Germany
A list of ways to purchase bitcoin in Germany.
Bitpanda
Bitpanda is a regulated European crypto exchange with licenses across multiple EU countries. Recently partnered with Deutsche Bank to process German customer deposits and withdrawals. Offers German speaking customer support.
Coinbase
Coinbase is fully licensed and available in Germany through its German entity Coinbase Germany GmbH, which is authorized by BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) for cryptocurrency trading and custody services.
Kraken
Kraken is available in Germany. Users can buy Bitcoin using SEPA transfers, wire transfers, and Apple Pay. Partnered with DLT Finance to offer expanded crypto services starting July 2024.
ATM Radar
Coin ATM Radar helps you locate Bitcoin ATMs across Germany. The map shows ATM locations, operators, fees, and supported cryptocurrencies.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
If I Bought Bitcoin
See how much you would have made if you bought Bitcoin in the past.
Transaction Fees
A look at the transaction fees for each exchange, both spread and commission.
- Spread fee: Exchanges may charge a higher price than the actual price of Bitcoin.
- Fee: Exchange fee for the transaction.
- Total fees: The sum of the spread fee and the fee.
Exchange | Spread Fee | Fee | Total Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Kraken | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
Bitpanda | 1.5% | 0.0% | 1.5% |
Coinbase | 1.0% | 2.99% | 3.99% |
Actual fees may vary. Fees are subject to change. Fee estimates based on our research and testing. Some exchanges may charge less depending on volume.
Estimated Fees on €100
An estimate of the fees for buying €100 worth of Bitcoin using a bank account.
Exchange | Total Cost on €100 |
---|---|
Kraken | 0.4 |
Bitpanda | 1.5 |
Coinbase | 3.99 |
History of Bitcoin in Germany
Germany has been a pioneer in Bitcoin regulation and adoption. In August 2013, Germany became the first country to officially recognize Bitcoin as a 'unit of account' and private money, allowing it to be used for tax and trading purposes. In 2019, Germany made history by allowing banks to sell and store cryptocurrencies under new legislation that went into effect on January 1, 2020.
In December 2021, German savings banks (Sparkassen) announced plans to offer cryptocurrency trading directly to their 50 million customers. The same year, Germany's Fund Location Act allowed 'Spezialfonds' to invest up to 20% of their holdings in cryptocurrencies, potentially unlocking $415 billion worth of investments into the crypto market.
Financial & Regulatory Licenses
Exchange | Licenses & Regulation |
---|---|
Bitpanda | Registered VASP in Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden and Norway. Licensed by BaFin in Germany for crypto custody and trading. |
Coinbase | Chartered by New York State Department of Financial Services for virtual currency. |
Kraken | Registered money services business with FinCEN (USA). |
ATM Radar | This is a map only. Please check with individual ATM operators for their regulatory status and licenses. |
Deposit Fees
These are fees exchanges may charge for deposits. Fees are subject to change.
Exchange | Deposit Fees |
---|---|
Bitpanda |
SEPA: Free |
Coinbase |
ACH: Free Wire: $10 USD SEPA: €0.15 EUR SWIFT: Free |
Kraken |
ACH: $0 Wire: $0 SEPA: $0 SWIFT: $3 |
Bitcoin Scams in Germany
In 2020, German prosecutors seized over €25 million worth of Bitcoin from a movie-piracy website. In the same year, German authorities shut down Chemical Revolution, the country's largest darknet marketplace for narcotics, seizing significant amounts of cryptocurrency.
In 2021, German police took down Hydra Market, the world's largest darknet marketplace, seizing €23 million in Bitcoin. In 2022, a major cryptocurrency fraud case emerged when Karatbars International, based in Stuttgart, was investigated for allegedly defrauding investors of over €1.8 billion through its KaratGold Coin (KBC) scheme. The company's founder, Harald Seiz, faced criminal charges for operating an unauthorized banking business.
Mobile App Support
Exchange | iOS App | Android App |
---|---|---|
Bitpanda | ||
Coinbase | ||
Kraken |
Earn Interest & Rewards
The following table shows interest rates offered by exchanges.
Exchange | Interest Rate & Details |
---|---|
Bitpanda |
2.65%
EUR 3.95%, USD 3.96%, GBP 3.96%.
|
Coinbase |
4.70%
Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.
|
Kraken |
0.15% - 6.5%
Available for BTC (0.15% bonded/0.1% flexible), USDT/USD/USDC (6.5% bonded/4.5% flexible), and EUR (4.45% bonded/3.5% flexible).
|
Exchange snapshots
Bitpanda
Bitpanda snapshot | |
Minimum Deposit | $1 |
iOS app score |
4.7
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Android app score |
3.5
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Deposit Methods | iDEAL, SEPA, Bank Account, Credit Card, Debit Card, giropay, EPS, SOFORT, Skrill, NETELLER, Google Pay |
Coinbase
Coinbase snapshot | |
Minimum Deposit | $1 |
iOS app score |
4.7
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Android app score |
4.6
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Deposit Methods | ACH, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Bank Account, PayPal, Apple Pay, iDEAL, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Instant Verification, Google Pay |
Review | Read our review |
Kraken
Kraken snapshot | |
Minimum Deposit | $1 |
iOS app score |
4.7
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Android app score |
4.3
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Instant Verification |
ATM Radar
ATM Radar snapshot | |
Minimum Deposit | Each ATM will have a different minimum deposit amount. |
iOS app score |
4.5
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Android app score |
4.5
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
Deposit Methods | Cash |