Quick answer on how to buy crypto online: 1) through crypto wallets like Best Wallet, 2) through the project’s official website, 3) using an exchange, 4) P2P platforms, or 5) via crypto ATMs.
In this guide, we’ll cover each method, discuss your payment options, and we’ll even explore key mistakes you’ll want to avoid when buying cryptocurrencies online.
How to Buy Crypto Online: A Complete Guide
There are several ways to buy crypto online. They differ in terms of the convenience and anonymity that they provide buyers. Some, for example, will let you buy crypto without undergoing Know Your Customer (KYC) verification.
In contrast, others will require you to submit a government-issued ID, proof of address, and a selfie. We’ll cover these below if you’re looking for the best platforms to buy crypto with a debit card. Let’s start with how you can buy crypto through wallets.
Buying Crypto Through Wallets
Crypto wallets let you store your cryptocurrency just like your good old wallet for your cash. These can be ‘hot’ wallets (also called software wallets), which are connected to the internet, or ‘cold’ (hardware) wallets, completely offline.
Some wallets, like Best Wallet, let you buy crypto directly from their app. This type of wallet is especially convenient if you want to buy Bitcoin with a debit card linked to your smartphone.
Below are the steps on how to buy crypto with a wallet:
- 1️⃣Download and set up Best Wallet (or your wallet of choice) on your device.
- 2️⃣If required, complete the KYC process.
- 3️⃣Choose the cryptocurrency you want to purchase, for example, $BTC or popular presales like Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER).
- 4️⃣Select your preferred payment processor, such as Moonpay.
- 5️⃣Link your preferred payment option to your wallet, like your debit/credit card or bank account. Check the cryptocurrency purchase fees before proceeding.
- 6️⃣Buy the crypto. If the transaction is successful, the crypto will appear in your wallet. Depending on factors such as the blockchain and network congestion, this typically takes between a few minutes and several hours.
Do note that some steps may differ from one wallet to another.
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Buying Crypto Through Presale Websites
Crypto presales are fundraising events where the project team offers tokens to investors at a discounted price before they launch on exchanges. As such, it’s an excellent opportunity to get your hands on cheap crypto and support projects at an early stage.
While there are risks (as with any investment) like rug pulls, market fluctuations, etc., you can minimize your risk by analyzing the project’s whitepaper, audits, tokenomics, and the transparency — as well as ensuring that you diversify and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.
Here are the steps you need to take to buy crypto in a presale:
- 1️⃣Go to the crypto presale page.
- 2️⃣Connect your wallet (for example, Best Wallet).
- 3️⃣Choose your payment option. You can pay with crypto or fiat using your credit/debit card.
- 4️⃣Enter the amount you want to spend. The presale widget will display how much crypto you’ll get in return.
- 5️⃣Buy the crypto. You can also stake your crypto to earn passive rewards.
- 6️⃣Wait for the presale to end, when the crypto you bought will be sent to your wallet. If you staked your crypto, you can unstake it after a specific period (usually seven days) to receive your rewards.
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Buying Crypto Through Exchanges
Next, let’s discuss buying crypto through exchanges. These platforms allow you to purchase, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies.
Exchanges can either be centralized (CEX) or decentralized (DEX). As the name suggests, CEXs have a central authority, a company that manages the platform and holds the funds for you until you withdraw them. Popular CEXs include Margex, Binance, and Bybit.
As centralized exchanges are highly regulated, they may require you to go through KYC verification. They also typically have more measures to secure crypto transactions on their platform.
Meanwhile, DEXs let you trade crypto directly with other users without middlemen. They give you direct control over your assets and don’t require you to submit personal information.
Here’s how you buy crypto via exchanges:
- 1️⃣Choose an exchange (for instance, Binance).
- 2️⃣Sign up and complete the KYC process if required.
- 3️⃣Deposit funds to your account. You can buy crypto with a bank card or via bank transfer. Some exchanges offer other methods, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- 4️⃣Note that DEXs typically won’t let you buy crypto with fiat. Instead, you need to own the crypto that the platform accepts and use it to purchase other digital currencies.
- 5️⃣Choose the cryptocurrency you want to buy.
- 6️⃣Complete the transaction. Consider transferring your crypto to an external wallet for extra security.
Click to Expand for the P2P Buying Option
Buying Crypto Through Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Platforms
You can also buy crypto on P2P platforms like Bybit, LocalBitcoins, Bisq, and Paxful. This is where you directly transact with someone selling the crypto you want to purchase.
An advantage of using a P2P platform is that you can choose crypto based on the best price available. Some P2P platforms don’t require KYC verification and thus offer complete anonymity.
Since you’re dealing directly with a seller, there’s more potential for getting scammed than with the other options in this article.
Because of this, always keep records of your chats and transactions. Also, consider platforms that offer escrow protection. Finally, transact only with sellers with ratings and extensive trade history.
To buy crypto on a P2P platform, follow these steps:
- 1️⃣Create an account on your preferred P2P platform 👉 here are the best P2P exchanges in 2025.
- 2️⃣Verify your identity if required.
- 3️⃣Choose the crypto you want to buy.
- 4️⃣Specify the currency you wish to use to buy the crypto. You can also narrow down your options based on your preferred payment method, such as bank transfer.
- 5️⃣Compare the offers of different sellers. Each one will have different rates and limits (the minimum and maximum amount you can buy from them).
- 6️⃣Place an order. Enter how much crypto you want to buy. The platform will then place the seller’s crypto in escrow.
- 7️⃣Pay for your order. The seller will provide you with their payment details. You must then send them the payment and mark the transaction as paid.
- 8️⃣Once the seller confirms your payment, they’ll release the crypto from escrow, and you’ll receive it on the platform. You can store the crypto in your wallet, trade it, or hold on to it.
Click to Expand for the ATM Buying Option
Buying Crypto Through Crypto ATMs
Crypto ATMs offer a more familiar way to buy crypto. It’s similar in many ways to traditional ATMs, so you’ll be able to use them without fuss right away. The downside is that they’re not widely available, and you’ll typically find them in establishments specializing in this service.
Plus, you need to travel physically to the machine to make a transaction, making it less convenient than using a crypto wallet.
When you’re ready to buy crypto through an ATM, simply follow these steps:
- 1️⃣Select the ‘Buy Crypto’ option on the ATM.
- 2️⃣Enter your wallet address, which is your unique account identifier. This typically requires you to scan a QR code on your crypto wallet.
- 3️⃣Enter the amount you wish to buy.
- 4️⃣Deposit the funds using cash or a credit/debit card.
- 5️⃣You’ll then receive the crypto in your wallet. The actual amount depends on the exchange rate, minus any processing fees.
When using crypto ATMs, look for scams where someone poses as a bank representative and convinces you that your funds are at risk (e.g., links to money laundering, suspicious activity).
They’ll then ask you to transfer your money to a crypto ATM, which is supposedly safer, and then disappear with your money after you deposit it.
What Does “Buying Crypto Online” Mean?
When you buy cryptocurrency online, it means that you’re buying a digital asset that resides on a blockchain, such as Bitcoin ($BTC), Ethereum ($ETH), or Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER).
To buy crypto, you can use either fiat/government-issued currency like USD and EUR or another cryptocurrency, which we’ll discuss in detail later.
After buying crypto, you can store it in a crypto wallet, trade it for another crypto, spend it in businesses that accept it as payment, or use it in decentralized apps, like online games.
If you’re considering getting crypto, buying it online is by far the easiest way to do it. In the next section, we’ll cover the many different ways of purchasing cryptocurrency.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Crypto Online
As fun and enjoyable as buying crypto is, it can also be risky unless you know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s essential to always be aware of these common mistakes when purchasing crypto online:
- ⚠️Not checking fees. Unless careful, processing, conversion, gas, withdrawal, and other transaction fees could consume your funds. Because of that, always take note of these fees before transacting to ensure you’re not losing a lot of money in the process.
- ⚠️Not doing your research. Always research the crypto you want to buy. At the very least, this involves reading its whitepaper and checking out its tokenomics. Avoid buying crypto based on hype or advice from unqualified ‘experts’ on social media.
- ⚠️Using unsecured platforms. Check whether the platform’s URL is correct (e.g., binance.com vs biinance.com), as many phishing sites are online. Only transact on reputable platforms and download apps from official sites or app stores like Google Play.
- ⚠️Ignoring security practices. One of the most common risks of buying crypto online is losing it due to an exchange/hot wallet hack or scam.
This is why transferring your crypto to a hardware wallet is crucial if you want to store it long-term. Also, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. This adds a security layer that will help keep your crypto away from cybercriminals.
Crypto Payment Options: Crypto vs Fiat
When buying crypto, you generally can pay using another crypto, such as $BTC and $ETH, or with fiat, like USD and EUR. Each of these has its pros and cons regarding things like fees, privacy, and convenience.
Let’s check out these options and see how they compare against each other.
Buying Crypto with Another Crypto
If you already own another cryptocurrency like $BTC or $ETH, you can use it to buy other crypto. Doing so has several advantages. For one, transactions tend to be faster than using fiat, and fees are lower.
That’s because you transact directly on the blockchain rather than with third-party payment processors. In most cases, this option also offers more privacy since you generally don’t have to verify your identity when buying. Take note that some CEXs will still require you to complete KYC verification to swap crypto.
Of course, there are downsides to using another crypto, too. As the crypto market is volatile, your asset’s value could drop quickly, so you can buy less. You may also lose out to poor exchange rates and high ‘gas fees’ or the cost of transacting (which is also true for buying crypto with fiat).
This option also assumes you own crypto, which isn’t available for first-time buyers. There’s also a steeper learning curve involved in the transaction.
In other words, using another crypto to buy crypto is ideally suited to you if you’re already a seasoned crypto investor. This will enable you to maximize your purchase as you minimize your transaction fees and find the best exchange rates.
IMPORTANT: The best way to buy another crypto is with one on the same blockchain (e.g., buying $PEPE with $ETH, which are both on Ethereum). For several reasons, cross-chain swaps (e.g., from Ethereum to Solana) aren’t your best bet.
This includes the lack of availability on every platform or wallet, primary hack targets due to smart contract vulnerabilities, and higher slippage for large transactions because of limited liquidity pools.
Buying Crypto with Fiat
Buying digital currencies with fiat is the way to go as a first-time crypto buyer. It works much like any other online purchase, making the process easier and less daunting. You also have many familiar payment options, including e-wallets, bank transfers, and debit/credit cards.
Since you’re transacting with fiat, you’ll also know precisely how much you spend on your currency of choice, like USD, EUR, or others. You can also use fiat on regulated platforms that require KYC verification, which makes your transactions more secure.
Using fiat, however, can complicate your transactions as they must go through another entity, such as your bank or third-party payment processor. This translates to higher transaction fees and slower transfers, which may take hours or days, particularly when transacting on weekends or holidays.
Undergoing the KYC process may also be a no-go for you if you want to maintain your privacy. The good news is that no-KYC crypto exchanges like Margex and wallets like Best Wallet let you buy crypto without giving away your personal details.
Crypto Transaction Fees and Charges You Need to Know
Whether you’re buying crypto with fiat or swapping it with another crypto, you may incur certain fees that could eat up into your funds. These include the following:
- 💰Gas fee – You pay this to the blockchain network validators or miners for processing and securing your transaction. The fee can vary widely based on network congestion and the complexity of the transaction. For example, sending $ETH on the Ethereum blockchain could cost you anywhere between a few dollars and several hundred dollars based on current demand.
- 💰Payment processor fee – Payment processors like Moonpay charge this to convert fiat to crypto or vice versa. How much you need to pay will depend on factors like your payment method and the payment processor’s policies.
- 💰Exchange fee – As the name suggests, a CEX or DEX charges this to facilitate a trade on their platform. This can be based on your role in a trade (i.e., maker or taker), trade volume, and the platform’s fee schedule.
- 💰Slippage – This refers to the difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual price at which it was executed. As such, slippage isn’t a fee per se, but the amount you could lose during a transaction. Market liquidity, order size, and price volatility may determine the slippage amount.
- 💰Wallet fee – The wallet provider may charge you specific fees when transacting on their platform (e.g., swapping tokens). This value will vary from provider to provider.
Is Buying Crypto Online Safe?
Buying crypto online is safe if you use reputable platforms, such as crypto wallets like Best Wallet and exchanges like Binance. It’s also good to stick with exchanges that comply with regulatory standards as they provide a higher level of security and protect your rights as a consumer.
But of course, the decentralized nature of crypto means that there are still risks. Add to that the value of crypto like $BTC and $ETH, which makes them especially attractive to hackers and scammers.
Also, never keep large amounts of crypto in your exchange accounts. If you want to keep them long-term, consider storing them in cold wallets like Ledger or Trezor for added security.
Ready to Buy Crypto Online?
It’s easier now than ever to buy crypto online. You have several ways of doing this, including exchanges, crypto wallets, and crypto presales. Even if you’re just curious and just want to know what the fuss is about, you can join the best crypto presales under $1.
You also have a lot of payment options, such as other crypto, bank transfer, or debit card.
Before you proceed, always keep in mind the risks involved. Phishing scams, for example, could let hackers into your account and steal your assets. To avoid this, always secure your account with 2FA, never share your private keys with anyone, and store large amounts of crypto in a secure wallet.
FAQs
1. What is the safest way to buy crypto online?
A wallet like Best Wallet is one of the safest ways to buy crypto online. It’s a non-custodial wallet, meaning only you can access your assets and private keys.
As a no-KYC platform, Best Wallet also helps secure your privacy. It won’t require you to submit any ID, proof of address, or a selfie. You only need an email address to get started. In addition, Best Wallet is backed by Fireblocks, which insures your funds should anything go wrong with the platform.
2. Can I buy crypto with a credit card?
Yes, you can buy crypto with a credit card. Most major exchanges like Binance and OKX, and crypto wallets like Best Wallet, offer this option. You only need to provide your credit card details before purchasing, and you’re good to go.
Buying crypto with a credit card is ideal if you’re after convenience, since it works a lot like any online purchase. That said, always consider any transaction fees and other costs before proceeding.
3. How do I choose the right crypto exchange?
There are several things to consider when choosing a crypto exchange. These include the exchange’s reputation. If it is highly recommended by others, has many users, is well-established in the market, and has a large trading volume, these typically tell you that you’re with the right exchange.
Other things you must look into include the fees, types of crypto available in the exchange, payment options (for example, does it allow a debit card crypto purchase?), and security protocols.
Related Read: The Best Crypto Exchanges in 2025 Ranked and Reviewed
4. Can you buy crypto anonymously?
Yes, if you choose a no-KYC platform like Margex, Bybit, or Best Wallet, you’re not required to prove your identity to use them.
Note, though, that some platforms that don’t require KYC verification may offer lower withdrawal limits and provide fewer benefits than verified accounts. But this shouldn’t be a problem if you only plan on buying, selling, or trading a small amount of crypto.
5. Is Best Wallet safe?
Yes, Best Wallet is safe. For one, it’s a non-custodial crypto wallet. You have complete control over your funds and private keys, so no one else will have access to these.
Plus, you can protect your account and authorize transactions with PIN codes and biometric authentication. Finally, Best Wallet is backed by Fireblocks, which insures your funds if something goes wrong with the platform.