How to buy bitcoin in Maine
- Status
- Legal
- State licensing
- MTMA license covering virtual currency since January 2025
- Available
- 6 of 8 tracked exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
Kraken and Binance.US both skip Maine, a quiet double gap most buyers never notice because the other six platforms we track, Coinbase, Gemini, River, Swan Bitcoin, Strike, and Coinmama, all accept Maine residents. The state recently modernized its rulebook: the Maine Money Transmission Modernization Act, signed as LD 2112 in April 2024 and effective January 1, 2025, made Maine one of the few states to adopt the model law's virtual currency provisions, with licensing handled by the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection. For the buying itself, stick with the free rail: link a bank account, deposit by ACH, and trade on the advanced interface. Debit cards work when you need speed, and wires only make sense for large purchases.
Best exchanges in Maine
Our national ranking, narrowed to the platforms that actually serve Maine residents. 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 | ACH transfer +3 | Visit |
| 2 | Gemini | 4.4 | 0.5% + flat fee on easy buys | Required | ACH transfer +5 | Visit |
| 3 | River | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Free recurring, 1.2% one-off | Required | ACH transfer +1 | Visit |
| 4 | Swan Bitcoin | 4.4Bitcoin-only | About 0.99% per purchase | Required | ACH transfer +1 | Visit |
| 5 | Strike | 4.6Bitcoin-only | Fee shown before you confirm | Required | ACH transfer +2 | Visit |
| 6 | Coinmama | 3.9 | Commission plus card surcharge | Required | Debit card +1 | 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.
Pay with ACH transfer, Wire transfer, Debit card, PayPal
Debit card: Coinbase does not support credit cards for US buys
PayPal: buy/sell via linked bank or card; sell-to-PayPal balance supported
2. Gemini The NYDFS-chartered trust company the Winklevoss twins founded, serving all 50 states including New York, listed on Nasdaq since 2025.
Pay with ACH transfer, Wire transfer, Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
ACH transfer: US customers only; 4-5 business days to clear for withdrawal
Wire transfer: $25.01 minimum, $25 withdrawal fee
Debit card: retail clients only; $1,000/day limit; cannot withdraw fiat to card
PayPal: deposits and instant buys only; no withdrawals to PayPal
3. River US bitcoin-only brokerage with zero-fee recurring buys, phone support and full proof of reserves.
Pay with ACH transfer, Wire transfer
Wire transfer: used for larger purchases
4. Swan Bitcoin DCA-first bitcoin-only platform with 0.99 percent fees, automatic withdrawals to self-custody and Bitcoin IRA options.
Pay with ACH transfer, Wire transfer
Wire transfer: for larger/IRA purchases
5. Strike Lightning-native app for buying bitcoin and sending it anywhere instantly, with no added fee on transfers.
Pay with ACH transfer, Wire transfer, Debit card
Wire transfer: flat-fee deposits suited to larger amounts
6. Coinmama A card-first broker that sends bitcoin straight to your own wallet instead of holding it for you.
Pay with Debit card, Wire transfer
Debit card: credit cards also accepted
Not available in Maine
These platforms do not currently accept Maine residents. Their review pages explain what they offer elsewhere.
- Kraken
Kraken does not serve residents of this state.
- Binance.US
Binance.US does not accept residents of this state.
Payment methods in Maine
Which rails work depends on the exchange, and in a few states on where you live; the table above shows exactly which methods each platform takes here.
- ACH transferPrimary
Watch: how to choose an exchange
This is our general video rather than a walkthrough for Maine. 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 Maine 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.
Is bitcoin legal in Maine?
Bitcoin is legal in Maine. Money transmitter licensing sits with the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection inside the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and the state's Money Transmission Modernization Act brought virtual currency business activity expressly into the licensing statute. Bureau Rule 709, effective March 8, 2025, sets the license fees and application requirements, with applications filed through the NMLS.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can Maine residents legally buy bitcoin?
Yes. Bitcoin is legal throughout the United States, and Maine licenses the exchange businesses through the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection under the Maine Money Transmission Modernization Act.
Which exchanges are unavailable in Maine?
Kraken and Binance.US both exclude Maine from their supported states lists. The other six platforms we track, Coinbase, Gemini, River, Swan Bitcoin, Strike, and Coinmama, all accept Maine residents.
What did Maine's new money transmission law do?
LD 2112, signed in April 2024 and effective January 1, 2025, replaced the old statute with the Maine Money Transmission Modernization Act and expressly brought virtual currency business activity into the licensing regime, making Maine one of the few states to adopt that part of the model law.
What is the cheapest funding method for buying bitcoin in Maine?
An ACH bank transfer, which is free on the major platforms. Pair it with the exchange's advanced trading interface to keep total costs low; debit cards are quicker but pricier.