How to Buy Crypto
Practical step-by-step guides for the most popular cryptocurrencies — signing up on an exchange, depositing funds, and buying safely.
The buying process looks similar regardless of which cryptocurrency you choose: create an exchange account, complete identity verification, deposit funds, and place a buy order. Below we cover the three things that most affect how long it takes and what it costs — details specific to each coin are in the guide behind each card. Our full exchange ranking can help you pick a platform.
Identity verification (KYC)
Most regulated exchanges must verify your identity under anti-money-laundering rules — usually a photo ID and a selfie are enough. Full verification takes anywhere from a few minutes to 1-2 business days and raises your deposit/withdrawal limits.
Choosing a deposit method
Bank transfer and debit/credit card are the most widely available options, though the exact methods vary by exchange and country. Not every exchange supports every method, so check the specific review before creating an account.
Choosing an exchange
Before picking a platform, compare maker/taker fees, security track record, and supported coins — these genuinely affect both the cost and safety of your purchase.
How to Buy Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is the first and still the most recognizable cryptocurrency, often called "digital gold" and treated as a benchmark for the entire market. It's supported by virtually every major exchange, so choosing a platform mainly comes down to fees and deposit convenience.
How to Buy Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap and the foundation of most DeFi and NFT applications thanks to its smart contract capability. ETH can be bought on almost every exchange, and its high liquidity means spreads are usually very tight.
How to Buy Solana (SOL)
Solana gained popularity thanks to very low transaction fees and high network throughput, making it a popular platform for DeFi applications and memecoins. However, SOL's price tends to be noticeably more volatile than BTC or ETH, so it's worth spreading out your purchases over time.
How to Buy XRP (XRP)
XRP is the token of the Ripple network, created for fast and cheap international settlements, primarily for financial institutions. Ripple's years-long legal dispute with the US SEC directly affected XRP's availability on some exchanges, so it's worth checking a platform's current status before buying.
How to Buy Cardano (ADA)
Cardano is a blockchain developed based on peer-reviewed academic research, resulting in a slower but more methodical rollout of new features than its competitors. ADA is mainly used for staking and as a governance token within Cardano's growing DeFi ecosystem.
How to Buy Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin started as a joke project based on the Shiba Inu meme, but today it's one of the most liquid cryptocurrencies on the market, partly thanks to Elon Musk's long-standing support. Its price is often heavily driven by social media sentiment, so volatility is noticeably higher than for Bitcoin.
How to Buy Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin, created as the "silver" to Bitcoin's "gold," offers faster block times and lower fees while maintaining a similar philosophy as a digital medium of exchange. It's one of the few cryptocurrencies available even on platforms with a very limited coin selection, such as NiceHash.
How to Buy Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink provides so-called oracles — real-world data, such as exchange rates, used by smart contracts on many blockchains. LINK is closely tied to the growth of the entire DeFi sector, so its price often reacts to smart contract activity.
How to Buy Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot connects independent blockchains (so-called parachains) into a shared security network, aiming to solve the fragmentation problem in the crypto market. DOT is also used for staking and voting in parachain auctions, so some investors buy it with long-term network participation in mind.
How to Buy Avalanche (AVAX)
Avalanche stands out for its very fast transaction finality and architecture based on multiple parallel subnets, which has attracted gaming and institutional projects. AVAX serves as the token for transaction fees and staking on this growing network.
How to Buy Uniswap (UNI)
Uniswap is the governance token of the largest decentralized exchange (DEX) on Ethereum, not the asset traded on that exchange itself. By buying UNI, you get a say in decisions about the development of a protocol used by millions of DeFi users.
How to Buy BNB (BNB)
BNB is the native token of the Binance ecosystem — it lowers transaction fees on that exchange and powers the BNB Chain, home to many DeFi applications. Because of its close ties to a single exchange, you'll find the most trading pairs and usually the lowest fees on Binance itself.
How to Buy TRON (TRX)
TRON is a blockchain widely used for cheap and fast USDT stablecoin transfers, making it a popular choice for moving funds between exchanges. TRX powers transaction fees on this network and is often bought specifically to lower the cost of sending USDT.
How to Buy Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Shiba Inu is a memecoin inspired by Dogecoin, now developed into a broader ecosystem that includes its own blockchain (Shibarium) and a decentralized exchange, ShibaSwap. SHIB's price is exceptionally volatile and heavily dependent on community sentiment, making it a clearly speculative purchase.
How to Buy NEAR Protocol (NEAR)
NEAR Protocol is a layer-1 blockchain designed for developer convenience and scalability through sharding technology (Nightshade). NEAR is also increasingly used in projects related to artificial intelligence and decentralized data infrastructure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy crypto without identity verification?
Full KYC verification is required by most regulated exchanges, but there are legal ways to limit its scope for smaller amounts — such as peer-to-peer trading or certain crypto ATMs. We cover this in detail in our guide to buying crypto without full verification.
How long does exchange account verification take?
Usually a few minutes (automated document and selfie checks) to 1-2 business days if the exchange requires manual review or extra documents. Times can stretch during periods of high signup volume on a given platform.
Is it better to buy crypto on an exchange or through a CFD broker?
If you want to actually own the cryptocurrency and be able to move it to your own wallet, you need an account on an exchange from our ranking. A CFD broker doesn't give you ownership of the crypto itself — it's a separate speculative instrument, covered in our broker section.