Can you buy crypto with a credit card?

A card purchase is the fastest route from euros to crypto: the money arrives instantly and the coins are credited in the same step. That speed is paid for. Card schemes charge merchants more than bank transfers do, and platforms pass the cost on, either as a separate surcharge or inside the price. On top of that come the normal costs of the purchase itself, such as the spread or a trading fee, so with a card the two add up.

What does a card payment cost?

These are the card surcharges in our configuration, which we update whenever we re-check each platform's tariffs:

A zero surcharge does not make a purchase free. The spread, the gap between your price and the market, still applies, and some platforms build their margin into it; see why crypto prices differ between exchanges. That is why our comparer measures how much crypto you actually receive.

Card, SEPA or balance?

For most platforms, funding your account by SEPA transfer and buying from the euro balance is cheaper than paying by card, at the cost of waiting for the transfer. If you buy regularly, that difference adds up. In the comparer you can switch between card and euro balance and see the gap for your own amount.

Things to check with your card issuer

• Credit is borrowed money. If you buy crypto on credit and the price falls, you still owe the full amount. European supervisors warn that consumers can lose all the money they put into crypto.
• Cash-advance treatment. Some issuers treat crypto purchases as cash withdrawals, with extra fees and interest from day one. Check your card terms.
• Limits and refusals. Cards have spending limits, and some banks block payments to crypto platforms or ask for extra confirmation.

Is paying by card safe?

On a licensed exchange, yes. Never pay by card on a site you found through an advert, a social media tip or a stranger offering to help you invest; fraudsters favour cards because money moves fast. Before your first purchase, a licensed platform will verify your identity; why exchanges ask for ID explains the rules behind that.

Finding the cheapest route

Open the comparer or a coin page such as buy bitcoin, choose card as payment method and compare the results with paying from your balance. Only platforms on our MiCA overview are included.