Buying Bitcoin in Nepal has become easier in recent years as cryptocurrency adoption and regulations have developed in the country. Some of the most popular ways to buy Bitcoin in Nepal involve using cryptocurrency exchanges that operate within the country’s borders.
As cryptocurrency awareness increases in Nepal, it is expected that regulations will eventually be put in place to provide consumer protections. But for now, exchanges and peer-to-peer platforms have helped the local market grow despite the lack of formal rules.
What you'll learn 👉
Crypto Regulations in Nepal
Cryptocurrency regulations in Nepal are notably strict. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the nation’s central bank, has banned crypto trading and mining since September 2021. The NRB has warned citizens against engaging in any activities related to cryptocurrencies, emphasizing that legal repercussions would follow for those who do. Additionally, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has directed internet service providers to restrict access to cryptocurrency websites, with the threat of legal action for non-compliance.
Despite these prohibitions, there is a growing discourse advocating for the government to regulate cryptocurrencies instead of outright banning them, in order to leverage their potential benefits.
Easiest and cheapest ways to buy crypto in Nepal
No matter where they live, people always seek the easiest and cheapest way to buy bitcoin. Buying crypto in Nepal is a bit harder than in some other countries so we have compiled a list of exchanges where Nepalis can buy bitcoin.
👛 Ease of Use – Medium 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB
Binance is widely considered the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. It was launched in July of 2017 and in a short period of time became the exchange with the largest trading volume with more than $10 billion on a daily basis.
How did Binance become so big so quickly? There are various reasons – low trading fees, professional attitude, the large number of cryptocurrencies supported by the platform, and friendly and transparent CEO. Some of the features available on Binance are Earn (locked and fixed savings, DeFi staking, and yield farming), Pool (join their mining and staking pools and earn rewards for keeping your chosen blockchains safe), Liquid swap, Liquidity pools, Automated trading bots, spot trading, futures and margin trading, and P2P trading.
⚡️ 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
High liquidity It supports a large number of crypto assets Widely considered the largest crypto platform Various advanced features and services One of the lowest fees among top exchanges
Not available in the US Not fully registered Hacked in 2019
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD + more
Founded back in 2015, with its headquarters in New York, United States, a cryptocurrency exchange platform Paxful offers its services to nearly 5 million users around the globe.
Being one of the longest-lasting P2P Bitcoin exchanges, Paxful offers its users a straightforward and easy-to-use platform where they can buy, sell and trade supported crypto fast. When it comes to supported cryptocurrencies, Paxful supports only 3: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether USD. However, the volume of Bitcoin trading is very high. On the other hand, Paxful supports a stunning amount of fiat currencies, more than 140 different ones.
⚡️ 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
Safe Escrow trading Various payment methods Responsive support forum Support for a large number of fiat currencies
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Medium 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and 10+ more
Crypto.com, headquartered in Singapore, offers services like an app, exchange, wallet, and NFT marketplace. It supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, enabling users to transact in various digital assets.
Originally founded in 2016 in Hong Kong as “Monaco” by Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo, it rebranded to Crypto.com in 2018 after acquiring a domain from cryptography expert Matt Blaze. The company is a subsidiary of Foris DAX MT (Malta) Limited.
By June 2023, Crypto.com boasted 80 million customers and a workforce of 4,000.
Features: Cryptocurrency Trading: The platform allows users to trade numerous cryptocurrencies and offers staking options. Crypto Wallet: Users can securely store their digital assets. In 2022, they introduced support for the Ledger wallet. Crypto.com Pay: A credit card service facilitating payments in cryptocurrencies. NFT Marketplace: A space for trading NFTs. Trading Services: Includes margin and derivatives trading.
An extensive list of supported cryptocurrencies Transparent, competitive fees with discounts available Support for an ecosystem of cryptocurrency products
Higher fees unless you hold and use CRO Poor customer support Trading fee discounts can be confusing to navigate
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 – Average 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – EUR, USD, and 50+ more
Coinbase is one of the well-known, established, and trusted cryptocurrency exchanges. It was founded back in 2012, with its headquarters in San Francisco.
Coinbase offers its services in over 100 different countries around the world and has more than 60 million registered users. It offers its users more than 100 cryptocurrencies to choose from. Additionally, well above 400 trading pairs are offered on the Coinbase exchange. Furthermore, there is also a mobile app that is supported on Android as well as IOS.
⚡️ 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
An easy way for new users to purchase Bitcoin More than 100 cryptocurrencies to choose from A regulated and trustworthy company High liquidity and purchasing limits
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, and more
Founded in 2012 in Finland by Nikolaus Kangas, LocalBitcoins represents one of the largest P2P (peer-to-peer) marketplaces online. Nicknamed as the “Craigslist” of Bitcoin, users can communicate and trade directly on the platform with one another. Bitcoin is the only currency supported by LocalBitcoins.
The numerous security measures (Escrow, Reputation System, etc.) make the platform a safe and reliable Bitcoin trading place. LocalBitcoins doesn’t use the usual brokerage business model. Instead, as a P2P network, it works by connecting sellers and buyers that are located in the same area. You post an ad on the website and state the exchange rate and the desired payment method. Users in the local area can reply to the advertisement and arrange a meet-up either online or in person. The whole process is pretty straightforward.
👛 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.
Regulated and licensed Over 4 million users worldwide Fast support Various payment options
Just 4 fiat currencies are available Extensive Verification Process
Frequently asked questions about buying Bitcoin in Nepal
Is Bitcoin available in Nepal❓
Yes, it is. You can use some of the exchanges mentioned in this article to buy your first Bitcoin.
Can I buy Bitcoin from my bank in Nepal❓
No, you can’t. You’ll have to use dedicated Bitcoin exchanges in order to buy Bitcoins.
Is buying crypto legal in Nepal❓
Cryptocurrency trading and mining are punishable as they are illegal in the country, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) remarked in а recently published warning titled “Cryptocurrency transactions are illegal.” Cryptocurrency trading and mining and encouraging illegal activities are punishable as per existing laws.
Is PayPal available in Nepal❓
PayPal is one of the most preferable, easiest, and largest online payment processors around the world. PayPal’s entire business model is premised on facilitating safe transactions while offering a gigantic amount of features. But the global service provider Paypal is still not in direct use in Nepal.
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.
Can I buy Bitcoin for 1000 rupees❓
You can buy a fraction of a Bitcoin. For instance, you can buy Bitcoin for Rs 100 or Rs 1,000.
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!