WHERE TO BUY BITCOIN
Here is a list of exchanges where you can buy some bitcoin. If this is your first time, take a moment to check them out before you decide on the one you would like to open an account with. The exchanges on this list only deal with bitcoin and no other cryptocurrency. This is so new bitcoin buyers are not distracted by the marketing of some questionable altcoins that some exchanges have done and continue to do. Many of these choices also offer low fees, additional features, and free educational material.
Once you have bought your first coins, check out my wallets page for a list of recommended wallets to self-custody your funds.
Strike is a mobile wallet and payments app that can be used to send and receive money between friends and family. However unlike Venmo or PayPal, Strike is built to work on top of the Bitcoin network. Users can hold a balance of both dollars and bitcoin on the app and can send/receive both on-chain and lightning payments. Deposits and withdrawals are available through either a linked debit card, ACH bank transfer, or wire transfer. Other features include the ability to receive your paycheck as a direct deposit into your Strike account and set a percentage of it to auto-convert to BTC, as well as the ability to send a payment directly to a phone number in select countries, making it an ideal app for remittances.
Strike is available in 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. It is not available to residents of New York or the other U.S. territories at this time. Strike is also available in over 95 countries worldwide. Search for Strike in your country’s app store to see if it is available.
Cash App is one of the most popular mobile wallets in the United States. In addition to a host of helpful features, one can also buy bitcoin. As with Strike, users of Cash App hold separate dollar and bitcoin balances. Only the bitcoin balance can interact directly with the network. Send and receive is available for both on-chain and lightning payments.
For those of you who want a personal touch and a complete one-stop shop for buying and learning about bitcoin, Swan is an excellent choice. In addition to offering individuals the ability to buy bitcoin and withdraw to self-custody, Swan also offers services to businesses, private clients, and retirement accounts. An entire suite of Bitcoin education is available for free to help the bitcoin investor understand what he or she owns. Many Bitcoin personalities are affiliated with or have done work for the company, including the likes of Stephan Livera and Natalie Brunell.
Swan Bitcoin is available in the United States and over 100 countries worldwide.
For residents of Canada, Bull Bitcoin is a great choice for buying bitcoin. Unlike the others on this list, Bull Bitcoin does not hold people’s bitcoin for them in an effort to help promote self-custody. After funding your account with CAD, you must provide a receiving address or invoice to receive your bitcoins the moment you initiate your purchase. You can choose to receive your coins as an on-chain payment, as a lightning payment, or as a Liquid Network payment.
Bull Bitcoin is only available in Canada, however the company has expanded into Costa Rica through an integration with the Bitcoin Jungle wallet. Residents of Costa Rica can use this integration to buy bitcoin through SINPE Móvil. Residents and visitors alike can also spend their bitcoins with any merchant that accepts payments through SINPE Móvil.
For residents of Europe, Relai is a solid choice. The Relai app is also a self-custodial wallet, so the company does not hold your coins for you. Buying is done with bank transfers in euros or Swiss francs. Great option for people who want to buy small amounts and not have to provide KYC/AML documents.
Relai is available in 23 countries across Europe, including Switzerland and many EU/EEA countries. Be aware that the app in most countries is only available for Android with only 6 countries having access to the iOS version.