How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal in 2025

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

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

Yes, you can buy Bitcoin through your PayPal app.

Alternatively, you can use PayPal to fund a trading account on a third-party crypto exchange and buy Bitcoin that way.

We believe that funding a trading account is the most secure way to buy Bitcoin with PayPal, is the most beneficial to you in terms of crypto education, and is where we’ve focused this guide.

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

How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal using a cryptocurrency exchange in 5 steps

It takes between 15-45 minutes to buy BTC with PayPal 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. Right, let’s get started.

Step 1. Choose a crypto platform that accepts PayPal

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We recommend eToro as the best platform to use to buy Bitcoin with PayPal.

However, there’s several options which you can see if you scroll down beyond this guide.

4.6

eToro

Min. Deposit $100

Fees 1%

No. assets 3600+

Demo account Yes

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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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.

Step 3. Make a deposit via PayPal

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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 PayPal 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 PayPal, 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 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 PayPal!

Not a big deal, right?

Best exchanges that accept PayPal

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

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4.5

Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 1 pip

Fees

3,600

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s an easy place to trade the currency markets. Forex can be intimidating, but eToro strips back the complexity to give you a platform where you can trade 50+ currencies at competitive prices and with up to 30x leverage*.

*CFDs trading is restricted for US users.

As well as being a broker that offers lots of investor protection, eToro offers a very social trading experience. You can easily see how all the major and minor forex pairs are performing every day, track how investors feel about every one of those currencies, and copy other people’s trade suggestions from your desktop or the eToro app.

The fees: eToro charges a fee on currency trades through the spread. Spreads are variable depending on the currency and start from 1 pip for EUR/USD trades, 1.5 pips for EUR/GBP, and 2 pips for GBP/USD. Overnight and weekend fees apply.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	3600+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs, NFTs, Crypto
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FinCEN

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	Yes, on certain assets
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes, on CFDs
Withdrawal fees	Yes
Spreads	Yes, on certain assets
Conversion fees	Yes, for non-USD currencies

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Competitive, industry-leading commissions Popular ‘Copy Portfolios’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided

Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Read review Visit eToro

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. Plus500. Best for international trading*

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4.5

Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.08%

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 forex futures for over 10 symbols. 

Plus500 has something for all types of forex traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $40) 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

No. of tradable assets	2800+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	FSA, ASIC, FMA, FCA, CySEC

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	No
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes
Withdrawal fees	No
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	Yes

Pros & Cons

Free demo account for every user Secure broker, licensed by top-tier regulators Wide variety of CFDs to trade Several good risk management tools

No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Read review Visit Plus500

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.

3. OKX. Best for futures and margin trading

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4

Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

…

Fees

–

No. assets

No

Demo account

Overview

We love OKX because it’s an adaptable and flexible exchange, with an app that’s available in three different versions depending on how you trade. Choose from the beginner-friendly Lite version, Web3 option for NFT traders, or the Pro version for a plethora of trading tools. 

From an app or desktop you can trade 350+ crypto coins on one of the world’s top crypto exchanges. You can fund your account easily, through a variety of simple payment methods, and a sliding scale of fees that means you can access discounts by holding the OKB token or trading high volumes.

The fees: Regular users pay a 0.1% fee on spot crypto trades. OKB crypto holders are entitled to a discount, up to 0.02% off for holding more than 2,000 coins. High volume traders are also entitled to a discount, with the cheapest fees available for traders with a 30 day trading volume above $10,000,000,000.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets
Min. Deposit
ID verification required	No
Free demo account	No
Supported assets
Mobile trading app	No
Web trading platform	No
Regulatory bodies

Pros & Cons

Stake ETH to freely mint NFTs & win big prizes 350+ cryptocurrencies & NFTs available across 650+ trading pairs Crypto spot & derivative markets available Pay using hundreds of local payment methods

Not available in the US Lack of fiat withdrawal options

Read review Visit OKX

Should I Use the PayPal App or Buy on a Cryptocurrency Exchange?

Cryptocurrency exchanges are generally the better option for purchasing crypto – they’re usually much cheaper.

The [payment method] app is a much more limited platform. It lacks analysis tools, there are fewer trading options, and fewer cryptos available.

What’s more, it requires a full ID check and you have to provide tax status information – which is not always required when you use a crypto exchange.

Top tips for using PayPal to buy Bitcoin

Here are a few tips to help you choose the best crypto exchange that accepts PayPal.

• Choose an exchange with low fees. You have to pay transaction fees when you make a Bitcoin purchase, but there may be additional fees for using PayPal as a means to make a deposit. Bank transfers and debit card payments are typically the cheapest options, but this isn’t always the case.
• Pick a service that is licensed by a top-tier regulator. Crypto exchanges that accept PayPal should be licensed by FINRA, the government agency that enforces SEC regulations, in order to offer crypto trading.
• Beware of scammers and use all available security features. Make sure you use 2FA if it’s available, and don’t hand out account details to anyone else. Be particularly wary of peer to peer (P2P) exchanges.

How to buy crypto on PayPal directly

If you live in the US or the UK, you can buy Bitcoin directly on PayPal.

Creating a PayPal account is free, but you have to link it to your mobile phone and email address. After that, purchasing Bitcoin is relatively simple and should only take a few minutes.

*Credit Cards and PayPal are not available for deposits for users under FCA regulation in the UK.

How much does PayPal charge to buy and sell Bitcoin?

PayPal is one of the more expensive ways to buy crypto assets. You can expect fees of around 2% on each transaction, although there are cheaper rates for larger trades. Here are PayPal’s fees compared to eToro, another leading exchange platform.

Quick answers to key questions

Can I store Bitcoin in a PayPal crypto wallet?

Yes, you can. However, PayPal is limited as a crypto wallet. It does not offer the same security as a dedicated, self-custodial wallet (where only you can access the money via your private key).

The PayPal wallet is a good option for beginners who buy and store cryptocurrency in small amounts. It does offer some protection against unauthorized transfers, but anyone investing more should think about something more secure.

PayPal now integrates with a number of third-party crypto wallets. We recommend you use the likes of MetaMask, Ledger, Phantom, or Magic to store your coins if you plan on holding onto them for a while.

Can I send Bitcoin from PayPal to an external wallet?

Yes, if you’re based in the US, you can transfer crypto from PayPal to an external wallet. According to PayPal, this feature was added in 2022 after being one of the ‘most requested enhancements. ‘ You will have to pay a network or blockchain fee to transfer crypto from PayPal to an external wallet, but there are no other fees.

Here’s how to send money from PayPal to a crypto wallet:

1. Log into PayPal and choose the cryptocurrency you want to transfer
2. Click the transfer symbol and click ‘send’
3. Enter the wallet address you wish to send the money to (you can scan a QR code or enter the long wallet address yourself)
4. Confirm the transfer.

Can I buy other cryptocurrencies on PayPal?

PayPal offers five digital currencies in total. Bitcoin is the most popular, but you can buy Ethereum on PayPal, as well as Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.

PayPal also has its own stablecoin, ‘PayPal USD’ (PYUSD), where 1 PYUSD equals 1 US Dollar. It’s mainly used to swap between the other crypto assets available on PayPal, but you can buy it simply by owning it yourself if you want.

Can I use PayPal credit to buy Bitcoin on PayPal?

No, you can’t use PayPal credit or your credit card to buy Bitcoin on the PayPal app.

You can only buy crypto on the app using your PayPal balance, bank account, and debit card. While it might be possible through an exchange, verify this with the specific platform. Not all crypto exchanges that accept PayPal allow crypto purchases on credit.

Which is better: buying Bitcoin with PayPal or buying on cryptocurrency exchanges?

A cryptocurrency exchange is almost always the better option for purchasing crypto assets. It’s cheaper, and there are more ways to pay.

Buying crypto through PayPal itself is a valid option for beginners, as it’s a user-friendly way to buy your first coins. For all its many strengths when it comes to fiat currency, PayPal is severely limited as a crypto exchange, and you have to perform a full ID check and answer questions about your tax status to be allowed to make a purchase – so it’s not possible to buy Bitcoin or any cryptocurrency with no identification on PayPal.

There are no analysis tools available on PayPal and no means of swapping between cryptocurrencies. You can’t use another crypto, like ETH, to buy BTC, or vice-versa. Similarly, its Bitcoin wallet is much less secure than any standard crypto wallet where you keep control of your own private keys.

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