institution. It has been called ‘digital gold’, and it can help to think of it in that way: as a long term store of value.
  • Bitcoin has a lot of institutional support. Financial institutions like Goldman Sachs have added Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Many Bitcoin ETFs and funds now exist, which helps to stabilise the price and increase trust. Companies like Tesla and Microstrategy are also famously long Bitcoin and have added billions of dollars’ worth to their own balance sheets.
  • Cryptocurrency experiences much larger price swings than traditional investments. While a large stock, like Apple, might only move 2-3% in a day, it’s quite common for Bitcoin to swing 5% or more. You have to be mentally prepared for that sort of daily swing in the value of your investment in order to buy Bitcoin.
  • Bitcoin is built on an energy-intensive, Proof of Work blockchain. A Proof of Work blockchain requires ‘miners’ to operate. Bitcoin miners run powerful computers that require a lot of energy to run, which has proved controversial. This form of blockchain is incredibly secure – the Bitcoin blockchain is near enough impossible to hack – but the trade off is large energy consumption.

Use this quick summary of pros and cons to compare Bitcoin with other, similar projects.

Pros

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  • The original and most popular cryptocurrency
  • The total supply of Bitcoins is limited to 21 million
  • You can use Bitcoin to buy things online or as a store of value
  • The Bitcoin blockchain is extremely secure thanks to its Proof of Work mechanism
  • Many companies and institutions have bought into Bitcoin in the past couple of years

Cons

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Ultimately, many different factors play into the answer. Cryptocurrency is inherently volatile but you can reduce the risks by investing in quality projects that provide value to the community.

FAQs

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01

Where can I buy Bitcoin (BTC)?

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What do I need to buy BTC?

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Is Bitcoin on Coinbase?

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Is Bitcoin on Binance?

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Is Bitcoin on eToro?

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What is the best wallet to store BTC?

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Where can I get Bitcoin now?

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How much BTC can I buy at a time?

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Are there fees when buying and selling BTC?

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Is buying into Bitcoin the same as stock?

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Is it safer to put my money into Bitcoin or gold?

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How do I keep my Bitcoin investments safe?

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Can I invest in BTC without having to buy and store the coins?

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Do I have to buy entire Bitcoins at once when investing?

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Is investing in BTC regulated?

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Do I have to pay tax on profits made through Bitcoin?

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What is the cheapest way to buy Bitcoin?


Sources & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...