Coinbase

Coinbase is the world’s largest Bitcoin broker. They represent an easy and fast way for new users to purchase bitcoins. Coinbase supports customers in over 30 countries, including the United States, Europe (besides Germany), UK, Singapore, Canada, and Australia.

Customers in the above-mentioned countries can purchase bitcoins by credit card, debit card, bank transfer, SEPA transfer, and more.

PROS

  • High liquidity and buying limits
  • Easy way for newcomers to get bitcoins
  • “Instant Buy” option available with credit card or debit card

CONS

  • Purchases made with bank transfer can take up to 5 days to complete
  • Coinbase may track how and where you spend your bitcoins

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BitPanda

BitPanda is a Bitcoin broker based in Austria.

They have high payment limits and low fees across their wide range of payment methods.

BitPanda offers customers the option to buy bitcoins with credit card, debit card, SOFORT, Skrill, NETELLER, giropay, eps, SEPA, and Online Bank Transfer.

Our guide will show you how to buy bitcoins with a credit card on BitPanda.

PROS

  • Some of the lowest fees for buying bitcoins with credit/debit card
  • Reliable and trusted broker

CONS

  • Fees aren’t shown openly on the site but instead included in the buying price

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GDAX

Coinbase’s exchange, GDAX, is one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in the United States. Users can fund their accounts via bank transfer, SEPA, or bank wire. GDAX offers good prices and low fees, but their confusing user interface may initially prove difficult to navigate.

PROS

  • Some of the lowest fees available for US and EU customers
  • Possible to buy bitcoins for 0% fees

CONS

  • User interface is confusing for first time buyers
  • Sending bitcoins directly from GDAX to any legally-questionable site may result in closure of your account

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Coinfloor

Coinfloor is based in the United Kingdom. They operate as both a Bitcoin exchange (Coinfloor Exchange) and broker referral service (Coinfloor Market). Coinfloor’s Exchange service accepts deposits in GBP, EUR, PLN and USD.

Customers can deposit to the Market via UK bank transfers and to the exchange via bank transfer, SEPA, or SWIFT.

PROS

  • Trustworthy and regulated exchange
  • Offers a sophisticated bitcoin storage service, Coinfloor Vaults

CONS

  • Coinfloor Exchange has a high minimum deposit amount; must deposit at least 1,000 units of currency
  • Coinfloor Market only accepts GBP bank transfers

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Kraken

Founded mid-2013, Kraken is the world’s largest Euro-denominated Bitcoin exchange, based on daily average trading volume. It supports deposits from US, European, Canadian, British, and Japanese customers. Deposits can be made via bank wire, SEPA, SWIFT, and bank deposit (Japan only).

PROS

  • Well-financed and trusted exchange
  • Very low 0.25% taker fee, falling to 0.1% with sufficient trading volume
  • Very low maker fee, falling to 0% with sufficient trading volume
  • Deep liquidity for large volume buyers in European markets ensures a price close to fair market rate
  • Highly-rated for security
  • Publishes proof of reserve audits

CONS

  • User-interface makes it difficult for first time buyers
  • Requires ID verification, so not private

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Safello

Safello is a Bitcoin exchange based in Sweden and fully-registered as a financial institution. It offers a wide range of payment methods – Swish, SEPA, SWIFT, Faster Payments, Bankgiro and iDEAL – to European residents.

PROS

  • Available from 32 countries
  • Offers a wide variety of payment methods
  • Deep liquidity ensures prices near the fair market rate
  • Support staff available every day from 8 AM to 10 PM

CONS

  • Not a private way to buy since ID verification is required
  • Support staff available during weekdays only, from 9 AM to 5 PM (UTC)
  • Only Swish payments will confirm over weekends
  • Fees aren’t clearly stated but included in your buying price

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Bity

Bity is a Bitcoin exchange and ATM operator, based in Switzerland. Their 5 ATMs allow for a quick first purchase and only require phone verification for an initial buy limit of 1,000 EUR or CHF. Their online service accepts wire transfers, SOFORT and online bank transfers.

PROS

  • Easy to start buying bitcoins after mobile phone verification
  • Payment limit of up to €100,000 annually after intensive verification

CONS

  • ID verification is required for most purchases, so not a private way to buy
  • Low annual limit of only €4,000 without intensive verification

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Cubits

Cubits is a Bitcoin exchange based in the United Kingdom. It allows users in almost every country besides the United States to purchase bitcoins, using a wide range of currencies and payment methods. The payment options include SEPA, SWIFT, credit cards, OKPAY, SOFORT, Skrill, Dotpay, and online bank transfer.

PROS

  • Fair 0.9% trading fee
  • Wide range of payment methods offered
  • Support for 20 fiat currencies
  • Super clean design makes the buying process easy

CONS

  • Offers a wallet that should not be used to store bitcoins
  • Requires ID verification, so not private

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Paymium

Paymium was the first European Bitcoin exchange, founded in 2011. It provides a EUR/BTC exchange service, and complies with all relevent European Regulations. Customers can purchase bitcoins via SEPA, wire transfer, or credit card.

PROS

  • Established and trusted exchange
  • Mobile app available

CONS

  • ID verification required for amounts over €2,500, so not private

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Bitstamp

BitStamp is one of the world’s largest and most well-known Bitcoin exchanges. Deposits can be made through bank transfer, SEPA transfer, international bank wire, and now even credit cards.

PROS

  • One of the longest-running Bitcoin exchanges
  • Very low 0.25% fee, falling to 0.1% with sufficient trading volume
  • Good range of deposit and withdrawal options
  • Deep liquidity promotes a price close to fair market rate
  • Offers wide range of altcoins

CONS

  • Has been hacked before, users should not store funds on the exchange for any period of time
  • High 8% fee on small credit card purchases, falling to 5% with sufficient trading volume
  • Geared towards traders; slightly confusing for first time buyers

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Top Crypto and Blockchain Exchanges in the World