Why use eToro?
Founded in 2007, eToro is a reputable broker with well over a decade of experience and offers cryptocurrency trading as well as general forex trading, CFDs and trading in other financial instruments. The eToro exchange has its headquarters in Israel and is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The exchange is known across the globe as a leader and innovator in the area social trading, having developed its own proprietary software known as the CopyTrader™ system, which lets eToro customers copy the trades of other eToro traders who have been successful with their trading strategy. New cryptocurrency traders often find that eToro is a great exchange to start with as, alongside the undoubted benefits of social trading, there are also plenty of educational resources and training as well as a free demo account, allowing new customers to get a feel for the platform without risking any real money.
There is a wide range of digital currencies available to trade at eToro. Bitcoin is of course the most popular, valuable and frequently traded, and it can be traded against other popular cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Dash, and against various fiat currencies. The exchange offers both crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto trading and has a much wider range of virtual coins than most other cryptocurrency exchanges. This is very appealing for those who are just starting out with buying and selling digital currencies. It means you can start with buying Bitcoin at eToro, and as you progress and do more research, if you decide you would like to buy and sell other digital coins, you can do so, all from the same account. For those who want to delve deeper into the world of digital currency exchange and look beyond Bitcoin and the other common digital coins, eToro is a very interesting option.
Top 3 Crypto Broker Comparison
eToro lets customers build a crypto-based portfolio with various features and benefits not usually offered by other exchanges, including almost immediate execution of market orders and the ability to diversify and trade in other instruments if that appeals to you. Whether you are here because you are thinking about buying Bitcoin for the first time or if you are just wondering how easy it is to buy Bitcoin at eToro, specifically, you should find the process relatively smooth and easy.
If you have never bought Bitcoin before, you should be aware that Bitcoin, like most cryptocurrencies, is highly volatile, and the cryptocurrency market does not have the safeguards and regulation that other market sectors do. Although eToro is a long-standing and reputable exchange, there is no investor protection for crypto investors, and all new crypto traders should keep in mind that they are entering a highly volatile market with the potential for significant losses as well as gains.
How exactly do I buy Bitcoin at eToro?
eToro makes it extremely easy to buy Bitcoin on the platform and offers several convenient purchasing options. You can buy Bitcoin at eToro directly using a credit card or your PayPal account with no added commissions, which is highly convenient for most traders. You can also choose to deposit some funds via various other payment methods and then use these funds to buy Bitcoin immediately or in the future. Some traders find that keeping funds that have been set aside specifically for the purpose of buying Bitcoin or other digital currencies in an eToro account can help with discipline and money management. If you want to buy Bitcoin with eToro in this way, you will need to first set up an online account before depositing some funds.
Opening a crypto trading account with eToro is easy and quick. Simply select ‘sign up’ in the top right-hand corner of the home page and then follow the instructions. You can get started with just an email address, or you can even sign in with your Facebook or Google account if you prefer. This gives you immediate access to the platform, and you will also be able to start using a demo account straight away with up to $100,000 of virtual money, which you can use to place virtual trades and start familiarising yourself with the exchange.
Depositing funds into your eToro account is straightforward, and there is a good choice of payment methods, including bank transfer, credit and debit cards, PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. There is no deposit fee, but there is a fee for each withdrawal, currently set at a flat rate of $25, which is quite significant for new or less experienced traders who may want to buy and sell Bitcoin in small quantities to start with and therefore may want to make fairly small withdrawals. For those investors, it is also important to note that there is a minimum withdrawal fee of $50. Once you have deposited your funds, you can easily start buying Bitcoin from your account.
Bitcoin wallets at eToro
There is another convenient option for those wanting to buy Bitcoin at eToro. You can buy directly from your eToro wallet. You may be aware that Bitcoin, like any cryptocurrency, should be stored in a secure digital wallet. It is possible to buy Bitcoin at eToro without a wallet, but many Bitcoin investors prefer to use one, especially if they will be keeping their digital coins for a while and want to ensure that they are securely stored. There are third-party digital wallets available, but eToro also provides a standalone wallet that is available for both iOS and Android devices, and the exchange recently announced that customers can now buy Bitcoin and other digital currencies directly from the wallet app. As well as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, other currencies such as Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple can now be purchased from within the app using a credit or debit card. This will no doubt prove a very popular and convenient choice, especially for mobile traders who may want to buy and sell on the go.
How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin at eToro?
As Bitcoin is such a volatile currency, it is not possible to state prices for it. At its launch in 2009, a single Bitcoin was worth less than one cent (US). It briefly rose to over $18,000 USD in 2017 and has been hovering around the $12,000 USD mark in 2019. eToro always displays the current buy and sell prices for Bitcoin against other major currencies and cryptocurrencies on their website. Simply select ‘Markets’ in the top bar menu and click on ‘Cryptocurrencies’ in the drop-down menu. This will take you to a chart with current prices. Be aware that Bitcoin experiences such frequent price changes that the price can change between placing an order and the order being executed, even if this is done almost immediately. This is known as slippage and is common when trading highly volatile instruments. It can work for or against the buyer, making your coins cheaper or more expensive. There is little that can be done about slippage. Just be aware that it can happen and that it is the most likely explanation if you find you paid a different price than the one you were expecting. With the price of Bitcoin so high, not everyone wants to invest in whole coins. You can also invest in fractions of a coin. Commonly used fractions of Bitcoins include:
- MilliBitcoin (mBTC) – 1 thousandth of a BTC
- MicroBitcoin (uBTC) – 1 millionth of a BTC
There are often other costs involved in buying digital currency on an exchange, and eToro is no exception. When it comes to buying Bitcoin or any type of cryptocurrency trading, eToro does not charge a general transaction fee but rather takes its profits from the spreads, which is simply the difference between the buy and sell price of any currency. The spreads are dynamic and will therefore vary but are generally fairly tight on Bitcoin and reasonable on other commonly traded coins. All eToro customers should remember that fees are subject to change at any time and without notice. Always look at up-to-date spreads (they are clearly displayed on the website) before making any transactions. Be aware that there are also a few fees that are not immediately obvious, such as the inactivity fee on dormant accounts (if they are inactive for 12 months), conversion fees that may be levied when you change one currency for another using the exchange and fees when you withdraw money from your account.
Do I own my Bitcoin?
Whether you own your Bitcoin outright or trade via CFDs will depend on several factors. If you are unfamiliar with contracts for difference (CFDs), this is basically a way for you to invest in a virtual currency without actually owning the underlying asset. The digital coins are purchased and held for you by eToro on your behalf. When you sell the coins, you can benefit from any price movement that has resulted in a profit for you. eToro states that it is possible to open a long position on Bitcoin by buying Bitcoin outright (so you are actually investing in the underlying asset) but that short positions (when you sell Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies) are executed using CFDs. This is an advantage of CFDs in that you can take a short position even if you do not currently own the asset. The terms of buying and selling Bitcoin will also depend on where you live and who your trade is regulated by. All trades performed by eToro clients regulated under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) are completed as CFDs without ownership of the underlying assets. There are also countries (notably the US) where it is not possible to trade with CFDs. eToro has recently started to offer cryptocurrency trading in many states within the US, but regulations regarding how trades can be executed are tight. It is highly advisable that you contact eToro with any questions if you are unsure about regulations regarding cryptocurrency trading and/or CFD trading where you live.
There is an overnight fee for CFD positions, which will vary but will also be clearly displayed on the website. When trading directly on the cryptocurrency exchange, trading hours are usually 24/7. Fees do not apply to non-leveraged buy positions on individual cryptocurrencies. They are, however, applied to all sell positions, leveraged buy positions and all cryptocurrency pair positions (when you trade one digital currency against another)
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.
Is eToro a secure exchange to buy Bitcoin on?
Generally speaking, eToro is considered a secure and well-respected broker, committed to client security and fully regulated in the UK and in other relevant jurisdictions. It should always be remembered, however, that buying and selling Bitcoin is a risky way of investing your money. Cryptocurrency operates outside of normal regulatory practices, and there is no guaranteed investor protection for those trading cryptocurrencies through the exchange. The eToro exchange publishes a full disclosure policy on the website, where it makes the point that all cryptocurrency markets are decentralised and non-regulated and as such are not governed by any regulatory frameworks.
As with any reputable broker, eToro makes sure that client data is as secure as possible by encrypting sensitive information across the site. eToro provides an extensive risk disclosure covering all instruments, including cryptocurrencies, and it also displays all other relevant legal documents that apply to its clients, such as privacy policies and terms and conditions. The eToro exchange is generally considered to be one of the most reliable cryptocurrency exchanges available.
Finding your way around the eToro platform
The eToro platform has a clear design, and the website is easy to navigate. There are a range of trading tools, and many new traders are fascinated by the innovative automated social trading tools that allow them to copy the buying and selling actions of other traders, making eToro one of the leading social trading platforms currently available. The platform is available in several languages and features a secure two-step login procedure. The free demo account is very useful and comes with a generous $100,000 of virtual currency to allow you to first try out the platform and experiment without risking your own money. If you are going to be buying and selling Bitcoin and other currencies on eToro regularly, it's highly advisable to start out with a demo account and use it to find your way around the platform.
What if I have questions?
The eToro website has a help section, which you will find in the drop-down menu under the About tab in the main menu. On this page, you will find the answers to commonly asked questions about the platform. The help section has a search bar as well, so you can look for the answers to any specific questions. You can also contact customer support by email. Customer support usually responds to emails within a few hours and should be able to answer any questions you have. If you prefer, you can also contact eToro via their social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Asking a question on social media should also get a fairly quick answer.
Does eToro help me buy Bitcoin?
eToro aims to help new customers to get started easily. They have a trading academy that can be accessed via the website, and the blog offers a wide range of articles to help new and less experienced traders. The trading academy is available via a link from the footer of the website and includes a general trading eCourse, live trading webinars and various videos on trading and investing. If you just want to be able to buy, store and sell Bitcoin, you will probably not need much trading education, but it is free, easy to access and may spark ideas for other kinds of investing you may want to investigate. While eToro offers support and education, your trading choices are yours alone. eToro will not tell you when to execute trades, although you can always follow other traders via the copy trading software and choose to copy their moves.
Should I use eToro to buy Bitcoin?
There are many ways to buy Bitcoin, but the eToro exchange certainly provides some very convenient options for new cryptocurrency investors. The exchange provides a high-quality trading platform, reasonable fees in most areas and a risk-free demo account to practice the buying and selling process in advance of investing any real money. If you just want to buy Bitcoin, there are a choice of convenient ways to do so, and if you decide you would like to start trading other cryptocurrencies, there are a wide range of other digital coins to choose from.