How to buy bitcoin in the United States
- Status
- Legal
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Recommended
- 8 exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
The United States is the world's deepest bitcoin market and buying is easy: Coinbase is the mainstream on-ramp, Kraken the veteran with a strong security record, Gemini the NYDFS-chartered option that works in every state, and bitcoin-only specialists River, Swan, and Strike excel at recurring buys and Lightning payments, while Binance.US undercuts everyone on fees where it operates. ACH bank transfer is the standard free funding rail, with wires, debit cards, and PayPal when speed matters. The regulatory fog has lifted considerably: the SEC dropped its case against Coinbase in 2025, the GENIUS Act signed that July created federal stablecoin rules, and an executive order established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. State rules still vary, so every state now has its own guide to what actually works where you live.
Best exchanges in the United States
Ranked by our editorial review of fees, security record, and local payment support. Rankings are never sold.
| # | Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Pay with | Visit or read the review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coinbase | 4.5 | Maker-taker on Advanced Trade | Required | Visit | |
| 2 | Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 3 | Gemini | 4.4 | 0.5% + flat fee on easy buys | Required | Visit | |
| 4 | River | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Free recurring, 1.2% one-off | Required | Visit | |
| 5 | Swan Bitcoin | 4.4Bitcoin-only | About 0.99% per purchase | Required | Visit | |
| 6 | Strike | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Fee shown before you confirm | Required | Visit | |
| 7 | Binance.US | 3.9 | 0% maker, 0.02% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 8 | CEX.IO | 4.0 | Maker-taker; card costs more | Required | Visit |
Why these picks
1. Coinbase The easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
2. Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
Not available in New York or Maine; no ACH funding in Texas
3. Gemini The NYDFS-chartered trust company the Winklevoss twins founded, serving all 50 states including New York, listed on Nasdaq since 2025.
4. River US bitcoin-only brokerage with zero-fee recurring buys, phone support and full proof of reserves.
Not available in New York or Nevada
5. Swan Bitcoin DCA-first bitcoin-only platform with 0.99 percent fees, automatic withdrawals to self-custody and Bitcoin IRA options.
6. Strike Lightning-native app for buying bitcoin and sending it anywhere instantly, with no added fee on transfers.
7. Binance.US The lowest spot fees in the US market, offset by a twelve-state coverage gap and a rebuilt post-2023 operation.
Not available in 12 states; crypto-only in Kansas and Wisconsin
8. CEX.IO A card-friendly exchange licensed across most of the US, but currently closed to deposits and trading in Europe.
Not available in all US states
Payment methods in the United States
The rails local buyers actually use, under their local names. Support varies by exchange; the list above shows exactly which methods each one takes here.
- ACH transferPrimary
Crypto cards available in the United States
These spend money at ordinary shops and pay you back in crypto, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those buy bitcoin, these do not. Availability is the issuer's own published coverage.
- Coinbase CardUS Visa debit: rotating rewards up to 4% on selected altcoins, 1% on BTC/ETH/DOGE/DAI. Coinbase One Card: 2% to 4% Bitcoin back tiered by Assets on Coinbase, capped at the first $10,000 of monthly spend for the boosted tiers.
- ether.fi Cash3% cashback on the first $2,000 (Core), $10,000 (Luxe), or $50,000 (Pinnacle) of monthly spend, stepping down to 1% then 0.5% beyond that band; invitation-only VIP pays 4% on its first $50,000.
- Fold Card (debit) and Fold Credit CardFold Card (debit): 0.5% base Bitcoin back plus gamified spin-wheel bonuses. Fold Credit Card: 1.5% flat Bitcoin back, plus 0.5% for paying with Bitcoin and up to 2% more on the first $2,000/month of qualifying activity, for up to 4% combined.
- Gemini Credit Card4% back on gas, EV charging, transit, taxis, and rideshare (capped at $300/month combined spend, then 1%), 3% on dining, 2% on groceries, and 1% on everything else, paid in a choice of 50+ cryptocurrencies.
- Crypto.com CardChangedPrepaid Visa: 0% (Basic, free) up to 5% CRO (Private, $500,000 12-month lockup), or 8% at the invitation-only $1M Prime tier; separate US Visa Signature credit card pays up to 6% in BTC or CRO.
Bitcoin wallets available in the United States
A wallet is where bitcoin lives after you buy it, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those sell it, these hold it. Availability below is the maker's own published shipping or eligibility policy.
Hardware devices
- Keystone 3 Pro$149Air-gapped signing on a 4 inch touchscreen, with three security chips and a fingerprint reader, at $149.
- Ledger Flex$249The Ledger to buy if you want a touchscreen: $249, the same certified chip as the Stax, and more screen pixels than it.
- Ledger Nano S Plus$59Ledger's $59 entry device: the same certified secure element as the $399 Stax, no Bluetooth, and no iPhone support at all.
- Ledger Nano X$79The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.
- Ledger Stax$399Ledger's $399 flagship, with the biggest screen it sells and exactly the same secure element as the $59 Nano S Plus.
- Tangem Wallet$59.9A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.
Desktop and browser
Compare every wallet, including the ones we tell you not to buy
Buy bitcoin by state
Exchange availability and licensing vary by state, and in a few states so do the payment rails. Every state has its own guide; the by-state comparison puts all of the United States in one table.
Northeast
Midwest
South
Watch: how to choose an exchange
This is our general video rather than a walkthrough for the United States. It shows the method in two steps: first the country you are buying in, then the exchange. You have done step one by being here, so start from the exchanges ranked above.
We have not filmed a walkthrough for the United States yet, so this is our general one, from our YouTube channel @dontgetrekt. It also sits on the home page, next to the country search it starts from.
Do you need a VPN?
A VPN hides which sites you visit from the network you are on and from your internet provider, which is worth having when you move money over a connection you do not control. It does not get you past an exchange's identity checks: every platform we list verifies who you are no matter where you connect from.
If you want one, the strongest records on our list belong to NordVPN (6 independent no-logs audits, the most of any service we review), Windscribe (its no-logs claim tested in the real world 3 times) and Proton VPN (the most audited service with a free tier).
Buying bitcoin in the United States, start to finish
Pick a platform and verify your identity
Choose from the table above and complete KYC verification with a photo ID. Regulated platforms in the United States require this before you can deposit.
Fund your account with ACH transfer
Common options here: ACH transfer, wire transfer, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest; cards are faster but add fees.
Buy, then decide where to keep it
Place your order, and for anything more than pocket money consider moving it to a hardware wallet you control. Our security guide covers the habits that keep coins safe.
Legal status and regulation in the United States
Bitcoin is legal throughout the United States. Oversight is split among the SEC, the CFTC, FinCEN for anti-money-laundering, and state money transmission regulators, with New York's BitLicense the best-known state regime. The federal picture clarified sharply from 2025 onward: the SEC dropped its enforcement case against Coinbase, the GENIUS Act signed in July 2025 established a federal framework for payment stablecoins, and a March 2025 executive order created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Words worth knowing before you buy in the United States
Picked from what this page already says about the United States, not from a standard list.
- Withdrawal feeWire transferA withdrawal fee is what an exchange charges to send your bitcoin out to your own wallet, and it is usually a flat amount rather than the real network cost.
- Recurring buyACH bank transferA recurring buy is the exchange feature that executes a purchase for you on a schedule, pulling money from your bank on the day you picked without you logging in.
Frequently asked questions
Is bitcoin legal in the United States?
Yes, in every state. Federal oversight comes from the SEC, CFTC, and FinCEN, while state money transmission licensing determines which platforms and products are available where you live.
How is bitcoin taxed in the United States?
The IRS treats bitcoin as property, so selling, spending, or swapping it is a taxable event subject to capital gains rules, with lower rates for holdings over one year. Exchanges report activity to the IRS, so keep records of every acquisition and disposal.
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin in the US?
Link a bank account and fund by ACH, which is free on major platforms, then use recurring-buy features: River offers zero-fee recurring buys and Strike keeps fees low with no added charge on transfers. Debit card purchases are the most expensive route.
Why is my exchange not available in my state?
Because exchanges license state by state, and some skip states where licensing is expensive: New York's BitLicense is the best-known example, and Binance.US skips twelve states entirely. Every state has its own guide on this site listing exactly which exchanges serve it and which payment methods they take there.
Companies in the United States that hold bitcoin
Publicly listed companies headquartered here with bitcoin on the balance sheet. Holdings come from company disclosures and are dated on each page.
