Getting bitcoins in Kenya is not an easy task as not all popular crypto exchanges are available to Kenyan citizens. This is a current list of bitcoin exchanges that allow users from Kenya to buy crypto. They all support buying crypto with credit/debit cards but some of them offer other payment methods as well.
Impressively, this exchange allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin using any payment method that you prefer. Also, the exchange supports over 230 countries including Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: None ⚡️ Trading fees: N/A ⚡️ Payment Methods: EUR Bank Transfer, MasterCard, MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, US Bank Transfer, or VISA ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, XAF, GHS, KES, UGX, RWF, ZMW, NGN
Various payment methods Supports many countries instant buy/sell (no registration needed)
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 2-3 Days 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD
Kraken has been a dominant force since its inception in 2011. The platform is a hub for trading a diverse range of over 220 digital assets, with popular names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano leading the pack. Kraken’s reputation for top-tier security measures is well-earned, ensuring a safe trading environment for its users.
Its reach is truly global, with availability spanning across many countries, though a few like Iraq and New York are left out. Kraken is also user-centric, offering a multitude of payment methods and accommodating various fiat currencies for transactions. For those with a penchant for advanced trading, Kraken provides a suite of sophisticated tools.
⚡️ 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
Available almost worldwide Longevity on the crypto market – highly respected exchange Over 90 cryptocurrencies Advanced trading and staking services
Fees are fairly high compared to its main competitors No derivates or futures trading
👛 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
Not fully registered Hacked in 2019
Best Bitcoin Wallets in Kenya
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.
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – High 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, RUB
Cex.io is one of the oldest exchanges in the crypto world. It was launched in 2013 as a Bitcoin exchange and cloud mining provider, but today it is a global multi-functional crypto platform with over 4 million users.
CEX.IO is a regulated global cryptocurrency exchange that offers a range of services including spot trading, margin trading, staking, leverage, lending, and savings. The platform supports over 100 digital currencies and tokens and is available in almost all countries and 48 states in the US. It is suitable for both experienced traders and beginners, but may be overwhelming for those new to crypto due to the number of products and services offered. CEX.IO has over 4 million users and is known for its regulatory compliance, but it has lower liquidity compared to some other leading exchanges. It is important to note that cryptocurrency exchanges are not members of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC), so investors using a custodial exchange could potentially lose their funds as unsecured creditors.
Reputation is high Longevity on the crypto market Over 4 million users Advanced features such as spot trading, margin trading, staking as a service, crypto loans, and savings accounts
Extensive Verification Process to Increase Purchasing Limits
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD + 20 more
KuCoin, founded in 2017, has carved a niche for itself. Operating out of Hong Kong, this exchange is celebrated for its vast array of over 600 cryptocurrencies, ensuring that both mainstream and emerging coins are accessible to traders
Their in-house trading platform, renowned for its user-friendly design, caters to both novices and experts, providing a seamless trading journey. A unique feature that sets KuCoin apart is its profit-sharing model, where holders of KuCoin Shares (KCS) are rewarded with 50% of the platform’s trading fees. In addition to its extensive crypto offerings, KuCoin supports a whopping 50 fiat currencies, further simplifying the trading process.
With advanced trading options like futures and margin trading, it’s no wonder that KuCoin has a presence in 200+ countries, with a significant user base in Asia, the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: 0 – 16$ (average) ⚡️ Trading fees: 0 – 0.1 % ⚡️ Payment Methods: Debit and Credit card, Apple and Google Pay ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD + 20 more
Wide range of coins Low fees Mobile App (Android and iOS) No forced KYC 10+ M users Innovative and quick to add new features
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD + more
Paxful is “the Uber of the Bitcoin”. It is a crypto exchange based in the US that has over 200 employees. Paxful was launched back in 2015 so it has been around for quite some time now. The founders of Paxful are Artur Schaback and Ray Youssef.
The headquarters of the company is in NY, US. Paxful offers a simple, easy way to buy crypto assets. Moreover, if you would like to spread the word about Paxful while generating a 2% revenue from any amount bought, there is Paxful’s affiliate program called “virtual kiosk”.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: 0.5% – 5% ⚡️ Trading fees: No buyer fee, seller fee varies from 0.5% to 5% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Over 350 payment methods are available ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, and many more
An incredible number of payment methods Easy-to-use platform Available in more than 180 countries Security is on a high level
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – High 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
Coinmama is one of the oldest exchanges in the cryptocurrency world, having been established in 2013 by Laurence Newman, Nimrod Gruber, and Ilan Schuster. The company’s headquarters are located in Slovakia and Ireland.
Coinmama is an exchange that serves over 1.5 million users in over 150 countries and has a team of over 40 employees. Its user-friendly interface makes it an ideal choice for those new to cryptocurrency. When you buy coins through Coinmama, they are transferred directly to your own non-custodial wallet, rather than being held in Coinmama’s own wallets.
⚡️ Deposit fees: 0 – 5 % ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: None ⚡️ Trading fees: 2.9 – 3.9 % ⚡️ Payment Methods: Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT, Fedwire, Bank cards, Open Banking, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Skrill ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
Beginner-friendly interface Available almost worldwide Various ways to deposit Simple to use No withdrawal fee
No mobile app and no staking No phone number for customer support
Frequently asked questions about buying Bitcoin in Kenya
Is bitcoin legal in Kenya❓
Cryptocurrencies currently operate as unregulated digital money in Kenya even though they are accepted and used by the virtual community.
Do Kenyan banks accept bitcoin❓
Domestic and international money transfer services in Kenya are regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya Act and other legislation. CBK reiterates that Bitcoin and similar products are not legal tenders nor are they regulated in Kenya.
Can I buy bitcoin from M-Pesa❓
Yes, you can do it from Paxful exchange.
How do beginners invest in Bitcoins❓
Here’s how to invest in Bitcoin, in 5 easy steps: 1. Join a Bitcoin Exchange. 2. Get a Bitcoin Wallet. 3. Connect Your Wallet to a Bank Account. 4. Place Your Bitcoin Order. 5. Manage Your Bitcoin Investments.
Is there a Bitcoin ATM in Kenya❓
Recently Kenya has introduced a BTM (Bitcoin ATM) in its capital Nairobi but no mechanism allows the conversion of fiat currency into cryptocurrency. As of now, The BTM supports a minimum value of 500 Kenyan Shillings against any cryptocurrency such as Litecoin and Bitcoin.
As the Head of Content at Captainaltcoin, I bring years of experience in the crypto industry. With a strong belief in the potential of the web3 market since 2017, I'm passionate about sharing valuable insights and knowledge.
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and let's discuss the exciting world of cryptocurrencies and decentralized technologies!