How to Buy Bitcoin in the US: Cash App, Coinbase, PayPal and More

If you want to know how to buy bitcoin in the US, the short version is this: pick an app or exchange, verify your identity, add a way to pay, and place a small order. This guide is for first time buyers who want to own a little bitcoin without getting burned by fees or scams. Expect about 15 to 30 minutes for setup, plus whatever time the app needs to approve your ID. If you are still fuzzy on what you are buying, read our plain English guide to bitcoin first.

Before you start

Have these ready so you can finish in one sitting:

• A government issued photo ID. Coinbase says to have a valid ID ready and possibly proof of address.
• Your Social Security number. Robinhood, for example, requires a valid SSN (not a Taxpayer Identification Number) and a US residential address.
• A bank account or debit card in your own name.
• A budget you could lose without real harm. The FTC points out that crypto values change constantly, crypto in an account is not backed by a government, and it is not insured the way FDIC bank deposits are.

Stage 1: Pick where you will buy

Your choice mostly comes down to convenience versus control. Here are the common routes and what their own pages say.

Payment apps you may already have

Cash App lets you buy with as little as $1. Its fee page lists a 2.0% fee on market buys from $1 to $499, 1.5% from $500 to $999, 0.9% from $1,000 to $1,999, and 0% at $2,000 and up. On top of that, Cash App says the spread can be anywhere from 0% to 0.75% depending on market conditions. Auto Invest and Round Ups carry no fee and no spread.

PayPal sells bitcoin, Ethereum, PayPal USD and other coins. It says its exchange rate includes a spread that PayPal earns on each purchase and sale, and that it will send 1099 tax forms when needed after you sell.

Venmo also starts at $1. It charges a transaction fee that varies with the amount, plus a spread built into the rate, and notes that crypto is only offered in the US and is limited in certain states.

Crypto exchanges and brokers

Coinbase lets you pay with a bank account, debit card or wire transfer, and its how to buy bitcoin page says credit cards cannot be used for bitcoin. Fees are not fixed; they appear on the trade preview screen before you submit.

Kraken starts at $10 and accepts ACH, bank wire and cards. Card purchases need an Intermediate or Pro verified account and a Visa or Mastercard in the same legal name as the account.

Robinhood says it does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees for crypto transfers, offers recurring buys from $1, and is available in every state plus DC. Fidelity and Schwab also sell crypto to eligible customers; we covered the Schwab rollout in our Schwab crypto story.

If you only want price exposure inside a retirement or brokerage account, a fund may suit you better than owning the coin. Our bitcoin ETFs explainer walks through that tradeoff.

Stage 2: Open and verify your account

1. Download the official app from the App Store or Google Play, or type the company's web address yourself. Do not use links from ads, texts or social media posts.
2. Sign up with your email and phone number, and turn on two factor authentication right away.
3. Enter your legal name, date of birth, address and SSN when asked.
4. Photograph your ID when the app prompts you. Some apps also ask for a selfie or proof of address.
5. Wait for approval. Many accounts clear in minutes, but some take longer if the app needs more documents.

Cash App notes that you may need to verify your identity before your first bitcoin purchase, even if you already use the app for payments.

Stage 3: Add money and place your first order

The exact buttons differ by app. These are the current paths from each company's own pages.

On Cash App

1. Open Cash App and go to the Money tab.
2. Tap Bitcoin.
3. Tap Buy, enter an amount, and check the fee and spread on the confirmation screen before you finish.

On Coinbase

1. Go to the payment method section and connect a bank account, debit card or wire transfer.
2. Tap Buy & Sell, then tap the (+) Buy button.
3. Search for and select Bitcoin.
4. Enter a dollar amount.
5. Tap Review order, check the fees, then tap Buy now.

On Venmo

1. Tap Crypto in the bottom navigation bar.
2. Tap Buy and select Bitcoin.
3. Enter the amount, then review and confirm.

On Kraken

1. Choose a payment method and fund your account.
2. Select Buy crypto in the app or on the website.
3. Pick Bitcoin, enter a cash amount, and confirm the price, amount and fees.

A tip that saves real money: on fee tiers like Cash App's, a single $100 market buy costs $2 in fees before the spread. If you plan to buy regularly anyway, a recurring or auto buy can be cheaper, and it also takes the guesswork out of timing the price.

Stage 4: Decide where your bitcoin lives

Leaving bitcoin in the app is the simplest choice, and it is fine for small amounts. The tradeoff is that the company holds the keys. If you want full control, you can withdraw to your own wallet. Cash App says standard withdrawals are free and arrive within 24 hours, with a minimum of 100,000 satoshis. Before you move anything, read how crypto wallets work so you understand seed phrases and what happens if you lose one.

Always send a small test amount first and confirm it arrives. Bitcoin sent to the wrong address is usually gone for good.

When your purchase does not go through

Your ID was rejected. Retake the photo in good light with all four corners visible, and make sure the name matches your bank account exactly.

Your card was declined. Many banks block crypto purchases on credit cards, and Coinbase does not accept credit cards for bitcoin at all. Try a debit card or a linked bank account.

The app says crypto is not available. Some services restrict crypto in certain states. Venmo says its crypto feature is limited in some states, so check the company's help pages for your location.

Bank transfers are pending. ACH deposits can take a few business days. Some apps let you buy before the money settles but hold withdrawals until it clears.

Someone is helping you buy. Stop. The FTC is blunt that only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency and only scammers guarantee profits. If a stranger, a "government agent" or an online romance is walking you through a purchase, it is almost certainly a scam. Our guide on how to spot a crypto scam covers the common scripts, and the FTC lists ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 as places to report one.

One last check before you close the app: save your login recovery codes somewhere offline, and keep a record of what you paid. You will need that cost basis at tax time, which our crypto taxes guide explains. You can find more beginner guides in our crypto section.