Purchasing crypto with a debit card is easier than ever. You can purchase through an exchange or broker, you can buy via an ATM, or you can use an ATM card to purchase crypto assets like NFTs and exchange them for crypto.
What do you need to know about using your ATM to buy Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, etc.? In addition to safe-investing best practices, it’s a good idea to research how to store and protect your coins once they are purchased.
How Do You Buy Crypto with a Debit Card?
There are a few basic ways to purchase crypto using a debit card. One is to use a broker to execute your trades, most likely for a commission or service fee. You pay the broker with the debit card, the broker purchases the crypto for you.
Another is to open an account with an exchange such as eToro, which may require you to link personal information to the account to get started. You link your debit card to fund the account, where permitted.
And that’s the catch; you may find that some crypto services accept debit cards while others do not; there is little standardization to rely upon in this area, and you’ll want to read the terms of service very carefully.
Walmart Bitcoin ATMs
Yet another option is to go to Walmart. This company has been installing Bitcoin ATMs at selected locations in the United States and that number is expected to keep growing if the retailer continues the program.
There are other Bitcoin ATMs, you may find one at your nearest liquor store or gas station. Crypto ATMs may not accept debit cards as payment, you’ll need to check the specific machine you want to use.
This section has covered access, but what about when it’s time to actually commit and make the purchase? You’ll need a crypto wallet to store your crypto keys in; don’t try to buy coins with a debit card unless you have the means to safeguard your keys.
In general, hardware crypto wallets are more secure than online wallets. That’s a decision you’ll need to think about carefully in terms of the security of your investment.
Crypto Debit Cards And Beyond
Some want to earn crypto as they spend; could using a crypto debit card (one that pays rewards in cryptocurrency) offer you cash back for purchasing Bitcoin or Ethereum? Depending on the offer, it may make sense to apply for a crypto rewards debit card.
There are also non-crypto payment options that let you convert or use crypto. Apple Pay is an example of a service that does not directly support crypto, but is used by exchanges to accept payment for crypto.
What To Know About Buying Crypto With A Debit Card
If you are new to investing in crypto and don’t know a reputable exchange from a no-hope NFT project, it may be smart to consider using a “crypto-only” debit card to fund your purchases. By “crypto-only” we do not mean applying for a cryptocurrency credit or debit card, but rather opening up a brand new account with a debit card and funding only your crypto purchases with it.
By having a separate debit account you fund only up to the amounts you need to buy crypto with, you protect your main bank account from hackers, scammers, and thieves. You’ll need to keep the bare minimum amount of money in such an account to fund your investments, and you’ll need to avoid using the account for any other payments for maximum protection.
It’s a bad idea to use your main bank account to fund purchases of crypto if you are still learning the ropes. The more protection you give yourself up front, the better.
Joe Wallace has covered real estate and financial topics, including crypto and NFTs since 1995. His work has appeared on Veteran.com, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and many print and online publications. Joe is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News.
