Buying bitcoins

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Revision as of 04:39, 21 November 2012 by Sgornick (talk | contribs) (→‎Direct / Bulk Buying: Update Bitcoins Direct with changes on methods.)
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There are various methods available for buying bitcoins. See here for a Noob-friendly version of this page.

Warning: Please be careful with your money. When sending money to an exchange or seller you are trusting that the operator will not abscond with your funds and that the operator maintains secure systems that protect against theft -- internal or external. It is recommended that you obtain the real-world identity of the operator and ensure that sufficient recourse is available. Exchanging or storing significant amounts of funds with exchanges is not recommended.

Major Exchanges

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

Exchanges are listed in alphabetical order.

Exchange Adding Funds Withdrawing Funds eWallet Notes
Bitcoin-24 BTC
USD (MtGox redeemable code)
EUR (MtGox redeemable code)
USD (VouchX redeemable code)
EUR (VouchX redeemable code)
EUR (BTC24 redeemable code)
USD (Credit card through LiqPay)
EUR (Sofortuberweisung)
BTC
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
EUR (VouchX redeemable code)
USD (VouchX redeemable code)
EUR (BTC24 redeemable code)
USD (BTC24 redeemable code
USD (Skrill/Moneybookers)
Yes
Bitcoin-Central BTC
GBP (Bank transfer)
EUR (SEPA)
Liberty Reserve USD
Liberty Reserve EUR
International wire (any currency)
BTC
GBP (Bank transfer)
EUR (SEPA)
Liberty Reserve USD
Liberty Reserve EUR
Yes Open-source, community reviewed platform
Available in French and English languages
Bitfloor BTC
USD (bank wire transfer)
USD (ING Person2Person)
BTC
USD (ACH, direct deposit)
Yes
BitMe BTC
USD (Cash deposits at Chase)
USD (Wire Transfer - US)
USD (Wire Transfer - International)
USD (AurumXchange VouchX)
BTC
USD (AurumXchange VouchX)
USD (ACH / Direct Deposit)
USD (Wire Transfer - US)
Yes
bitNZ BTC
NZD (Cash depost as Westbank)
BTC
NZD (Domestic bank transfer)
Yes
Bitstamp BTC
BTC (Redeemable code)
EUR (SEPA transfer)
USD (Intl wire)
USD (Redeemable code)
CHF
BTC
BTC (Redeemable code)
EUR (SEPA transfer)
USD (Intl wire)
USD (Redeemable code)
CHF
Yes EUR and CHF deposits converted to/from USD for trading
BTC-E BTC
BTC (BTC-e redeemable code)
USD (Cash deposit at Post of Russia)
USD (Cash deposit at banks including Privatbank, Savings Bank of Russia (Sberbank), RU/UA Terminals, & more)
USD (Liberty Reserve)
USD (Interkassa)
USD (WebMoney - WMZ)
USD (Yandex)
USD (LiqPay)
USD (Perfect Money)
USD (QIWI)
USD (OKPay)
USD (RBK Money)
USD (Ditial currencies including НСМЭП (NSMEP), Единый Кошелек (Unified Purse), TeleMoney, & more)
USD (BTC-e Redeemable Code, available via BitInstant and AurumXChange)
USD (International bank wire)
RUB (QIWI)
RUB (LiqPay)
RUB (WebMoney-WMR)
RUB (BTC-e Redeemable code)
RUB (Bank transfer)
BTC
BTC (BTC-e redeemble code)
USD (Liberty Reserve)
USD (Webmoney - WMZ)
USD (Perfect Money)
USD (LiqPay)
USD (QIWI)
USD (PayPal)
USD (OKPay)
USD (Payza/AlertPay)
USD (Privat, Privat UAH)
USD (Cash deposit into Savings Bank/Sberbank, Telebank, Alfa Bank)
USD (BTC-e Redeemable Code)
USD (International Wire Transfer)
RUB (Cash delivery, possible in Moscow)
RUB (QIWI)
RUB (LiqPay)
RUB (WebMoney WMR)
RUB (Яндекс.Деньги Yandex)
RUB (RBK Money)
Cash deposit (into account at Сбербанка России!/Savings Bank/Sberbank, Телебанк (Telebank), and АльфаБанк (Alfa Bank)
RUB (Transfer to credit card VISA & MasterCard)
RUB (BTC-e Redeemable code)
RUB (Bank transfer)
Yes Language: English, Russian. Interkassa can be funded from Webmoney and many other methods.
BitInstant Can be funding option includes QIWI, Cyberplat.
Camp BX (CBX) BTC
USD (Dwolla)
USD (Personal Check)
USD (USPS Postal money order, Canada Post money order)
BTC
USD (Dwolla)
USD (ACH Direct Deposit)
USD (USPS Postal Money Order)
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
Intersango BTC
EUR (SEPA bank wire)
PLN (Bank Wire)
BTC
EUR (SEPA bank wire)
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. Started out as Britcoin.
Kapiton.se BTC
SEK (Bankgiro Bank Transfer)
BTC
SEK (Bankgiro Bank Transfer)
Yes
Mercado Bitcoin BTC
BRL (Bank transfer)
BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP)
Liberty Reserve USD
BTC
BRL (Bank transfer - MoIP)
Yes Language: Portugese
MtGox BTC
BTC (Redeemable code)
USD (Dwolla)
USD (International bank wire)
USD (Wire to AurumXChange)
USD (OKPay)
AUD (Bank wire)
GBP (Bank wire)
GBP (Cash deposit, Barclays)
USD (Redeemable code)
Liberty Reserve USD (via AurumXChange)
BTC
BTC (Redeemable code)
USD (Dwolla)
USD (Wire via AurumXChange)
AUD (Bank wire)
USD (Redeemable code)
Liberty Reserve USD (via AurumXChange)
Yes Oldest running exchange. Higest daily volume. Respecting AML laws, Restrictions and limits on withdrawals.
Rock Currency Exchange BTC
EUR (SEPA transfer)
SLL (Second Life)
USD (Dwolla)
BTC
EUR (SEPA transfer)
SLL (Second Life)
USD (Dwolla)
Yes
VirtEx BTC
CAD (cash deposit at Royal Bank, Bank of Montreal or ScotiaBank)
CAD (Online bill payment)
CAD (Wire transfer)
BTC
CAD (direct deposit)
CAD (Canada Xpress Post Bank Draft send by mail)
CAD Payza (formerly AlertPay)
Yes
VirWoX BTC
SLL (Second Life)
ACD (Avination)
OMC (OpenSim)
USD,EUR,GBP,CHF (PayPal)
USD,EUR,GBP (Credit & Debit cards via Skrill/Moneybookers)
USD,EUR,GBP (NETELLER)
EUR (DIRECTebanking / Sofortuberweisung)
USD,EUR,GBP,CHF (paysafecard)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
USD (UKash vouchers)
BTC
SLL (Second Life)
ACD (Avination)
OMC (OpenSim)
USD,EUR,GBP,CHF (PayPal)
USD,EUR,GBP (Skrill/Moneybookers)
USD,EUR,GBP (NETELLER)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
Yes Trading through Second Life Linden Dollars.
Variable limits on PayPal and Credit Card deposits.

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
Bitcopia (info) Fixed Rate USD (Cash deposit) Anonymous transactions. Instant quotes based on live Mt Gox prices. Cash deposit at any Wells Fargo in the US.
The Daktory CoinMarket Fixed Rate NZD (NZ Bank deposit/Cash) Cash deposit or bank transfer to domestic New Zealand bank. Cash payment to brokerage. Guest checkout available.
Bit Innovate Fixed Rate AUD (Cash deposit) Australian Dollar cash deposit at any Commonwealth Bank.
BitInstant Market Rate USD (Cash deposit at banks, 7-11, Walmart, CVS, Moneygram locations)
USD (Dwolla)
BRL (Cash deposit at Banco Rendimento or through Boleto)
RUB (Cash deposit through Qiwi or Cyberplat)
Deposit cash at 700,000 locations around the world and have your Bitcoins within 30 minutes. Absolute fastest and easiest way to buy Bitcoins.
Coinapult Fixed rate Use BitInstant to use cash to purchase bitcoins sent to e-mail or SMS. Choose "Bitcoin to e-mail" service and enter either e-mail or SMS.
Coinbase Fixed rate Buy bitcoins using a bank transfer (U.S.). Instant verification available for new accounts.
Bitcoin Nordic Fixed Rate
  • EUR/DKK (SEPA and wire transfer)
  • USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, SEK, NOK (Cash or check in the mail)
  • AED, DZD, EGP, IQD, ILS, JOD, KWD, LGP, LYD, MRO, MYR, NGN, OMR, PKR, QAR, SAR, TRL, TZS, TND, YER (CashU card)
  • MXN, EYU, BOB, BRL, COP, SYP, MAD, GHC, ZAR, CNY, CAD, and more (UKash voucher)
For UKash, redeemed through CashU account.
Blockchain.info (info) Fixed Rate USD, BRL, AUD, CAD, JPY, EUR, CHF, GBP, PLN, CZK, RON, RUB, SEK, NOK, DKK Purchased through BitInstant (U.S., Brazil, and Russia), Barclay's Pingit (GBP), or SMS or premium phone call from a mobile. Or Bank Deposit for UK Users.
Omnicoins Fixed Rate AUD (Cash deposit) Deposit cash at any Commonwealth, NAB, or Westpac branch.
Spend Bitcoins Fixed Rate AUD (Cash deposit) AUD cash deposit at NAB, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ.
BitcoinMyLife
(info)
Fixed Rate EUR (SEPA bank transfer) Simple and Safe.
Pay first transaction fee with Twitter or Facebook post.
bitcoin.de Market EUR (bank wire)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
EUR (Liberty Reserve)
EUR (Skrill/Moneybookers)
Varies (person to person)
0.01 free Bitcoins for every new user
eWallet
Affiliate program
Language: German, Englisch
News
Blizzcoin Fixed Rate EUR (SEPA bank transfer) Buy Bitcoins within minutes. Instant exchange.
No registration.
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)
Mr. Bitcoins Fixed Rate AUD (Cash deposit - Westpack and Commonwealth Bank) 100% Anonymous Cash Deposits
BTCX.se Fixed Rate SEK Transfer to and banks in Sweden.
BTC China Fixed Rate USD (Liberty Reserve) Converted to CNY for trading.
BitMarket.co Market COP (Colombian Peso) 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.
Canadian Bitcoins Fixed Rate CAD (Cash - XpressPost or Dropoff)
USD (Cash - Courier: UPS, FedEx, etc.)
For dropoff, office in Ottawa.
Dgtmkt (info) Fixed Rate Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Online bank transfers (Maybank2U, CIMB, MEPS, etc)
E-vouchers (Web Cash, Mobile Money)
Bitcoin merchant for Malaysians, dealing in Malaysian Ringgit. Fully automated immediate transfers. https://dgtmkt.com
Lilion Transfer Fixed Rate Bank Transfer: USD, AUD, CAD, JPY, EUR, CHF, GBP, PLN, CZK, RON, BGN, HRK, RUB, SEK, NOK, DKK, LTL, LVL
Liberty Reserve
Perfect Money
Monetto
OK Pay
Cosmic Pay
Pecunix
C-Gold
E-Pay Payments
PayPal
122 accounts worldwide.
Support in 30 languages
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.
bitcoin.local Directory Varies (person to person)
bcchanger.com Directory Enables person to person purchases and sales via PayPal, Skrill/Moneybookers and other e-currency platforms
anonXchange Fixed Rate EUR
GBP
Liberty Reserve, Paysafecard and Ukash to Bitcoin
Bitcoil Fixed Rate ILS (bank transfer)
btcnow Market USD (OKPay, Dwolla) bitcoins transferred instantly
LocalBitcoins.com Directory Varies (person to person)
Physical cash locally
Find your local bitcoin dealer! With dynamic pricing with equations.
WM-Center Fixed rate 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
24/7/365 support in English, Spanish and Russian.
ECurrencyZone Fixed Rate BTC
INR (Cash deposit of Indian rupee)
BDT (Cash deposit of Bangladeshi taka)
NPR (Cash deposit of Nepalese rupee)
MYR (Cash deposit of Malaysian ringitt)
SGD (Cash deposit of Singaporean dollar)
SGD (Net/Bank transfer)
USD (Western Union, Moneygram, Citibank global funds transfer, OKPay)
USD (Liberty Reserve, Mt. Gox redeemable code)
Bank transfer considered at all locations with prior approval.
BitCoinVend Market BTC
USD (PayPal)
bitcoinvend@gmail.com, market variable with commission, quote based, verified paypal account with anti scammer verification
Bitcoins In Berlin Fixed Rate EUR (Cash in-the mail)
EUR (Cash in-person trade)
EUR (SEPA bank transfer)
EUR (Mt. Gox redeemable code)
EUR (Western Union)
Cash in-the-mail is to a Berlin P.O. box. In-person trade is in Berlin.
Mang Sweeney Fixed Rate PHP (Cash)
PHP (Cash deposit at bank)
Languages: English, Pinoy.
PHP cash trade method in metro Manilla, Philappines.
Bitcoin Vender Fixed Rate USD (Credit Card)
USD (Debit Card)
Buy bitcoins with your credit or debit card
mercaBit.eu Fixed Rate EUR (ukash)
EUR (paysafecard)
EUR (neosurf)
EUR (halcash)
EUR (teleingreso)
Buy bitcoins with ukash and more
buyBTC.cz (info) Fixed Rate CZK (Domestic bank transfer)
EUR (Bank transfer)
Buy bitcoins from the Czech Republic.
InstaWire.com (info) Fixed Rate EUR (SEPA bank transfer) No sign-up, just enter the amount and a Bitcoin address.
Bitonic.nl Fixed Rate EUR (iDeal) Buy bitcoins instantly from the Netherlands.
swissbitcoins.ch Fixed Rate CHF (Swiss Bank Transfer) Buy Bitcoins in Switzerland. No registration required. Enter Bitcoin address, wire money and get your bitcoins within 24 hours.
Dragon's Tale (info) Other Credit card (except in the U.S.) Purchase bitcoins through this MMO casino with credit card, withdraw bitcoins (though a fee applies if withdrawn and no casino play.)
Paypal to Bitcoin Fixed Rate USD (Paypal) Buy bitcoins with Paypal. This site offers support in all spoken languages, along with prompt customer service.
buybitcoinbycreditcard.com Fixed Rate USD (Credit Card) Buy bitcoins instantly with your credit card. No registration required. This site accept from the world.

Direct / Bulk Buying

Service Type Payment Method Notes
Paypal to Bitcoin Direct purchases, $100 to $3,000 USD. USD (Paypal)
USD (Bank Transfer)
USD (Cash
BTC Inventory is virtually unlimited.
Bitcoins Direct Direct purchases, $1,000 and higher. USD (Cash deposit at B of A, Wells Fargo or PNC Bank, max $3,000)
USD (Bank wire, domestic or international), max $6,000 unless prior authorization
USD (Liberty Reserve)
BTC Inventory varies based on market conditions.
BitPay (info) Direct purchases, $10,000 USD and higher USD (Bank wire, domestic or international) BTC Contact for other payment methods.

Other Financial Services

Service Type Payment Settled Notes
MPEx 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)
Vircurex Buy / Sell Options
Loan / Borrow
BTC, NMC, LTC, DVC, GG, I0C, IXC, SC BTC, NMC, LTC, DVC, GG, I0C, IXC, SC

Physical Bitcoins

Physical Bitcoins are bearer tokens that have an embedded redeemable digital bitcoin value if torn open. While they are somewhat expensive if bought purely for the digital bitcoins, they are relatively easy to get, because they can be purchased with PayPal or credit card - payment methods not typically not accepted for pure digital bitcoin purchases.

Service Type Payment Notes
Memory Dealers Casascius Physical Bitcoins USD (PayPal/Credit Card)
Casascius.com Casascius Physical Bitcoins BTC
Bitcoin Gift Card Bitcioin Gift Card Physical Bitcoin Issued By GiftCoin BTC
Bitbills Bitbills cards BTC Not taking orders as of Nov 2011.

See Also