What is the simplest way to buy bitcoin in the US?

Open an account with a regulated exchange or app that serves your state, verify your identity, link a bank account and buy. Then withdraw to a wallet you control.

Can I buy bitcoin without ID in the US?

Peer-to-peer platforms, some bitcoin ATMs (for small amounts, depending on the operator) and in-person trades can involve little or no ID. FinCEN guidance treats someone who obtains bitcoin for their own use as a user, not a money transmitter, but taxes still apply.

Are bitcoin ATMs safe?

They charge high fees and are heavily used by scammers. The FTC reported over $65 million in bitcoin ATM fraud losses in the first half of 2024. No legitimate agency or business will ask you to pay at a bitcoin ATM.

Do I owe taxes when I buy bitcoin?

US tax rules apply to digital assets however you bought them, including without KYC. The IRS digital assets page explains what counts as a taxable event and how to report it. This is not tax advice.

Step 2 · Buy

How to buy bitcoin

Your next step after learning the basics: buy a small amount, then move it to a wallet you control. US-focused. Checked Oct 15, 2026.

Part 1: Major US exchanges and apps

Each of these requires identity verification (KYC). Availability is what each provider states on its own site; tap the source to confirm it for your state.

Coinbase ↗
Large publicly traded exchange that lists hundreds of crypto assets, with a simple app and an advanced trading view.
US availability: Available in all 50 states since it returned to Hawaii in August 2024. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Fees “can be influenced by factors such as your chosen payment method, order size, market conditions” and are shown on the preview screen; simple buys and sells include a spread. No fixed percentage published.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published: “you may be charged a fee depending on the payment method you select.”
Withdraw on-chain
A fee “based on our estimate of the prevailing network fees”, disclosed at the time of the transaction.
From Coinbase’s own fee page: source
Kraken ↗
Long-running exchange (since 2011) with spot trading in many assets and an advanced trading view.
US availability: Not offered to residents of New York or Maine; crypto transfers unavailable in Indiana; fiat transfers unavailable in Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Utah. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Instant Buy: fixed 1% trading fee (waived for Kraken+ members up to $10,000/month), plus a spread included in the price.
Card vs bank
Debit card: $0.25 + 3.75%. ACH (Plaid): free deposit, with a 7-day withdrawal hold.
Withdraw on-chain
Kraken lists crypto withdrawal fees “to get your transaction onto the blockchain”; the amount is not clearly published on these pages.
From Kraken’s own fee pages: source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Gemini ↗
Crypto exchange with web and mobile apps.
US availability: Available in all 50 states. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Fees vary by payment method, order size, market conditions and more, shown on the trade review screen; Instant and Recurring orders include a spread. No fixed percentage published.
Card vs bank
Debit card: 3.49% of total purchase amount. ACH: free.
Withdraw on-chain
A dynamic withdrawal fee intended to cover network fees, shown before you withdraw; “Gemini does not pocket the fee.”
From Gemini’s own fee pages: source 1 · source 2
River ↗Bitcoin-only
Bitcoin brokerage with recurring buys and a published proof of reserves.
US availability: Every US state except Nevada and New York, plus Puerto Rico. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
1.00% on one-time orders up to $1,000,000 (lower above that); 0% on recurring buys (after the first order or first 7 days) and direct-deposit conversions; prices may include a spread.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
One free send per month; otherwise network fees apply, with Priority and Standard speeds.
From River’s own fee pages: source 1 · source 2
Strike ↗
Bitcoin-focused app with no-minimum recurring buys and withdrawals to your own wallet.
US availability: All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Tiered by monthly volume: 0.89% up to $4,999.99, down to 0.25% at $15M+. Zero fees on recurring buys after the first week. Strike “targets an all-in spread of 0.22%”.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
Flexible delivery (~24 hours): zero fee. Priority and Standard: on-chain fee charged.
From Strike’s own fee pages: source 1 · source 2
Swan ↗Bitcoin-only
Bitcoin company focused on recurring buys, IRAs and custody options.
US availability: Personal accounts available to all US residents and in Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
1% on buys (no buy fee on a new client’s first $250) and 1% on sells.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
“$0 to withdraw, always.”
From Swan’s own fee page: source
Cash App ↗
Payments app that lets you buy bitcoin from $1 and withdraw to your own wallet.
US availability: US app; receiving over Lightning is not available to New York customers. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Market buy/sell: 2.0% ($1–499), 1.5% ($500–999), 0.9% ($1,000–1,999), 0% ($2,000+). Auto Invest, Round Ups and paid-in-bitcoin: 0%. Spread of 0%–0.75% may apply, except on fee-free options and buys over $2,000.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
“There are no fees to withdraw bitcoin at standard speeds”; standard withdrawals complete in 24 hours or less (page states a “minimum withdrawal of ₿100,000”).
From Cash App’s own fee page: source
Fidelity Crypto ↗
Crypto accounts from a large brokerage, alongside its other investment accounts.
US availability: Available in all states and D.C.; not in Guam, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands; Crypto IRAs not in California or Oregon. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
1% of the market value of executed buy and sell orders, shown as a separate fee (since Dec 4, 2025 it is no longer built into the price as a spread).
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
Not clearly published.
From Fidelity Crypto’s own fee page: source
Robinhood ↗
Brokerage app with crypto trading next to stocks.
US availability: Every US state, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Source
Fees · as of Oct 2026
Trading / spread
Default market-maker routing: no fees, but a spread applies; Robinhood receives $0.95 per $100 traded. Exchange routing: 0.00%–0.95% fee by 30-day volume.
Card vs bank
Not clearly published.
Withdraw on-chain
No extra Robinhood fee; you pay the network fee, shown before you send.
From Robinhood’s own fee pages: source 1 · source 2

Security note: Coinbase’s 2025 data breach. In May 2025 Coinbase disclosed that criminals had bribed overseas support contractors to copy customer data, including names, addresses, contact details, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, masked bank details, government ID images and balances. Coinbase said no passwords, private keys or funds were exposed, refused a $20 million ransom demand and said it would reimburse customers tricked into sending funds (Coinbase; SEC Form 8-K). The lesson applies to every KYC provider: your identity data can leak, so expect convincing impersonation calls, and never move funds because someone “from support” asks you to. We log exchange incidents on our wallet and exchange security watch.

Then withdraw to self-custody

Coins left on any exchange or app are a promise from that company. Once you have bought, send them to a wallet whose keys only you hold: start with a small test withdrawal, check the address on your hardware wallet’s screen, then send the rest.

Part 2: Buying without KYC, lawfully

Some people prefer not to tie their identity to their bitcoin. Privacy benefits include keeping your holdings out of company databases that can leak (as above) and making you a less obvious target. The trade-offs are real: fewer protections if a trade goes wrong, more scams, and usually higher prices or fees.

In the US, FinCEN guidance says a person who obtains virtual currency to buy goods or services for themselves is a “user”, not a money services business, and is not subject to MSB registration (FinCEN, 2013). Tax rules still apply however you bought it (IRS: digital assets).

Peer-to-peer platforms

These connect buyers and sellers directly. Verified official sites:

Bisq ↗bisq.networkA decentralized bitcoin exchange network.
RoboSats ↗learn.robosats.orgOpen-source, KYC-free P2P exchange that uses Lightning hold invoices as bonds and escrow; Tor-only. This is its official learning site.
Hodl Hodl ↗hodlhodl.comNon-custodial P2P platform using multisig escrow; bitcoin only, and it states no verification is required.
Peach ↗peachbitcoin.comApp for buying and selling bitcoin peer-to-peer.

Beware of phishing clones. Fake copies of P2P sites and apps exist to steal deposits. Type the address yourself or bookmark it from the project’s own channels, never follow links from ads, DMs or search ads, and only download apps from the official site or store listing it links to.

Use the platform’s escrow every time; never agree to settle “off-platform”.
Start small with each new counterparty and check their trade history.
If you are selling, beware of payment methods that can be reversed after you release the bitcoin.
Never share your seed phrase, and never send first outside escrow.

Bitcoin ATMs

Kiosks sell bitcoin for cash. Depending on the operator, the ID they ask for “can range from a phone number to a scan of a government-issued ID” (FinCEN notice, 2025), so buying with little ID is only possible for small amounts where the operator and state allow it. Fees are high: FinCEN notes kiosk transaction fees ranging from 7–20 percent (FinCEN). Some states also cap kiosk use; California limits a kiosk to $1,000 per customer per day and fined an operator $300,000 for breaking that limit (California DFPI).

The FTC’s warning: reported fraud losses at bitcoin ATMs rose nearly tenfold from 2020 to 2023 and topped $65 million in the first half of 2024, with a median reported loss of $10,000. People 60 and over were more than three times as likely to report a loss (FTC Data Spotlight). Most cases are government, business or tech-support impersonation. No real bank, agency or company will ever tell you to deposit cash into a bitcoin ATM or scan a QR code they send you (FTC consumer alert).

In-person cash trades

Meet in a busy public place with cameras, such as a bank lobby or café, in daylight; bring a friend.
Keep amounts small, especially with someone new.
Use your own wallet and wait for the payment to arrive in it before handing over cash; for on-chain payments, wait for confirmations.
Don’t carry or display more than the trade amount, and walk away from anyone who pressures you.

Earn it

You can also be paid in bitcoin for work or sell goods and services for it. Some apps offer paycheck deposits in bitcoin (Cash App), and payments you receive are income for tax purposes (IRS).

Clear cautions

Taxes apply to bitcoin bought with or without KYC (IRS: digital assets). Not tax advice.
Walk away from anyone offering to launder money, structure payments to avoid reporting, or help you dodge the law. That is illegal, and it is also a common scam setup.
Buying and selling for others can make you a money transmitter. FinCEN’s 2019 guidance says a person acting as a peer-to-peer exchanger is generally a money transmitter with registration and anti-money-laundering duties; only a natural person doing it “on an infrequent basis and not for profit or gain” is exempt (FinCEN, FIN-2019-G001). States can have their own licensing rules.
Avoid P2P scams: stay in escrow, ignore “support” DMs, check the URL every time, and never share your seed phrase.

Quick answers

What is the simplest way to buy bitcoin in the US?: Open an account with a regulated exchange or app that serves your state, verify your identity, link a bank account and buy. Then withdraw to a wallet you control.
Can I buy bitcoin without ID in the US?: Peer-to-peer platforms, some bitcoin ATMs (for small amounts, depending on the operator) and in-person trades can involve little or no ID. FinCEN guidance treats someone who obtains bitcoin for their own use as a user, not a money transmitter, but taxes still apply.
Are bitcoin ATMs safe?: They charge high fees and are heavily used by scammers. The FTC reported over $65 million in bitcoin ATM fraud losses in the first half of 2024. No legitimate agency or business will ask you to pay at a bitcoin ATM.
Do I owe taxes when I buy bitcoin?: US tax rules apply to digital assets however you bought them, including without KYC. The IRS digital assets page explains what counts as a taxable event and how to report it. This is not tax advice.