To take advantage of the fast-growing crypto niche, you need to own some cryptocurrencies. Whether you want to trade the coins in the market, hold on to them, or use them for daily shopping, the first step is acquiring them.

You can buy the preferred crypto tokens using other digital coins or wire transfers directly from the bank. Now it is also possible to buy the tokens using credit cards. When cryptocurrencies were launched, buying coins with credit cards was lengthy and complicated because many exchanges supported only crypto-to-crypto purchases.

Though the market has changed today, the platforms that support a direct purchase with credit cards are still limited. This post provides a comprehensive guide on how to buy cryptocurrency with credit cards.

A Table of Contents on How to Buy Cryptocurrency with Credit Card

• Start by Acquiring an Appropriate Wallet to Support Your Coins
• How to Pick the Right Cryptocurrency Exchange
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency with Credit Cards from Top Exchanges
  • Changelly
  • Coinbase
• The Final Take

Start by Acquiring an Appropriate Wallet to Support Your Coins

Before you can set off buying cryptocurrency using a credit card, it is important to start by acquiring an appropriate wallet. A digital wallet is a storage location for storing crypto coins and facilitating their management. There are five main categories of crypto wallets:

• Hardware Wallets (Cold Storage)

These are hardware devices that resemble standard flash drives and are used for storing private keys and public addresses. The wallets are considered to be secure because the crypto coins are stored offline.

One of the most notable security features of the hardware wallets are the physical buttons that a user must press before initiating transactions. This means that even if an attacker manages to get your pin, it will still be impossible to siphon your coins away without physical access to the wallet. Some of the great examples of hardware wallets include Ledger Nano S and Trezor.

• Desktop Wallets

These are software wallets that are installed on the user’s computer. The wallets store the private keys on the computer so that users are in total control of their coins.

Though desktop wallets are considered as secure because only the user has access to the private coins, they are still at risk of attacks because they can only work when connected to the internet. Therefore, you need to adopt the right strategies such as the use of firewalls to keep the wallet and coin(s) safe.

Some good examples of desktop wallets include Exodus and Electrum.

• Web-Based Wallets (Hot Wallets)

These are internet crypto applications that allow users to access and manage their coins from their browsers. The wallets are considered risky because they are always online. Some examples of web-based wallets include Copay and MyEtherWallet.

• Mobile Wallets

The mobile crypto wallets are light applications for various wallets designed to help users access and manage their coins on the go. When selecting a mobile wallet for your coins, it is important to go for the version that supports your phone’s operating system.

Some of the wallets with mobile versions include Mycelium and Coinomi.

• Paper  Wallets

Paper wallets are printed versions of the private and public keys for your crypto coin. Though they are considered secure because the paper is always offline, users should use them with caution because of the technical complexity involved in generating them.

If you decide to go for paper wallets, it is important to ensure that the paper is kept away from third-parties, dirt, fire, and wetness.

How to Pick the Right Cryptocurrency Exchange

To buy cryptocurrencies, you need to select an appropriate exchange that guarantees optimal security and ease of use. The crypto markets have become an easy target for hackers in the niche. Think of any major attack in the industry and it is likely to have happened in the crypto exchanges.

• Mt. Gox attack of 2011 resulted to loss of about 600,000 BTC
• Coincheck’s attack of early 2018 resulted to loss of more than $500 million in altcoins
• In December 2017, YoBit was hacked and forced to file for bankruptcy

With the cryptocurrency exchanges being the main target of attackers, the main question is: “How do you pick an appropriate exchange?” Here are six main points to help you select the best market.

• Look for the exchange that is fully committed to the security of the users’ tokens.
• The exchange should have affordable fees.
• The selected platform should have professional and responsive support.
• Ensure that the exchange supports your targeted coins.
• The exchange should have a good reputation in the crypto niche.
• Go for the exchange that supports your preferred method of payment. In this case, you want an exchange that allows the use of credit cards.

How to Buy Cryptocurrency with Credit Cards from Top Exchanges

To buy crypto coins with credit cards, it is important to appreciate that different exchanges have varying purchase procedures. Therefore, this guide will look at how you can use credit cards to purchase the preferred coins on three main exchanges: Changelly, Coinbase, and Coinmama.

Changelly

Changelly is among the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the market. It was founded in 2013 and has stood out from others, especially for its long list of supported cryptocurrencies and accepting payment/withdrawals in fiat currencies. For those who want to buy crypto tokens with credit cards, Changelly is no doubt one of the top options.

This exchange is also a reliable preference for crypto traders because it uses automated trading bots that help pull crypto data from other top exchanges such as Bittrex and Poloniex. Here are the other pros and cons of using Changelly:

Pros

• Provides a wide range of cryptocurrencies
• An intuitive user interface
• Huge customer database
• Support for many fiat currencies
• Led by an aggressive development team

Cons

• Has a high transaction fee for fiat transactions

How to Buy Crypto Coins with Credit Card at Changelly

To buy any of the listed coins on the Changelly platform with a credit card, here is the procedure to follow:

• Start by Registering for a User Account

On their official website, click join to pull out a registration form that requires you to add an email address. The exchange sends personal login details to the email address.

• Select the Preferred Currency to Buy

After logging in on the website with the details that were sent to you in step one, you can go ahead and select the crypto token of interest. You also have to select the currency you want to pay with.

• Confirm the Order

On the Changelly user interface, press the “Exchange” tab for relocation to the order confirmation page. This page is very important because it contains all the details of the order. Check closely to ensure that everything is ok, and then press the “confirmation” tab.

• The Wallet Address

After confirmation, you will be required to enter the personal wallet’s public address. This is the wallet that the exchange will send the tokens to after a successful purchase.

• Provide Billing Info and Credit Card Details

After adding the right public address to the wallet, press the confirm tab again to move to the next page on billing. You will be required to add personal details such as a name, mobile number, card number, and security code. The page will also display the charges for the payment you are about to make.

• Enter the Authentication Code to Complete Payment

Before the purchase process is completed, a verification code via SMS will be sent to the registered mobile number. You must input the code for the payment to be processed. Once the code is added correctly, the process of buying cryptocurrency with credit card on Changelly will be complete.

Visit your wallet to confirm that the coins have been added. The following video is a demonstration of how to buy Bitcoin using a credit card on Changelly:

Coinbase

Like Changelly, Coinbase is another leading exchange in the market today. It was founded in 2012 in the US and has grown to more than 32 countries in the globe.

One of the things that make Coinbase attractive is its low transaction fee for credit card-related transactions. Unlike Changelly that charges 5%, Coinbase’s fee is 3.99%. Here are other pros and cons of the platform:

Pros

• Has  a large customer base
• Low transaction fees
• High degree of liquidity
• Supports many cryptocurrencies
• Provides instant purchasing options via credit cards
• It has an impressive user interface

Cons

• The exchange tracks a user’s information
• Purchases through wire transfers take long

How to Purchase Digital Coins at Coinbase with Credit Cards

To use a credit card to purchase your preferred coins on Coinbase, you only need to follow the following five steps:  

• Start by Registering a User Account at Coinbase

On the Coinbase official website, hit the sign up tab and fill in the required info that includes an email ID, name, and a password. The exchange sends a verification link to the email you have just provided.

• Select the Preferred Account Type

After creating a user account and verifying the email address, you need to select the preferred account. You can opt for a private account or business account. If you opt for a private account, the process completes after filling in the personal profile info. However, a business account will require more info about your business such as the operational license, etc.

• Verify Your Personal Phone Number

The next step in the registration process is verifying a registered phone number. Note that this is the phone that will be linked to the account and used for two-factor authentication.

• Pick the Preferred Payment Method

After phone number verification, you will be taken to the payment page to select the preferred payment model. You can opt to make payment via a bank transfer or credit cards. In this case, click credit card.

The impressive thing about buying with credit cards is that the process is instant. The credit card option requires the user to add the card details such as the card number, security code, and expiry date.

• Buy Your Preferred Cryptocurrency

With the details of the card on the exchange, you can now go ahead and select the quantities of targeted coins to purchase. Then, simply click buy. The exchange will immediately deduct payment from the credit card and credit the coins to your wallet.

The following video is a step-by-step demonstration of how to buy Bitcoins from Coinbase:

Coinmama

This discussion about purchasing cryptocurrency with credit card would not be complete without including Coinmama. This is an Israel-based cryptocurrency exchange that has grown steadily to a more than 500,000-strong customer base by the close of the third-quarter of 2018. The main reason for the fast growth of the coin is its high buying limit. For example, users are allowed to buy cryptos worth $5,000 every day.

The exchange also charges a low transaction fee of between 3-4%. Here is a summary of Coinmama pros and cons:

Pros

• Operates in many countries across the globe
• An impressive user interface
• High daily, weekly, and monthly margins
• The exchange is  fast and reliable

Cons

• Has a high  transaction fee compared to other exchanges such as Binance

How to Buy Digital Coins with Credit Card on Coinmama

The following four steps outline the main procedures required to buy preferred coins at Coinmama with a credit card.

• Start by creating an account

On the sign up page, pull out the registration form and add in info such as an email address, username, country of residence, and password. Then, open your email to see a link sent by the exchange for confirmation.

• Complete your Profile Creation

Using the credentials generated in step one, log into the Coinmama site and add more info such as your address, date of birth, gender, and phone number to complete the profile. You will also be required to send a photo for verification.

• Select the Preferred Coins and Add the Credit Card Details

Once the profile is set, you can go ahead and select the preferred coins to buy. Then, the exchange will require you to add credit card details such as the card number, expiry date, and security code.

• Place and Execute your Order

With the right credit card details added to the exchange, you can go ahead and select the number of coins to buy. You will also need to provide a valid public address for your wallet. When you finally execute the order, the exchange will deduct the coins from your card and credit the coins to your wallet.

The following video is a demonstration of how to buy Bitcoin with a credit card on Coinmama:

The Final Take

If you want to purchase cryptocurrencies fast and securely, one of the top options is using credit cards. The above three platforms allow users to purchase their coins directly and securely using credit cards.

Remember that even as the list of exchanges that support credit cards continue to grow, you should always exercise caution because none of them can be 100% secure. Therefore, in addition to focusing on the platform that supports more coins and has higher liquidity, you also need to put a lot of emphasis on security.

You should only log in to the exchange through the official site to avoid phishing attacks. Make sure to also move the tokens into a secure wallet immediately after purchasing them with your credit card.