Buying bitcoins

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Revision as of 04:12, 2 April 2011 by Sgornick (talk | contribs) (→‎Large amounts: Corrections.)
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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.

Large amounts

For large amounts of bitcoin (USD 1000 or more), you probably would get the best rate if you deposit funds via bank wire, ACH, Euro bank transfer, or via Liberty Reserve into a major exchange.

Exchange Type Adding Funds Withdrawing Funds eWallet Notes
MtGox Market BTC
Liberty Reserve USD
USD (bank wire)
USD (ACH)
EUR (bank wire)
BTC
Liberty Reserve USD
USD (ACH Direct Deposit)
EUR (bank wire)
Yes Restrictions and limits on withdrawals.
Britcoin Market BTC
GBP (bank deposit)
PokerStars USD
BTC
GBP (bank deposit)
PokerStars USD
Yes
Bitcoin Central Market BTC
Liberty Reserve USD
Liberty Reserve EUR
EUR (bank deposit)
Pecunix
BTC
Liberty Reserve USD
Liberty Reserve EUR
Yes
BitcoinUSA Fixed Rate BTC
USD (ACH Debit)
BTC
USD (ACH Direct Deposit)
Yes Requires physical mailing address verification, photo ID.
Btcex Market BTC
USD (international wire)
EUR (bank transfer)
JPY (bank transfer)
RUS (RUB, Yandex, WebMoney)
BTC
USD (international wire)
EUR (bank transfer)
Yes USD handled in Switzerland.
EUR through Finland (SEPA)
RUS (RUB, Yandex, WebMoney).

Small amounts

For smaller amounts, bank transfer fees or Liberty Reserve conversion fees are usually too expensive. Thus other methods are usually a better choice. The following exchanges will enable you to acquire smaller amounts of bitcoin at reasonable rates:

eWallet

Some services hold your bitcoins in an eWallet and provide funding methods.

See Also