Bitcoin IRA Review
Bitcoin IRA is an IRA provider which lets you invest in cryptocurrency as part of your retirement plan. But is it legit? Read on to find out.
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Invest in Cryptocurrency with Your IRA | |||
Overall Score | 3.8 | ||
Cryptocurrency Trading | 4.0 | ||
Commissions and Fees | 3.0 | ||
Ease of Use | 5.0 | ||
Research | 2.0 | ||
Safety | 5.0 | ||
Pros and Cons
- Interest on your cash and coins
- Self-trade 24/7
- 60+ cryptos
- Higher fees than some competitors
- High minimum investment
Bottom Line
Solid crypto IRA offering tax-advantaged investing plus interest
Worried about taxes eating up your crypto gains?
With Bitcoin IRA, you can invest in crypto on a tax-advantaged basis.
But is it legit? And what fees do they charge?
Find out in this review, including Bitcoin IRA's fees, coins, and how it compares to popular competitors, like iTrustCapital and Coinbase.
What is Bitcoin IRA?
Bitcoin IRA is an IRA platform that lets you invest in cryptocurrency.
Based in Los Angeles, Bitcoin IRA was the first custodian to offer crypto IRAs, back in 2016. Members can invest in a range of cryptocurrencies (not just Bitcoin) to fund their retirement accounts.
Their beginner-friendly trading platform is available through the web or their mobile app. It's easy to get started, and you can begin in as little as 3-5 days after funding your account.
Plus, they offer 24/7 trading, so you won't miss out on shifts outside traditional market hours.
In addition to their Bitcoin IRAs, they also offer a Bitcoin 401(k). Users can supplement their crypto accounts with investments in gold as well.
What Cryptocurrencies Do They Support?
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Despite the name, Bitcoin IRA doesn't just offer Bitcoin. Users can invest in a range of cryptocurrencies to fund their retirement accounts.
Currently, Bitcoin IRA supports 60+ coins for IRA investment, including:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Zcash (ZEC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Ethereum Classic (ETC)
Bitcoin IRA has come a long way since it first started. At first, there were only a handful of the most popular coins. Now it offers many of the more novel altcoins. We hope to see it continue to expand its offerings.
Bitcoin IRA Features
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Bitcoin IRA's product offerings are fairly limited but still worth looking into. Review their main features below to see if Bitcoin IRA fits your investment needs.
Investment Accounts
Bitcoin IRA's main offerings are their crypto IRA accounts and crypto 401(k)s. These accounts offer tax-advantaged investing options for a roster of 9 popular cryptocurrencies.
Account types include:
- Bitcoin IRA
- Bitcoin Roth IRA
- Bitcoin 401(k)
- Saver IRA
- Bitcoin SEP IRA
- Bitcoin Simple IRA
Their minimum investment requirement is $3,000, or $100 a month through their Saver IRA via linked bank account. There is no investment cap.[1]
Bitcoin IRA users can also trade real, physical gold.[2] You will actually get ownership rights to investment-grade, US-certified gold bars.
Bitcoin IRA Fees to Look Out for
Bitcoin IRA's main fees are:
- 0.99% to 2.99% setup fee (of your investment amount)
- 0.08% monthly fee
- 2% trading fee
- $3,000 minimum deposit
However, your exact fees may vary by customer. To find out precisely what their fees would be for your situation, you would need to call Bitcoin IRA and speak with one of their representatives.
Bitcoin IRA Security
When it comes to your retirement savings, you want to know that your custodian is taking the safety of your money seriously—and that's just as true for crypto as it is for cash. Here's a look at some of the security features that Bitcoin IRA has in place to protect your investments.
- Insurance: Digital assets are insured by BitGo Trust for up to $700 million
- Cold Storage: Coins are stored safely offline
- Encryption: 256-bit SSL Encryption
- Gold is insured at Brink's bullion vault facility as well as in transit
How Does It Compare?
Let's take a look at how Bitcoin IRA stands up to some of its most popular competitors.
iTrustCapital
iTrustCapital is another leading provider of crypto IRAs. They were founded a little later, in 2018, and are based in Irvine, CA.
Compared to Bitcoin IRA, iTrustCapital offers a smaller range of cryptocurrencies to invest in. They allow for investments in gold and silver, whereas Bitcoin IRA only supports gold.
iTrustCapital has a $1,000 investment minimum,[3] which is lower than Bitcoin IRA's, and charges a flat 1% fee on trades with a $0 monthly fee,[4] which is less than you'll pay at Bitcoin IRA as well. Overall, iTrustCapital has more to offer.
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| Visit Site | Visit Site | |
Bitcoin IRA | iTrustCapital | |
|---|---|---|
Invest in Cryptocurrency with Your IRA - | Open a Crypto IRA and Get $100 Bitcoin Reward - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
| Minimum Deposit | ||
| Monthly Fee | ||
| Cryptocurrencies Supported | Basic Attention, Enjin, Cosmos, Tezos, Curve DAO, Aave, yearn.finance, Sushi, Compound, Uniswap, Stellar, EOS, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Polkadot, Chainlink, Ethereum, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Maker, Shiba Inu, Axie Infinity | |
| Countries Supported | U.S. | U.S. |
| Fiat Currencies Supported | ||
| Digital Wallet | ||
| Transaction Fee |
| |
| Setup Fee | ||
| Wire Transfer Fee | ||
| Cold Storage | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Withdrawal Limit | None. 10% penalty under 59 1/2 years old | None. 10% penalty under 59 1/2 years old |
| Visit Site | Visit Site | |
Bitcoin IRA: Pricing information from published website as of 02/2021. iTrustCapital: Pricing information from published website as of 02/08/2022. | ||
Coinbase
While it isn't entirely fair to compare Coinbase (a cryptocurrency exchange) and Bitcoin IRA (an IRA provider), many are interested in how they differ. The most profound difference between the two will be access to your investments.
Buying and selling crypto through Coinbase will give you immediate access to your funds while doing it through a crypto IRA means you have to wait till the age of 59 1/2 to access your money.[5]
Otherwise, you'll incur a tax penalty that will undo anything you would have saved by investing in an IRA in the first place.
Overall, if you are a short-term investor, consider an exchange, and if you can afford to wait many years before touching your money, an IRA may be for you.
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| Visit Site | Learn More | |
Bitcoin IRA | Coinbase | |
|---|---|---|
Invest in Cryptocurrency with Your IRA - | Earn $5 in bitcoin on your first trade on Coinbase - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
| Stock Trading | ||
| Options Trading | ||
| Minimum Deposit | ||
| Cryptocurrencies Supported | ||
| Countries Supported | U.S. | |
| Fiat Currencies Supported | ||
| Digital Wallet | ||
| Transaction Fee | Greater of Minimum Flat Fees or Variable Fees (1.49%+) by Location and Payment Method. Minimum Flat Fees:
| |
| Mobile App | ||
| Wire Transfer Fee | ||
| Cold Storage | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Withdrawal Limit | None. 10% penalty under 59 1/2 years old | |
| Visit Site | Learn More | |
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. Bitcoin IRA: Pricing information from published website as of 02/2021. Coinbase: Pricing information from published website as of 04/13/2021. | ||
Bottom Line
Bitcoin IRA is a solid provider of crypto IRAs and a worthy candidate for consideration. However, they aren't the most affordable, and they don't have the widest selection among their competitors.
References
- ^ Bitcoin IRA. Are there minimums and investment caps?, Retrieved 6/14/2022
- ^ Buy Gold With Your IRA Or 401K: Bitcoin IRA, 2022.
- ^ iTrust Capital, Inc. What is the minimum account balance in order to start an IRA with iTrustCapital?, Retrieved 6/14/2022
- ^ iTrust Capital, Inc. Fees, Retrieved 6/14/2022
- ^ Internal Revenue Service. IRA FAQs - Distributions (Withdrawals), Retrieved 6/14/2022
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Jeremy Harshman is a creative assistant at CreditDonkey, a crypto comparison and reviews website. Write to Jeremy Harshman at jeremy.harshman@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
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