Cheapest Places to Buy Ethereum [month

Key Takeaways

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency, and it can be purchased at almost any crypto exchange.
You can use debit cards, ACH, PayPal, and even crypto ATMs to purchase ETH
The most prudent investors usedollar-cost averagingand store their ETH incold walletsafter purchasing

How To Buy Ethereum

You can purchase Ethereum on almost any crypto exchange, but not all exchanges are created equal. Below we take a look at the best places to purchase Ethereum, weighing fees, trading minimums, and more.

We also cover the safe storage and handling of your ETH.

Own Ethereum in 4 Steps

Buying ETH requires just a few steps.

Step 1:Choose an Exchange

Step 2:Sign-up and verify your account

Step 3:Pay for Ethereum

Step 4:Store Ethereum – Keep it on an exchange or transfer it to a crypto wallet likeMetamask.

Cheapest Way to Buy Ethereum for Metamask

Ethereum is a popular cryptocurrency that’s supported by nearly all crypto exchanges. Below we cover the topexchangeswhere you can buy ETH.

Platform	Minimum Deposit	Transaction Fees	Margin Trading	Staking and Rewards
Kraken	0.00001 ETH	0.26% taker fee and 0.16% maker fee	Yes	Yes, outside the US
Coinbase	$1 of ETH	0.60% taker fee and 0.40% maker fee	No	Yes
Nexo	None	No-fee trading for standard swaps (Nexo uses a spread), 0.40% Taker 0.30% Maker fees for Nexo Pro (lower fees for 30-day trading volume above $10,000)	No	Yes
Uniswap	None	Between 0.1% and 1% depending on how stable the pairs are	No	No
dYdX	$10	0% if your 30-day trading volume is under $100k	Yes	Yes

Kraken

Trade Now

Review

4.7

Kraken Review

Fees

0% to 0.26%

Availability

Worldwide

Supported Blockchains

ETH, ADA, SOL +More

Pros

Free Bitcoin Lightning Network withdrawals supported
Low minimum crypto purchase of $5
Free cash deposits with a $1 minimum (Intermediate and Pro accounts)

Cons

0.0005 BTC minimum withdrawal
0.0002 BTC withdrawal fee
Not available in NY or WA
High Instant Buy fees

Low Fees For Kraken Pro:Kraken’s low fees available with Kraken Pro make it one of the best places to buy Bitcoin. Pay just a0.16%maker fee or0.26%taker fee for trading volume up to$50,000, with additional discounts available for higher trading volumes.
Proof Of Reserves:Log in to your account to verify Kraken’s crypto assets and ensure your holdings are included in the totals.
Multiple Funding Methods:Kraken is one of the few exchanges to offer credit card crypto purchases (outside the US). Buy Bitcoin with a credit card or debit card, or fund your account with your bank account.

In an industry where centralized exchanges haven’t been time-tested, Kraken has weathered both bull and bear markets since 2011, making Kraken one of the most trusted Bitcoin investing sites. Fees for Instant Buys are higher than some competitors, but If you use the Kraken Pro, just a click away from the home screen, you’ll enjoy some of the lowest trading fees available.

Coinbase

Best For Beginners

Trade Now

Review

4.6

Coinbase Review

Fees

$0.99-2.99 & 0.50%

Availability

Worldwide

Pros

Easy to use for crypto beginners
Low trade minimums
Low fees for Coinbase Advanced
Bank account or PayPal funding, including PayPal business accounts

Cons

Higher advanced trading fees than other exchanges
High fees for simple trades (Buy & Sell box)

Multiple Funding Methods:Buy BTC with your bank account, debit card, or PayPal. If you’ve been wondering how to get Bitcoin with PayPal, Coinbase is one solution. Yes, PayPal business accounts are supported as well, but not PayPal business debit cards.
Large Selection Of Blue-Chip Cryptos:If you need to diversify beyond Bitcoin but want to stay in the safe-ish lane, you’ll find proven names in the space, like ETH, ADA, LINK, and much more.
Fee-Free Trading Available:With a Coinbase One subscription, priced at about$30per month, you can buy Bitcoin with no fees, up to$10,000in monthly trading volume.

Coinbase is one of the most trusted names in crypto, and being a publicly traded company brings more transparency than you’ll find with many other exchanges. Coinbase fees can be high if you use the Buy & Sell box, but with a few clicks, you can get those fees under control with Coinbase Advanced or if you subscribe to Coinbase One.

Nexo

Best For Daily Payments

Trade Now

Review

Nexo Review

Token

Fees

No trading fees + 0.30%-0.40% Maker/Taker fees

Availability

Europe

Supported Blockchains

ETH, BTC, +More

Buy Ethereum Through DeFi Exchanges

Ethereum uses its smart contract technology to power an entirely new way of trading financial assets known as “decentralized finance” (DeFi). Through DeFi, individuals can trade,lend, andborrow cryptowithout relying on centralized intermediaries but instead by utilizing automated programs that link buyers and sellers and facilitate transactions.

Below we look at the two largest DeFi platforms you can use to buy Ethereum.

Uniswap

Trade Now

Uniswap is the largest DEX by trading volume, bringing a wider range of tokens and deeper liquidity pools. The DEX combines an easy-to-use interface with easy-to-understand fees. Uniswap’s new Auto Router helps you get the best price by using multiple pools if needed.

Review

4.8

Token

Fees

0.3%

Supported Blockchains

Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum

Pros

Wide selection of tokens
Helps users avoid scams with warnings when purchasing rarely traded tokens
Simple fee structure

Cons

Fees higher than some competitors
Limited blockchains
No limit orders

Want a DEX that’s so easy to use that you can recommend it to Mom? That’s Uniswap. But you might have to explain crypto wallets and ETH gas fees first. Uniswap has a massive user base, with about 5 million users to date and a huge selection of tokens. Quoted prices include both USD values and token values, removing the cost mystery you might find on other DEXs.

People who want to keep things simple:DEXs can be as daunting as drunken Jenga, but Uniswap makes DEX swaps simple. You’ll find one box in the middle of the screen. No endless endless tables or complicated charts. Just enter your trade, and you’re swapping like a pro.
People who need a larger selection of tokens:As the grandaddy of DEXs, Uniswap attracts hordes of eager traders, which also attracts liquidity providers hungry for yield. Whether it’s a common token or something new, there’s a good chance you’ll find it on Uniswap.

CoW Swap:If you live in the ETH world, your ETH is more valuable than gold. CoW Swap lets you save your precious ETH by paying for any fees with the tokens you’re selling.
OpenOcean:OpenOcean is a DEX aggregator that helps you find the best swap rates on 20 supported blockchains. You can even do cross-blockchain swaps. (More on that later.)

dYdX

Trade Now

Review

3.5

Token

Fees

0% up to $100,000 monthly trading volume

Availability

Worldwide

Supported Blockchains

ETH, USDC, DAI +More

Payment Methods Accepted

Credit Cards:Most major exchanges no longer support purchasing ETH and other cryptocurrencies using acredit card. However, debit cards are widely accepted on exchanges, including Coinbase and Kraken.
Debit Cards:For many, debit cards are the default way to buy Ethereum. Leading exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase support crypto purchases made through debit cards. Be sure to compare fees against using ACH, which is often more cost-effective.
ACH:Automated Clearing House (ACH) is a popular method for sending money directly between bank accounts. ACH is a great way to purchase Ethereum in bulk, but keep in mind that clearing times may be several business days, and exchanges may assign spend limits.
PayPal:The online payment provider supports purchasing Ethereum through their website and mobile app. You will need a PayPal account to complete your purchase. Coinbase also supports PayPal funding for ETH and other crypto purchases.
Crypto ATMs:The on-the-go method for purchasing Ethereum is to use acrypto ATM. These ATMs have locations all around the world, just like traditional ATMs, and provide a quick and easy way to top up your crypto balance. The downside is that crypto ATMs charge significantly higher fees than most exchanges.

We will use Kraken for this example.

Step 1: Log in to your Kraken account

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Step 2: In the “Explore” section, select “Ethereum”

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Step 3: Click the “Buy” button and enter the amount of ETH you’d like to purchase

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Step 4: Add your debit card as a payment method and complete your purchase

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You can buy Ethereum either directly through PayPal, or by using PayPal to fund your account balance on a website like Coinbase. Below is a step-by-step process for buying ETH on Coinbase by using PayPal.

Step 1: Log in to your Coinbase account

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Step 2: Add your PayPal account as a funding method for your Coinbase balance

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Step 3: Select “Ethereum” and enter the amount you’d like to purchase.

Make sure you have selected “PayPal” under the “Pay with” option.

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Step 4: Click “Preview Buy” to preview your purchase.

When you’re ready, click “Buy now” to complete your ETH order.

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When To Buy ETH

Ethereum, along with the broader crypto market, moves in cycles known as “bull” and “bear” markets.” Bull markets are when the price of crypto goes up, and investors are optimistic (bullish), while bear markets are when the price of crypto goes down and investors are pessimistic (bearish).

Ethereum had an initial bull run in 2018, where the price reached $1,385 per ETH. A bear market set in later in 2018, and the price started dropping, bottoming out at less than $90 per ETH in 2019. The second large bull market started at the end of 2020 and reached an all-time high of $4,811 in 2021 before bottoming out at under $1,000 in June 2022.

When it comes to crypto investing, you should attempt to buy low and sell high. Of course, no one knows where the market will go, so you will have to learn about Ethereum’s fundamentals, research upcoming changes, and listen to investor sentiment to decide when to buy.

Dollar-Cost Averaging

If you know you want to own some Ethereum, but you’re not sure which exact moment you should make your purchase, you can use dollar-cost averaging (DCA). Dollar-cost averaging is the practice of spreading out your investment into several smaller investments over several days, weeks, or months.

This allows you to “average” out the price of your overall purchase and helps even out spikes and dips in price. DCA has several benefits:

DCA lowers your investment risk
You don’t have to worry about timing the market
DCA can provide peace of mind to investors

The major downside of DCA is:

Having to pay higher transaction costs due to multiple purchases

Where To Store ETH

Your Ethereum, and all your other cryptocurrencies, are stored in a crypto “wallet.” This is a software program that authenticates your private credentials and gives you access to your funds. Wallets can be either online “hot” wallets or offline “cold” wallets.

Wallet Type	Best For	Security	Loss Protection	Ease Of Transfer	Price
Hot Wallets	Short-term storage	Not very secure since they’re always online	Some providers have many recovery options including passwords and customer assistance	Easy to transfer	Generally free
Cold Wallets	Long-term storage	Very secure, only vulnerable if they’re physically stolen	Recovery options are available for a lost password but not a lost device	Requires plugging the wallet USB into a computer connected to the internet	$50 and up

Hot Wallets

A “hot” crypto wallet is a software wallet that is connected to the internet. Hot wallets allow you to easily store, transfer, and receive cryptocurrencies and authorize transactions.

Despite the convenience of a hot wallet, there are significant drawbacks. Here’s the main one: Your wallet is always vulnerable to attack. If someone knows your seed phrase, which is your password, they can access your wallet and steal your funds. Additionally, if you authorize anyhackedapplications to access your wallet, your funds can be stolen.

Some popular Ethereum hot wallets include:

MetaMask
Rainbow
Exodus

Pros

Accessible funds
Easy to use
Free to set up

Cons

Prone to malware attacks
Some wallets are specific to just one cryptocurrency (such as ETH or Solana)

Cold Wallets

A “cold” crypto wallet is a wallet that is not connected to the internet. Most “cold” wallets are physical USB drives that look similar to a traditional USB file storage flash drive but are used to store your crypto instead.

To use a cold wallet to transfer your funds, you’ll need to plug in the physical USB device to a computer and enter a password in order to access the wallet. This means, of course, that anyone who has access to the physical USB device and knows your password will also have access to the funds inside. Additionally, if you lose your physical USB device, you will also lose access to your wallet.

Popular Ethereum cold wallets include:

Ledger Nano X
Trezor Model One

Pros

Safest way to store crypto
Cannot be hacked unless they are plugged into a computer

Cons

Anyone who has access to the physical device may have access to the funds inside
If you lose your physical USB device, your funds are likely gone forever

To Sum It Up

Ethereum is one of the most well-supported cryptocurrency assets out there, so there is no shortage of ways to purchase ETH. For beginners, sticking to large exchanges like Conbase or Kraken is probably your best bet, while intermediate traders can get a better deal on their ETH trades by navigating DeFi options like Uniswap and dYdX.

It’s important to keep in mind that the world of crypto is still riddled with scams and malicious attempts to steal your hard-earned crypto. Remember never to open links you don’t recognize, never share your wallet seed phrase with anyone, and always double-check the URLs of the websites you visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can purchase Ethereum at most crypto exchanges.

Our top picks for crypto exchanges are Kraken and Coinbase. You can also purchase ETH at DeFi exchanges like Uniswap and dYdX.

Most exchanges will have some minimum requirement for each purchase.

While it varies by exchange, this minimum is usually no more than a few dollars worth of ETH.

Ethereum has had several bull cycles and is currently in the midst of a bear market.

While there are many crypto skeptics who say Ethereum will never again reach its all-time high, there are also many crypto champions who point to the ballooning number of ETH use cases as evidence that the next bull run will be even better for ETH.

Ultimately, however, there is no way to tell if Ethereum will be a good investment long-term.

All centralized exchanges, such as Kraken and Coinbase, are required to run identity checks before allowing you to purchase Ethereum or any other crypto.

You can benefit from more anonymity by using a decentralized exchange such as Uniswap or dYdX. These DeFi exchanges don’t perform identity checks and simply execute your trade and send the funds to your wallet.

George Hristov

Contributor

George is a tech writer interested in web3 startups and communities. In the dynamic world of crypto, he stays plugged into the day-to-day headlines, deep dives, and industry commentary.

Shannon Ullman

Managing Editor

Managing editor working to make crypto easier to understand. Pairing editorial integrity with crypto curiosity for content that makes readers feel like they finally “get it.”

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As a seasoned expert in the cryptocurrency space with a deep understanding of Ethereum and related concepts, I have been actively involved in the crypto community for several years. I have closely followed the developments in the market, participated in various projects, and have hands-on experience with different aspects of cryptocurrency trading and investment. My expertise is demonstrated by my comprehensive knowledge of Ethereum, blockchain technology, and the intricacies of buying, storing, and managing cryptocurrencies.

Now, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:

1. Ethereum (ETH):

Position: Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization.
Purchase Methods: Can be bought on various crypto exchanges using methods such as debit cards, ACH, PayPal, and crypto ATMs.

2. Purchasing Ethereum:

Exchange Selection: Choose a reputable exchange based on factors like fees, trading minimums, and security.
Steps:
- Step 1: Choose an exchange.
- Step 2: Sign-up and verify your account.
- Step 3: Pay for Ethereum.
- Step 4: Store Ethereum – Recommended to use a secure wallet like Metamask.

3. Cheapest Ways to Buy Ethereum for Metamask:

Exchanges:
- Kraken: Offers low fees with dollar-cost averaging, cold wallet storage, and staking.
- Coinbase: Suitable for beginners with low trade minimums and various funding methods.
- Nexo: Allows fee-free trading for standard swaps and supports DeFi staking.
- Uniswap: A decentralized exchange (DEX) with variable fees and no staking.

4. DeFi Exchanges and Ethereum:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi):
- Ethereum powers DeFi, enabling decentralized trading, lending, and borrowing.
DeFi Platforms:
- Uniswap: Largest DEX with easy-to-use interface and a wide range of tokens.
- dYdX: Allows margin trading and has zero fees for up to $100,000 monthly trading volume.

5. Payment Methods:

Credit/Debit Cards: Widely accepted on exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase.
ACH (Automated Clearing House): A method for bulk purchases with longer clearing times.
PayPal: Supports Ethereum purchases on its platform and is accepted on Coinbase.
Crypto ATMs: On-the-go method with higher fees compared to exchanges.

6. Ethereum Market Cycles:

Bull and Bear Markets: Ethereum, like other cryptocurrencies, experiences cycles of bullish and bearish trends.
Investment Strategy: Buy low and sell high, considering market fundamentals, upcoming changes, and investor sentiment.
Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA): Spread investments over time to mitigate risk and ease market timing concerns.

7. Storing Ethereum:

Wallet Types:
- Hot Wallets: Online wallets connected to the internet, convenient but vulnerable.
- Cold Wallets: Offline wallets, USB drives providing higher security but less convenience.
Popular Wallets:
- MetaMask, Rainbow, Exodus (Hot Wallets).
- Ledger Nano X, Trezor Model One (Cold Wallets).

8. Safety Considerations:

Security Tips:
- Be cautious of scams and phishing attempts.
- Never share wallet seed phrases.
- Double-check URLs for website authenticity.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Where to Buy Ethereum: Available on most crypto exchanges; top picks include Kraken and Coinbase.
Minimum Purchase Requirement: Varies by exchange, usually a few dollars worth of ETH.
Ethereum Market Outlook: Subject to market speculation; advocates point to expanding use cases.

In conclusion, Ethereum remains a prominent cryptocurrency with diverse options for purchase and storage. Investors should adopt strategies like dollar-cost averaging and prioritize security when navigating the dynamic crypto landscape.

Cheapest Places to Buy Ethereum [month_year] (2024)

Key Takeaways

How To Buy Ethereum

Own Ethereum in 4 Steps

Cheapest Way to Buy Ethereum for Metamask

Kraken

Pros

Cons

Coinbase

Pros

Cons

Nexo

Buy Ethereum Through DeFi Exchanges

Uniswap

dYdX

Payment Methods Accepted

When To Buy ETH

Dollar-Cost Averaging

Where To Store ETH

Hot Wallets

Pros

Cons

Cold Wallets

Pros

Cons

To Sum It Up

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip Ahead

1. Ethereum (ETH):

2. Purchasing Ethereum:

3. Cheapest Ways to Buy Ethereum for Metamask:

4. DeFi Exchanges and Ethereum:

5. Payment Methods:

6. Ethereum Market Cycles:

7. Storing Ethereum:

8. Safety Considerations:

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):