Buying bitcoins

2011-11-02T23:03:59Z

Skcin7:

One issue currently facing a newcomer to bitcoin is, how do I get some? While there is the [[bitcoin faucet]] that can get you started with a small fraction of a coin, when getting larger amounts the user faces an abundance of choice. This page will cut through the clutter, and help direct you to the right exchanger for your needs.

==Major Exchanges==

The least expensive methods for buying bitcoins involve transferring funds using a bank wire, ACH, bank transfer (ACH, EUR / SEPA).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Exchange || Type || Adding Funds || Withdrawing Funds || [[eWallet]] || Notes
|-
| [[MtGox]] || Market || BTC USD ([[Dwolla]]) USD (International bank wire) USD (Wire to [[AurumXChange Company|AurumXChange]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) (currently disabled) AUD (Bank wire) GBP (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD || BTC USD ([[Dwolla]]) USD (Wire via [[AurumXChange Company|AurumXChange]]) USD (Check via [[Paxum]]) USD (ATM via [[Paxum]]) USD (wire via [[Paxum]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) (currently disabled) AUD (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD Liberty Reserve USD (via AurumXChange) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Oldest running exchange. Higest daily volume. Respecting AML laws, Restrictions and limits on withdrawals.
|-
| [[TradeHill]] || Market || BTC USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (International bank wire) USD (Check via [[Paxum]]) USD (wire via [[Paxum]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) (currently disabled) EUR (via [[Paxum]] CAD (via [[Paxum]] CLP (Bank transfer) PEN (Bank transfer) INR (Bank transfer) AUD (Bank transfer) Liberty Reserve USD || BTC USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (International bank wire) USD (Direct deposit / ACH) USD (Check via [[Paxum]]) USD (ATM via [[Paxum]]) USD (Prepaid card via [[Paxum]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) EUR (via [[Paxum]] CAD (via [[Paxum]]) CLP (Bank transfer) INR (Bank transfer) AUD (Bank transfer) Liberty Reserve USD || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[BTC-E]] || Market || BTC USD ([[Liberty Reserve]]) USD (Interkassa) || BTC USD (Webmoney) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Language: Russian. Interkassa can be funded from Webmoney and many other methods.
|-
| [[VirWoX]] || Market || BTC SLL (Second Life) ACD (Avination) OMC (OpenSim) USD,EUR,GBP,CHF ([[PayPal]]) USD,EUR,GBP (Credit & Debit cards via [[Moneybookers]]) USD,EUR,GBP ([[NETELLER]]) EUR (DIRECTebanking / Sofortüberweisung) USD,EUR,GBP,CHF ([[paysafecard]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) || BTC SLL (Second Life) ACD (Avination) OMC (OpenSim) USD,EUR,GBP,CHF ([[PayPal]]) USD,EUR,GBP ([[Moneybookers]]) USD,EUR,GBP ([[NETELLER]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Trading through Second Life Linden Dollars. Variable limits on PayPal and Credit Card deposits.
|-
| [[Britcoin]] & [[Intersango]] || Market || BTC GBP (bank deposit) USD ([[Dwolla]]) USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (ACH) EUR (SEPA bank deposit) PLN (Bank Wire) || BTC GBP (bank transfer) USD ([[Dwolla]]) EUR (SEPA bank transfer) PLN (Bank Wire) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Operated by the [https://bitcoinconsultancy.com/ BitcoinConsultancy] [https://intersango.com Intersango] is a completely custom trading platform built from the ground up with security, scalability and extensibility in mind. [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=43745.0 More Information] Boasts an [https://bitcoinconsultancy.com/wiki/index.php/Intersango/API ever expanding API]
|-
| [[BitChange.pl]] || Market || BTC PLN (Bank wire) || BTC PLN (Bank wire) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[VirtEx]] || Market || BTC CAD (online bill pay) CAD (cash at TDBank) || BTC CAD (direct deposit) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[Camp BX]] (CBX) || Market || BTC USD (Check / ACH) USPS Postal Money Order USD ([[Dwolla]]) USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (International bank wire) || BTC USD (Check / ACH) USPS Postal Money Order USD ([[Dwolla]]) USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (International bank wire) || {{Table Value Yes}} || <ul> <li> Security certification from McAfee</li><li> Advanced trading options with AON/FOK/Market</li> <li>STOPLOSS and Short-Selling in Pipeline</li><li> Trading API available</li><li> Wallet API available </li><li> CBX Instant Bitcoin Transfers Feature </li><li> Stoploss / Custom Order Expiry Date/Time </li><li> SMS (Text Message) Notifications </li> <li> Two-Factor Authentication </li> <li> Based in USA - Atlanta </li> </ul>
|-
| [[Mercado Bitcoin]] || Market || BTC BRL (Bank transfer) BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP) Liberty Reserve USD || BTC BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Language: Portugese
|-
| [[Bitcoin-Central]] || Market || BTC CAD (Interac) CAD (Bank wire) CAD (Cash deposit) EUR (SEPA) INR (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD Liberty Reserve EUR PGAU [[Pecunix]] Gold || BTC CAD (Interac) CAD (Bank wire) EUR (SEPA) INR (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD Liberty Reserve EUR [[Pecunix]] Gold || {{Table Value Yes}} || [https://github.com/davout/bitcoin-central Open-source], community reviewed platform Available in French and English languages
|-
| [[HelloBitcoin]] || Market || BTC USD (Cwolla) USD (Bank wire) USD (Check) || BTC USD (Check) USD (Bank wire) USD (ACH) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Offers margin trading and shorting.
|-
| [[Brasil Bitcoin Market]] || Market || BTC BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP) || BTC BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP) || {{Table Value Yes}} || Language: Portugese
|-
| [[Australian Bitcoin Exchange]] || Market || BTC AUD (Electronic funds deposit) AUD (Mtgox Redeemable Voucher) || BTC AUD (Electronic funds transfer) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[FreshBTC]] || Market || BTC PLN (Bank wire) || BTC PLN (Bank wire) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[BitStamp]] || Market || BTC EUR (SEPA transfer) || BTC EUR (SEPA transfer) || {{Table Value Yes}} || EUR deposits converted to/from USD for trading
|-
| [[Aqoin]] || Market || BTC EUR (SEPA transfer) EUR (Domestic bank wire/Spain) EUR (International bank wire) || BTC EUR (SEPA transfer) EUR (Domestic bank wire/Spain) PayPal || {{Table Value Yes}} || Languages: English, Spanish
|-
| [[Rock Currency Exchange]] || Market || BTC SLL (Second Life) || BTC SLL (Second Life) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|-
| [[WM-Center]] || Exchanger || BTC USD (International bank wire, Western Unon, Moneygram, Xoom etc, cash) EUR (IBAN bank wire) RUB (bank wire, WU, Anelik and etc, cash) AUD (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD/EUR, Perfect Money USD/EUR, Pecunix, Paxum, c-gold, Hoopay, GDP || BTC USD (International bank wire, Western Unon, Moneygram, Xoom etc, cash) EUR (IBAN bank wire) RUB (bank wire, WU, Anelik and etc, cash) AUD (Bank wire) Liberty Reserve USD/EUR, Perfect Money USD/EUR, Pecunix, Paxum, c-gold, Hoopay, GDP PayPal USD/EUR, Moneybookers, Neteller || {{Table Value No}} || 24/7/365 support in english, spanish and russian!
|-
| [[bitNZ]] || Market || BTC NZD (Domestic bank transfer) || BTC NZD (Domestic bank transfer) || {{Table Value Yes}} ||
|}

==Fixed Rate Exchanges & Others==

For smaller amounts, the options are limited due to bank transfer fees, conversion fees and transaction size restrictions. Options include:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Service || Type || Payment Method || Notes
|-
| [[Bitcoin Market]] || Market || USD (Liberty Reserve) USD (MoneyBookers) GAU (Pecunix) || Varies (person to person)
|-
| [[BitMarket.eu]] || Market || EUR (Euro) GBP (British Sterling Pound) USD (U.S. Dollar) PLN (Polish złoty) AUD (Australian Dollar) CAD (Canadian Dollar) ZAR (South African Rand) ILS (Israeli Shekel) CHF (Swiss Franc) RUB (Russian Ruble) || Varies (person to person)
|-
| [[Bitcoiny.cz]] || Market || CZK || Varies (person to person)
|-
| [[Bit]] / BTC China || Market || n/a || n/a
|-
| [[Bitfunnel]] || Credit Card payment exchange/brokering services || Varies (person to person)
|-
| [[bitcoin-otc|#bitcoin-otc]] || [http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php Order Book] || Varies (person to person) || IRC trading marketplace will usually have people willing to deal for small and larger amounts using various payment methods, including [[PayPal]], [[Dwolla]], [[Linden Dollars]], etc.
|-
| [[Lilion Transfer]] || Fixed Rate || USD (Liberty Reserve) [[Pecunix]] ||
|-
| [[Nanaimo Gold]] || Fixed Rate || USD (Liberty Reserve) Western Union money transfer Moneygram money transfer Cash in the mail || LR <--> Bitcoin exchange is automated For cash in the mail send USD, EUR, CAD, or GBP. Canada mailing address.
|-
| [[Bitcoin Argentina]] || Fixed Rate || Cash: ARS, BRL, USD Bank transfer: ARS || No exchange fees!
|-
| [[Bitcoin.com.es]] || Fixed Rate || EUR (bank deposit) || Bank transfer or cash deposits at OpenBank in Spain.
|-
| [[Bahtcoin]] || Fixed Rate || Cash, Webmoney Liberty Reserve USD || Will cash out to Thai mobile and gaming prepaid cards as well.
|-
| [[Bitcoin Brasil]] || Fixed Rate || BRL (Brazilian Real) USD || Cash exchange
|-
| [[BitPiggy]] || Fixed Rate || AUD (Australian Dollar)|| Payment via bank transfer.
|-
| [[GetBitcoin]] || Fixed Rate || USD (Dwolla) USD (Bank wire) USD (Cash in the mail) USD (Money Order) USD (Cashier's Check/Certified Check) USD (Western Union) USD (Traveler's Check) USD (Prepaid Debit Card) || For cash in mail, send USD. U.S. mailing address.
|-
| [[Bitcoin 4 Cash]] || Fixed Rate || Cash in the mail || Send USD or CAD. Canada mailing address.
|-
| [[Bitcoin2Cash]] || Fixed Rate || Cash in the mail || Send USD. U.S. mailing address.
|-
| [[bitcoin.local]] || Directory || Varies (person to person) ||
|-
| [[bcchanger.com]] || Directory || Enables person to person purchases and sales via PayPal, MoneyBookers and other e-currency platforms ||
|-
| [[YouTipIt]] || Fixed Rate || USD EUR GBP || Purchase bitcoins to add to your balance with YouTipIt using credit card through ClickAndBuy.
|-
| [[Ubitex]] || In person exchange || Varies (person to person) ||
|-
| [[Bitcoil]] || Fixed Rate || ILS (bank transfer) ||
|-
|[[Accesscoin]] || Fixed Rate || USD (Google Checkout) || Requires Facebook account for second factor authentication ||
|-
|[[btcnow]] || Fixed Rate || USD (Google Checkout) ||
|}

==Other Financial Services==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Service || Type || Payment || Settled || Notes
|-
| [http://polimedia.us/bitcoin/options.php Derivatives] || Buy / Sell / Exercise CALLs / PUTs, American style. 52 strikes offered (by .5), current month + 2. No shorting available yet.|| BTC || BTC || Transactions encoded via amt. Must use non-rounding client (0.3.24 or later)
|}

==See Also==

* [[:Category:Digital_currencies|Digital Currencies]]
* [[Selling bitcoins]]
* [[Secure Trading]]
* [[:Category:Local|Local]] exchanges

[[Category:Exchanges]]
[[Category:Introduction]]
[[zh-cn:购买bitcoins]]

Bitcoin Wiki - User contributions [en]

Buying bitcoins