You may be wondering: Is it legal to buy Bitcoins in Germany?
Rest assured, you’re not alone in this quest. Germany offers a plethora of options for buying Bitcoin, from established exchanges to emerging platforms. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll demystify the process, offering you the most straightforward and cost-effective methods to acquire Bitcoin in the heart of Europe. So, let’s dive in and explore the avenues that are not just legal but also tailored for the German investor.
What you'll learn 👉
Easiest and cheapest ways to buy crypto in Germany
No matter where they live, people always seek the easiest and cheapest way to buy bitcoin. Buying crypto in Germany is a bit harder than in some other countries so we have compiled a list of exchanges where Germans can buy bitcoin.
Bitcoin.de entered into a strategic partnership with Fidor Bank AG in Munich, allowing users to process payments for purchases and sales of cryptocurrencies directly via their own bank account
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Vary from crypto to crypto ⚡️ Trading fees: 0.5% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Bank Transfer (SEPA) ⚡️ Supported fiat: EUR
Bitcoin.de is highly popular and trusted by one and all, as is evident from its global user base More than 98% of the customer portfolios are kept offline Trading takes place with audited Bitcoin customer trading portfolios
The customer service help desk is not highly responsive
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – EUR, USD, and 50+ more
Coinbase is widely considered one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, especially in the US. It has over 60 million users which is a remarkable number.
It was founded back in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam. Coinbase has users in over 100 countries. Coinbase’s headquarters are in San Francisco, California. The platform offers not only exchange-based services but also a wallet so it is a perfect place for all crypto investors.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Credit/Debit Card: 3.99%SEPA: €0U.S Bank Transfer: 1.49% (the US $0.15 min.)Coinbase USD wallet: 1.49%ACH Transfer USD: $0 Wire Transfer USD: $10 ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: SEPA: €0.15U.S Bank Transfer: 1.49% (US $0.15 min.) Coinbase USD wallet: 1.49%Wire Transfer USD: $25 ⚡️ Trading fees: Fees vary ⚡️ Payment Methods: Bank Account, Debit Card, Credit Card, Wire Transfer, SEPA Transfer, ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CNY & 50+ more
A variety of fiat currencies supported Over 100 cryptocurrencies supported A regulated and trustworthy company Large user base and widely popular Provides a Coinbase debit card
No future or margin trading Higher trading fees than main competitors have (Binance for instance)
👛 Ease of Use – Medium 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB
Binance was launched back in July of 2017 and very quickly became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume with more than $1 billion on a daily basis.
There are various reasons why Binance became so popular so quickly with the main ones being a professional attitude, friendly and transparent CEO, low trading fees, and the large number of cryptocurrencies supported by the platform. In fact, the number of cryptocurrencies supported is over 350 and Binance is supported in over 60 countries. The founder of the exchange is Changpeng Zhao. Binance’s headquarters are unknown.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Vary from crypto to crypto ⚡️ Trading fees: 0.1% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Debit Card, Credit Card, SWIFT, Bank Transfer (SEPA), and more ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB, and 15+ more
The largest cryptocurrency platform Various advanced services and features Low fees and high liquidity A large number of cryptocurrencies supported
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 2-3 Days 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD
Kraken is one of the oldest and biggest centralized cryptocurrency exchanges on the market. It was founded in San Francisco, California, the United States, in 2011. It has over 6 million users all over the world. Kraken offers 90+ cryptocurrencies that you can buy, sell, and trade.
Today, Kraken is available in more than 170 countries around the world. It is registered under FinCEN in the U.S., but residents from New York and Washington aren’t allowed to use it. It is a user-friendly exchange and an excellent platform for safe and secure transactions. It supports buy/sell, send/receive, exchange, margin trading, OTC trading, staking, limit, market, and stop-loss limit order, futures, take profit market order, and more.
⚡️ Deposit fees: EUR SEPA Deposit (Free) – EEA countries only USD Bank Wire Deposit ($5 USD) – US onlyEUR Bank Wire Deposit (€10) – outside the US only USD Bank Wire Deposit ($10 USD) – outside US onlyJPY Bank deposit (Free, ¥5,000 deposit minimum) – Japan-only USD, Wire Deposit (Free) ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Cryptocurrency: Fees vary, SEPA Withdrawal (€0.09) – EEA countries only USD Bank Wire Withdrawal ($5 USD) – US only USD Bank Wire Withdrawal ($60 USD) – outside US onlyEUR Bank Wire Withdrawal (€60) – outside US onlyJPY Bank withdrawal (¥20) – Japan onlyCAD EFT Withdrawal ($10 CAD) ⚡️ Trading fees: Maker: 0.16%Taker: 0.28% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Fedwire, Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT, Wire Transfer, Etana Custody, Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN), FPS, CHAPS, and BACS, PayID, Osko ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD
170+ countries supported Never been hacked Mobile App (iOS and Android) Various payment methods A wide range of cryptocurrencies is available
Fees slightly above the industry average Limited customer support
Best Bitcoin Wallets in Germany
It is never a good idea to keep your coins on an exchange as that exposes you to numerous risks (exchange hacks, fund freezes by the exchange or some government regulatory body, etc). That is why you should use one of the wallets we list below to store your digital assets.
But, which bitcoin wallet is available in this country?
The safest option is a hardware wallet like Nano X but ZenGo is also a good choice, especially for newcomers.
Safello’s services are available in 32 European countries – both EU member states and countries outside the union. Safello is completely compliant with EU and Swedish law to ensure reliable service customers. Safello does not charge commission. Instead, it uses a “spread model”, meaning all fees (banking, forex fees, etc.) and commissions are included in the buying and selling price.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Depending on the membership ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: 0.00021 BTC ⚡️ Trading fees: 2.5% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Credit Card, Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Bank Transfer (SEPA), Swish Handelsbanken Direkt, Bankgirot iDEAL ⚡️ Supported fiat: SEK, NOK, DKK, GBP, CZK, CHF, HUF, EUR
Helpful Interface Regulated exchange No hidden fees Allows fiat currency trading.
Requires KYC verification It supports only Bitcoin
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – High 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, RUB
Cex.io is one of the older centralized cryptocurrency exchanges that is still going strong, adding new coins and features to its trading platform every month. Founded in 2013, this exchange is one of the oldest Bitcoin exchanges. Cex.io is based in London, UK.
Cex.io is a global exchange that is available in over 180 countries and is registered with FinCEN. The platform follows AML (anti-money laundering) and KYC (know your customer) policies and offers a range of services including fiat to crypto purchases, spot trading, margin trading, staking, leverage, lending, and savings.
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, GBP, EUR + more
Launched in 2015 in New York, Uphold represents an exchange platform that supports crypto, precious metal, US equities, Forex trading, and commodity trading. Uphold has gained popularity through its Anything-to-Anything feature that enables users to trade different types of assets. There are more than 50 cryptos supported, including majors, alt-coins, stablecoins, and emerging tokens.
There are a variety of different payment methods such as Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer, Crypto Exchange, SWIFT, Credit/Debit Card Payment, and many more. Depositing and withdrawing are free of charge, but users have to pay network and trading fees. The trading fees aren’t fixed, and they vary depending on the trading spread (the spreads are based on the trading asset and country).
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Free ⚡️ Trading fees: Based on spreads ⚡️ Service fees: 1% – 3% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Debit/Credit Cards, Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Crypto Conversion, etc. ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, GBP, EUR, and 15+ more
Anything-to-Anything feature Straightforward registration process Enables investments in US stocks, national currencies, and precious metals There isn’t a fixed minimum investment
Telephone and Live-chat support doesn’t exist Lower volume assets require higher spreads
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP
Bitstamp is one of the oldest and more reliable crypto exchanges in the world. It was launched back in 2011 by Damijan Merlak and Nejc Kodrič in their native Slovenia. However, the exchange moved to the UK in 2013 and since 2016 it is based in Luxemburg.
Bitstamp has over 4 million users. Due to its longevity on the crypto market and the large base of users, Bitstamp is one of the most secure and safest exchanges in the crypto universe. The main features of the exchange are buying and selling cryptocurrencies, spot trading, and staking. Bitstamp does not support the margin of future trading.
⚡️ Deposit fees: 0 – 5 % ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Sepa – 3 EUR, ACH – Free, Credit cards – 5%, International wire – 0.1%, and crypto – depends on the asset (0.0005 BTC) ⚡️ Trading fees: 0 – 0.5 % ⚡️ Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Card, ACH Transfer, SEPA, USD Wallet, Faster Payments, and International Wire. ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP
It is one of the oldest crypto exchanges Useful for both beginners and experienced traders Low fees Security and reputation on the high level
The limited number of coins supported (50) No margin or future trading The limited number of coins available for staking (2)
Frequently asked questions about buying Bitcoin in Germany
Is Bitcoin legal in Germany❓
That being said, cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in Germany: they cannot be compared with income from stocks, investments, or other financial transactions when it comes to taxes.
Are there Bitcoin ATMs in Germany❓
Yes, there are. Neither Berlin nor financial center Frankfurt (7 each) boasted the highest number of Bitcoin ATMs in Germany in early 2021. Düsseldorf – located in the Western industrial region of the Ruhr – had roughly 10 ATMs
Is Bitcoin taxed in Germany❓
Crypto to crypto and crypto to fiat sales are taxable under German tax law, and fees paid are deductible for tax purposes.
Where is the Bitcoin machine located in Germany❓
A cryptocurrency machine is installed at Lange Str.56, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany.
How do I use a Bitcoin machine in Germany❓
1. Register & verify your identity with the spot9 app. 2. Find the nearest ATM. 3. Choose a cryptocurrency and enter your cell phone number for purchase verification. 4. Scan the QR code of your public wallet and enter the PIN. 5. Deposit the desired amount of cash and confirm your transaction.
Can I buy Bitcoin from Binance in Germany❓
Yes, Binance is available in Germany.
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