Buying bitcoins
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. |
| Camp BX | Market | BTC USD (Dwolla) |
BTC USD (Dwolla) |
Yes | Atlanta - USA based, security certification from McAfee, provides advanced trading options with AON/FOK/Market, Short Selling coming soon, Trading API available; Dwolla only. |
| TradeHill | Market | BTC USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (International bank wire) USD (Check via Paxum) USD (wire via Paxum) EUR (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 (via Paxum) CLP (Bank transfer) INR (Bank transfer) AUD (Bank transfer) Liberty Reserve USD |
Yes | |
| Bitomat | Market | BTC PLN (Bank transfer) |
BTC PLN (Bank transfer) |
Yes | |
| Britcoin | Market | BTC GBP (bank deposit) |
BTC GBP (bank transfer) |
Yes | |
| Intersango | Market | BTC EUR (SEPA bank deposit) |
BTC EUR (SEPA bank transfer) |
Yes | |
| Intersango.us | Market | BTC USD (Dwolla) USD (Domestic bank wire) USD (ACH) |
BTC USD (Dwolla) |
Yes | |
| ExchB | Market | BTC USD (ING Person2Person) USD (Bank wire) USD (Check) |
BTC USD (Check) USD (Bank wire) USD (ACH) |
Yes | |
| 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 BGN (Bank transfer) |
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. |
| VirtEx | Market | BTC CAD (Interac) CAD (online bill pay) CAD (cash at TDBank) |
BTC CAD (Interac) CAD (direct deposit) CAD (Prepaid VISA) |
Yes | |
| Mercado Bitcoin | Market | BTC BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP ) |
BTC BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP) |
Yes | |
| 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. |
| 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 GBP USD PLN (Polish złoty) RUB |
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. |
| BitcoinExchange Services | Fixed Rate | Cash USD, MoneyPak, LR, MoneyGram, Western Union, Pecunix | Selling BTC/MtGoxUSD/LR - Will cash out to Dwolla, wire transfer, ACH, MoneyGram, Western Union |
| 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) |
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) |