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Buy Bitcoins In Hawaii
Aloha to the vibrant crypto community of Hawaii! As the demand for digital currencies surges across the islands, many residents find themselves pondering how to buy Bitcoin in Hawaii or seeking the best Hawaii crypto exchanges.
While Coinbase has made waves globally, its availability in Hawaii has been a topic of discussion. This article delves deep into the intricacies of acquiring cryptocurrencies in the Aloha State, offering insights and guidance on how to buy crypto in Hawaii seamlessly and securely. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of the Hawaiian crypto landscape.
Buying Bitcoin in Hawaii is possible, legal, but slightly less diverse in terms of available exchanges. This is due to strict regulations in place that make it difficult and impractical for exchanges to obtain licenses. However, starting last year Hawaii launched a new program that allowed participating members to operate their crypto exchange services without the need of a money transmitter license[1].
The companies participating in this program are Apex Crypto, bitFlyer USA, Blockfi Trading, CEX.io, Cloud Nalu, Coinme, ErisX, Flexa Network, Gemini Trust Company, Novi Financial, River Financial, and Robinhood Crypto.
With that being established, let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions and discussed topics about Bitcoin in Hawaii.
Can you buy crypto in Hawaii?
| 📌 Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🛒 Buy Bitcoins In Hawaii | Buying Bitcoin in Hawaii is legal but has fewer exchange options due to strict regulations. However, a new program allows certain exchanges to operate without a money transmitter license. Participating companies include Apex Crypto, bitFlyer USA, Blockfi Trading, CEX.io, Cloud Nalu, Coinme, ErisX, Flexa Network, Gemini Trust Company, Novi Financial, River Financial, and Robinhood Crypto. |
| 🔄 How To Buy Cryptocurrency in Hawaii | – CEX.io: User-friendly, various payment options, well-established company. Crypto.com: Accepts fiat and cryptocurrencies, commendable security, offers tax support. Uphold: Tight security, no hidden fees, beginner-friendly (not available in Hawaii). |
| ❌ Is Coinbase Available In Hawaii? | No, Coinbase is not available in Hawaii due to regulatory policies. |
| 📈 How To Buy XRP In Hawaii? | Hawaiian users can buy XRP through exchanges like Crypto.com and CEX.io or via P2P options like Localbitcoins.com. |
| 💵 How Do I sell Bitcoin In Hawaii? | Bitcoin can be sold on exchanges like the Crypto.com App, CEX.io, or Gemini. Alternatively, LocalBitcoins offers a P2P option. |
| 🚫 Is Bitcoin Illegal in Hawaii? | No, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are legal in Hawaii. However, strict regulations previously made it difficult for exchanges to operate. |
| 📱 Can You Buy Bitcoin From Robinhood In Hawaii? | Yes, but users cannot withdraw or deposit Bitcoins or other coins from/to their Robinhood account. |
| 🔄 What Coinbase Alternatives Are There For Hawaii? | Alternatives include CEX.io, Crypto.com, and Gemini. While other exchanges support Hawaii, they may not offer the same features as Coinbase. |
Crypto.com
The security of the platform is commendable
It offers tax support
Is Coinbase Available In Hawaii?
At the present, no, Coinbase is not available in the state of Hawaii, stating that the regulatory policies set in place by the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions render Coinbase operations impractical, costly, and inefficient[2].
CEX.io
CEX.io is one of the exchanges that was accepted into Hawaii’s latest cryptocurrency program[1], allowing residents of Hawaii to buy and sell Bitcoin and a variety of other crypto using payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer and Cryptocurrency[4].
Crypto.com
Next best place to buy crypto in Hawaii is Crypto.com. Crypto.com is gunning for Coinbase and Binance for the top spot among cryptocurrency exchanges.
This app/platform is very aggresive with their marketing efforts, but they also expand their offerings to match the marketing claims. You can buy crypto on Crypto.com with multiple payment methods, most popular is credit and debit cards.
Once you are “in” – you can make use of numerous features like staking CRO (their native token), earning through savings accounts, access DeFi through Crypto.com DeFi wallet, mint NFTs on their marketplace etc.
Below are other options at your disposal:
Uphold
Uphold is an online exchange where users can trade crypto, stocks, metals and currencies; although available in the US, it does not currently support Hawaii and the US Minor Outlying Islands[3]. While some users may suggest using a VPN to bypass this issue, it is generally recommended to not misrepresent personal information to online exchanges, especially to one that has KYC requirements.
Please note, as clearly outlined in this article published by Uphold, you cannot move your funds without a verfied account, which requires, among a government ID and a live selfie, your current residential address.
LocalBitcoins
LocalBitcoins is a P2P (peer-to-peer) Bitcoin trading site, that connects buyers and sellers by allowing them to post ads on ther webpage. Users can use search functions to find specific amounts available at specific prices and through specific payment methods.
Due to its P2P nature, it allows for a lot of flexibilty, and can work in almost any country in the world, including the US state of Hawaii.
How To Buy XRP In Hawaii?
Here are the simplest ways Hawaiian users can buy XRP:
Through Exchanges:
- Crypto.com: Is an exchange site that supports Hawaii[5], and allows XRP and many other coins on its exchange which you can view here. Users can buy XRP through the Crypto.com App, available for both IOS and Android.
- CEX.io: Sells XRP for both USD and EUR, and since is part of Hawaii’s cryptocurrency program, is another exchange from which Hawaiian users can directly buy XRP[1].
Through P2P:
- Localbitcoins.com: For a more P2P option, here, users can sell their Bitcoins for XRP or for a variety of other cryptocurrencies.
How Do I sell Bitcoin In Hawaii?
You can sell Bitcoin on an exchange such as the Crypto.com App, CEX.io, or Gemini, or on some of the other exchanges that are part Hawaii’s cryptocurrency program.
For a more flexible option, you can sell Bitcoin on LocalBitcoins in a P2P fashion where you can set the price and payment method of your choice.
Is Bitcoin Illegal in Hawaii?
No, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are not illegal in Hawaii. You can buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies as you please, provided you pay your taxes.
Due to strict regulations required to hold a money transmitter license in the state of Hawaii, a lot of cryptocurrency exchanges found that abiding by these regulations were not worth it, as it added to costs, making trading in Hawaii difficult.
Seeing many popular exchanges not operate in the state of Hawaii may lead many to believe that the state has banned cryptocurrency, but that is not the case.
Despite these regulations, things don’t necessarily look so bad for Hawaii. As mentioned earlier, Hawaii is exploring the world of digital currency with their latest cryptocurrency program with DCIL; the data collected from this program will be utilized to develop local legislation for digital currency[1].
Can You Buy Bitcoin From Robinhood In Hawaii?
Yes, Hawaiians can buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on Robinhood as it is one of the 12 participants of DCIL[1].
However, it should be noted that unlike other exchanges, you CAN NOT withdraw your Bitcoins or other coins from your Robinhood account. You can sell them for fiat that you can later withdraw, but the coins themselves cannot be withdrawn. Similarly, you cannot deposit Bitcoin or any other crypto into your Robinhood account either[6].
What Coinbase Alternatives Are There For Hawaii?
Coinbase is one of the biggest online cryptocurrency exchange platforms, but it is currently not available in Hawaii for regulatory reasons.
What makes Coinbase one of the most popular exchanges in the world is its simplicity, the variety of coins, and the ability to deposit and withdraw your cryptocurrency.
With those strengths being established, here are some Coinbase alternatives and how they compare with the crypto exchange giant:
- CEX.io: CEX is one of the best alternatives for Coinbase. It offers as many if not more coins than Coinbase[7][8], and has a similar, simple user-interface that Coinbase users love.
- Crypto.com: The Crypto.com App offers over 100 crypto available for buying and selling[9], and while it differs in design from Coinbase, it maintains a simple user-interface that is easy to navigate. Users can also apply to a Crypto.com Visa card that they can use to shop and earn up to 8% back on spending in CRO.
- Gemini: Gemini is another exchange with which Hawaiian users can buy and sell crypto, like every platform listed so far, users can deposit and withdraw their crypto to and from their Gemini accounts. Besides trading with over 40 coins[10], users can also pay with crypto at over 30,000 retail stores across the United States without any fees using Gemini Pay.
While other exchanges do exist that support Hawaii, they lack in one or more areas where Coinbase shines, and for that reason, cannot be considered a good enough alternative.
References:
[1] cca.hawaii.gov
[4] Cex.io
[5] Help.crypto.com
[6] Robinhood.com
[7] Cex.io/buysell
[8] Help.coinbase.com/cryptocurrencies
[9] Crypto.com/app
[10] Gemini.com/prices
Hi, Can I buy Ethereum on Crypto.com in Hawaii USA?