Cryptocurrencies have become very popular among teenagers, who see them as a way to make money, express their creativity, and participate in a global community.
According to a survey by Piper Sandlerl, 9% of teens in the US already own some form of cryptocurrency, whereas another report by RSM US suggests that 25% of teens would invest in digital assets if given funds.
However, buying cryptocurrency is more challenging than it sounds, especially if you are under 18. Most of the popular cryptocurrency exchanges require you to verify your identity and age with a government-issued ID. This is because these exchanges must comply with their jurisdictions’ laws and regulations to prevent money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, and other illegal activities.
But does this mean you cannot buy crypto as a teenager? Not at all. In this guide, we will tell you how to buy crypto under 18 safely and legally.
Key Takeaways:
- Cryptocurrency exchanges generally have age restrictions for crypto investments and do not allow underage kids to sign up. But you can use No-KYC crypto apps such as Bybit, Gate.io, and MEXC to buy crypto under 18.
- There are different ways to get crypto when you are under 18, like using decentralized exchanges, P2P platforms, Bitcoin ATMs, or gift cards.
- The safest way to buy crypto when you are underage is to register on an exchange under one of your parent’s or older sibling’s name.
Table of Contents
How to Buy Crypto Under 18: Other Top Methods
Using Best Crypto Exchanges to Buy & Sell Bitcoin Under 18
There are many methods to consider when buying and selling crypto for underage users. However, according to our research, we believe using centralized crypto exchanges can be the safest and fastest way to protect you from hacking and phishing in the crypto space.
As teenagers, here is the list of cryptocurrency exchanges that we highly recommend you explore to buy & sell crypto when you’re under 18:
- Bybit: The best and safest cryptocurrency exchange to buy crypto under 18.
- Kucoin: The best margin trading crypto exchanges.
- PrimeXBT: The best crypto copy trading platform.
- Gate.io: The best for social trading and community engagement.
- MEXC: The best for a wide variety of cryptocurrencies.
- Binance: The best for high liquidity and trading volume.
1. Bybit
No KYC Limits:
- Daily withdrawal limit ≤ 20K USDT
- Monthly withdrawal limit ≤ 100K USDT
- No Access to “Earn Products”
Bybit is our top choice for buying crypto if you’re under 18. It’s a high-volume crypto trading platform, and you don’t need to show your ID to buy cryptocurrencies on the spot market.
You can buy over 420 cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and more. It supports various payment methods like Visa and Mastercard. Bybit also has a mobile app that lets you trade anytime and anywhere. It has over 16 million registered users from more than 200 countries and regions and provides 24/7 customer service support.
Key Features:
- Copy Trading: This feature allows users to follow and copy the trading method from the top traders.
- Trading Bot: This tool allows you to create and run trading strategies automatically.
- Bybit Card: A Mastercard service allows users to spend cryptocurrencies, receive cashback, and earn additional rewards.
- Unified Trading Account: It is a multi-currency trading portal where you get all of Bybit’s core trading products in one place, such as spot, margin, futures, options trading, and perpetual contracts.
2. Kucoin
KuCoin is another ideal trading platform to buy cryptocurrencies or Bitcoin if you’re under 18. This is one of the best margin trading crypto exchanges that lets you trade over 700 digital coins, such as BTC, ETH, LTC, and more.
Kucoin is offering various trading products for users, such as spot, margin, futures, staking, lending, and more. KuCoin supports users from over 200 countries and regions, with over 20 languages. This exchange also has regular events, giveaways, and contests for new users.
Key Features:
- Low costs: You pay only 0.1% for each trade and get discounts if you hold KCS (the KuCoin token).
- High safety: KuCoin has a security team works hard to keep your funds and accounts safe. It is also 100% solvent with 1:1 backed user funds.
- Easy to use: You can use many fiat currencies through P2P markets and card channels. You can also use KuCoin through its website or mobile app.
(Note: Register your new Kucoin account via the link below to grab the limited-time offer)
3. PrimeXBT
The third CEX we recommend in this article is PrimeXBT, one of the best copy trading platforms that let you trade global markets with Crypto, Forex, stocks, and CFD. You can copy top traders and earn the same returns, or let others copy you and earn 20% of their profits.
You can trade many coins and trading pairs with PrimeXBT, such as Bitcoin, ATOM, TRX, ADA, ALGO, SP500, GOLD, SILVER, BRENT, EUR/USD, EUR/JPY, GBP/USD, and more. You can deposit Bitcoin and start trading right away without showing your ID.
PrimeXBT offers an easy-to-use trading interface and low fees to all users. The maker and taker fees are 0.01% for the crypto futures margin trading and 0.05% for other trading markets such as SP500 or GOLD.
Key Features:
- Multi-trading market: Users can trade on crypto and traditional financial markets, such as Forex, S&P 500, Nasdaq composite indices, and commodities (like crude oil and natural gas) in only one account.
- Derivatives Trading: You can use a flexible leverage system with up to 200x for BTC leverage trading and leverage of up to 20x for other crypto assets, such as DOGE, DOT, SOL, etc.
- Fund Safety: PrimeXBT offers high security with cold storage, two-factor authentication, and address whitelisting.
4. Gate.io
Gate.io is another crypto altcoin exchange that doesn’t require ID proof for trading digital assets. It started in 2013 and has over 13 million users. You can trade more than 1,700 cryptos and tokens on Gate.io. Its features and services include spot, futures, margin, lending, staking, startup, and more.
Gate.io is very secure and reliable. It also uses cold storage, 2FA, and anti-phishing codes to protect your account and assets. Gate.io has its own token called GT (GateToken). You can use GT to pay fees, join startup projects, and get other benefits on the platform.
Gate.io charges 0.2% for both makers and takers on spot trading. You can also get discounts on trading fees by holding GT or using the Point Card system. Currently, you can buy and sell Bitcoin without KYC on Gate.io.
Key Features:
- Lending: You can lend your idle assets to other users or the platform to earn interest on a daily or fixed-term basis.
- Trading Bots: You create or automatically copy different strategies for spot, futures, and margin trading, such as DCA or HODLing.
- Startup Launchpad: It allows you to participate in various ICOs and provides benefits as a VIP or GT holder.
Sign up for Gate.io using the code “BgdCUgtf” to receive up to $100 in reward bonus and enjoy -10% trading fees now.
5. MEXC
MEXC is a platform for trading digital assets without KYC. It has low trading fees, such as no fees for spot trading, no fees for futures makers, and a 0.01% fee for futures takers. You can also get a 10% discount by holding MX tokens, the platform token of MEXC.
There are 10 million registered users and more than 200,000 daily active users on MEXC. It also supports more than 1630 trading pairs, including major cryptos, DeFi tokens, NFT tokens, GameFi tokens, and Metaverse tokens. It provides customer support 24/7 via online chat, email, and social media.
Key Features:
- Trading products: MEXC has various products for crypto traders, such as perpetual contracts, leveraged ETFs, margin trading, options trading, and more.
- Kickstarter: It also has a special zone for new and promising projects, called Kickstarter, where users can join token sales and airdrops.
- Top security: MEXC uses many security measures, such as cold wallets, multi-signature mechanisms, anti-DDoS protection, and real-time risk control.
6. Binance
Binance is another popular crypto trading platform with high volume and liquidity. It has a large user base with more than 150M registered users. It supports over 350 digital assets, including BTC, ETH, and other popular altcoins.
Binance has also taken various steps to protect its users and funds from hackers and cyberattacks, such as SAFU (Secure Asset Fund for Users), a backup fund that covers any losses in case of a breach. It has many other popular services like Binance Visa Card, Launchpad, Binance Charity, BNB Chain, and more.
Key Features:
- Binance Earn: You can make passive income by lending, staking, or saving your crypto coins on the platform.
- Trading Bots: You can automate crypto trading with more than 75,613 active strategies on the Binance bot marketplace.
- Binance Academy: You can learn about cryptocurrency and blockchain from educational materials and tutorials.
Using Decentralized Exchanges
Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are like unique online marketplaces where you can buy and sell cryptocurrencies, even if you’re under 18. They differ from centralized exchanges because they don’t rely on a central authority, like a bank. Instead, they use smart contracts, like computer programs that automatically handle transactions.
Here’s how you can use DEXs to buy crypto under 18:
- Get a Crypto Wallet: Get a digital wallet to store your cryptocurrencies. You can easily find wallet apps or websites online. Many of the crypto hot wallets are free. You can use wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Exodus.
- Research DEXs: Look for a decentralized exchange that suits your needs. Some popular ones include Uniswap, PancakeSwap, and SushiSwap. Make sure the DEX supports the cryptocurrencies you want to buy.
- Connect Your Wallet: Connect your cryptocurrency wallet to your DEX account once you’ve chosen a DEX. This allows you to transfer funds in and out of the exchange.
- Add Payment Methods: You can buy crypto using bank transfer, credit, and debit cards on the Uniswap Web App. The minimum purchase amount is $15 for most coins, but it may change depending on payment methods. You can also use PancakeSwap. It also has on-ramp services to buy crypto using credit, debit card, or bank transfers.
- Buy Crypto: Search for the cryptocurrency you want and enter the amount. Confirm the transaction, and the smart contract will do the rest.
Using P2P Exchanges
Here are some of the best P2P apps to buy crypto:
- Paxful: It is the best P2P crypto exchange, with over 12 million users and 350+ ways to pay. Paxful lets you buy Bitcoin with bank transfers, online wallets, gift cards, cash payments, and more. It also gives you a free crypto wallet, a referral program, and a community forum.
- Bisq: It is another open-source decentralized P2P exchange. Bisq has no central server or authority, and you have full control over your trades. It never holds your money and uses 2-of-2 multi-sig wallets to ensure your trades are safe. You can buy and sell Bitcoin with national currencies or other cryptocurrencies and choose from many payment methods. Bisq does not ask for identity verification or registration and keeps your privacy by using Tor by default.
- BitValve: It is a P2P crypto exchange that lets you buy and sell crypto with over 300+ payment methods from anywhere in the world. BitValve ensures your transaction is safe using escrow and holding your money until both parties have finished the trades. You can buy Bitcoin with bank transfers, online wallets, debit/credit cards, gift cards, digital currencies, cash payments, and more. BitValve also does not ask for identity or age verification, you can trade anonymously. It also has a mobile app, a referral program, and a support team.
Using Bitcoin ATMs
Bitcoin ATMs are machines that let you purchase Bitcoin with cash or a debit card. You can locate the closest Bitcoin ATM by using a website such as Coin ATM Radar.
Here are the steps to buy BTC under 18 using Bitcoin ATMs:
- Find a nearby Bitcoin ATM.
- Have a Bitcoin wallet on your device. The wallet is where your crypto will go after you buy it. You can pick any wallet, such as Trust Wallet or Coinbase Wallet.
- Enter how much you want to buy.
- Give your Bitcoin wallet address. You can scan the QR code of your wallet or type it in.
- Pay with cash or card. The ATM will change your money into crypto and send it to your wallet address.
- Get the crypto in your Bitcoin wallet. You should see a message on the screen and your wallet app confirming it.
Using Gift Cards
You can buy gift cards with cash or other payment methods from stores or online platforms and then use them to purchase bitcoin on P2P websites like Paxful and BitValve. You can use many payment methods, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Bank transfer, or credit cards.
Here are some platforms to buy BTC Gift cards under 18 using your fiat currency:
- Bitrefill
- CoinGate
- CryptoRefills
- Coinsbee
- Bitpay
- SwiftRecharge
- eGifter
- Gyft
Working as Freelancer for Crypto Payments
You can work for it online if you want to get crypto without buying it. There are many websites that help you find clients who pay you in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Some of these websites are:
- CryptoJobs: This website helps you find jobs in blockchain technology and crypto companies. You can work in different positions like development, design, marketing, writing, etc. You can also show your resume and portfolio to the employers. Obviously, you can receive payment in BTC from many companies.
- Web3 Jobs: It is the best website for Web3 jobs. You can work on smart contracts, dApps, DeFi, NFTs, and more. Additionally, you can also make a profile and get alerts for new jobs that suit you.
- Remote3: This website is for remote jobs in the Web3 industry. You can search for jobs by category, location, or keyword. You can also apply directly to the employers or join their talent pool to get contacted by them.
- Cryptocurrency Jobs: It is another popular job board for crypto and blockchain enthusiasts. You can find jobs in various sectors, such as engineering, design, business, operations, research, etc. You can also sign up for their newsletter and get the latest jobs in your inbox.
Register On An Exchange Under One Of Your Parent’s Or Older Sibling’s Name
If you’re younger than 18 and want to buy cryptocurrency, you can do it with the help of a parent or older sibling. They can get your coins with their crypto account and send them to your crypto wallet. This is easy and safe, but you need their permission and help.
Also, you can use their identity card to create an account on a crypto exchange and trade digital assets. You can choose any exchange like Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, etc. But you must talk to your parent or sibling and ask them if you can use their name and ID proof to sign up. Tell them why you want to do it, and be honest.
Conclusion
Buying crypto under 18 can be a challenging task, but not an impossible one. There are several ways to access the crypto space, such as peer-to-peer platforms, Bitcoin ATMs, gift cards, and crypto exchange custodial accounts.
However, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should always do your research before making any decision. You should also be aware of the risks involved in crypto investing, such as volatility, scams, hacks, and legal issues.
Crypto is not a get-rich-quick scheme but a new and exciting technology that can offer many opportunities and benefits. If you are interested in buying crypto under 18, you should be responsible, cautious, and informed.
Elevate your crypto trading career with CoinWire Trading signals. Get Premium daily signal calls, trading insight, updates about the current market, and analytics about hidden crypto gems now.
FAQs
Can I buy crypto if I’m under 18?
Yes, you can buy crypto if you’re under 18. However, you need to notice that most well-known crypto exchanges ask you to prove your identity and age before you can buy or trade crypto. Here are our recommendation CEXs (centralized exchanges) that can help you purchase crypto if you’re under 18:
- Bybit (register on the Bybit referral code here to register and earn -10% trading fees)
- MEXC (register on the MEXC referral code here to register and earn -15% trading fees)
- Kucoin (register on the Kucoin referral code here to register and earn -10% trading fees)
Additionally, if you are underage, you can also use peer-to-peer platforms, Bitcoin ATMs, and gift cards. These ways may charge more, have fewer trading pairs, or have more risks than a regulated, centralized crypto exchange.
What crypto wallet can I use under 18?
You can use noncustodial software hot wallets, noncustodial hardware cold or hot wallets, or custodial hardware cold wallets when you’re under 18. This is because cryptocurrency wallets generally do not require any verification. However, crypto hardware wallets are the safest ones.
Some of the safest crypto wallets to use as a teenager are Ledger Nano X, Trezor Model T, MetaMask Wallet, Exodus, and Bitcoin Paper Wallet.
Can I use Binance under 18?
Yes, you can use Binance under 18. You only need to create an account and buy your favorite coins or tokens. Binance is offering many trading pairs and advanced trading options like leverage trading, trading bots, and staking services.
Where to buy crypto under 18?
You have several options to buy cryptocurrency if you’re under 18. Firstly, your parent or guardian can purchase coins for you and send them to your crypto wallet via their crypto account with permission. Alternatively, you can use Bitcoin ATMs to buy crypto with cash or a debit card. You can also swap gift cards for crypto through platforms like BitPay and P2P platforms like Paxful.
Also, you can access no KYC crypto exchanges to buy crypto when you’re under 18. These exchanges provide anonymity for users of all ages but may have trading limitations.
How old do you have to be to buy crypto?
The age requirement to buy crypto varies from country to country, as different countries have different laws and rules about digital assets. In general, most of the legal crypto exchanges need you to be at least 18 years old to make an account and buy or sell crypto.
