In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process, using screenshots to illustrate each step.
At the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to purchase bitcoin using a debit or credit card, in the fastest and easiest possible way.
We will feature the best platforms using the debit/credit card payment method:
- ChangeNOW – Easy to Buy with a Credit Card
- LocalCoinSwap – Fast depending on Seller CC T&C (↓)
- Noones – Best for Gift Cards & Prepaid Debit Card (↓)
- Coinmama – User-Friendly with Debit/Credit Card
If you’re new to the world of cryptocurrency, understanding exactly how Bitcoin trading and cryptocurrency exchange platforms work can be a daunting task. I found it perplexing as well.
Most major cryptocurrency exchanges do offer credit/debit card payment methods for direct crypto purchases, but you’ll often have to go through a lengthy sign-up process before you can actually complete a transaction.
Their Know your customer (KYC) procedure can take weeks, sometimes months to get your account approved.
So if you’re frustrated with all these red tape and you simply want to buy bitcoin in a straightforward manner, then this article is for you.
* Before you attempt to make your first purchase, you should get yourself a Bitcoin wallet where you can transfer out and store for long term security.
** If you are having trouble with your credit card, try one of the 400 payment methods available on Noones.
How to Buy Bitcoin with a Credit Card on ChangeNOW
Are Bitcoins easy to buy on ChangeNOW? Here’s what I found…
ChangeNOW simplifies the process of buying Bitcoin with credit card through its intuitive sales page flow. With clear instructions, a logical progression, minimal distractions, and a seamless checkout process, ChangeNOW’s checkout process is a testament to the platform’s commitment to user experience.
You can even do this here on your own without this guide. But I will just walk you through the process so you can be sure what’s ahead. I hope this will save you time, money and frustration from dealing with complicated trading charts and redundant registration procedures.
Before you begin, you will need the following:
- Bitcoin wallet address (e.g. 1Lbcfr7sAXXX9XgdXo3XXXXkV8LK4ZnX71)
- Your Own Credit or Debit card
- Proof of ID
- Proof of Address
- You will need to do a Selfie with your ID
Step 1.
Go to the ChangeNOW main page and choose “Buy/Sell Crypto” within the exchange panel. Use this Bitcoin buy and sell calculator to estimate how much BTC you can get with the amount of money you are willing to pay. Click “Buy”.
You can choose any local currency, preferably the native currency where you credit card issuing bank is denominated in. Click “Buy”.
Step 2.
Enter your BTC Wallet address. This is the address you want to send your bitcoin to, where you have your private keys in your possession. You can find this address once you download or buy a crypto wallet. Once your wallet is setup, simply click ”Receive” in order to get your own unique address.
In case something goes wrong with the exchange, I would always test with a small amount for my first try. This is just a precaution — normally, everything goes smoothly.
Click “Next”. (Optional: You can choose between payment offers, Transak or Simplex)
The next page gives you an overview of your transaction. If everything is in order, simply click ”Confirm”.
Step 3.
Now, you will be redirected to the third-party processor you’ve chosen. This is the interface of Transak, a crypto payment provider.
You can see that Transak, ChangeNOW and the network will all take a fee (approx. 5-7%). Can’t do anything about that I’m afraid. If you don’t want to pay any fees, try earning your bitcoin instead.
So you can go ahead and click Buy BTC. After clicking, you will need to confirm your email is working and get the verification code to proceed.
After that, complete the 3-step KYC process which includes entering your basic information, like your name, D.O.B. residential address & phone number.
*Note — The following steps are quite rigorous if it is your first time, involving an ID check, which is ALL good, because you only have to do it once!
Make sure all the information entered are correct. You will need to attach proof of your I.D. and/or residential address (a pdf of your recent utility bill within a 3-month period)
Now, if you’re on desktop, you can either upload photos of your ID, or switch to your phone to continue, which will give you a QR code to scan with your phone camera.
You’ll be guided through very clearly on your selfie portrait and on uploading your identifying documents.
Do your Selfie and then click Submit Verification. Transak will run an ID check — for 2–3 minutes… but approval is usually instant.
Once that’s all approved, that yellow message will turn to green, which means you are now verified!
Step 4.
Click on Order Now, and you’ll be taken to the payment details section. Enter your credit or debit card details, click Add Card. You’ll get to the final confirmation screen where everything is populated…
Accept the terms, once you click ”Confirm” your transaction will start to process, and you should see your purchased bitcoin sitting in your wallet in approximately 10-30 minutes.
Do Not Panic! Here are some tips:
- Always buy a smaller amount if it’s your first time.
- You can always contact ChangeNOW customer support
- Check your payment status using the transaction ID sent to your email
- Lastly: Your BTC could already be cleared and could already be sitting inside your Bitcoin wallet.
That’s how simple it is! Once you’re set up for the first time, now you can easily buy crypto with your debit or credit card on ChangeNOW. (↑)
How to Buy Bitcoin on LocalCoinSwap with a Credit Card
Buying bitcoin on LocalCoinSwap using a credit card or a debit card may offer several key advantages to you over time. Unlike traditional cryptocurrency exchanges, LocalCoinSwap facilitates peer-to-peer transactions, fostering a sense of community and enabling users to negotiate their own terms.
While it may not seem very beneficial at first, this direct approach eliminates many problems associated with centralization, making LocalCoinSwap the ideal platform for those seeking a decentralized P2P trading experience.
Before you begin, you will need to understand the following:
- Some P2P traders do collect KYC info as required by law.
- Never send personal details or communicate outside the chat box.
- The escrow process on a P2P exchange is the only thing keeping you safe.
- You can decide NOT TO follow through with sellers’ request if you find them unreasonable.
Step 1.
Sign up and verification. Create an account on LocalCoinSwap and once you have signed up, you simply need to verify your email address to start trading.
You can opt to do more verification such as verifying your phone number if you so choose, though this isn’t forced. Some sellers do require them.
Indeed, LocalCoinSwap is one of the few platforms where you can buy bitcoin without ID. You only have to find a seller that is willing to sell to unverified users, although they would normally sell in smaller amounts.
Step 2.
Pick an Option. After setting up your account, you now get to decide between buying and selling, your choice of cryptocurrency, payment method and your location.
Step 3.
Browse listings. Reputation is Everything! You get to see how much each seller is willing to part ways with his bitcoin. Check out the caption beneath the price, ”25% above market”, simply shows how much more it costs to buy from this seller.
In the first column below the seller’s nickname, pay attention to the number of trades. Usually the more trades, the better.
Click on ”Buy” to view the seller’s profile which includes all their terms and conditions for the sale.
Learn to look for these trade details and badges; Star Rating, Total trades, ”Fast Trader”, Verification level, Popularity and ”New Users Welcome”. This will help you evaluate the person you’re dealing with.
On LocalCoinSwap you can visit the profiles of users and check their recent feedback, see when they were last active, as well as see other useful information such as the number of completed trades they have performed.
Step 4.
Choose a seller to Enter a trade. Once you’ve made a decision, follow the trader’s terms and conditions to the latter.
Enter the amount of BTC you would like to purchase within the limits stipulated by the seller. In this case, you can only enter an amount between $100 – $2,500 USD. Click on ”Buy Bitcoin” to initiate the trade.
A trade request will be sent to the seller, if they accept you will receive a notification and entered into the communication and escrow dashboard.
Step 5.
Communication & Escrow. You have initiated the trade, now you can wait for the seller to respond.
If the seller doesn’t require any verification, they would normally send BTC into escrow to kick things off. Otherwise, he will either request that you upload a photo ID of yourself (Passport / Driver’s license) or via a KYC provider like SumSub.
Just remember that the escrow process on a P2P exchange is the only thing keeping you safe. So, never send payment until the escrow is marked funded.
Safely make the payment once you see the big green box saying ”Escrow funded”. For credit/debit card payments, the seller may request you to proceed to his website to make the payment (via a payment link).
Once the seller receives your payment, he will confirm its receipt and your BTC will be released from escrow. You will then see your BTC in your LocalCoinSwap wallet. Simply transfer it out to your own personal bitcoin wallet for storage.
The process is incredibly streamlined, and you can simply follow the progress chart on the right box from start to finish. You can’t go wrong! (↑)
How to Buy Bitcoin on Noones with ANY Credit/Debit Card
Noones is a peer to peer bitcoin marketplace for the Global South (Not available in the U.S.A). Buying bitcoin on Noones can be incredibly straightforward depending on the seller’s terms. Most sellers will only entertain Visa Gift Cards or Prepaid Debit cards.
You can buy up to $700/day without needing to verify your identity. So in essence you can use Noones to buy bitcoin with a Visa gift card without an I.D.
Just follow these three easy steps:
Step 1.
First establish a Noones account. Verify your email address & your phone number to initiate a trade.
By signing up for a free Noones account here, you’ll receive 100 Sats in your Noones bitcoin wallet with no strings attached. When you make your first trade, you’ll get another 1000 Sats.
Step 2.
Find a suitable offer. Choose ANY Credit/Debit Card as your preferred payment method and click on the “Find offers” button. You’ll find a list of all vendors who accept payments via credit/debit card.
Carefully review the vendor’s requirements before choosing an offer. Most vendors require a picture of the actual physical card (prepaid debit card) though some may accept e-cards.
Before you proceed with a trade, take the time to review the profile of the user you’re considering transacting with. Sometimes, users with a lot of positive feedback are actually bad actors that work in teams and use a range of methods to make their profiles appear to be legitimate. Tricky, right?
Sometimes, it appears a user is a legitimate and trusted. No negative feedback and a great many positive feedbacks. Take the extra time to read the actual feedback left on the users profile, and don’t just glance at the first page. If you see feedback comments that are repeated over and over, exactly the same… that’s a red flag. Or, if the feedback comments are by different users but the comments are oddly similar in tone and word choice… that’s a red flag.
When you find an offer that suits your needs, click “Buy” to view the offer overview page. Read all the instructions. When you’re ready, enter the amount of BTC you wish to purchase and click “Start Trade”.
Step 3.
Initiate the trade. Once the trade commences, the vendor will provide a set of detailed instructions. Make sure to follow these instructions meticulously. It’s advisable to wait for the vendor’s approval before making any payments with credit and debit cards.
After making your payment, mark the trade as “Paid” and allow the vendor some time to verify your payment. In a short while, the vendor should release the BTC from our secure escrow into your Noones wallet. (↑)
How to Buy Bitcoin with a Credit Card on Coinmama
Coinmama is one of the longest serving crypto exchange platform that allows you to buy bitcoin with ANY debit or credit cards.
Coinmama exemplary checkout process is a testament to the platform’s commitment to user convenience. Clear instructions, minimal steps, and a secure interface makes completing a crypto purchase a breeze, leaving users with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
But before you begin, you will need the following:
- Bitcoin wallet address (e.g. 3Lbcfr7sAXXX9XgdXo3XXXXkV8LK4ZnX71)
- Your Own Credit or Debit card
- Proof of ID
- Proof of Address
- You will need to do a Selfie with your ID
Go ahead and set up your crypto wallet account now. Once you have your 12 or 24 word seed phrase, you can click on ”Receive” to get your bitcoin address!
Step 1.
Create a Coinmama account. Go and sign up for a free account with your email. You will see an option to buy or sell. Click on buy to see this page below.
Or, you’ll receive an email from them with a link to confirm your account. You can click the link to start the KYC verification process first. Then you can proceed to this page after your verification approval.
Choose your payment method. Enter the amount you’d like to purchase and click ”Continue”.
Step 2.
Paste your BTC wallet address. You can scan a QR code too, which is safer. Just tap on the rectangular icon to retrieve a BTC address in which you can scan. Tap on ”Continue”.
Now you can choose to add a new card for your bitcoin purchase. Enter all your details including the billing address for your credit card. Tap ”Pay”.
Step 3.
If you are not verified yet. Add your personal details now. Fill in and complete the requested form, adding your address, phone number, and date of birth.
Upload your documents. Choose the ID type you want to upload, based on your country of residence. Photograph the front and back with your cell phone camera, making sure all four corners are visible, and that both the image and text are clear, then upload them to your account.
Next, write “Coinmama” and today’s date on a piece of paper. Holding the paper and the ID you’ve just uploaded, take a photograph of yourself. Make sure your face, ID, and paper note are all clearly visible. Then upload the photo to your account.
Once your documents are uploaded, click to submit them. A member of Coinmama’s verification team will review your form and documents, and if everything looks ok, you’ll be approved to proceed buying bitcoin online with Coinmama, often in as little as fifteen minutes. (↑)
Buy Bitcoin Credit Card Conclusion
By now you should know how to make your first bitcoin purchase using a credit card or debit card. Here is the list of places where its best to buy bitcoin with a credit or debit card:
- ChangeNOW – Easy to Buy with a Credit Card
- LocalCoinSwap – Fast depending on Seller CC T&C
- Noones – Best for Gift Cards & Prepaid Debit Card
- Coinmama – User-Friendly with Debit/Credit Card
While using a credit card is easy and fast, it isn’t necessarily the cheapest way to buy Bitcoin. Convenience do come at a price.
Therefore, if you’d like to squeeze out more Sats from your dollar, you might want to learn how to trade crypto on traditional exchanges.
I hope you have all you need to get you on your way. If you have any other questions, feel free to tell me in the comments!
If you think any of your friends would find this helpful, share this post with them.
Also, check out these bitcoin guides on how to buy/sell Bitcoin:
- Buying Bitcoin with cash
- Buying Bitcoin with debit/credit card
- Buying Bitcoin with Paypal
- Buying Bitcoin with Bank Account
- Buying Bitcoin from ATMs
- Buying Bitcoin with gift cards
- Sell Bitcoin in 5 Easy Steps — Choose from These 3 Best Crypto Platforms
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