How to buy cryptocurrency with a credit card
You buy cryptocurrency with a credit card on a verified exchange: add the card, enter an amount, confirm the charge. Your issuer can still decline it.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20263 min readFact-checked
On this page
- Many exchanges do not accept credit cards.
- Card issuers often treat crypto as a cash advance.
- Fake exchanges and phishing emails target card buyers.
- Keep the date, amount, and fee for taxes.
Major crypto exchanges let customers buy cryptocurrency with a credit card, and some wallet apps do too. Many platforms listed in our Crypto Exchanges profiles serve only certain states, so check yours first. A Crypto Converter shows what a coin amount is worth in dollars, and your card issuer can still block the charge.
What you need before you start
Major exchanges allow credit card purchases, but card issuers may block the charge or add fees. US platforms check your identity under federal anti-money-laundering rules, so you need an account in your own name, a government ID, and a credit card the platform supports.
- An account in your own name that passed the identity check.
- A government ID, such as a driver's license or passport.
- A credit card issued in your name that the platform accepts.
- An issuer that allows charges from crypto merchants.
Step by step: buying crypto with a card
A card purchase goes through an exchange or a wallet that takes cards. The order is the same on most platforms.
- 1Choose an exchangePick a platform that operates in your state and accepts credit cards.
- 2Verify your identityUpload a government ID and finish the checks. The platform reviews them before you can pay.
- 3Add your cardEnter the card details in the payment settings. Some platforms place a small test hold.
- 4Enter the amountType what you want to spend, then check the platform fee and the total.
- 5Confirm the purchaseApprove the charge through your card's security step. If the issuer declines it, the purchase does not go through.
After you buy: records and safety
The IRS treats crypto as property, so you report gains and losses when you sell and keep the date, amount, and fee of each purchase. Many issuers treat a crypto purchase as a cash advance, which usually means a higher interest rate and no grace period. Watch for fake exchange sites, phishing emails, and offers that promise a set return.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single list. Visa and Mastercard cards often work when the issuer allows crypto merchants, but many banks block these charges.
The platform usually adds a card processing fee. Your issuer may also charge a cash advance fee and start interest right away.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Tell your card issuer as well.
