Investing Trading Cryptocurrency & Bitcoin A Guide to Buying and Using Bitcoin for Online Purchases By Brian Edmondson Updated on November 30, 2021 Reviewed by Khadija Khartit Reviewed by Khadija Khartit Khadija Khartit is a strategy, investment, and funding expert, and an educator of fintech and strategic finance in top universities. She has been an investor, entrepreneur, and advisor for more than 25 years. She is a FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 license holder. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article Get Bitcoin With a Digital Wallet Purchase Bitcoin Electronically Buy Bitcoin Locally Shop Online and Pay With Bitcoin The Bottom Line Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Oscar Wong/Getty Images While it can be hard to tell whether Bitcoin will go up or down in value or whether it is the future of currency or just a flash in the pan, one thing that is for sure is that Bitcoin is available to buy and sell right now. You can also use it for purchases if you’re creative enough and if you plan in advance for whom will take your bitcoins. If you’re one of the many who are curious about how this cryptocurrency is bought, sold, and used, keep reading. Key Takeaways Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that can be traded or used to make purchases online with enough advance planning.Bitcoin wallets don’t come with any government guarantees. You won’t get your money back if your bitcoins are stolen or otherwise lost.Buying bitcoins is quite expensive, but you don’t have to buy them whole. You can purchase them in increments as small as a hundred-millionth, called a "Satoshi."Bitcoin is still a new technology, subject to some extreme value swings on occasion, so proceed cautiously. Get Bitcoin With a Digital Wallet Bitcoin is meant to be an entirely anonymous platform, like the way cash works in the physical world. You are supposed to be able to buy and sell things on digital platforms without financial details or records being exchanged. In reality, it doesn’t work that way for most people. For the average person to buy and sell Bitcoin, they have to use what is called a "Bitcoin wallet." Note There are several companies that offer Bitcoin wallets, with Coinbase being one of the more popular options. To use Coinbase, you must give the company some personal details, including your email address and your name, and the ability to link to your bank account. A Bitcoin wallet doesn’t come with any kind of government guarantees, so if Coinbase goes under, or if your bitcoins are lost or stolen, you have very little recourse, meaning you will probably never get your money back. Purchase Bitcoin Electronically It can be pricy to buy one single bitcoin. In 2021, the cryptocurrency hit a record high of nearly $68,000 per BTC. You don’t have to buy whole bitcoins. Just like you can use a fraction of a dollar (a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter), you can use and buy a fraction of a bitcoin. The smallest fraction that can currently be bought or sent is a hundred-millionth of a bitcoin, called a "Satoshi," after the mysterious founder of the cryptocurrency. You can purchase Bitcoin directly through one of several crypto platforms such as Coinbase, Crypto.com, Voyager, Binance, KuCoin, Kraken, Gemini, Poloniex, Upbit, Webull, Hodl, or Robinhood (to name just a few), in whatever fraction or whole amounts you choose. Note Many wallets charge a small bank transfer fee and then another fee on your purchase, so be sure to take that into consideration when you buy. Buy Bitcoin Locally This is a piece that many people who are new to Bitcoin don’t know about. You can buy Bitcoin locally through a site called LocalBitcoins.com, which allows you to meet people in person at public places and exchange cash for Bitcoin. It seems strange, but it’s no harder than a Craiglist transaction. Always use caution, though, as there have been Bitcoin scams in the past. Shop Online and Pay With Bitcoin A limited number of retailers take Bitcoin in exchange for goods and services, but unlike its reputation, they are often regular, run-of-the-mill companies, not black market operations. Currently, some Shopify store owners (under a variety of brands) take Bitcoin, as do Overstock.com and Newegg. There are others, as well, but it’s really a hit-or-miss scenario. If a store takes Bitcoin, you can use it just like a credit card to pay for products and services. The Bottom Line Because Bitcoin exists mostly outside of government regulation, it poses more risk than dealing with banks and government currency. However, it’s not hard to buy or sell, although the value can fluctuate wildly. You can also use Bitcoin to make a limited amount of purchases, mostly on the web. If you decide to dabble in Bitcoin, it’s important to know that you can lose money if the value drops. Understand that it’s still a very new technology, and even the best futurists aren’t sure what’s going to happen with it. It’s a good idea to use the philosophy of “Buyer beware” when it comes to Bitcoin. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Why does it take so long to buy something with bitcoin? While the average time to complete a block and confirm a transaction is roughly 10 minutes, the process does vary due to factors like the fees you pay and the number of Bitcoin miners participating in the network. If you don't pay any fees, for example, then you might be waiting days or weeks to complete a transaction. Many wallets help users set appropriate fees that will help the transaction complete smoothly. How do you buy bitcoin with PayPal? You can buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency like Bitcoin within your PayPal account. Simply log in and find the crypto tab at the top of the page. From there, you can use your existing PayPal funding methods to trade Bitcoin, Ether, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Venmo, which is owned by PayPal, has a similar process for trading crypto. How much bitcoin should I buy? This is a highly personal question that is best discussed with your financial advisor. As a general rule of thumb, you might want to think of your Bitcoin allocation as one of your most volatile and risky pools of money. Putting something like 5% of your investment funds toward these types of risky assets gives you some exposure without endangering your entire portfolio. Others enjoy taking more risks in markets, so they buy more Bitcoin, while others may decide that such a risky asset isn't worth buying at all. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Coindesk. "Bitcoin (BTC)." Bitcoin. "Frequently Asked Questions." PayPal. "Curious About Crypto? Get Confident With the App." Venmo. "Crypto on Venmo: Your Journey Starts Here."