Germany

A list of ways to purchase bitcoin in Germany.





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
KrakenKraken 0.0% 0.4% 0.4%
BitpandaBitpanda 1.5% 0.0% 1.5%
CoinbaseCoinbase 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
KrakenKraken 0.4
BitpandaBitpanda 1.5
CoinbaseCoinbase 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
BitpandaBitpanda Registered VASP in Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden and Norway. Licensed by BaFin in Germany for crypto custody and trading.
CoinbaseCoinbase Chartered by New York State Department of Financial Services for virtual currency.
KrakenKraken Registered money services business with FinCEN (USA).
ATM RadarATM 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
BitpandaBitpanda SEPA: Free
CoinbaseCoinbase ACH: Free
Wire: $10 USD
SEPA: €0.15 EUR
SWIFT: Free
KrakenKraken 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
BitpandaBitpanda
CoinbaseCoinbase
KrakenKraken


Earn Interest & Rewards

The following table shows interest rates offered by exchanges.

Exchange Interest Rate & Details
BitpandaBitpanda 2.65%
EUR 3.95%, USD 3.96%, GBP 3.96%.
CoinbaseCoinbase 4.70%
Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.
KrakenKraken 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

Visit Exchange
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

Visit Exchange
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

Visit Exchange
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

Visit Exchange
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