Since launching 12 years ago, Bankless Times has brought unbiased news and leading comparison in the crypto & financial markets. Our articles and guides are based on high quality, fact checked research with our readers best interests at heart, and we seek to apply our vigorous journalistic standards to all of our efforts.
BanklessTimes.com is dedicated to helping customers learn more about trading, investing and the future of finance. We accept commission from some of the providers on our site, and this may affect where they are positioned on our lists. This affiliate advertising model allows us to continue providing content to our readers for free. Our reviews are not influenced by this and are impartial. You can find out more about our business model here.
How to Buy Cardano in 2024 – Buy ADA
Cardano (ADA) is often referred to as the next “Ethereum Killer” with its high scalability, low transfer fees, and smart contract functionality. However, cryptocurrency is still in its early stages, and there is still a lot of progress to be made, leaving many to believe that ADA is a long-term investment proposition.
This guide will focus on the best platforms to invest in Cardano, such as Coinbase, Binance, along with some easy step-by-step guides to help you begin investing.
Best Crypto Exchanges to Buy ADA
Exchange | Why we like it | Best for |
---|---|---|
Coinbase | – User-friendly interface – Native crypto wallet – Earn interest on your crypto – Low account minimum | Beginners looking to trade large-cap coins. |
eToro | – Access stocks and crypto in one place – Copy the trades of experts – Regulated by global bodies – Access Bitcoin Spot ETF | Investors who want to buy crypto and stocks. |
Kraken | – Cold wallet storage – Trade with leverage up to 5x – Advanced traders can access – Kraken Pro with sophisticated trading tools – Over 200 cryptocurrencies available | Advanced traders who are interested in margin trading. |
Crypto.com | – Excellent mobile app – Users can receive trading discounts by holding CRO – Native decentralized wallet – Over 250 cryptocurrencies available | Traders who want to manage their portfolio on their mobile phones. |
Binance | – Over 500 cryptocurrencies available – Extensive range of educational materials – Automated trading | Users who are looking to build a diverse portfolio with lots of different cryptos. |
Best Platforms to Buy and Trade ADA
Now let’s dive into the best crypto brokers and crypto exchanges for buying ADA.
Buy ADA using cryptocurrency brokers – the easiest way
The easiest way to purchase ADA is by using cryptocurrency brokers since they offer simple interfaces and buying processes. The options below offer multiple deposit methods, charting tools, and high levels of security.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Pepperstone |
$10 |
|
🥈 Coinbase |
$6 |
|
🥉 Binance |
$1 |
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a useful platform for trading Cardano due to its user-friendly interfaces. Also, this broker has an in-depth learning section that teaches beginners various subjects about trading. Also, you can open a demo account to familiarize yourself with what you’ve learned before trading with real money.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a top exchange that recently changed its fees to more favorable rates. Clients can purchase ADA using multiple trading pairs, and the exchange offers a private wallet to hold your coins securely.
Binance
This crypto exchange offers an outstanding service for purchasing ADA because of its several deposit methods, trading pairs for ADA and other crypto assets, and passive investment opportunities afterward. Moreover, Binance provides trading interfaces with tools for beginners and experts.
Best Wallets to Buy and Store ADA – Comparison
Cryptocurrency wallets are devices or software that will hold your coins securely. Hardware wallets are the preferred way to store your crypto assets, as leaving them on an exchange can be risky because they are targets for cyber attacks. Moreover, software wallets are free to use, and the only cost you’ll encounter is transfer fees. Therefore, we advise using them after investing in ADA or other cryptocurrencies. Hardware wallets are safer.
Also, Bitcoin wallets are often compatible with multiple coins, so you can use them to store all your investments.
Provider |
Wallet Type |
Get Started |
🥇 Ledger Nano X |
Hardware |
|
🥈 Trust Wallet |
Software |
|
🥉 Guarda Wallet |
Software |
Buy ADA Using CFDs – Best for Trading
Brokers have entered the cryptocurrency market by offering CFDs (Contract for Differences) to their clients. This is a derivative product, so you will not own real coins. However, cryptocurrency brokers often have an easier buying process, making them convenient for beginners. Here are the top three platforms for acquiring Cardano.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Pepperstone |
$10 |
|
🥈 Eightcap |
$35 |
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a useful platform for trading Cardano due to its user-friendly interfaces. Also, this broker has an in-depth learning section that teaches beginners various subjects about trading. Also, you can open a demo account to familiarize yourself with what you’ve learned before trading with real money.
Eightcap
Eightcap is a popular CFD broker that supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, including Cardano. Perhaps their best feature is social trading, which lets you look at successful portfolios and copy them. Also, their customer support is amazing, so you can receive help quickly when investing in ADA.
Best Apps to Buy ADA – Most Convenient
The most convenient way to buy Cardano is through a cryptocurrency exchange due to their simple convert pages and competitive fees. They also let you withdraw coins to a private wallet for better protection. These are our top three picks that offer the most convenience.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Coinbase |
$6 |
|
🥈 Binance |
$1 |
|
🥉 Kraken |
$1.60 |
Buy ADA with Exchanges – The Cheapest Way
Cryptocurrency exchanges offer different fee structures that will impact the quantity of ADA you can buy. We advise using Binance and KuCoin since they have native cryptocurrencies, which give a 25% discount on fees. On the other hand, Kraken is known for being the “People’s Exchange” and having reliable security.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Binance |
$1 |
|
🥈 KuCoin |
$1 |
|
🥉 Kraken |
$1.60 |
Buy ADA on Binance: Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Create an Account
Register for a new account through the official Binance website. Enter your email and password, then accept the terms of service. Verify your email, identity, and physical address to complete your account.
Step 2: Add Funds
Transfer funds into your account using your preferred payment method.
Step 3: Enter the Trading Platform
Click the trade tab at the top of the screen and choose “Spot”. Then search for the ADA trading pair that correlates with your deposited currency. For example, pick the USD/ADA pair if you have US dollars.
Step 4: Execute the Trade
Now, type in how much you are willing to pay for each Cardano coin and the amount you want to acquire. Finish by clicking the green “Buy ADA” button.
Step 5: Confirm the Transaction Using the Blockchain Explorer
All transactions are visible on the blockchain explorer, letting you verify if a payment has truly been sent. However, you will not see these transactions when trading through a centralized exchange. Payments are documented when transactions have been made to and from exchanges and between crypto wallets. The best websites to track transactions are Etherscan, BscScan, and Blockchair.
Buy ADA Using Decentralized Exchanges (DEX) – The New Way
Decentralized exchanges are dApps that let you trade coins without revealing your identity. They work by using smart contracts, so only cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Cardano, and Binance Coin can host them. Also, you’ll need a crypto wallet to connect to a DEX, so you cannot trade with fiat currency. Here are the top decentralized exchanges for buying ADA:
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
🥇 PancakeSwap |
Varies |
🥈 SundaeSwap |
Varies |
🥉 ADAX |
Varies |
Buy ADA on PancakeSwap: Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Connect Your Wallet
Enter the PancakeSwap dApp and connect your crypto wallet to the platform. You do this by clicking the “Connect Wallet” button and choosing the wallet you use. Then type in your password.
Step 2: Select Cardano
In the swap page, choose the coin you have in your wallet, and in the bottom part, search for Cardano.
Step 3: Exchange
Finally, press the swap button, and PancakeSwap will showcase the fees you’ll pay. Also, your wallet app will ask you to confirm the transaction, so agree if you accept the trade terms.
Can You Buy ADA Using P2P Services?
After thoroughly researching the top P2P platforms, they do not offer buying opportunities for ADA. However, you can find buyers or sellers through social media groups centered around your location. Afterward, you can set up the time, location, and spreads yourself. This buying method is often cheaper as you don’t have to pay exchange rates, and Cardano has low transfer fees.
Can You Buy ADA Using Other Trading Platforms?
Now we’ll go over the most popular platforms and if you can buy ADA through them. Also, the fee rates will be disclosed for full transparency.
Cryptocurrency Platform |
Can You Buy ADA? |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Review |
Binance |
Yes |
$1 |
Binance review |
TD Ameritrade |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Bitstamp |
Yes |
$5 |
Bitstamp review |
Bittrex |
Yes |
$3.50 |
Bittrex review |
Coinbase |
Yes |
$6 |
Coinbase review |
Poloniex |
Yes |
$1.55 |
Poloniex review |
BitMart |
Yes |
$2.50 |
N/A |
Bitrue |
Yes |
$2 |
Bitrue review |
BlockFi |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
CoinDCX |
Yes |
$2 |
N/A |
CoinSwitch |
Yes |
$5 |
N/A |
Crypto.com |
Yes |
$4 |
N/A |
EtherDelta |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
E*TRADE |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Fidelity |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
FTX |
Yes |
$7 |
N/A |
Gate.io |
Yes |
$7.50 |
N/A |
Hotbit |
Yes |
$2 |
N/A |
Kraken |
Yes |
$1.60 |
Kraken review |
KuCoin |
Yes |
$1 |
KuCoin review |
Robinhood |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Uphold |
Yes |
$19.50 |
N/A |
Venmo |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Voyager |
Yes |
$10 |
N/A |
WazirX |
Yes |
$1.50 |
WazirX review |
Wealthsimple |
Yes |
$15 – $20 |
N/A |
Webull |
Yes |
$10 |
N/A |
What Is the Difference Between Buying ADA and CFDs?
This section highlights the main differences between owning ADA and buying CFDs.
Contract for Differences is a derivative product that a broker can issue. This means you do not convey ownership of ADA when investing through this method. Therefore, you cannot withdraw to a crypto wallet or spend them. On the other hand, buying ADA means you have full control of your coins and can transfer them between wallets.
- Liquidity is not an issue when buying Cardano
- Can leave the funds on the CFD platform
- Limited options of brokers that offer ADA
- Buying process is a lot easier than exchanges
- High fees compared to buying the real asset
- No option to stake your ADA
- You do not convey ownership of ADA
- Cannot withdraw to a private wallet
Best Ways to Buy ADA
This part of the guide will go over on the best methods of acquiring Cardano.
Buy ADA instantly with online banking – the fastest way
Coinbase Pro allows clients to transfer money via online banking. They will provide their information based on the deposit method you select. For example, selecting EUR showcases SEPA transfer details. Typically, transfer speeds from your bank account take a few minutes to an hour to complete.
Buy ADA with PayPal – the safest way
PayPal does not offer Cardano through their crypto section.
Buy ADA using a debit card – the cheapest way
Debit cards are widely available, and you can use them on most exchanges such as Binance, KuCoin, and Coinbase.
Buy ADA using a credit card
Perhaps the best platform to buy ADA via credit card is Crypto.com. They provide several great features for investors like staking programs, debit cards with cashback rewards, and multiple trading pairs for ADA.
Best Platforms to Buy ADA in Other Countries
The top exchanges operate in multiple regions and offer great buying opportunities in ADA. Take a look at the best options based on each individual country.
Country |
Best Provider |
Provider Type |
Fee |
Australia |
Coinbase |
Exchange |
$6 |
the UK |
Coinbase |
Exchange |
$6 |
Canada |
Binance |
Exchange |
$1 |
Hawaii |
Gemini |
Wallet app |
$5 |
India |
WazirX |
Exchange |
$1.50 |
Japan |
KuCoin |
Exchange |
$1 |
Nepal |
Kraken |
Exchange |
$1.60 |
New Zealand |
Binance |
Exchange |
$1 |
Pakistan |
KuCoin |
Exchange |
$1 |
Philippines |
Binance |
Exchange |
$1 |
Singapore |
Crypto.com |
Exchange |
$4 |
UAE |
Coinbase |
Exchange |
$6 |
What Are the Fees When Buying ADA?
Most exchanges have fixed fee rates when purchasing ADA, making it easier to calculate the expected costs. This table shows the standard fees you’ll pay to buy $1,000 worth of ADA and hold for 30-days.
Platform |
Pepperstone Broker |
Coinbase Exchange |
Binance Exchange |
Deposit fees |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Purchase fees |
$10 |
$6 |
$1 |
Holding fees |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Selling Fees |
$10 |
$4 |
$1 |
Payout fees |
$5 |
$10 |
$15 |
Total fees |
$25 |
$20 |
$17 |
Cheapest Way to Buy ADA
The best way to buy ADA is through a large cryptocurrency exchange as they provide the best fee structures. Here’s a rundown of providers that offer ultra-low fees.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Binance |
$1 |
|
🥈 KuCoin |
$1 |
|
🥉 Kraken |
$1.60 |
Fastest Way To Buy ADA
The fastest way to acquire ADA is with a crypto broker or exchange that provides simple buying interfaces. All of the platforms listed have simple pages for converting money to Cardano. Also, they have trading software for experienced investors.
Provider |
Fee (USD 1000) |
Get Started |
🥇 Pepperstone |
$10 |
|
🥈 Coinbase |
$6 |
|
🥉 Kraken |
$1.60 |
Should You Buy or Sell ADA?
If you’re undecided if ADA is a great cryptocurrency, here are some pros and cons:
Why should you buy Cardano? |
Why should you sell Cardano? |
Expert development team working on the project. |
Cardano’s price is unstable. |
Ultra-low fees for transferring coins between wallets. |
Cardano is still in development, and there is a lot of progress to be made. |
Cardano is future-proof and ensures unlimited scalability with quick transfers. |
Marketing can do a better job of advertising Cardano. They are technologically more advanced than most coins, but the price does not reflect that. |
Cardano is open-source. |
Charles Hoskinson is a controversial figure (One of the Cardano founders), which can have a negative impact on the project. |
Using a proof of stake protocol ensures the blockchain cannot be breached by malicious attacks. |
Most of the circulating supply is in staking protocols, so the price may be inflated due to coins not being used. |
Remember, you must pay capital gain tax on crypto that you’ve sold and made profits in the US.
ADA Price Prediction: What Is the Future of ADA?
ADA is a popular coin that has experienced significant rallies and huge drops during the bear market. We’ll highlight what can impact the coin’s price and its historical milestones.
What impacts ADA Price?
Several factors can impact the price of ADA, such as:
Demand: The cryptocurrency mainly specializes in smart contracts, so if there is demand for dApps with the coin, it will increase the price. However, low demand for Cardano apps will negatively impact the value.
Marketing: Perhaps the biggest factor is marketing because more potential investors see the coin and buy into it.
Competition: There are many “Ethereum killers” today offering smart contracts and better transaction fees. However, the increase in competition means businesses and people would use alternative coins than Cardano, decreasing the demand.
Regulations: Crypto regulations are becoming stricter, making investing and spending ADA more difficult.
Market Status: How the market is performing plays a huge role. If there is a bear market, we can expect ADA’s value to be low. On the other hand, if we are in a bull market, then ADA will rise in price as more investors purchase the coin.
ADA has performed extremely well since its creation in 2017. However, the coin hasn’t seen much momentum due to delays and development issues until the 2021 bull run began.
Other Ways to Make Money With Cardano in 2024
Here are different ways you can invest your money with Cardano.
Stake ADA using DeFi or CeFi
Cardano is available to stake on Binance through their earning programs. Also, you can use decentralized exchanges that offer Cardano staking and liquidity pools.
Buy ADA using ETPs (ETFs & ETNs)
Unfortunately, there are not many platforms that offer ADA ETPs. CoinShares is one of the only sites that issue Cardano ETPs.
Buy and sell NFTs using ADA
Cardano has NFT capabilities and currently hosts over 800,000 pieces of art. The top marketplace for Cardano NFTs is CFNT.io.
Buy stocks and shares in companies owning Cardano
There are no companies that have disclosed if they bought or are holding shares in Cardano. The only recent news is FD7 Ventures have bought $380 million worth of ADA, but they do not have tradable stocks.
Cardano mining
ADA cannot be mined because it uses a POS system.
Use Cardano faucets
Faucets are rewards given by a cryptocurrency exchange for completing easy tasks. The best way to earn cryptos like ADA is through Coinbase’s earn section.
What Cryptocurrencies Are Similar to ADA?
Below you’ll find alternative smart contracts coins you may want to look into.
Coin |
Symbol |
Learn how to buy |
Ethereum |
ETH |
Buy Ethereum |
Tron |
TRX |
Buy Tron |
Algorand |
ALGO |
Buy Algorand |
Cosmos |
ATOM |
Buy Cosmos |
Tezos |
XTZ |
Buy Tezos |
Best Alternatives to ADA
Solana
Both Cardano and Solana are smart-contract-enabled projects that provide their communities with access to a variety of functionalities within their respective decentralized financial ecosystems (DeFi), which is one of their many commonalities. Solana and Cardano have been called “Ethereum killers” on numerous occasions, but Solana has supported this concept with its fast transactions, scalability, and low transaction costs.
Sandbox
Users of SAND can trade it on major exchange platforms. Creators and players have many DeFi opportunities in the virtual sandbox world, and in the Metaverse, users can buy, develop, and trade virtual land.
Polygon
MATIC is the native cryptocurrency of the Polygon blockchain and an ERC-20 token. Sandbox rewards contributors who help secure the blockchain and pay transaction fees.
What to Consider when Investing in ADA
The project’s developers have some ambitious goals in mind. By integrating Cardano technology, the team aims to restore trust in international economic systems. In particular, the platform presents an international business model that is safer, more transparent, and more sustainable.
In addition, the creators of Cardano want to make financial services accessible to people who are unbanked. It is estimated that there are currently over 1.7 billion unbanked people. With this in mind, Cardano is actively working on initiatives in Africa and other underdeveloped countries.
Cardano’s third goal is to help stabilize the dApp market. Applying security and sustainability specifically to decentralized applications, systems and society is the main focus of the platform.
Is It Still Worth Investing in ADA or Not?
ADA is definitely worth buying if you want to hold long-term because the coin has an amazing development team, a detailed roadmap, and multiple use-cases. The coin has experienced significant growth during bull runs and is often referred to as the next “Ethereum killer”. Therefore, many consider ADA a safe investment in the crypto world.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount you invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions.
FAQs
What is the best provider to buy Cardano ADA in the US?
The best provider in the United States is Coinbase. They offer clients multiple payment options and trading pairs for ADA.
What is the cheapest provider to buy Cardano in the US?
Binance.US has the best fee structure for clients in the United States. Buying ADA for $1,000 will result in a $1 fee since their starting rate is 0.01%
Is it worth investing in Cardano right now?
Yes, the coin is still in its early stages being launched in 2017, and there is huge potential for it to grow. Also, the coin has multiple use-cases giving it real value, unlike most crypto projects.
Is there a limit to how many Cardano coins I can buy?
There is no limit when using a crypto broker as they issue CFDs. However, exchanges can have a limit depending on their liquidity.
Can you buy Cardano on the blockchain?
You can only buy Cardano through a broker, exchange, or real-world trading. There is no option to buy Cardano ADA directly from the blockchain.
What can you buy with Cardano?
You can buy a limited number of things with Cardano as the coin is still in its early stages. The coin is mainly used to buy NFTs, use with dApps, and make payments with companies that accept crypto.
Can You Buy Cardano Offline?
You cannot buy Cardano ADA offline since DEXs, CEXs, brokers, and P2P platforms require an internet connection to trade.
How to Buy Cardano Without Verification?
You may use a DEX to buy Cardano ADA without verification. The best option is PancakeSwap because they have high liquidity and various trading settings. Also, there is no signup process with this decentralized exchange, so no ID verification is needed.
How to Buy Cardano Without Registration or KYC?
Cryptocurrency exchanges will let you deposit coins and trade without completing a KYC. However, you cannot deposit fiat currency, so you must have crypto in your wallet beforehand. The platforms that let you deposit and trade without a KYC are KuCoin and Binance.
How to Buy Cardano Anonymously?
How to buy Cardano ADA without revealing your identity? Decentralized exchanges are the best option because you can buy and sell Cardano anonymously. They let you connect your crypto wallet to dApp for trading. Therefore, no account creation or ID is necessary.
How Is Cardano Different From Bitcoin? Cardano Network
The Cardano ecosystem allows other developers to create tokens, decentralized applications, or create other use cases for the scalable blockchain network.
Cardano network uses PoS in its consensus and doesn’t reward Ada as an incentive in a competitive mining process like Bitcoin does.
Does ADA have its own blockchain platform?
Unlike other major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and Ethereum, cardano has its own wallet for the ADA cryptocurrency. With the Daedalus wallet, users don’t just get a wallet, they run a full blockchain node, giving them total control over their funds and the ability to ensure transparency over the Cardano blockchain.