Cryptocurrency has been around for more than a decade, and these days, there are more ways than ever to buy Bitcoin. There are trading platforms that let you use your debit or credit card, and you can even make a purchase with a bank transfer. One of the most popular ways to buy Bitcoin (as well as other cryptocurrencies), though, is PayPal. If you’re not sure how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal, this is the guide for you.
What is PayPal?
If you’re not familiar with PayPal, it’s a payment processor with a long history. Essentially, it’s an online bank. It allows you to pay for items online with a secure account. You just enter payment details – like a bank account, a credit card account, or a debit card number, and when you pay using the service, you choose which account to pull the money from. You can also get money through the service and have it stored the way you would with a bank account. While the service was initially only associated with eBay, it became its own service in 2015.
These days, if you’re looking for the answer to how to buy Bitcoin with Paypal, rest assured, it is absolutely possible. To make it happen, you’ll need a PayPal account, but you’ll also need an account with a trading platform or a brokerage service that sells Bitcoin. There are many services out there that allow you to do so, but you will want to do some searching to ensure that PayPal is an option with them. Additionally, you will need a Bitcoin wallet, as keeping your Bitcoin on an exchange after purchase is just not a safe way to store it.
How to Buy Bitcoin with PayPal: Understanding the Exchange Process
Once you have selected an exchange to meet your needs, you’ll need to complete the necessary identify verification procedures, then you can link your PayPal account to your exchange account. This is usually a fairly simple process, but exactly how it will work can vary from exchange to exchange. For example, should you choose to use a site like Coinbase, you simply have to select the “Linked Accounts” option from the “Settings” section. Then you just add an account, select PayPal, and Coinbase allows you to log in to the PayPal account. Once that’s done, you can buy and sell Bitcoin using your PayPal account. Should you choose to use a peer-to-peer marketplace like local.bitcoin.com, you can still use your PayPal account. You just search for offers that are available with PayPal as a payment method. If you want to sell Bitcoin instead, you create an offer that accepts PayPal. On a site like this one, you’re going to find plenty of sellers willing to let you buy Bitcoin with PayPal, and there are also buyers who will buy your Bitcoin if they can use their PayPal account. Each service has its own benefits and drawbacks. Some offer you serious privacy while the process with others can often be traced back to you personally. In some cases, you may even have to submit a photo ID to be able to select the PayPal option.
Selecting the Right Method to Meet Your Needs
So, with multiple exchange options, you may still be left wondering how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal most effectively. If you really want to buy Bitcoin with PayPal, you’ll want to select the best method to meet your needs. Privacy is one option you’ll certainly want to look into. While it’s not a huge concern for many PayPal users, simply because PayPal itself wasn’t built to be an incredibly private platform, it is a big concern for many, and there are exchanges that are willing to protect your privacy throughout the process. Beyond privacy, though, you may also want to consider another factor: fees. Bitcoin fees can be quite high as you try to exchange the money from PayPal to Bitcoin, and while there are some sites that offer lower fee options, your best bet is to do your research before you select a site to meet your needs. In some cases, lower fees mean things are going to take far more time than you ever imagined, so if you want the lowest possible fees in the fastest possible time, research is absolutely required. Moreover, you need to think about whether you just want to buy Bitcoin with PayPal or whether you may also want to withdraw your profits made on the exchange in that manner too. The reason this matters is simple – some exchanges make it easy to buy Bitcoin with PayPal, but they make it far more complex to actually withdraw the profits from that exchange through PayPal.
Why Aren’t There More Bitcoin to PayPal Options?
As you do your research, you may realise that there are only a handful of options out there that allow you to convert Bitcoin to PayPal and vice versa. Wondering why those numbers are so small? The reason is actually a fairly simple one. PayPal allows chargebacks. Chargebacks are when a credit card payment is reversed, typically because the customer feels they were the victim of fraud in some way. In the world of Bitcoin, though, once a transaction is made, it cannot be reversed. Theoretically, someone could come to buy bitcoin with their PayPal account, then complain they never got the Bitcoin, even if they did. In that way, they might get their money back and still get to keep the Bitcoin because the process can never really be reversed. That’s a huge fraud risk for exchanges, so only some trading platforms are willing to accept that risk and move forward with Bitcoin to PayPal relationship.
Making the Choice
If you really want to get Bitcoin, and you have a thriving PayPal account, your “how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal” questions might be answered. There are some real benefits to using this method. If you already have the account set up and you find an exchange that works well for you, this is a quick, convenient way to link the two accounts and get started in the world of Bitcoin right away. More than that, though, PayPal has long been trusted as a safe, secure payment method that’s almost unbeatable when you’re just stepping into the world of Bitcoin. It is also one of the few methods out there that allow you to buy Bitcoin using US Dollars. While it’s not for everyone, thanks to the transaction fees involved (which can be substantial in some spaces) and the fact that currency conversion fees may apply if the platform you’ve chosen doesn’t take US Dollars, it is a very real option for those who are looking to get involved with the Bitcoin market quickly.