The global fascination with Bitcoin has been compared to the gold rush of the 1800s. Thankfully, it’s never been easier for your Average Joe trader to access cryptocurrencies online. With that said, problems can arise when trying to figure out which broker to trust with your investment.
To reduce your learning curve, today we are going to review the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK and show you how to open an account step-by-step.
#1 Bitcoin Broker in the UK – eToro
Best Bitcoin Broker UK – Top 5 List
As we touched on, we have reviewed the top five Bitcoin brokers in the UK. If you are in somewhat of a rush to get started, you can see a quick list below.
- eToro – Overall Best Bitcoin Broker in the UK
- Coinbase – Best Bitcoin Broker for Beginners
- OKEx – Recommended Broker for Low Fees
- Binance – Best UK Bitcoin Broker for Asset Diversity
- Coinjar – Good Broker for Small Bitcoin Investments
Each Bitcoin broker reviewed passes a range of tests and offers something for every type of trader and investor. See our findings in full next!
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. No EU investor protection. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best Bitcoin Brokers UK – Full Reviews
Finding the best Bitcoin broker in the UK is no easy feat – because there are so many providers offering a service these days. When searching high and low for the cream of the crop in the crypto-space, we cover a range of key factors. This includes; regulatory standing, competitive fees, deposit methods, features and tools, ease of use, and much more.
To save you some internet-based leg work, we have reviewed the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK – to enable you to access this speculative asset class in a safe and low-cost environment!
1. eToro – Overall Best Bitcoin Broker UK (Regulated by the FCA)
eToro is no stranger to the cryptocurrency scene and serves in excess of 20 million clients from around the globe. The FCA, ASIC, and CySEC regulate this broker, so there should be no concerns surrounding its legitimacy. The platform is extremely user-friendly for investors of all shapes and sizes. This provider also offers competitive fees when buying and selling digital currencies. Furthermore, placing orders is a stress-free affair thanks to its clear and concise interface.
Aside from Bitcoin, you will find alternative large market-cap tokens such as Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and EOS. Other altcoins include Cardano, Stellar, ZCash, Tezos, Chainlink, Dogecoin, and many more. If you ever want to broaden your horizons and invest in other assets, you won’t be short of options at eToro. In addition to cryptocurrencies, this guide found forex, indices, stocks, ETFs, and commodities. Furthermore, you will not be charged any commission fees to buy and sell the thousands of international stocks listed. This provider accepts credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal.
If you fancy taking a hands-off approach to investing in cryptocurrencies, you might want to check out the broker’s standout feature – Copy Trader. First, you need to choose a person to mirror. This decision will be made based on your personal preferences. For instance, you can filter by asset inclination, returns, location, risk score, and much more. Let’s say you invest £1,000 in JoeTrader123 and they create a buy order on Bitcoin using 6% of what they have. In this instance, you have passively invested £60 in BTC tokens. If they sell – so will you.
There is also a Copy Portfolio feature whereby you invest in a managed basket of cryptocurrencies or other assets with one transaction. eToro offers access to various managed digital currencies bundles, as well as the top tech stocks and other investment vehicles. If you would rather stick to just Bitcoin, for now, you can grow your portfolio easily – as the minimum investment is just $25 (around £18). It’s important to note that although this platform is denominated in US dollars, you will have no problem buying BTC tokens in the UK. The provider simply exchanges GBP to USD for a small 0.5% charge.
To put things into perspective, if you deposit £1,000 to buy BTC tokens, you will only pay around £5 for the conversion into USD. This is really competitive as some crypto providers charge deposit fees above and beyond 5% for certain payment types. This best Bitcoin broker in the UK will provide you with access to a free demo account. eToro supplies all clients with a virtual portfolio, pre-loaded with $100,000 in paper equity. This can be invaluable for getting to grips with the platform and you can even try out the aforementioned Copy Trader feature with this account option.
Pros
- Invest in cryptocurrencies on a spread-only basis
- Buy thousands of international stocks at 0% commission
- Minimum investment per trade from just $25
- Supports debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and local bank transfers
- Regulated by the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC
- Used by over 20 million people
- Perfect for beginners
- Social and copy trading tools
Cons
- Perhaps too basic for technical traders
- No support for MT4 or MT5
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
2. Coinbase – Best Bitcoin Broker in the UK for Beginners
Coinbase is one of the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK, and this is especially the case for beginners. The platform is super easy to navigate, which makes placing orders to add tokens to your portfolio fast and convenient. This provider offers a trading platform for over 56 million clients around the world and lists heaps of altcoins. This broker is licensed by multiple US bodies, so you can rely on a strong code of ethics and a safe and secure trading environment.
There are over 5,000 assets to buy and sell here. Alternative cryptocurrencies include Ethereum, Cardano, Ripple, Dogecoin, Polkadot, Uniswap, Litecoin, Solana, Tron, Monero, Tether (pegged to the US dollar), and many more. Coinbase facilitates fractional investments in Bitcoin and other digital assets -starting from just £2 per purchase. You should note that if you decide to find your account with a UK debit card, you will be charged an all-inclusive fee of 3.99%. To cut down costs you can instead make a deposit using a UK bank account, with a 1.49% commission charged to purchase Bitcoin.
Please note that if you elect to fund your brokerage account using a UK bank transfer, it may take a few days to clear. If you want to be able to trade Bitcoin and check your portfolio listings when you are out and about – you can download the free Coinbase app. This is available for both Android and iPhone. This broker also offers its own wallet extension for your browser. This allows you to easily store your BTC tokens in safety – and send and receive digital coins in secure conditions. This add-on features multi-level authentication and cold storage technology to keep your investment safe at all times.
Pros
- One of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges
- More than 56 million users
- Supports instant debit card purchases
- Dozens of digital currencies to choose from
- Institutional-grade security practices
Cons
- Debit card deposits are expensive at 3.99%
- You will pay a standard trading commission of 1.49%
at eToro, the UK’s #1 Broker
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
3. OKEx – Best Bitcoin Broker in the UK for Low Fees
OKEx is a comprehensive crypto provider, serving millions of clients from more than 100 countries worldwide. This is the best Bitcoin broker in the UK to buy digital currencies with low fees. The platform is user-friendly, however may be more suited to seasoned traders. There is no shortage of choice if you decide you want to add more cryptocurrencies to your portfolio – this guide found more than 400 pairs.
Alternative digital currencies include Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Chainlink, Polkadot, Cardano, Litecoin, Monero, and many others. You will be charged a commissions fee to buy and sell here. This starts at just 0.10% – which is competitive considering the attributes of one of the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK. For instance, you can save yourself the deposit fee charged on credit and debit cards by opting to add funds to your account using a crypto-asset such as Ethereum, Ripple, or Tether.
Alternative payment options include UK bank transfers and e-wallets, including Google Pay, PayPal, and Apple Pay. You will find some academic trading content within the ‘learn’ section of the main dashboard. This consists of crypto-specific beginners tutorials, industry analysis, a blockchain glossary, trading ideas, and a step-by-step on how to buy Bitcoin in minutes. You can find your way around on the platform by utilizing the free demo account on offer. This will come with paper trading funds included for practicing with.
Pros
- Trusted crypto exchange with over 20 million users
- More than 400+ digital currency pairs
- Buy and sell cryptocurrencies with a debit/credit card or bank transfer
- Low commissions that start from 0.1%
- Fully-fledged mobile app on Android and iOS
- Great reputation and highly secure
Cons
- Debit/credit card fees could be more competitive
- Derivative products are too complex for beginners
at eToro, the UK’s #1 Broker
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
4. Binance – Best Bitcoin Broker in the UK for Asset Diversity
Top-rated crypto provider Binance serves over 100 million clients from around the world and this guide found it to be the best Bitcoin broker in the UK for asset diversity. You will find digital currencies of all shapes and sizes; separated into categories like PoS (proof of stake), DeFi (decentralized finance), innovation, NFT (non-fungible token), PoW (proof of work), storage coins, and BSC (Binance smart chain). This means you can filter altcoins by their key characteristics when you want to grow your portfolio.
Alternative crypto-assets to Bitcoin include well-known offerings such as Ethereum, Litecoin, Binance Coin, Cardano, Ripple, and Bitcoin Cash. We also found heaps of others such as Dogecoin, Uniswap, Chainlink, Polkadot, Solana, and more. This platform is user-friendly so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding markets to trade or invest in. Fees are competitive with a trading commission of between 0.02% and 0.1%. The broker also lists an instant buy and sell fee of just 0.5%.
Please note this Bitcoin broker accepts credit and debit card purchases and charges a competitive fee of 1.8%. Furthermore, irrespective of your deposit method, there is no minimum stipulation in place. Notably, the more you buy and sell with this provider, the lower commissions will be. Binance implements industry-standard security measures and recommends using two-factor authentication via SMS or Google Authenticator – the latter is most secure. You can also regularly change your passwords for peace of mind.
Pros
- Facilitates billions of dollars in daily trading volume
- Supports hundreds of digital asset pairs
- Near-instant debit/credit card purchases
- Trading commission starts at just 0.1% per slide
- Offers crypto savings accounts
- Ideal for both beginners and experienced traders alike
Cons
- Not all supported cryptocurrencies can be purchased with a debit/credit card
- No e-wallet deposits or withdrawals
at eToro, the UK’s #1 Broker
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
5. Coinjar – Ideal Bitcoin Broker for Small Bitcoin Investments
If you are looking to invest in BTC whilst taking a slow and steady approach, this might just be the best Bitcoin broker for the task. Coinjar serves as both a trading arena and also a secure wallet. Some of the major cryptocurrencies we found listed on this platform include Ethereum, Stellar, Ripple, Litecoin, and EOS. You shouldn’t have any worries about safety as this platform adopts security features worthy of a bank.
90% of your cryptocurrencies will be kept safely in cold storage wallets (offline) in secure locations. If you decide to create a diverse portfolio of digital assets later, you will also find altcoins such as Chainlink, Uniswap, Ox, OMG, Tether, Polygon, SushiSwap, Maker, and many more. As well as market diversity, it is of course important to check on trading fees. This brokerage keeps costs low by charging a competitive rate of 1% to transfer between digital asset accounts. Coinjar fully supports fractional Bitcoin investments, making it suitable for most budgets.
This brokerage accepts UK deposits using Faster Payments Service. You can also buy Bitcoin using credit and debit cards almost instantly. Note that there is a 2% fee to deposit using the Instant Buy tool. However, you will not have to pay anything to use Faster Payments or recieve cryptocurrencies (to the aforementioned wallet). You may also want to take the app for a test drive as you can buy and sell BTC coins on the move – this is available for both Android and iPhone users.
Pros
- Has been active in the crypto brokerage arena since 2013
- Very user-friendly platform – so perfect for beginners
- Minimum deposit of just £5
- No fees to deposit funds via Faster Payments
- Debit/credit cards also supported
- Top-rated mobile app
Cons
- Too basic for experienced cryptocurrency traders
at eToro, the UK’s #1 Broker
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
How to Find the Best Bitcoin Brokers in the UK
The first port of call when you are seeking out the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK is to start your search with a strong list of non-negotiables. Of course, each trader and investor is different, so you can prioritize what matters to you most – to suit your own goals.
With that said, we have listed below the most important aspects to be mindful of when reaching the best place to buy Bitcoin in the UK.
Safety and Trust
Whilst this is probably an obvious point to include in a list of how to find the best Bitcoin broker – safety and trust shouldn’t be undervalued. This is especially the case in the world of cryptocurrencies. There have been multiple cases over the years whereby innocent people using unregulated crypto exchanges have had their BTC coins stolen in the background by cryptojackers. Often in these cases, you haven’t got a leg to stand on and don’t know you’ve been robbed until it’s too late.
For this reason, it’s important to avoid exchanges with no regulation or business code of ethics insight. eToro is regulated by the UK’s FCA, as well as CySEC and ASIC – making it a safe place to store your Bitcoin investment. Furthermore, commissions are super low at eToro and you can keep your tokens in your portfolio – making them easily accessible should you want to cash out or diversify.
Payment Methods
When you are looking for the best Bitcoin broker in the UK, pay close attention to what payment methods are accessible. Where one platform might accept credit and debit cards in GBP, another may only be compatible with cryptocurrency deposits like ETC or BTC coins.
See below some common payment methods accepted by the best brokers to buy Bitcoin in the UK:
- Credit and debit cards – namely Mastercard and Visa
- E-wallets such as PayPal, Neteller, Skrill,
- UK bank transfers
As we mentioned, the overall best Bitcoin broker from our earlier reviews -eToro, accepts deposits in 10 different currencies, including British pounds. The social trading platform is also compatible with all the above-listed payment methods. Please remember, there is a small fee of 0.5% for UK clients, due to the need to convert GBP to USD.
Fees
Speaking of charges – whilst seemingly obvious, it’s crucial that you check the fee table of any potential crypto platform before signing up. Trading charges can vary and the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK will be wholly transparent and keep costs to a minimum.
To give you an idea of the contrasting fees you may come across when looking for a low-cost way to access the crypto markets, see examples below:
- Many crypto platforms charge 4%-5% for UK debit and credit card deposits
- Coinjar stipulates a fee of 2% for Instant Buy (Mastercard or Visa) deposits and 0% for the Faster Payments Service
- Even more competitive – Binance charges clients 1.8% for credit and debit card purchases
- Going even lower – eToro will simply charge you a small 0.5% FX fee to swap your GBP to USD.
As you can see, there is some contrast amongst crypto brokers on the scene. Other charges to look out for include commissions, spreads, inactivity, and withdrawal fees.
Markets
The chances are you only want to access Bitcoin now. However, later on, you will probably want to diversify your investments. The only way to do this is to choose the best Bitcoin broker in the UK – that also lists a wide range of assets. For instance, in the case of cryptocurrencies – you should be looking for tokens that perform differently from one another. Ideally, the platform should list both large-cap and small-cap crypto-assets.
As another example, if you can see yourself dipping your toes into another asset class completely – such as forex trading – ensure that you will be able to access major, minor, and emerging markets later down the line. Also, keep an eye out for international stocks and instruments like ETFs. In the future, you might want to trade the price of an underlying sector or industry by investing in a single basket of assets. The best Bitcoin broker in the UK that lists multiple asset classes is eToro. Top-rated platform Binance came out best for crypto-market diversity.
User-Friendliness
Needless to say, the best Bitcoin broker in the UK will make trading and investing a breeze – no matter how experienced you are.
- Coinbase is one of the preferred platform options for beginners.
- However, each of the five brokers we reviewed today offer a user-friendly interface, which makes placing a potentially profitable buy or sell order a seamless process.
- If you see yourself as a more seasoned Bitcoin trader/investor you might consider the previously reviewed Binance.
Trading tools and the platform itself are available in basic or advanced. The latter offers more sophisticated technical tools for analysis as well as pro charting features, and much more.
Customer Service
Bad news travels fast. As such, when searching for the best Bitcoin broker in the UK, you should always perform your own in-depth research – as well as reading guides and reviews.
Lines of contact to look out for include:
- Live chat – by far the fastest and most convenient
- In-platform contact form
- Email – be aware that some platforms take days to respond
- Telephone
Look out for 24/5 or 24/7 customer support and remember that live chat is often the quickest way to solve whatever problem you may be having.
How to Get Started With the Best Bitcoin Broker UK
To access the highly speculative Bitcoin markets, you need to sign up with a provider. As we said, the best Bitcoin broker in the UK will tick a wide range of boxes covering everything from reputation and market diversity – to low fees and plenty of deposit methods.
For anyone who has never traded or invested, we have detailed how you can sign up in five simple steps to buy and sell Bitcoin in the UK today!
Step 1: Open a Bitcoin Broker Account
Head over to your chosen crypto provider. We reviewed the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK earlier if you need a recap. You will need to look for a signup button and fill in details such as your full name, email, residential address, strong password, and date of birth.
You will also be asked a few questions with regards to your trading history and financial standing. This is purely so that the broker can assess your risk and experience to comply with laws surrounding anti-terrorist financing and tax laws. Confirm all once you are happy all the information given is accurate.
Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Step 2: Complete KYC Process
This brings us smoothly onto anti-money laundering regulations, of which KYC is a component part. This means that the Bitcoin broker not only needs to obtain information surrounding your identity but is also required by law to validate this with documentation provided by you.
For the Bitcoin broker to confirm your identity, send a clear copy of a photo ID such as your passport or driving license. To prove your residential address, you can send a copy of a recently dated (within 6 months) bank statement, tax letter, or utility bill.
Step 3: Deposit Funds
To access the cryptocurrency markets through the best Bitcoin broker in the UK – eToro, you will first need to add some funds to your account! This should be easy.
Choose your preferred payment method from what’s available and enter the amount you wish to deposit. Supported payment types include debit/credit cards, e-wallets (including Paypal), and bank transfers. Confirm all of the information and the funds will be added to your account.
Step 4: Choose Bitcoin Market
Having made it to Step 4, you should now be in a position where eToro has validated your ID. As such, you should have a complete profile and equity in your account for buying and selling Bitcoin. To get started, look for Bitcoin using the search bar.
Once found, click on the ‘Trade’ button.
Step 5: Buy Bitcoin
Next, enter the amount of Bitcoin you would like to buy – you can choose between units or a monetary amount at eToro. The minimum number of units is 0.01. The minimum total investment is just $25 – or about £18.
When you have checked everything you can confirm all by clicking on the ‘Open Trade’ button. At this stage, eToro will execute your order. You should see your Bitcoin purchased land in your eToro portfolio immediately!
Best Bitcoin Brokers in the UK – Conclusion
In this guide, we have reviewed the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK. Throughout; we have talked about the various attributes a great provider should possess. This includes a sterling reputation amongst traders and investors, low fees, a variety of deposit methods, and market diversity. Top Bitcoin platforms in the UK include Coinbase, OKEx, Binance, and Coinjar.
All of these Bitcoin brokers tick the long list of criteria we look for to provide the best experience possible when trading and investing online. With that said, the overwhelming winner of best Bitcoin broker in the UK is eToro. The FCA, CySEC, and ASIC regulate the broker for your safety. Fees are super competitive and there’s a wide range of markets to buy and sell.
Not only that, but you can deposit using a plethora of methods such as credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets including PayPal and Skrill.
eToro – Best Bitcoin Broker UK
FAQ
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