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How to Buy Bitcoin with a Credit Card: Top 5 Places With the Lowest Fees in 2024

Last updated 03/19/2024 by

Julie Bawden-Davis
If you’ve been watching the rise in the value of cryptocurrency, you may want to get in on the action. Or perhaps you already bought Bitcoin or another digital currency and want some more.
Either way, if you don’t have enough cash to buy cryptocurrency right now, it’s possible to purchase digital currency with a credit card.
Tariq Al Wahedi is CEO of CryptoBnB, a vacation rental marketplace that uses blockchain technology to enhance the rental experience. He says, “This is the era of smart cashless money. Today, all tokens, including altcoins, can be bought using credit cards.”

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How to buy cryptocurrency with a credit card

Buying cryptocurrency with a credit card is a fairly straightforward process. First, you’re required to go through a verification process that involves submitting your photo ID.
Once you’ve been verified, you choose the amount of digital currency you want and make the purchase. Purchases are made on whatever cryptocurrency broker website you choose.
As with any credit card purchase, make sure you can pay off the balance by the time it’s due. Also, note that cryptocurrency brokers charge a fee for credit card purchases.

Where to buy cryptocurrency with a credit card: 5 best options

Some cryptocurrency brokers allow you to buy bitcoin with a credit card. But doing so isn’t cheap.
Due to the possibility of chargebacks, selling bitcoins by credit card is a big risk. That being so, the fees can be significantly higher than if you were to do a bank wire.
However, having the option to buy cryptocurrency with a credit card is an extremely quick way to make a purchase. It makes the whole concept of cryptocurrency even more convenient than it already is.
Here are five of the best places to buy bitcoin, with the lowest fees for credit card purchases:
CompanyEstimated Cost
1. CEX 3.5% +$0.25 credit card purchase fee.
2. Coinbase 3.99% credit card purchase fee.
3. CoinMama5% credit card purchase fee.
4. BitstampBetween 5 and 8% credit card purchase fee, depending on the purchase amount.
5. Changelly5% credit card purchase fee, in addition to a credit card processing fee.
Other cryptocurrency exchanges that take credit cards include Coinhouse, Bitpanda, and 247Exchange, to name a few. Make sure you do your research and read online reviews of your top choices before making a decision.

Using a 0% APR credit card to buy cryptocurrency

If you’re buying digital currency with a credit card, consider using a card with an interest-free introductory period. If you can get approved, you won’t owe any interest on your purchases for a set period.
So, unlike most credit cards, a 0% APR credit card gives you time to pay off the balance without the additional cost of interest. It’s even better if you can pay off the entire balance before the interest-free introductory period ends. If so, you won’t end up paying any interest at all.
You typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for this type of card. If your credit score isn’t where it needs to be, consider improving it before you apply.
Here are some of the top interest-free credit cards to consider:
CardIntro APR Intro APR Offer
BankAmericard Cash Rewards Credit Card 12-month intro APR period
Discover it Chrome14-month intro APR period
Chase Slate15-month intro APR period
Chase Freedom Unlimited15-month intro APR period
Discover it Card18-month intro APR period
Citi Double Cash Card18-month intro APR period
Citi Simplicity Card21-month intro APR period

FAQ on buying cryptocurrency

What is cryptocurrency?

Before you pull out your credit card and use it to charge some cryptocurrency, let’s take a look at exactly what this digital currency is.
Cryptocurrency is derived from the phrase “crypto,” which refers to cryptography. This is a technology that creates written or generated codes used to keep digital information secret. Cryptography transforms data into an unreadable format that can only be accessed with an alphanumeric key.
The technology has been used to create a cryptocurrency, which is a digital currency that is used as a medium of exchange. Cryptography secures and verifies the transactions and creates new units of each type of cryptocurrency. This digital money is not overseen by a central authority, such as a bank. Instead, it’s a peer-to-peer decentralized network.
Since its introduction, cryptocurrency has continued to rise in value steadily. The most well-known form of cryptocurrency and a forerunner in the area is Bitcoin. Other types of cryptocurrency include Litecoin, Ethereum, ZCash, Dash, Ripple, and Monero.
Where can you spend cryptocurrency?
Digital currency is becoming an increasingly accepted form of payment. Many online and offline merchants are beginning to accept the more well-known forms of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin.
You can use digital currency to pay for a wide variety of products such as travel, food, electronics, and movie tickets. There are also online marketplaces that only accept cryptocurrencies, such as Bitify and OpenBazaar.

Can I use a credit card to buy Bitcoin?

Buying Bitcoin with your credit card is just as simple as buying with a debit card or paying directly from your bank account, though it does come with a few extra restrictions.

Does Coinbase accept credit cards?

Coinbase doesn’t accept credit cards as a payment method any longer. Meanwhile, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase said they, too, wouldn’t allow customers to purchase Bitcoin with their credit cards anymore.

Can you convert Bitcoin to cash?

There are several possible ways to convert Bitcoin to cash and ultimately move it to a bank account: Sell Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange, such as Coinbase or Kraken. This is the easiest method to sell Bitcoin and withdraw the resulting cash directly to a bank account.

Are Bitcoins legal?

It is legal to use Bitcoin in the United States, and payments are subject to the same taxes and reporting requirements as any other currency. There is no physical Bitcoin currency the way there is a dollar, euro, or pound.

Where can you spend cryptocurrency?

Considering that Bitcoin is a digital currency, it’s rarer for actual stores to accept it as a payment method. You can use Bitcoin to buy a gift card and then shop at those retailers or another one of the 200-some that they work with, including giants like Nike, Target, and Starbucks.

Think through your investment

Before you purchase Bitcoins or other types of cryptocurrency with a credit card, it’s important to know that the value of a digital currency is volatile. Much like the stock market, the worth of digital currency can vary from day to day and even amongst the various types of currency.
As with the stock market, the aim is to buy as low as you can when purchasing cryptocurrency. This requires that you keep an eye on the value of cryptocurrency each day and wait for a dip in price.
And remember that all cryptocurrency sales are final. Considering the volatile nature of digital currency and the uncertainty of its future, it’s a good idea to carefully consider your investment before purchasing with a credit card.
On top of that, you’ll want to ensure you’re using the right credit card to make the purchase.
Review top personal credit cards and easily compare the details of each to discover which one is best for you.

SuperMoney may receive compensation from some or all of the companies featured, and the order of results are influenced by advertising bids, with exception for mortgage and home lending related products. Learn more

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Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a widely published journalist specializing in personal finance and small business. She has written 10 books and more than 2,500 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications, including Parade.com, where she has a weekly column. In addition to contributing to SuperMoney, her work has appeared in publications such as American Express OPEN Forum, The Hartford and Forbes.

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