How to Buy Bitcoin with American Express in 2025

Learn where & how to buy Bitcoin with American Express in this five step guide for beginners, supporting you through your first purchase.
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Updated on Aug 21, 2024
Reading time 1 minutes

Firstly, the most important question to answer is: can I buy Bitcoin with American Express?

Yes, you can use American Express to buy Bitcoin, but not directly. Instead, you can use American Express to fund a trading account and buy Bitcoin that way.

This means you’ll need to select a crypto exchange that accepts American Express deposits. And, we’re here to help you do that.

How to buy Bitcoin with American Express in 5 steps

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It takes between 15-45 minutes to buy BTC with American Express the first time. After you’re all set up, it takes just a minute. You’ll want to have a copy of your photo ID, a computer or smart phone, and some cash to invest.

Let’s get started.

Step 1. Choose a crypto platform that accepts American Express

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We recommend Plus500 as the best platform to use to buy Bitcoin with American Express. However, there are several options, which you can compare in more detail below.

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.

Step 2. Create an account

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You need an account before you can buy anything. Sign up with your contact details and a form of ID for verification. Depending on the platform, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days to be approved.

Step 3. Make a deposit via American Express

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Once you’re on the platform, you’ll be prompted to deposit for the first time.

Here, you need to enter how much you want to deposit, usually there’s a minimum such as $10, $50, or $100. Select American Express as your payment method from the list of options and off you go. You should see the funds arrive in your account fairly quickly!

Step 4. Use the search box to find Bitcoin

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Now that you have funded your account with American Express, you can search for Bitcoin or BTC on the app to make an investment.

You’ll likely be able to purchase using a range of currencies, with the most common being USDT, USD, GBP or EUR. Depending on which currency you deposited, you may even need to convert your funds into another base currency. 

Step 5. Make your purchase

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Enter how much Bitcoin you want to buy, for instance $100, check that you’re happy with the details, and click the trade or buy button. The trade should execute immediately, and your new Bitcoin should show up in your exchange account immediately.

Now you own Bitcoin, purchased with American Express! Not a big deal, right?

Top Bitcoin platforms that accept American Express

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We found 6 crypto platforms for users based in

1. 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.

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

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4.5
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 1 pip

Fees

50

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s a 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 more than 5,500 stocks and ETFs includes big names like Apple and Tesla, as well as smaller companies with high growth potential. You can start trading with as little as $10 using fractional shares if you’re on a tight budget.

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. This is a great way 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 stocks, crypto, and options trading markets.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

eToro offers real assets only, no CFD products. eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Invezz.com is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.

3. 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

Quick answers to key questions

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Can I buy crypto with American Express?

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Yes, you aren’t limited to buying Bitcoin alone. The only limit is which coins are available on the exchange you’ve chosen. Most crypto exchanges that support American Express as a payment method offer 50+ cryptocurrencies and many offer hundreds more, so you have plenty of options.

Is American Express safe?

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Yes, it’s completely safe to use American Express. The only risk to look out for is to make sure you sign up to a regulated American Express Bitcoin broker. Regulated platforms offer greater investor protection, and usually mean the service has had to abide by certain rules – such as storing your funds separately to the money it uses to run its business, or auditing its reserves to proof it has capital on hand.

Using an unregulated broker platform, on the other hand, can put your money at risk, because you won’t benefit from these protections.

How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin via American Express?

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The cost to buy Bitcoin via American Express varies depending on the exchange or brokerage platform you use. Using American Express is free of charge, but you’ll need to pay a fee with your broker; generally, anything above $3 or 2% is expensive, with most platforms charging you around the 1% mark.

Can I store Bitcoin in my American Express account?

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No, American Express is a payment processing service and you cannot store Bitcoin on it. You have two choices when it comes to storing your BTC: keep it on the exchange you used to buy it, or use a dedicated Bitcoin wallet.

Why don’t more crypto platforms support American Express?

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One reason can be that not enough customers use it, and so the cost and resources required to accept American Express simply aren’t worth it. Another reason is that some payment processing systems charge quite high fees to the merchant, which again means it makes less financial sense to allow payments that way.

Ultimately, if American Express grows in popularity, then it’s likely that more crypto exchanges or brokers will start accepting it. Most brokers tend to accept a few popular payment methods, like debit cards, credit cards, and bank transfers.

Can I buy Bitcoin using American Express with no ID verification?

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It’s not possible to buy Bitcoin using American Express without ID verification, as this goes against the Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. These regulations mandate ID verification to prevent illicit activities, like money laundering or fraud. 

Most payment providers, as well as trading platforms or centralized exchanges allowing cryptocurrency transactions, require users to verify their identity. This process typically involves submitting personal information, including but not limited to: 

  • Full, legal name,
  • Address, 
  • A government-issued photo ID. 

These steps are legally necessary and serve as security measures to protect users from fraud and prevent illegal activities. 

Some peer-to-peer platforms facilitate Bitcoin purchases using American Express without ID verification, but these transactions carry significant risks, including scams and higher fees.

Should I buy Bitcoin using American Express?

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Yes, you may want to consider buying Bitcoin with American Express. It all comes down to personal preference. If it’s easy for you to fund your crypto brokerage account and offers you an easy way to use your online banking details to make payments, then yes, absolutely.

Pros

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  • You can use American Express to buy Bitcoin using several different currencies
  • American Express accepts users from many countries
  • Transactions are processed very quickly

Cons

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FAQs

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01

Can I buy Bitcoin with American Express on Coinbase?

02

Can I buy Bitcoin with American Express on Cash App?

03

How do I fund my crypto account with American Express?

04

Can I buy Bitcoin with American Express instantly?

05

Can I buy Bitcoins with American Express anonymously?

06

Are there low fees when using American Express to buy Bitcoin?

07

Can I get other cryptos with American Express?

08

Is American Express the easiest way to pay for Bitcoin?

09

What’s the biggest pro and con of using Amex on a peer-to-peer exchange?

10

How easy is it to find a peer-to-peer crypto exchange that lets you use Amex?

11

What’s a well known cryptocurrency marketplace that does not accept American Express?

12

Is using American Express recommended for beginners?

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Is using American Express a more viable strategy if you plan to hold Bitcoin for the long term?

14

Can you buy Bitcoins with an American Express gift card?

15

Can I buy Bitcoin with Amex Serve?

16

Can I buy Bitcoin with an American Express credit card?

17

Can I buy Bitcoin on Venmo and send it to an external wallet?

18

Can I buy Bitcoin with a Venmo debit card?


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...