Bankless Times

How To Buy Altcoins

Amala Pillai
Amala Pillai
January 5th, 2024
Why trust us
Advertiser Disclosure

Altcoins are a collection of various cryptocurrencies available to trade that are separate from the world’s first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. In this article, we’ll be exploring how to buy Altcoins, which Altcoins to buy, and where to buy Altcoins.

Also, we will discover what Altcoins are, how Altcoins work, and what you should consider when buying Altcoins in 2024.

Best Brokers to Buy Altcoins in 2024

If you are looking for where to buy Altcoins and the best ways to buy Altcoins, you may want to check out the following list of the best cryptocurrency brokers and trading platforms below.

Sort by
eToro8.7Visitetoro.com

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

Plus500 CFD Broker9.8Visitplus500.com

82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Pepperstone9.0Visitpepperstone.com

Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Eightcap8.8Visiteightcap.com
Webull8.3Visitwebull.com
Coinbase8.4Visitcoinbase.com
Changelly7.4VisitChangelly.com
Trading 2128.4Visittrading212.com

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What Is the Difference Between Buying and Trading Altcoins?

There are a few key differences between buying and trading Altcoins.

For one, when you buy Altcoins, you become the owner of the coins themselves. You then store these coins in your broker or exchange accounts. Alternatively, you can also keep them in a personal wallet. In addition, when you buy Altcoins, you can then use those coins as currency wherever they are accepted. You can also use those altcoins to exchange for other types of cryptocurrency or fiat currency.

When you trade Altcoins, you do not own the coins themselves. Instead, you’ll own a contract regarding the value of the coins. In essence, you are speculating on the price rising or falling and trying to make a profit.

How to Buy Altcoins Online?

If you are wondering how to buy Altcoins online, be sure to follow the steps below:

Step 1: Find an Exchange
Step 2: Sign Up and Deposit Funds into Your Account
Step 3: Complete Your Trade
Step 4: Get a Suitable Wallet

How to Trade Altcoins?

If you are looking to trade Altcoins instead of purchasing them, follow these steps:

Step 1: Find a Broker
Step 2: Deposit Funds
Step 3: Decide How to Trade
Step 4: Begin Trading

What Are the Different Ways to Pay for Altcoins?

There are numerous ways you can purchase altcoins, all of which have their pros and cons:

Buy Altcoins with PayPal:

  • As an online wallet, PayPal can be used to deposit, transfer, and withdraw funds to various sites, including exchanges. PayPal primarily deals in fiat currencies, which means this method is only compatible with fiat currency-to-cryptocurrency exchanges and online brokers. However, it has recently taken steps into the cryptocurrency market, opening the door to crypto-to-crypto trading via PayPal.

Buy Altcoins with Credit/Debit Card:

  • Credit and debit cards are the most popular payment methods for exchanges and brokers, allowing you to send funds directly from your bank account.

Buy Altcoins with Bank Transfer:

  • Unfortunately, some countries make it difficult to use your credit card on crypto exchanges and trading platforms. However, bank transfers are another viable option. For example, if you trade with an online broker or exchange, you can send funds from your bank account using the bank’s more convenient payment method. In short, your deposits should be processed within seconds.

Buy Altcoins with Digital Tokens:

  • You can also use the original crypto exchange payment option. Digital tokens are the only available way to purchase other altcoins if you are on a crypto-only form.

What to Consider When Buying Altcoins?

When buying altcoins, you need to consider a few factors. These include:

Deposit Fees:

  • Different platforms will offer different deposit fees. You should compare deposit fees before creating an account with an exchange or broker. Your payment method may also affect how much deposit fees you have to pay.

Trading Fees:

  • Some platforms will add trading fees. Therefore, you should check the trading fees of your chosen platform (as well as any fees to do with your payment method) before deciding on a platform to buy altcoins.

Volatility:

  • The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile. The value of altcoins will always fluctuate. As such, you are just as likely to make a loss on your investment as you are a profit. However, you can use this volatility to your advantage. Many people purchase altcoins when they are very cheap and hold them until prices are high enough to sell again.

Regulations:

  • If you buy your altcoins through a broker or an exchange, you will want to ensure the platform has been regulated by the country’s relevant authorities. When a trading platform is regulated, they follow certain procedures to minimise the security and safety risks of its users’ funds.

Long-term Holding:

  • This involves purchasing crypto and waiting for its value to rise over time. This can yield significant profit but can also lead to significant losses if the price plummets.

Short-term Holding:

  • You may want to consider short-term holding, which involves purchasing altcoins and selling them within one year. Keep in mind that you will have to pay tax if you profit over a certain amount.

Is It Safe to Buy Altcoins Online?

Yes, purchasing altcoins online can be safe, provided you take a few additional security steps.

One thing you need to remember is that altcoin transactions are irreversible. As such, you should never type your wallet address by hand. Also, double-check those details before completing a transaction.

You should also avoid storing a substantial amount of crypto in your exchange wallet. If the exchange is fraudulent or is targeted by hackers, you’ll lose those funds. Instead, you should opt for a personal wallet which gives you additional security. You may want to purchase a hardware wallet, which can be unplugged from your device and kept securely in your home or a safe.

That being said, many exchanges will use two-factor authentication to limit fraud and protect their users.

How to Store Altcoins?

If you are planning on trading your altcoins in the near future, you can usually store your coins in your exchange wallet. However, as aforementioned, if you intend to hold onto those funds for a long time (if you have a long-term holding strategy), you will want to invest in a personal wallet. This can be an online service or even a hardware wallet, both of which add additional security to your altcoin investment.

How to Sell Altcoins?

If you want to sell altcoins, you can usually do so on the same service you bought them in the first place. However, there are numerous methods available. These include:

  • Exchanges

  • Crypto ATMs

  • Brokers

  • P2P services

  • Sell for cash

Do some research and figure out which selling method works for you. You should also be aware that most platforms will charge a small seller’s fee.

Is It Worth Buying Altcoins Right Now?

This depends on your goals. If you want to purchase altcoins to use and spend them, you can do this whenever you like as long as you can afford them. However, if you’re going to make a profit either in the short or long term, there are more things to keep in mind. For example, you want to look at how those coins have performed. As such, you should keep up to date with the latest news and analysis regarding various altcoin markets.

Final Thoughts. Best Ways to Buy Altcoins.

There are numerous ways to purchase altcoins and many things to consider when choosing your currency or platform. Exchanges are the most convenient way to purchase altcoins, but that does not mean you should rule out other methods that may work better for you. Remember to do enough research on altcoins to understand the right time to buy and come up with a buying and selling strategy that helps you save money and earn bigger profits.

Related Altcoin Guides

Contributors

Amala Pillai
Senior Content Editor
Amala is custom content and news editor based in London. She is a former financial journalist based in Singapore with 7 years of experience covering a range of business and financial topics. Now she focuses on crypto and macro-economics. She has also covered feature profiles, tech, business politics and ESG— she was the Environment Editor for the Solutions Newspaper, 2016 and worked in an editorial capacity at both News corp (Dow Jones) and JBN. She also has experience as a content creator, strategist and brand editor for various financial institutions and banks.