Buying digital currencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Cardano is now a simple and burden-free process.
All you need to do is open an account with a trusted cryptocurrency broker that offers low fees – make a deposit, and decide how many tokens you wish to buy.
In this beginner’s guide, we explain how to buy cryptocurrency in great detail – covering the step-by-step investment process alongside an overview of the best exchanges to consider.
How to Buy Cryptocurrency – Quick Guide
- ✅ Step 1: Find High Potential Crypto Presales
While the rest of the crypto market struggled throughout 2022, crypto presales have made great returns for early investors as they offer low entry prices and more room for growth in 2023. - 🔎 Step 2: Research Top Projects
There are many new presales on the market but some are scams and others – such as Meta Masters Guild and Fight Out – are legitimate and offer high potential for ROI. - 💳 Step 3: Download Crypto Wallet
Download a crypto wallet such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet and connect to the presale website of your chosen project. - 🛒 Step 4: Buy Cryptocurrency Tokens
Finally, follow the steps on screen to buy ETH or USDT and then your chosen presale token.
Where to Buy Cryptocurrency – Presale Projects
The best crypto presale projects provide investors with the biggest potential for huge returns, as they are still establishing themselves in the space and offer low entry points with huge room for growth.
More established coins that have been in the market for a long time tend to have much bigger market caps and therefore need more capital to see significant growth in price.
Presale projects have much smaller market caps and can therefore see huge upward trends in a very short space of time.
Crypto presale projects can be risky and investors must conduct their own thorough research before investing.
Red flags investors should be wary of are incomplete websites, poorly formed roadmaps, and the lack of a public team. On the other hand, indicators that are project has high potential is a well-thought-out protocol that has real utility, thorough and detailed roadmaps and information, interest and excitement from the crypto community, and a public-facing team.
Below we outline four of the top new cryptocurrencies that are yet to hit the market.
Meta Masters Guild – Upcoming Crypto Gaming Project Now in First Presale Stage
Exciting new crypto gaming project Meta Masters Guild has been racing through its presale since it launched – buyers are keen to secure MEMAG early as the token is set for big gains even before it heads to exchanges.
MEMAG started at $0.007 and, at the time of writing, costs $0.010 in stage 2 – a 42.8% increase in less than a week. However, by the time of the seventh and final stage, MEMAG will cost $0.023 – a 130% increase from the current price, while those who bought in at stage 1 will see 228% gains, making it one of the best cryptos to buy.
The high potential of the token is not the only reason investors love the project, as Meta Masters Guild is building the world’s first dedicated Web3 gaming platform.
While mobile gaming does not come with the same prestige as AAA-games, they are much cheaper and quicker to produce and much more profitable – accounting for $90 billion in 2022, more than half of the global gaming market.
MMG is currently developing three games in its ecosystem – Meta Kart Racers, Raid NFT and Meta Masters World – with a focus on fun and long-term sustainability, with Meta Kart Racers expected to launch in late 2023.
The project will also relieve selling pressure on MEMAG by having a second off-chain token, GEMS, used for rewards and as an in-game currency.
MMG has been developed by a doxxed and KYC-verified team, while the MEMAG token smart contract has been audited.
Join the Meta Masters Guild Telegram for more information on the project or read our guide on how to buy MEMAG.
Fight Out – New M2E Crypto Project Set to Explode in 2023
Fight Out is an upcoming move-to-earn (M2E) project currently in its presale phase, offering investors a limited-time opportunity to acquire FGHT tokens at a discount.
The hype around Fight Out stems from its unique rewards mechanism, which sees users earn REPS tokens whenever they complete workouts or engage in physical activities (e.g. boxing).
Through this mechanism, users are incentivized to work out consistently and build their fitness – the app users smart technology and a range of measures to build a full digital fitness profile that evolves over time, as well as providing individual training regimes to each user.
Accrued REPS tokens can be used to buy items in the Fight Out Store, pay monthly membership fees, book personal training sessions or purchase apparel and equipment.
FGHT tokens are the heart of the Fight Out ecosystem and can be used to buy additional REPS tokens (with a 25% bonus added). In the future, FGHT will be the native currency of the planned ‘Fight Out Metaverse’.
The project also has ambitious plans to develop real-world gyms in key locations across the globe and has also already moved to sign on world-class athletes – including a former world boxing champion and two UFC stars – to act as project ambassadors.
As noted above, investors can now buy Fight Out tokens through the presale at a low price of just $0.0166. In addition, investors can obtain a bonus of up to 50% on their purchased amount, based on the number of tokens they buy and their chosen vesting period.
With the listing price already set at $0.0333, this presale offers an exclusive opportunity to obtain FGHT at a 50% discount.
Those looking to keep track of FightOut’s progress can join the official Telegram channel.
C+Charge – Eco-Friendly Project Incentivizing EV Ownership with Rewards
C+Charge is a new eco-friendly crypto project that wants to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more convenient and efficient for drivers.
The project will offer carbon credits as rewards and also provide vital information through its mobile app to push fossil fuel drivers into EVs.
The project is still in stage 1 of its presale with CCHG on sale for $0.013 each, rising to $0.0235 by stage 4 – an 80% increase – with one crypto whale already making a huge single purchase of $100,000.
Through C+Charge, EV drivers will earn carbon credits as rewards simply for recharging their vehicles, which is paid for in CCHG.
Carbon credits are permits that allow a holder to offset their carbon footprint by funding verified carbon regeneration projects.
C+Charge, which comes from a doxxed and KYC-verified team, has partnered with Flowcarbon – which enjoyed a $70 million VC funding round in 2022 – to offer Goodness Nature Tokens (GNT), which are 1:1 backed by vetted eco-friendly projects.
The C+Charge mobile app, which acts as a wallet for users to purchase CCHG, will also allow EV drivers to easily access information on the nearest charging station, price and waiting times.
Join the Telegram group for more information or read our guide on how to buy CCHG tokens.
Calvaria – Exciting New Gaming Project Bidding to Attract Casual Gamers to Blockchain
Calvaria is a new play-to-earn (P2E) and free-to-play (F2P) gaming project that wants to attract casual and traditional gamers into Web3.
Despite the massive potential of blockchain gaming, actual gamers haven’t followed investors into the space.
Games such as Decentraland and The Sandbox are worth billions in terms of market cap but attracted less than 20,000 combined players to their metaverses every month – which pales in comparison to the likes of Fortnite or Minecraft which have millions of daily players.
Calvaria wants to entice new players to Web3 by making a fun F2P game that encourages players to make the switch to P2E. While many crypto games require expensive NFTs before you can even get going, Calvaria’s Duels of Eternity has a totally free version where players can learn the ropes.
The card-battle strategy game will then encourage players to switch over by having a visible tracker, which shows a player how much they could have earned, and gamified educational quests to teach players about the blockchain.
Calvaria’s presale has already generated over $2.8m in funding since it commenced, with an exclusive 24hr IEO lined up on BKEX once it concludes.
Following this, RIA tokens will be made available on Changelly Pro, LBank and GotBit.
For more information on Calvaria, join the Telegram group or read the whitepaper.
Which is the Best Cryptocurrency to Buy 2023?
So now that we have covered the best crypto presale projects, we can now talk about the best coins to buy this year that have been in the market much longer.
Once again, you’ve got tens of thousands of options to choose from – so independent research is crucial.
We, however, will discuss five of the best cryptocurrencies to buy right now, as per our own analysis.
Bitcoin – Best Crypto to Buy Now for Beginners
Out of more than 17,000 digital currencies listed on CoinMarketCap – more than 40% of all cryptocurrency investments are held in Bitcoin. This clearly highlights that across the board – Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin is also the de-facto cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization and mass awareness. Taking these points into account, Bitcoin is arguably the best cryptocurrency to buy for beginners.
Although it trades for tens of thousands of dollars, you can invest in Bitcoin in fractional amounts.
At eToro, you only need to invest $10. In terms of growth, we mentioned earlier that Bitcoin was worth just $1 a decade prior to writing this guide.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
BNB – Top Cryptocurrency to Buy for Long-Term Growth
The next cryptocurrency that we like is BNB – which is a top digital asset to consider for long-term growth. This digital asset is backed by Binance – the largest cryptocurrency exchange globally.
When the token was first launched in 2017 – its primary purpose was to allow users of the Binance exchange to reduce their trading commission. But, since then, BNB has grown to a whole new level.
For example, the digital token is now the primary currency of the Binance Smart Chain.
This decentralized blockchain network is home to tens of thousands of cryptocurrencies – and most transaction fees are paid in BNB.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Decentraland – Great Cryptocurrency to Buy to Invest in the MetaVerse
Another cryptocurrency to consider buying for your investment portfolio is Decentraland – which is focused on creating a global MetaVerse via its decentralized 3D gaming world. Players within the Decentraland virtual world can build characters, wearables, and even real estate.
These digital products can then be traded with other users – with MANA the native digital currency backing the Decentraland project. To illustrate how lucrative this game can be, a virtual plot of land was sold for over $2 million in late 2021 – with the transaction settled in MANA.
In terms of performance, MANA was priced at just 0.025 in 2017. When the token last hit all-time highs of 2021, MANA surpassed a value of $5.20. This means that in just over three years of trading, Decentraland and its MANA token grew by more than 20,000%.
The coin retraced throughout 2022 but has shown strong signs of a recovery in early 2023.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Ethereum – Leading Cryptocurrency to Buy for Smart Contracts
Ever wondered if you should buy Ethereum right now? As noted earlier, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency for market capitalization – behind Bitcoin. This project was launched back in 2015 and it dominates the smart contract and decentralized app (dApp) niche. These are pre-programmed blockchain contracts that facilitate trustless agreements.
On the one hand, there are actually better-performing smart contract blockchains in this space – namely Polygon and Solana. This is in terms of transaction speed, fees, and scalability.
However, Ethereum recently moved to Proof-of-Stake and, in doing so, Ethereum 2.0 took its smart contract blockchain to the very next level.
Not only in terms of lower fees and even faster transactions – but being able to scale on a much larger level, as well as cutting energy usage by more than 99%. As such, Ethereum is still one of the best cryptocurrency to buy this year.
Also see our longer guide to the most promising cryptocurrencies including a new crypto presale.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Yearn.finance – Promising Cryptocurrency to Buy for Decentralized Financial Services
Another area of the cryptocurrency arena that is growing in prominence is the availability of decentralized financial services. More specifically, there are platforms in existence that allow users to engage with traditional financial products on a peer-to-peer basis.
One of the best decentralized platforms in this regard is Yearn.finance. In a nutshell, the Yearn.finance protocol allows users to take out loans – in return for putting up a percentage of the financing agreement as collateral.
At the other end of the agreement are investors. That is, those holding idle cryptocurrencies can loan their funds to borrowers. And, as a result, investors will earn interest.
The YFI token – which backs Yearn.finance, is, therefore, a top cryptocurrency to keep an eye on this year.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Should I Buy Cryptocurrency?
When learning how to buy cryptocurrency for the first time – you will quickly figure out that this marketplace is extremely volatile.
- For example, across the 12 months prior to writing this guide, Bitcoin has experienced 52-week lows and highs of $29,000 and $69,000 respectively.
- In simple terms, this amounts to a volatility spread of over 80%.
Taking this into account, it’s important to do plenty of research before you buy Bitcoin.
On the flip side, and as we cover in more detail shortly, it is important to note that 10 years prior to writing, Bitcoin was available to buy at just $1 per token. This means that the cryptocurrency has since grown by over 7 million percent.
- And, don’t forget that Bitcoin isn’t the only cryptocurrency that you can buy.
- On the contrary, CoinMarketCap now lists over 17,000 different digital currencies – all of which freely trade online.
Crucially, some cryptocurrencies have performed significantly better than Bitcoin in recent years.
Examples include the likes of Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Solana – all of which have outperformed Bitcoin since each respective project was launched.
Beginner crypto traders often find choosing which altcoin to buy and how much to invest in very challenging. Something that could potentially help is to use the best crypto signals. Crypto signals do exactly what they say on the tin. Simply put, they’re trading ideas from experienced cryptocurrency traders indicating whether you should buy or sell specific cryptos at a certain time and price.
You could also consider trading crypto CFDs with a Bitcoin robot such as Bitcoin Prime. Trading via a Bitcoin bot means you’ll be speculating on the price movements of crypto CFDs and will not gain ownership of the underlying assets.
Benefits of Buying Cryptocurrency
The most important thing to consider when learning how to buy cryptocurrency is whether or not this volatile and speculative asset class is right for your financial goals.
If you’re still undecided, below we discuss some of the main benefits of buying cryptocurrency in 2023.
Monumental Price Increases
Before we give some examples of just how successful some cryptocurrencies have been since they were launched – it is important to note that not all digital assets have performed well. On the contrary, many tokens have seen huge losses in terms of their token value.
Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the overwhelming majority of people will look to buy cryptocurrency because of the huge returns that have been generated in recent years.
For example:
- When BNB was launched in 2017, it carried a token price of just $0.011
- At its peak during the late 2021 bull run, it reached an all-time high of $650
- This means that in just over five years, early BNB investors saw gains of over 590,000%
- In other words, had you invested just $1,000 into BNB when it was first launched, your portfolio would have been worth over $5.9 million at the peak
- BNB has since retraced but is still trading at around $300
In another example:
- When Ethereum – which is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization, was first launched in 2015 – it was trading at approximately $0.75.
- Towards the end of 2021, Ethereum hit highs of just under $4,900.
- This means that in just over six years, the value of Ethereum grew by more than 653,000%
- As such, an initial investment of $1,000 in 2015 would have since grown to over $6.5 million
- Again, the price has retraced but is still trading at over $1,500 in January 2023
Although the above examples are just two of many – the key point here is that in buying cryptocurrency for your portfolio, you stand the chance of making sizable returns. Of course, you also stand the chance of losing money – so bear this in mind.
Diversification
Another benefit of buying cryptocurrency is that it is really easy to diversify. This is due to two key reasons.
First and as noted earlier, you can now choose from more than 17,000 tradable digital assets. As such, to reduce the risk of being overexposed to one or two cryptocurrencies, you could invest in a large basket of tokens.
Second, all cryptocurrencies can be fractionated into tiny units. For example, you don’t need to buy one full Ethereum token for several thousands of dollars. Instead, you can invest any amount of your choosing – even a couple of dollars.
This diversification strategy is particularly effective when you use a low-cost cryptocurrency broker that supports small investments. At eToro, for instance, you can diversify across more than 40 digital currencies at a minimum investment of just $10 per asset.
Limited Supply
Some, but not all, cryptocurrencies have a limited supply that is determined by immutable mathematical code.
For example, the total supply of Bitcoin will never surpass 21 million tokens – which is expected to happen by the year 2140.
- Crucially, this framework ensures that cryptocurrencies cannot be manipulated by central banks or governments – which is the case with all fiat currencies in circulation.
- For instance, the US Federal Reserve has printed trillions of dollars out of thin air since COVID-19 came to fruition.
Another benefit of investing in a cryptocurrency that has a limited supply is that finite assets typically perform well over the course of time.
Gold is a prime example here, its finite characteristics ensure that demand will always surpass supply.
Perfect for Cross-Currency Payments
If you have ever transferred money overseas – especially if the beneficiary was based in an emerging or third-world country, then you will know that the process can be both slow and expensive.
- Cryptocurrencies, however, offer a real solution to this problem, not least because the underlying blockchain is not restricted by jurisdictional borders.
- For example, if you were to buy XRP and transfer it – the transaction would take less than 5 seconds to process, regardless of where the sender and receiver are located.
- Furthermore, the transaction would cost you a small fraction of a cent in fees.
These benefits are not exclusive to XRP – but many other digital currencies that are currently in circulation.
Hedging Against Inflation and Stagnant Stock Markets
One of the biggest economic consequences that countries around the world are now facing as a result of COVID-related stimulus packages is that inflation levels are rising rapidly.
- In simple terms, this means that the value of your money becomes weaker – as prices for goods and services increase.
- To counter the very real threat of rising inflation, some investors are turning to stores of value like Bitcoin.
- After all, when you compare Bitcoin to broader inflation levels, the former has performed excellently as a hedging tool.
Additionally, cryptocurrency can also be a useful tool in hedging against the wider stock markets. For example, over the prior five years, the S&P 500 has grown by nearly 90%. Bitcoin, however, has increased in value by over 3,000% during the same period.
When to Buy Cryptocurrency
When you consider that cryptocurrency is a volatile asset class – you might be tempted to try and time the market in terms of when to buy and sell.
As noted earlier, in the 52 weeks prior to writing this guide, Bitcoin has carried a volatility spread of 80% – which is huge.
On the one hand, timing the cryptocurrency markets correctly is no easy feat – as the industry is both volatile and unpredictable.
With that said, there are a couple of proven strategies that you can take to ensure that you enter the cryptocurrency market at the most favorable time possible.
Buy the Dip
The first strategy that you might consider in your attempt to time the cryptocurrency markets is to ‘buy the dip’. This is a strategy widely used in the traditional stock trading industry and it simply means that you will buy cryptocurrency when it goes through a market dip.
- For example, moving into 2022, Bitcoin was priced at approximately $46,000.
- Just over three weeks later, Bitcoin was valued at $33,000
- This means that in buying this market dip, you can buy Bitcoin at a huge discount of 25% – compared to its price three weeks prior
- It is now priced at around $20,000 and has been as low as $16,000 in recent weeks
The overarching concept here is that while inexperienced investors are fraught with fear and panic when cryptocurrency prices decline, seasoned traders will view this as an opportunity to increase their holdings by purchasing more tokens but at a discounted price.
Dollar-Cost Averaging
Various researchers argue that buying the dip is not a viable strategy in the long-term – at least in the traditional stock markets.
The reason for this is that by only buying the dip, you are missing out on prolonged upward pricing swings. With that in mind, you might instead consider a dollar-cost averaging strategy.
The main concept here is that you will engage in a long-term investment strategy that will see you buy cryptocurrency at fixed amounts, at specific intervals.
For example:
- Let’s suppose that you have $100 to invest in digital currencies every Friday
- This means that on Friday, you will buy cryptocurrency at a different price – baring in mind market fluctuations
- Over the course of time, your cost price will average out in line with the broader markets
- In other words, when prices are going down – you get to buy cryptocurrency at a lower cost
- And, when prices are going up, you will buy cryptocurrency during an upward trend
The key point here is that dollar-cost averaging removes the need to try and time the market. Instead, you will slowly but surely build your portfolio through systematic investments. In doing so, you should have little interest in shorter-term pricing swings.
Where to Buy Cryptocurrency Outside of Presales
It goes without saying that in order to buy cryptocurrency online, you need to have an account with a broker or exchange.
When deciding where to buy cryptocurrency – your chosen platform should offer low fees, your preferred payment method, small account minimums, and of course – a strong regulatory framework. So, whether you’re looking to buy the Graph, XRP, or Ethereum, you’ll need to choose an exchange or broker that matches your trading needs and financial goals.
Below, we review a selection of top-rated platforms that allow you to buy cryptocurrency safely and cost-effectively.
1. eToro – Overall Best Platform to Buy Cryptocurrency in 2023
You won’t find a better online broker or top-rated investing app to buy cryptocurrency than eToro – which offers a safe, low-cost, and budget-friendly way to invest. First, this innovative social trading platform is regulated by several tier-one licensing bodies – which include the SEC in addition to the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC. Moreover, eToro is a member of FINRA.
You only need to deposit $10 to open an account at this broker – which is ideal for those wishing to invest small amounts of money. Similarly, the minimum cryptocurrency purchase permitted at eToro is also $10. Supported cryptocurrencies are plentiful at eToro, with more than 70+ digital assets available to buy. Therefore you can buy Dogecoin on eToro as well as other popular altcoins with low fees.
This covers large-cap tokens as well as several DeFi coins. For instance, you could buy Solana or you could buy Axie Infinity with a tight transaction fee of just 1% on eToro.
eToro really stands out when it comes to fees. For instance, US clients can deposit funds without paying any fees at all – which covers debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. When you buy and sell cryptocurrency here, you only need to cover the fixed 1% transaction fee and the tight spreads. Furthermore, USD withdrawals are also free.
If you’re interested in cryptocurrency but have little experience in this space – eToro offers a Smart Portfolio that manages your investments on your behalf. The portfolio in question will cover more than a dozen digital assets – which will be rebalanced regularly by the eToro team. This social trading platform makes it easy to buy Bitcoin with a credit card and other convenient payment methods.
Alternatively, you can choose to copy top crypto traders on the eToro platform. The copy trading tool allows you to instantly copy the portfolios of any crypto trader on the platform, and you can access in-depth statistics on their performance all for no extra cost. Finally, eToro also offers a top-rated mobile app – which is available on both iOS and Android. This means you can gain exposure to the crypto market directly from your smartphone device and buy Celo and other exciting new altcoins with tight spreads and low fees.
eToro is also widely regarded as the best stock broker due to its copy trading tools and zero commission policy on buying and selling stocks.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
2. Coinbase – Good Place to Buy Cryptocurrency for Beginners
Launched in 2012, Coinbase is a large cryptocurrency exchange and broker based in the US. With millions of customers using Coinbase to buy and sell cryptocurrency – the platform is often the preferred provider for beginners. This is because Coinbase is simple to use and it supports small investments.
On the other hand, Coinbase is expensive – especially when it comes to debit/credit card payments. That is, by using your Visa or MasterCard to buy cryptocurrency instantly, Coinbase will charge you almost 4%. Standard commissions at this platform are also pricey at 1.49% per slide.
On the flip side, you can deposit US dollars via ACH without paying any fees. Moreover, Coinbase offers a relatively broad selection of cryptocurrencies to choose from – you can diversify well here. We also like that Coinbase is regulated – and that it keeps 98% of client digital funds in cold storage.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
3. Binance – Popular Place to Buy Bitcoin for Asset Diversity
Binance is larger than Coinbase – with a global user base of over 100 million clients. The platform is also the biggest in terms of daily trading volume. As such, Binance is popular with those seeking high levels of liquidity and a wide selection of digital currency markets.
If you’re based in the US, you will have access to a dedicated US version of Binance. This gives you access to over 50+ currencies – all of which you can buy with a debit/credit card. Much like Coinbase, the fees here are expensive – with Binance charging 4.5% to use Visa or MasterCard, in addition to a buy commission of 0.5%. This means you could buy Polkadot with a small commission of 0.5%.
With that said, if you are able to deposit funds with ACH or a domestic wire transfer, you will not be charged any fees. When it comes to trading commissions, Binance is very competitive. In fact, you’ll pay a maximum commission of 0.10% per slide to trade crypto-crypto pairs. If you’re a seasoned investor, Binance offers advanced trading tools and OTC services.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
4. Webull – Buy Cryptocurrency From Just $1
Webull is one of the most popular brokerage sites in the US, with the platform offering thousands of stocks, ETFs, and even options. However, Webull is also known for offering low-cost cryptocurrency services. In fact, you can buy cryptocurrency here at a minimum of just $1 – which is ideal for casual traders.
When it comes to fees, Webull does not charge any commissions when you buy or sell cryptocurrency. You do, however, need to be aware that cryptocurrency spreads here start from 1%. You can trade a variety of digital currencies here – including but not limited to Bitcoin, Chainlink, Uniswap, Zcash, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, and more.
Webull also offers a fully-fledged trading app that gives you access to your investment account on the move. You can deposit funds at this brokerage without needing to meet a minimum. Although you won’t be able to deposit via a debit/credit card, you can fund your account with ACH or bank wire. The latter comes with a deposit/withdrawal fee of $8/$25 respectively.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
5. Gemini – Solid Cryptocurrency Exchange for Seasoned Investors
Gemini offers one of the most secure places to buy cryptocurrency – especially if you are a large-scale investor. The platform is authorized and regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services and is structured as a trust company. Moreover, in addition to institutional-grade security – Gemini has also secured $200 million of cold storage insurance.
Although Gemini offers a rock-solid place to buy cryptocurrency safely, the platform does charge a rather pricey commission of 1.49% per slide. Nevertheless, when it comes to supported markets, you will have access to over 70+ cryptocurrencies at Gemini. This includes a wide selection of large caps, ERC-20s, and DeFi coins.
Another top-rated feature at Gemini is its crypto interest offering. In a nutshell, by depositing your idle digital tokens into the Gemini exchange, you will be paid a rate of interest – which will depend on the respective asset. For example, you can earn 8.05% APY on the Gemini Dollar and 4.03% on Bitcoin Cash.
Guides to Investing in Cryptocurrency
Are you looking for guidance on buying cryptos, the best exchanges, or how to invest in NFTs? Check out our expert guides below.
Risks of Buying Cryptocurrency
Now that we have talked about the benefits of buying cryptocurrency, we need to discuss some of the main risks that need to be considered.
The most pressing risks of buying cryptocurrency are outlined below.
Volatility
We have mentioned several times throughout this guide that cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile. This means that the value of your investment can go up or down by a large percentage in a very small period of time.
For example, had you bought Dogecoin at the start of 2021 and sold just seven months later, your investment would have increased in value by more than 10,000%.
On the other hand, if you had bought Dogecoin in July 2021 and held on until the start of 2023 – you would be looking at losses of nearly 90%.
As a result, before you buy cryptocurrency for your portfolio – you must be prepared for rapid pricing swings.
Oversaturated Market
The next risk that you need to consider when learning how to buy cryptocurrency is that this marketplace is now oversaturated.
As noted, around 20,000 cryptocurrencies are listed on CoinMarketCap – and even more that are yet to be added to the platform.
This means that outside of the top-100 projects, the cryptocurrency market is extremely fragmented. In simple terms, this means that the total amount of money being injected into the markets is now being allocated across a huge number of tokens.
As such, your chosen cryptocurrency might struggle to make an impact when you consider the amount of competition in this space.
Hacks and Security
Another major risk to consider is that over the course of the past few years – billions of dollars worth of digital assets have been stolen from cryptocurrency exchanges. If you had funds at one of these platforms, you might have had your tokens stolen with nowhere to turn.
As such, it is crucial that you stay away from unlicensed platforms and only buy cryptocurrency from a regulated exchange or broker – of which there are very few. Additionally, if you are looking to store your cryptocurrency tokens in a private wallet – further risks are at play.
If you lose your private keys and do not back your wallet up with a recovery passphrase, your funds will be lost forever. Moreover, if your cryptocurrency wallet is hacked, this will also result in a loss of funds.
Ways of Buying Cryptocurrency
The next thing to consider when learning about digital asset investments is the many ways to buy cryptocurrency.
By this, we mean the specific payment method that you will use to fund your cryptocurrency purchase.
The best ways to buy cryptocurrency in 2023 are discussed below.
Buy Cryptocurrency With Paypal
You can buy cryptocurrency with Paypal at a very select number of online exchanges and brokers. In most cases, you will be charged a premium – as Paypal offers users the ability to execute a chargeback request.
This is, of course, a big risk for exchanges and brokers – which is why fees are typically high. With that being said, if you are depositing funds in US dollars, eToro allows you to buy cryptocurrency with Paypal on a fee-free basis.
If you’re using an alternative currency – then you will simply pay an FX fee of 0.5%.
Buy Cryptocurrency With Credit Card or Debit Card
The best way to buy cryptocurrency online is with a debit or credit card. This is because your purchase will usually be completed instantly.
For instance, if you buy crypto with a debit card at eToro, you will not only benefit from an instant deposit, but USD payments are fee-free.
This is also the case with credit cards, but the respective issuer might charge a premium – so be sure to check this yourself.
Buy Cryptocurrency With Neteller or Skrill
Another way to buy cryptocurrency online is with an e-wallet like Neteller or Skrill. You can use both of these popular e-wallets at eToro at a fee of just 0.5%. Or, if you’re funding your account in USD, this fee is waived.
Buy Cryptocurrency with Bank Transfer
Many exchanges and brokers allow you to buy cryptocurrency with a bank transfer – not least because this option is more cost-effective for platforms to process.
From your perspective, you will likely be able to deposit funds via ACH for free – albeit, the transaction might take a few days to arrive. Bank wires are usually supported too – but some platforms will charge a small fee.
How to Buy Cryptocurrency Safely
The most important part of this guide is the safety aspect of buying cryptocurrency. Not only in terms of staying away from unregulated platforms but how you intend to store your tokens.
With this in mind, below we explain the fundamentals of how to buy cryptocurrency safely.
Regulated Brokers
When you buy cryptocurrency from a broker that is regulated by a tier-one licensing body – you can be confident that you are using a trusted provider.
- For instance, eToro is regulated by the SEC and registered with FINRA.
- eToro is also licensed by the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC.
At the other end of the scale, you have Binance. Although Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange for volume and registered users, the platform is currently being investigated by a number of national regulatory bodies for operating without the required approval.
Avoid Peer-to-Peer Trades
You might be tempted to buy cryptocurrency on a peer-to-peer basis. This means that you will be purchasing your chosen digital currencies directly from the seller – as opposed to going through a centralized exchange.
Peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trades are extremely risky, especially for buyers – as you will be required to pay for your purchase before you receive the tokens. As such, you should never buy cryptocurrency from a peer-to-peer website.
Check Fees
Another thing to consider when learning how to buy cryptocurrency safely is to make sure that you have a firm understanding of what fees you are paying.
- As an example, there are now thousands of Bitcoin ATMs scattered around the world.
- These are targeted at the Average Joe who wishes to buy Bitcoin in exchange for cold-hard cash.
- However, buyers are often unaware that Bitcoin ATMs charge huge fees – which will oftentimes average 10-20%.
- The fee is often not shown in percentage terms.
- Rather, you are shown how many BTC tokens you will receive for the amount of cash you are looking to invest.
For those without knowledge of cryptocurrency prices – this can be difficult to recognize.
On the other hand, if you buy cryptocurrency from an online broker like eToro -which is regulated by the SEC – you can be sure that the platform is transparent in what it charges.
In fact, at eToro, you only need to cover the difference between the buy and sell price – which starts at just 0.75%.
Cryptocurrency Wallets
When it comes to keeping your cryptocurrency funds safe, you generally have two options. First, many investors will look to withdraw their tokens to a private wallet – perhaps on their mobile phone or desktop device.
These private wallets are typically non-custodial – which means that you are 100% responsible for keeping your tokens safe.
You then have custodial wallets, which are usually offered by online brokers and exchanges. On the one hand, trusting an unlicensed exchange with your tokens is not a good idea.
However, in using a regulated broker like eToro, Coinbase, or Gemini – you can be sure that the platform has a range of institutional-grade security tools in place to keep your cryptocurrency safe.
How to Buy Cryptocurrency – Meta Masters Guild Tutorial
This ultimate guide on buying cryptocurrency has covered each and every metric that you need to consider before you proceed with an investment.
- If you have considered the risks involved and decided which digital asset interests you – then we are now going to walk you through the step-by-step process of buying presale project Meta Masters Guild.
- Crypto presales offer much higher potential for returns given their low entry points and room for growth over more established tokens.
Here’s’ what you need to do:
Step 1 – Download Crypto Wallet
Investors first need a crypto wallet as D2T tokens cannot be bought with fiat currency. We recommend MetaMask on desktop and Trust Wallet on mobile.
Then head to the MMG website and select ‘Connect’.
Step 2 – Acquire ETH
MEMAG tokens can be bought with USDT or ETH, but ETH is significantly easier.
After connecting to the website, select ‘Buy ETH With Card’. Investors can then buy ETH directly on their wallet using trusted fiat on-ramp Transak.
Enter the amount you would like to purchase and complete the steps.
Alternatively, buy ETH or USDT on an exchange and carefully transfer to the wallet.
Step 3 – Buy MEMAG Tokens
Once there is ETH in the wallet, select ‘Buy with ETH’. Simply follow the steps on screen and enter the number of tokens you would like to purchase.
Note that an Ethereum gas (transaction) fee will be applied after your selection, so investors will need to allow a small amount for that.
Follow the steps and click ‘Finish’ when prompted.
Step 4 – Claim MEMAG Tokens
The MEMAG tokens will not appear in your wallet until after the complete presale is finished.
They will be stored on the Meta Masters Guild website.
When the presale is finished, details and claiming dates will be released by the MMG team.
A more detailed how-to-buy Meta Masters Guild guide can be found here.
Conclusion
This beginner’s guide on how to buy and sell cryptocurrency online has covered every nut and bolt that you need to know to start your investment journey safely.
To recap, it’s important to do plenty of research before proceeding – both in terms of the cryptocurrency you decide to add to your portfolio and the exchange or broker you plan to open an account with.
The best cryptos for high returns are new presale projects, which offer low entry points and huge room for growth before they reach the wider market. We found Meta Masters Guild to be the top new crypto presale, while Fight Out, C+Charge and Calvaria should be considered.
Meta Masters Guild - Next Big Crypto Game
- Backed by Leading Game Studios
- Early Round Presale Live Now
- Low Hard Cap, No Vesting
- Playable NFTs, Rewards, Staking
- Solid Proof & CoinSniper Audited