Buying crypto takes four steps: choose a regulated exchange, verify your identity, deposit money from a bank account, and place the order. It usually takes under an hour end to end, most of which is the identity check. A bank transfer costs far less than a debit card, and moving what you buy to a wallet you control is a separate decision you can make later.
The same four steps whatever you are buying
Choose where to buy
A regulated exchange in your own country. It will ask for identification, which is a sign it is operating legally rather than a red flag.Verify your identity
Photo ID and usually a selfie. This is the slowest step, from ten minutes to a couple of days. Why exchanges ask.Deposit money
A bank transfer is normally free or close to it. A debit card is instant and costs several percent. If you are not in a hurry, the transfer is worth the wait.Place the order
Buy the amount you decided on before you opened the app. A market order fills immediately at whatever the price is; a limit order waits for a price you name.Decide who holds it
Leaving it on the exchange is simpler. Moving it to your own wallet means nobody can freeze or lose it but you. The real tradeoff.
The procedure is the same, the risk is not
Buy Bitcoin (BTC)
The largest and oldest crypto asset, and the one most exchanges list first.
How to buy BitcoinBuy Ethereum (ETH)
The network most applications are built on, and the asset that pays its fees.
How to buy EthereumBuy Solana (SOL)
A fast, cheap network, and the asset that pays for transactions on it.
How to buy SolanaBuy a memecoin
The riskiest thing in the category, with the outcome data stated before the instructions rather than after them.
Read the odds firstThe three fees nobody mentions
| Where the cost hides | Typical | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Debit or credit card purchase | Two to four percent | Deposit by bank transfer instead and buy from the balance. |
| The spread | Half a percent to two percent | Use the exchange's advanced or pro interface, where the spread is visible. |
| Withdrawal to your own wallet | A flat network fee | Withdraw once in a larger amount rather than repeatedly in small ones. |
The headline trading fee is rarely the largest of the three. The simple buy button on most exchanges charges a wider spread than the pro interface on the same account, for the same asset, at the same moment.
Common questions
How much money do I need to start?
Most exchanges have a minimum of a few dollars, so the practical answer is whatever you are willing to lose entirely. Starting small while you learn the mechanics is sensible, because the first transfer you make is the one most likely to go wrong.
Do I have to give my ID?
On any regulated exchange, yes. It is a legal requirement rather than a choice the exchange made, and a platform that does not ask is a platform with no obligations to you either. More on why.
Is a debit card or a bank transfer better?
A bank transfer, almost always. Card purchases typically cost two to four percent against roughly nothing for a transfer, and on a $500 purchase that is ten to twenty dollars for the convenience of not waiting a day.
Should I move it off the exchange?
It depends on the amount and on your confidence. An exchange can freeze or lose your account; your own wallet cannot be recovered if you lose the recovery phrase. Most people should hold part in each. The full tradeoff.
How long does it take?
Under an hour if the identity check is instant, which it usually is. The check can take a day or two at busy times, and a first bank transfer can take another day to clear.
Want somebody on the call while you do it?
Orca sessions are one to one and screen shared. You click everything, we never ask for keys, and you keep the recording.