Updated July 4, 2023

Buy Bitcoin with PayPal

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If you're wondering whether you can buy Bitcoin with PayPal, the answer is yes. Keep reading to find out how.

It was only a matter of time before PayPal hopped on the crypto bandwagon.

Now, you can buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on PayPal and use PayPal to buy Bitcoin on popular exchanges.

Below, learn how to buy Bitcoin on popular exchanges and how to buy it on PayPal's platform.

Best Platforms to Buy Bitcoin with PayPal

PayPal users can take advantage of their accounts to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on multiple platforms. Here are a few exchanges and trading platforms that accept PayPal as payment for Bitcoin.

Coinbase

Coinbase, one of the most popular crypto exchanges for investors of all types, aims to make it easier to buy crypto by accepting PayPal as a payment option. For those who feel that ACH and wire transfers are too slow or too much of a hassle, paying with PayPal can be done in a few clicks.

It's particularly easy if you already have a PayPal account, and removes the need to add sensitive information like your credit card or bank account numbers to the Coinbase platform.

How do you use PayPal to buy crypto on Coinbase?

Well, once you've downloaded the app and figured out which cryptocurrency you want to buy, all you have to do is click on the payment method and tap the "Add a payment method" link. Choose PayPal, and it'll take you to the PayPal login screen, where you'll log in as normal.

It's important to use the same email address for your PayPal and Coinbase accounts if you don't want to deal with two-factor authentication during your purchases.

Once you're logged in, you can select one of your PayPal-linked bank accounts or debit cards, or add a new one if you haven't linked one already.

PayPal purchases on Coinbase can be made up to $25k per day.

This feature is currently only available to customers in the US, but Coinbase has plans to add the option in other countries as well. It doesn't work with PayPal-linked credit cards or eChecks.

eToro

The social-trading platform eToro is another option if you're looking to buy crypto with PayPal. Coupled with their network of traders and their popular CopyTrader feature, the ability to buy with PayPal makes eToro a great place to buy crypto for beginners who are still learning the ropes.

How do you buy crypto with Paypal on eToro?

Start out by logging into your eToro account if you have one. If not, you'll have to set one up first. Completing your profile and verifying your identity and address shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.

Once you're logged in, navigate over to the eToro cryptocurrency page and select the coin you're interested in buying.

From there you have two purchase options, one called Trade, the other Order.

The Trade function lets you buy a specific amount of crypto at the going market rate. The Order function—also known as a Limit Order—allows you to set your price and quantity, and if the price hits your target, the order will be executed.

Choose how much you want to buy, and then click the Deposit button. Set PayPal as your deposit method, and as long as it's available in your country as an option, you'll be good to go.

There are no extra fees on eToro for funding your account with PayPal.

LocalBitcoins.com

You can buy Bitcoin on this peer-to-peer platform by connecting with other sellers directly.

On LocalBitcoins, every seller sets their own exchange rate and payment method, and you can search for the ones accepting PayPal.

How do you buy Bitcoin on LocalBitcoins with PayPal?

Like the other platforms, the first step is setting up an account, so you'll need to register if you haven't done so already.

Once you're signed in, you'll visit the main page to browse for advertisements. Find the search box and choose how much you want to buy, set your location, and choose PayPal as your payment method.

This will narrow down the list to people who accept PayPal and have the amount of coins you want to buy. From this list, you can choose a seller based on reputation, number of trades, and response time, which is measured in colors from green to grey, with green at under five minutes and grey longer than 30.

Click "buy" to proceed with the trade and you'll be taken to a page with the transaction details. If the terms are acceptable to you, send a message to the seller, and click the button to accept terms and send trade request.

Your Bitcoins will be held in escrow until your payment is confirmed. Make your payment, and once you have, click the "I have paid" button. Then your Bitcoins will be released from escrow and transferred to your wallet.

Paxful

Paxful is another peer-to-peer platform like LocalBitcoins. They offer the ability to trade with millions of other users using 300+ payment methods.

Signing up for an account is free, and Paxful also offers a bitcoin wallet to store your coins.

How do you buy Bitcoin with PayPal on Paxful?

Start by visiting the Paxful homepage. Look near the top for a button that reads "Buy Bitcoin." Click it, and it will take you to the buying page.

From there, you can specify PayPal as your payment method, and choose how much you want to buy. This will show you a list of sellers willing to accept PayPal and who have the amount you want.

When choosing a seller, look for one who's verified their email, phone, and ID, and aim for ones with larger numbers of trades and a positive reputation score.

Once you've picked your seller, click Buy, verify how much you want to buy, and read the instructions your vendor has set to make sure you agree with them.

Confirm the amount and your coins will be put in escrow to wait for your payment. Once you've paid, click the "Paid" button, and after your seller confirms they've received payment, your coins will be released.

Many platforms, especially peer-to-peer ones, charge higher fees when letting you buy crypto with PayPal because of the danger of chargebacks. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and potentially anonymous, but with PayPal, there is the potential for false claims of fraud or theft. Since PayPal typically sides with the buyer, scammers can use this feature to claim that they never received the Bitcoin they did in fact receive, leaving the seller vulnerable. Many set higher fees in order to mitigate this risk.

How to Buy Bitcoin on PayPal

To buy Bitcoin with PayPal, you'll need a PayPal account. It's an easy process to sign up with your bank account or credit card and your email address through their website.

Once that's done, you'll be able to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash either through their desktop site or their mobile app.

  1. Log in to your PayPal account.

  2. From the Payments screen, look for the button that says "Buy Bitcoin and more."

    On this page, they list the available coins and offer several useful articles to help you understand the ins and outs of crypto if you're just getting into it.

  3. Select the cryptocurrency you want to buy from the list of available cryptocurrencies, and click "Buy."

    This will take you to the asset page, which will tell you a bit more about the currency's background and price history.

  4. Choose your amount from the list of options ($20, $50, $100, and $500) or input a custom amount. It must be more than $1, but less than $100,000 per week.

    PayPal will remind you that the price you pay includes a "spread." This is the difference between the bid and ask price, which amounts to a variable fee. It changes based on market conditions.

  5. Once you've decided how much to buy, you'll be asked to choose a payment method, either from one you've connected in the past, or from one you add then and there.

  6. Next, they'll ask you to review your purchase to make sure the amount you've entered is the one you want, and notify you of any fees.

  7. Click "Buy Now," and you're all set.

Back on your home page, your balance will be updated to reflect your purchase, and you'll now have the option to sell or buy.

Remember, you can't transfer your Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies off the PayPal platform if you bought it there. This means if you really want to own your Bitcoin, you may be better off choosing another service to buy it from.

If you sell through PayPal, you'll be paid in fiat currency through your existing account, minus any fees. Once PayPal rolls out their crypto payment feature, you will have more options for spending your coins, but it still won't quite offer the level of financial independence that Bitcoin was originally intended to.

Fees to Look Out for

Buying Bitcoin with PayPal will incur variable fees depending on how much you purchase or sell.

It's a flat fee of $0.49 (up to $4.99), and then a percentage for higher amounts, as detailed in the chart below.

Transaction AmountFee
$1.00 - $4.99 USD$0.49 USD
$5.00 - $24.99 USD$0.99 USD
$25.00 - $74.99 USD$1.99 USD
$75.00 - $200.00 USD$2.49 USD
$200.01 - $1,000.00 USD1.80%
$1,000.01 USD +1.50%

These fees are not the highest in the industry, but there are definitely cheaper options available through a number of popular exchanges like Binance or Gemini.

Additionally, if you're converting a foreign currency to USD or CAD, there is a 3.5% fee above the going exchange rate, and a 4% fee for other currencies.

Popular payment platform Venmo, which is owned by PayPal, began offering the ability to buy crypto in April 2021. They also offer a crypto rewards program called Cash Back to Crypto.[1]

Bottom Line

Buying crypto with PayPal is easy, and for some users, it may be the best option.

However, there are several drawbacks. This includes high fees from wary sellers, the danger of chargebacks on legitimate transactions, the inability to transfer your coins off the platform, and the limited selection.

Unless it's strictly necessary that you buy your Bitcoin through PayPal, you're probably better off finding an exchange or broker instead.

You can save money, access your coins directly, and you'll be able to purchase a much wider variety of cryptocurrencies.

References

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.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

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