Where to Buy Bitcoin in USA [Best Sites]

A list of ways to purchase bitcoin in the United States.


Robinhood

Robinhood

Robinhood is a US-based exchange regulated by FinCEN. Users can buy Bitcoin using ACH transfers, bank accounts, and debit cards. Trusted exchange with over 100 million users globally. Also offers U.S. Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT and FBTC.

Coinbase

Coinbase

Coinbase is a US-based exchange regulated by FinCEN. Users can buy Bitcoin using ACH transfers, bank accounts, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, & wire transfers. Trusted with over 100 million users globally.

River

River

US-based Bitcoin-only financial services company. Features include instant ACH purchases, automated recurring buys, and zero trading fees. Known for excellent customer support and built-in Bitcoin wallet functionality.

Coinbase Advanced

Coinbase Advanced

Coinbase's Advanced Exchange. Best for lower fees than Coinbase Simple and for more advanced order types.

Unchained

Unchained

US-based Bitcoin-only financial services company. Offers Bitcoin storage and a trading desk for purchases. Supports ACH and wire transfers with 1% fees. Known for strong security practices and above and beyond expert support.

Kraken

Kraken

Kraken is a US-based crypto exchange regulated by FinCEN. Users can buy Bitcoin using ACH transfers, wire transfers, and Apple Pay. Features include advanced trading tools, competitive fees and 24/7 customer support.

Gemini

Gemini

US-based exchange regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. Features include ACH transfers, PayPal integration, Apple Pay support, & automated purchases.

Uphold

Uphold

Uphold is a US-based exchange offering multiple payment methods including ACH, wire transfers, credit/debit cards and digital wallets. Features automated recurring buys and competitive fees.

ATM Radar

ATM Radar

Coin ATM Radar helps you locate Bitcoin ATMs across the United States. The map shows ATM locations, operators, fees, and supported cryptocurrencies. A useful tool for finding places to buy Bitcoin with cash in your area.



Find Exchanges for Your State

Some exchanges are not available in all states. Use this tool to find exchanges that are available in your state.



Step-By-Step How to Buy Guides




Exchange Support

Exchange Name Support for USA
Binance.usNot available in: Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Washington. New user registration paused in Michigan. USD services unavailable in Kansas and Michigan. Yes
CoinbaseAvailable in all 50 US states, including Puerto Rico and Guam. Yes
KrakenNot available in: New York and Washington state. Yes
Kucoin No
GeminiAvailable in all 50 US states, including New York. Yes
UpholdNot available in: New York, Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Louisiana. Yes
Luno Yes
Crypto.comAvailable in all states except New York. Yes
UnchainedNot available in: New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota. Yes
RiverNot available in: New York, Nevada, Idaho. Supports Puerto Rico. Yes
Bybit No
PayPalAvailable in all 50 US states. Yes



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%
RobinhoodRobinhood 0.55% 0.0% 0.55%
RiverRiver 0.3% 1.0% 1.3%
UpholdUphold 1.5% 0.0% 1.5%
GeminiGemini 0.5% 2.99% 3.49%
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
RobinhoodRobinhood 0.55
RiverRiver 1.3
UpholdUphold 1.5
GeminiGemini 3.49
CoinbaseCoinbase 3.99


History of Bitcoin in the USA

The United States has played a pivotal role in Bitcoin's history. In 2013, the US Senate held its first hearings on Bitcoin, leading to statements that legitimized it as a 'legal means of exchange.' That same year, the first major US Bitcoin company, Coinbase, received $25 million in venture funding. In 2014, major retailers like Overstock.com and Dell began accepting Bitcoin payments.

In 2017, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) launched the first regulated Bitcoin futures contracts in the US. A watershed moment came in 2021 when the SEC approved the first Bitcoin futures ETF, ProShares' BITO, which saw nearly $1 billion in trading volume on its first day.



Financial & Regulatory Licenses

Exchange Licenses & Regulation
RobinhoodRobinhood FinCEN as a money services business. U.S. SEC as a broker-dealer.
CoinbaseCoinbase Chartered by New York State Department of Financial Services for virtual currency.
RiverRiver Registered MSB with FinCEN.
Coinbase AdvancedCoinbase Advanced Chartered by New York State Department of Financial Services for virtual currency.
UnchainedUnchained NMLS ID 1900773. Loans originated through Lead Bank (FDIC member).
KrakenKraken Registered money services business with FinCEN (USA).
GeminiGemini New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
UpholdUphold FinCEN (USA), FCA (UK), FINTRAC (Canada), FCIS (EU)
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
Coinbase AdvancedCoinbase Advanced ACH: Free
Wire: $10 USD
SEPA: €0.15 EUR
SWIFT: Free
CoinbaseCoinbase ACH: Free
Wire: $10 USD
SEPA: €0.15 EUR
SWIFT: Free
GeminiGemini ACH: $0
Wire: $0
SEPA: $0
SWIFT: $0
KrakenKraken ACH: $0
Wire: $0
SEPA: $0
SWIFT: $3
RiverRiver ACH: $0
Wire: $0
RobinhoodRobinhood ACH: $0
SWIFT: $0
UpholdUphold ACH: Free
Wire: $0 - $20
SEPA: Free
FPS: Free



Bitcoin Scams in the USA

In 2014, Mt. Gox, then handling 70% of all Bitcoin transactions, collapsed after losing 850,000 bitcoins worth $450 million, affecting many US customers. In 2016, Bitfinex was hacked for 120,000 bitcoins ($72 million), marking one of the largest crypto heists in US trading history.

The most notorious US crypto scam was BitConnect, which collapsed in 2018 after being exposed as a $2.4 billion Ponzi scheme. In 2020, the Department of Justice seized $1 billion in Bitcoin connected to the Silk Road darknet market. In 2022, the collapse of FTX, once valued at $32 billion, revealed massive fraud affecting over a million US customers.



Mobile App Support

Exchange iOS App Android App
RobinhoodRobinhood
CoinbaseCoinbase
RiverRiver
Coinbase AdvancedCoinbase Advanced
UnchainedUnchained
KrakenKraken
GeminiGemini
UpholdUphold


Earn Interest & Rewards

The following table shows interest rates offered by exchanges.

Exchange Interest Rate & Details
CoinbaseCoinbase 4.70%
Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.
RiverRiver 3.8%
Earn 3.8% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.
Coinbase AdvancedCoinbase Advanced 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).
UpholdUphold 2 - 4.65%
Earn up to 4.65% APY on USD balances of $1,000 or more, or 2% APY on balances below $1,000 in Uphold's USD Interest Account.




Exchange snapshots

Robinhood

Visit Exchange
Robinhood snapshot
Minimum Deposit $1
iOS app score 4.2
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android app score 4.2
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Deposit Methods ACH, Debit Card, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
Review Read our review

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

River

Visit Exchange
River snapshot
Minimum Deposit $1
iOS app score 4.8
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android app score 4.9
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Deposit Methods ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
Review Read our review

Coinbase Advanced

Visit Exchange
Coinbase Advanced 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 Same as Coinbase

Unchained

Visit Exchange
Unchained snapshot
Minimum Deposit $2,000
iOS app score 4.8
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Deposit Methods ACH, Wire Transfer, Bank Account
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

Gemini

Visit Exchange
Gemini snapshot
Minimum Deposit $1
iOS app score 4.8
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android app score 4.2
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Deposit Methods ACH, Bank Account, PayPal, Apple Pay, Debit Card, Google Pay

Uphold

Visit Exchange
Uphold snapshot
Minimum Deposit $1
iOS app score 4.6
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android app score 4.7
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Deposit Methods ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer

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