How to buy Bitcoin: before you start
- An emergency fund and no expensive debt, checked with the financial readiness test.
- An amount you could lose completely, checked with the stress test.
- An ID document and a bank account in your own name.
- A smartphone with an authenticator app for two-factor authentication.
How to buy Bitcoin in ten steps
- Choose an exchange: a MiCA-authorised exchange notified in your country, from the exchanges for Bitcoin list.
- Check it in the register: with the MiCA licence checker, comparing the legal name and website.
- Go to the official site: type the address yourself or use the official app store link.
- Create the account: with a unique password from a password manager.
- Verify your identity: upload ID and complete any checks, as the KYC guide explains.
- Turn on two-factor authentication: with an authenticator app or passkey.
- Deposit euros by SEPA: using the IBAN and reference shown in your account.
- Buy Bitcoin: with the simple buy screen, or a limit order on the trading screen for a lower fee.
- Check the result: the amount of BTC received and the total cost.
- Decide where to keep it: at the exchange, or in your own wallet.
How to buy Bitcoin at the lowest cost
The order type and payment method decide most of the cost.
| Choice | Lower cost | Higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | SEPA transfer | Card |
| Screen | Trading screen, limit order | Simple buy button |
| Frequency | Fewer, larger purchases | Many tiny purchases with fixed fees |
The guide to crypto fees and the fee calculator show the numbers.
How much Bitcoin you get
You do not need to buy a whole bitcoin: one bitcoin is 100,000,000 satoshis, and exchanges sell fractions.
The crypto converter shows how many satoshis your euros buy at a price you enter.
After you buy Bitcoin
- Secure the account further: turn on a withdrawal allow-list if offered.
- Move to your own wallet if you want: follow the guide to withdrawing to a wallet.
- Keep records: download your transaction history.
- Make a plan: how much more, how often, and what you will do after a big fall.
How to buy Bitcoin without being scammed
Scammers often ask victims to "buy Bitcoin and send it" to an investment platform, a fake support agent or a romantic partner met online.
Buying Bitcoin at an authorised exchange is legal and safe enough; sending it to someone you do not know is how most scam losses happen.
The scam check takes a minute.
How to buy Bitcoin: choosing between screens
| Simple buy screen | Trading screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease | Very easy | A few more steps |
| Typical cost | Higher fee, sometimes a spread | Maker or taker fee |
| Price control | Quoted price | Limit orders possible |
| Best for | Tiny first purchases | Regular or larger purchases |
How to buy Bitcoin: a worked first purchase
Example: €250 deposited by SEPA, then Bitcoin bought on the trading screen with a limit order at a 0.4% maker fee.
- Fee: €1.00.
- Bitcoin received: about €249 worth at the order price.
- The same purchase on a simple screen at 1% would cost €2.50.
Illustrative fees, not a named exchange's prices.
How to buy Bitcoin: common first-week questions
Why is my balance lower than what I paid? Fees and any spread were deducted, and the price may have moved since you bought.
Why can I not withdraw yet? Some exchanges hold new deposits or first withdrawals for security reasons; check the help pages.
Should I buy more because the price fell? Only if it fits your written plan and budget, not because of the move itself.
How to buy Bitcoin: a simple long-term routine
- Monthly: a fixed purchase from your budget.
- Quarterly: check fees and that purchases ran.
- Twice a year: check crypto's share of savings.
- Yearly: download records and review security.
How to buy Bitcoin: comparing exchanges with published fees
| Provider | Published fee relevant to buying |
|---|---|
| Gate EU | Spot 0.1% maker and taker, VIP 0 |
| Kraken | Pro 0.40% maker, 0.80% taker; 1% instant and recurring |
| Northcrypto | Advanced 1.0%; Quickbuy and Autopilot 2–3% |
| Coinmotion | Starting trading fee 2% |
| eToro | 1% per crypto position |
From each provider's own fee page, checked 24 October 2026; spreads, deposit fees and other costs may apply.
Availability depends on your country; the exchanges for Bitcoin page shows the options notified where you live.
How to buy Bitcoin: a timeline for the first purchase
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Account creation | Minutes |
| Identity verification | Minutes to days |
| SEPA deposit | Seconds with SEPA Instant, otherwise usually one banking day |
| Purchase | Seconds |
| First withdrawal to a wallet | Minutes to hours, longer if extra checks apply |
General patterns; times vary by exchange and bank.
How to buy Bitcoin: mistakes to avoid
- Buying through a link in an ad or message.
- Buying more than planned because the price is moving.
- Using a credit card for a first purchase.
- Skipping two-factor authentication.
- Withdrawing to a wallet without a test transfer.
- Forgetting to record the purchase.
How to buy Bitcoin as a gift or for a child
Exchanges usually require account holders to be adults and verify their identity, so buying for others means buying in your own account and transferring, or setting up a wallet for them.
Consider whether the recipient understands the risks, and remember that a gift of a volatile asset may lose value.
Tax rules on gifts vary between countries.
How to buy Bitcoin: what to do after a price fall
A fall soon after a first purchase is common, and it is a useful test of your plan.
If the fall causes real worry, the amount was probably too large, and the stress test can help set a more comfortable level for future purchases.
If it does not, continue with the plan you set, without adding extra in reaction to the move.
How to buy Bitcoin: questions readers ask
What is the minimum amount? It depends on the exchange; many allow small purchases, but check the minimum order and any fixed fee.
Do I need to buy at a specific time? No; markets are open all the time, and a regular schedule avoids the temptation to time the market.
Can I buy Bitcoin at my bank? Some banking apps offer crypto through an authorised provider; check who holds the crypto and whether you can withdraw it.
How to buy Bitcoin: one-page summary
Prepare
Buffer, budget, authorised exchange checked in the register.
Buy carefully
SEPA deposit, low-cost order, total cost noted.
Secure and record
2FA, allow-list, storage decision, records saved.
Following these three stages makes a first Bitcoin purchase safe, cheap and easy to account for later.
How to buy Bitcoin: understanding what you own
When you buy Bitcoin at an exchange, your account shows a balance of bitcoin held in custody for you by the exchange.
Under MiCA, an authorised exchange must keep those holdings segregated from its own assets and is liable for losses from incidents attributable to it, up to market value.
If you withdraw to your own wallet, you hold the keys yourself, and the blockchain records the coins at your address.
Either way, the value in euros depends entirely on the market price, which can rise or fall sharply.
Knowing which of these situations you are in tells you which risks to manage: account security and provider risk at an exchange, or recovery phrase safety in your own wallet.
The guide to crypto wallets compares the two in detail, and the wallet finder suggests a starting point.
Key points on how to buy Bitcoin
- Check your finances and decide an amount you could lose before anything else.
- Use a MiCA-authorised exchange notified in your country, checked in the ESMA register.
- Reach it through a typed address or the official app, never a link in a message.
- Secure the account with app-based two-factor authentication before depositing.
- Pay by SEPA and use a limit order for lower fees.
- Decide where to keep the coins, and record every purchase.
Next step after this guide
Before acting on anything in this guide, take three minutes for the financial readiness test, which checks whether your buffer, debts and income can take a large fall in crypto prices.
Then use the MiCA licence checker to confirm that the exchange you plan to use is authorised, and the fee calculator to see what your purchase, transfer or sale will really cost.
Together, these three checks take less than ten minutes and prevent most of the costly mistakes described on this site.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy Bitcoin in the EU?
Open an account at a MiCA-authorised exchange notified in your country, verify your identity, secure the account, deposit euros by SEPA and place a buy order.
How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin?
It depends on the exchange, the payment method and the screen you use. Order book trading with SEPA is usually cheapest; card purchases on the simple screen cost more.
Can I buy a small amount of Bitcoin?
Yes. Exchanges sell fractions of a bitcoin, often from a few euros.
Do I need a wallet to buy Bitcoin?
No. You can keep it at the exchange. A wallet is optional and makes you responsible for the recovery phrase.
Is it legal to buy Bitcoin in the EU?
Yes. Buying through an authorised exchange is legal; tax rules on gains depend on your country.
Every figure on this page is checked against the ESMA register, the exchange's own terms and fee pages or another primary source, and the sources are listed above. Editorial policy · How we rate