Buying bitcoins

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Revision as of 05:43, 20 September 2011 by Sgornick (talk | contribs) (→‎See Also: Remove Exchange Comparison article that has been deleted.)
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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).

Exchange Type Adding Funds Withdrawing Funds eWallet Notes
MtGox Market BTC
USD (Dwolla)
USD (International bank wire)
USD (Wire to AurumXChange)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer) (currently disabled)
AUD (Bank wire)
GBP (Bank wire)
Liberty Reserve USD
BTC
USD (Dwolla)
USD (Wire via 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)
Yes Restrictions and limits on withdrawals. Will block account after funds are deposited.
TradeHill Market BTC
USD (Domestic bank wire)
USD (International bank wire)
USD (Check via Paxum)
USD (wire via Paxum)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
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
Yes
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)
Yes Operated by the BitcoinConsultancy
Intersango is a completely custom trading platform built from the ground up with security, scalability and extensibility in mind. More Information

Boasts an ever expanding API
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)
Yes Trading through Second Life Linden Dollars (highly liquid).
Variable limits on PayPal and Credit Card deposits.
VirtEx Market BTC
CAD (online bill pay)
CAD (cash at TDBank)
BTC
CAD (direct deposit)
Yes
ExchB Market BTC
USD (Cash or check)
USD (ING Person2Person)
USD (Bank wire)
USD (USPS Money Order by mail)
USD (Paxum)
BTC
USD (Check)
USD (Bank wire)
USD (ACH)
USD (Paxum)
Yes Cash or check deposits: Accepted at any Wells Fargo or Chase branch, or by mail.
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
Yes 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)
Yes Offers margin trading and shorting.
Bitcoin7 Market BTC
EUR (SEPA Bank transfer)
USD (Domestic wire)
USD (International wire)
Liberty Reserve USD
Liberty Reserve EUR
BTC
EUR (SEPA Bank transfer)
USD (Dwolla)
USD (Bank transfer)
Liberty Reserve USD
PLN (Bank transfer)
SAR (Bank transfer)
BGN (ePay)
BGN (Bank transfer)
Yes USD wire to Citibank. EUR transfers to/from FiBank.
Mercado Bitcoin Market BTC
BRL (Bank transfer)
BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP)
Liberty Reserve USD
BTC
BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP)
Yes Language: Portugese
BTC-E Market BTC
USD (Liberty Reserve)
USD (Interkassa)
BTC
USD (Webmoney)
Yes Language: Russian. Interkassa can be funded from Webmoney and many other methods.
Australian Bitcoin Exchange Market BTC
AUD (Electronic funds deposit)
AUD (Mtgox Redeemable Voucher)
BTC
AUD (Electronic funds transfer)
Yes Restrictions and limits on withdrawals.
Two-Factor Authentication
Based in Queensland, Australia.
Intersango Software.
BitChange.pl Market BTC
PLN (Bank wire)
BTC
PLN (Bank wire)
Yes
FreshBTC Market BTC
PLN (Bank wire)
BTC
PLN (Bank wire)
Yes
BitStamp Market BTC
EUR (SEPA transfer)
BTC
EUR (SEPA transfer)
Yes EUR deposits converted to/from USD for trading
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)
Yes
  • Security certification from McAfee
  • Advanced trading options with AON/FOK/Market
  • STOPLOSS and Short-Selling in Pipeline
  • Trading API available
  • Wallet API available
  • CBX Instant Bitcoin Transfers Feature
  • Stoploss / Custom Order Expiry Date/Time
  • SMS (Text Message) Notifications
  • Two-Factor Authentication
  • Based in USA - Atlanta
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
No 24/7/365 support in english, spanish and russian!

Fixed Rate Exchanges & Others

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

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 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 Morpheus Fixed Rate Cash, check or money order through the mail U.S. mailing address for cash transactions.
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)
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

Service Type Payment Settled Notes
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