In a world where digital currencies are reshaping the financial landscape, age should not be a barrier to entry. This guide is designed for young enthusiasts who are eager to dive into the world of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but are unsure of how to navigate the age restrictions that exist on many platforms.
Whether you’re 16 or 80, the allure of Bitcoin and its crypto cousins is undeniable. The question, “How old do you have to be to buy Bitcoin?” is one that many young investors are asking. The answer is not as straightforward as you might think, with different rules and regulations depending on the platform and the country.
This guide will walk you through the ins and outs of buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies under the age of 18. We’ll explore the platforms that allow underage trading, the legalities involved, and the precautions you should take when venturing into the crypto world.
So, if you’re wondering where to buy crypto under 18, you’re in the right place.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| 🌐 General Information | Buying Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies under 18 years old is the same as adults. There’s no such thing as a legal age to buy Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies for kids in any part of the world. If you’re old enough to appreciate it, you should invest it. |
| 🚫 Age Restrictions | Many popular crypto exchanges have age restrictions and do not allow users under 18 to sign up and buy/trade cryptocurrencies. However, there are crypto exchanges that do not require ID verification, allowing individuals under 18 to purchase crypto anonymously. |
| 📈 Recommended Exchanges | Bybit is recommended for buying crypto if you’re under 18, offering various payment options, low trading fees, and no ID verification. Other options include MEXC, Weex, KuCoin, Margex, PrimeXBT, and Bisq, each with their own features and benefits for users under 18. |
| 📚 Legal Considerations | In most countries, there is no specific law making it illegal to buy crypto when you’re under 18. However, many of the best crypto exchanges have their own regulations, banning anyone under the age of 18 to sign up and buy or trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. |
| 💡 Advice for Minors | If you are under 18, speak to your parents or guardian about any investments you make. You need to do your own research, and never invest more than you can afford to lose. |
| 🛒 How to Buy | You can buy Bitcoins securely and instantly on LocalCryptos, which is among the world’s trusted peer-to-peer crypto marketplace. Buying Bitcoins with this platform is super easy and protected by escrow. |
| 📱 Best Apps | The best app for buying crypto under 18 is Binance exchange mobile app, as it has in-built features that allow you to purchase Bitcoin and Altcoins easily. |
| 💼 Wallets | Store your investment in an offline cold storage cryptocurrency wallet. You can check the list of best cryptocurrency wallets in the market for teenagers under the age of 18 years. |
What you'll learn 👉
How to Buy & Sell Bitcoin Under 18
If you’ve been wondering how you can buy Bitcoin as a minor, here are some of the ways to do so without breaking the law.
Bitcoin ATMs
We currently have over 4,000 Bitcoin ATMs globally, a number that swelled in the last couple of years and grew by the day. Albeit the hefty transactions charge, ATMs can be a safe way for minors to buy and sell Bitcoin. With an ATM, you aren’t required to verify your account unless you exceed a certain threshold.
You only need to find an ATM near you – look at the ATMradar site for that. If you want to go above the allowed threshold per ATM, you’d have to hop from one machine to another. This way, you can buy or sell a few Bitcoins in one ATM and then complete the other transaction in another one.
If you don’t have a Bitcoin ATM near you, keep reading, there are more options for underage to buy and sell bitcoin.
DEXes like Bisq or localcryptos.com
Decentralized exchanges match buyers and sellers anonymously, unlike P2P exchanges that require you to go through KYC. Bisq, HodlHodl, and Localcryptos.com are good examples of decentralized exchanges that minors can take advantage of to buy Bitcoin.
How to buy crypto under 18? Decentralized exchanges allow traders to buy and sell their preferred cryptocurrency on their terms. You don’t require any verification to transact. However, it’s advisable to do due diligence and only invest what you’re willing to lose.
Freelance for crypto payments
Understandably, as a minor, you may want to buy Bitcoin but cannot afford to buy them. If you have skills such as software development, web development, web design, video editing, content writing, or virtual assistance, you can earn Bitcoins for putting those skills to work.
There are many new crypto-focused freelance websites that have facilitated their users to send and receive payments in digital currency. Some of these websites have even gone ahead to offer safe Bitcoin escrow services to ensure people transact honestly.
All you have to do is place your gig on one of these sites or apply to job posts by people looking for certain services. With such freelance sites, you can make a lot of crypto money without worrying about your age and breaking the law.
Here are some of the websites that match service providers with clients who pay in Bitcoin.
⚡️ Pompcryptojobs
This is a blockchain-focused jobs board by Anthony Pompliano, the popular crypto evangelist and partner at Morgan Creek Digital. Pompliano – known simply as “Pomp” in the crypto world – is planning to leverage his large audience to bring companies and job candidates together in a talent marketplace.
For now, most of the job postings on this board require high-level skills so you might need to wait a little bit until it expands and starts adding mid and low-level job offerings.
⚡️ Facebook groups and subreddits
You can always post your job offering in one of the Facebook crypto groups (or regular job-seeking groups, gig groups, etc., where you note that payment should be in crypto). There are often job postings as well by employers looking for a freelancer.
⚡️ CryptoJobs
With CryptoJobs, you’re assured of so many opportunities posted daily on the job board, from sales to marketing gigs, you’ll find them all. The job board has remote jobs and those specified for certain locations. The payments are then made in Bitcoin.
⚡️ CryptoGrind
The platform allows service providers to create accounts and advertise services such as web development or software engineering. Employers looking for your services will contact you and offer you a job. Besides receiving payment in cryptocurrency, the platform also has a multi-signature escrow service to protect users from scams.
⚡️ BitGigs
BitGigs is a platform where clients and service providers can post their job offerings. If you offer technical skills like web development or content creation, you can rest assured of gigs. This way, you can fill your e-wallet with amounts of Bitcoin even before you reach 18 years.
Read also:
- How to buy Bitcoin anonymously
- How to buy Bitcoin with credit card
- How to buy Ethereum
- How to buy Ethereum with credit card
- How to buy Ripple
- How to buy Ripple in USA
- How to buy Litecoin with credit card
Buy Bitcoin Over The Counter (OTC)
You don’t have to buy Bitcoin from an exchange. You can try the OTC method. If you’re underage, the over-the-counter method will favor you because you don’t need any verification. All you have to do is look for a reliable Bitcoin broker and trade.
The good thing with most crypto brokers is that they won’t be keen on knowing your age or nationality as long as they can make a quick sale and cash in some profit. You can find brokers online through Facebook forums, Reddit, or other peer-to-peer groups.
When dealing with online brokers, it’s paramount to do some due diligence to avoid getting scammed. You can first check some reviews regarding the broker from the forums you find these brokers before transacting.
Register On An Exchange Under One Of Your Parent’s Or Older Sibling’s Name
All isn’t lost if you’re not of legal age to buy or sell Bitcoin. But did you know that you can ask your older siblings, parents, or guardian to help you with the process? You may fear that they won’t support the idea of investing in Bitcoin at a young age, but you’ll be surprised at how supportive they can be. Every parent or sibling is happy to see a young person thinking of investing rather than wasting money on other stuff.
Using your sibling or parent to create an account is an easier method to bypass all the compliance laws. However, if they don’t understand how Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency works, you may have difficulty convincing them. It’s worth trying all the same.
Gift Cards on Paxful
Whether young or old, anyone can buy a gift card. There are many options from the iTunes gift cards, Amazon, and Google Play gift cards. For this payment method, you only need to buy your preferred gift card, then head over to Paxful and exchange the gift cards for Bitcoin. Buying gift cards is a great method for minors to acquire cryptocurrency because at no point will you have to answer questions regarding your age.
Exchanges That Have Lenient Know Your Customer (KYC) Regulations
Amazingly, some cryptocurrency exchanges are so lenient and don’t ask for verification to create an account or even trade with them. Some of these platforms are discussed below. This is tricky as you would still need a credit card or debit card from someone in order to buy crypto on these exchanges. DON’T USE YOUR PARENT’S CC WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE! However, if you do have their consent, Kucoin (for US users) and Binance (non-US) are great places to go and quickly grab some bitcoins.
⚡️ KuCoin
KuCoin doesn’t have strict KYC regulations for users that buy and trade small amounts of crypto. You can create an account hassle-free and even start trading your Bitcoin for other altcoins. Register on KuCoin KuCoin here.
⚡️ Binance
Just like KuCoin, you simply need to create an account, and your set to start buying your first Bitcoin. With Binance, you can also trade your Bitcoin for other digital currencies because the choices are endless.
However, the trading threshold without verification is 2 Bitcoins a day. If you need to withdraw more than 2, you’ll have to fill in the KYC forms. Why would an underage person need to withdraw more than 2 BTC daily?
Conclusion
In the end, you can use your preferred online payment option, such as PayPal, a credit/debit card, a bank transfer, or gift cards, to buy cryptocurrency with total secrecy.
How to buy bitcoin under 18? You don’t have to be of legal age to buy or even trade Bitcoin. You can own cryptocurrency even as young as 13 years without getting into trouble. This guide details everything you need to know regarding how old you need to be to buy Bitcoin.
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