How to buy crypto under 18

How to buy crypto under 18

Robert McDougall 

April 18, 2024

Cryptocurrency

Key Takeaways

  • Many popular crypto exchanges have age restrictions and do not allow users under 18 to sign up and buy/trade cryptocurrencies.
  • There are crypto exchanges that do not require ID verification, allowing individuals under 18 to purchase crypto anonymously.
  • Bybit is my recommended exchange for buying crypto if you're under 18, offering various payment options, low trading fees, and no ID verification.
  • Other options include MEXC, KuCoin, Margex, and Weex, each with their own features and benefits for users under 18.

If you're below the age of 18 and wish to purchase cryptocurrency, you might be curious about its legality. In most countries, there are typically no specific laws explicitly prohibiting individuals under 18 from buying crypto. Nevertheless, many reputable cryptocurrency exchanges have established their own policies, prohibiting individuals under 18 from registering, purchasing, or trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Fortunately, there are alternative cryptocurrency exchanges that do not require Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, allowing you to buy cryptocurrency without the need for ID, even if you're under 18. However, it's crucial to be aware of the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrency, as it is an exceptionally volatile asset, and you could potentially lose your entire investment.

Important note: If you are under 18, it's advisable to discuss any investment decisions with your parents or legal guardian. Conduct thorough research and avoid investing more than you can afford to lose. Additionally, please be aware that the information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

In this article, I have compiled a list of cryptocurrency exchanges where individuals under 18 can purchase cryptocurrencies.

The Top Places to Buy Crypto if you're under 18

  1. Bybit: #1 exchange to buy crypto under 18
  2. MEXC: Best site to buy crypto if you're under 18 in the USA
  3. KuCoin: Buy a wide range of coins
  4. Margex: Best for margin trading
  5. Weex: Best for fee-free spot trading, margin market depth, and copy trading
  6. PrimeXBT: Best for CFD trading
  7. Bisq: Best decentralized Bitcoin exchange

Best crypto exchanges to buy crypto under 18: Reviews

Having spent years in the cryptocurrency industry and thoroughly evaluating numerous crypto exchanges, I've identified the top platforms that offer the advantage of anonymity by not requiring ID. This makes them viable options for individuals under 18 who wish to buy cryptocurrency anonymously. Below, I've compiled a list for your consideration. Feel free to browse through and assess which one aligns best with your preferences. Additionally, you can delve into the comprehensive reviews provided for each platform.

#1. Bybit: #1 exchange to buy crypto under 18

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Bybit stands out as an excellent choice for individuals under 18 seeking a crypto exchange. This global platform boasts a user base of over 10 million and facilitates daily trading volumes exceeding $10 billion. Bybit offers a straightforward process for purchasing crypto, allowing you to use various payment methods such as credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and even convenient options like Google Pay and Apple Pay. Notably, you can acquire a selection of popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, and USDT directly with fiat currency.

To gain access to Bybit's full array of cryptocurrencies, including those denoted with 280+, you can purchase USDT and subsequently engage in trading for your desired coin. Furthermore, Bybit maintains competitive trading fees, with spot trading costs as low as 0.1%, enabling you to acquire your preferred cryptocurrencies at an affordable rate.

It's important to note that if you reside in the United States, Bybit is inaccessible due to the platform's IP address restrictions in the country. However, if you are determined to use Bybit from the US, you have the option to use a VPN to circumvent these restrictions. Bybit does not mandate ID verification, allowing you to modify your location to a supported country, such as Australia, to access the platform.

Pros
  • Massive crypto exchange established in 2018, with 10 million+ users
  • Buy crypto using credit/debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or bank transfer
  • Extremely low trading fees
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • No ID verification required, so you can buy crypto if you're under 18
Cons
  • Not available in the USA unless you use VPN

#2. KuCoin: Buy a wide range of coins

If you're under 18 and looking to invest in a diverse range of cryptocurrencies, KuCoin emerges as the premier crypto exchange tailored to your needs. As one of the world's largest cryptocurrency platforms, KuCoin offers an extensive selection of 700+ coins for trading, ensuring you'll discover the crypto assets you wish to invest in.

KuCoin simplifies the process of purchasing crypto with fiat currency, providing a multitude of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, Apple Pay, and various local alternatives. Additionally, trading your cryptocurrencies on KuCoin is straightforward, with fees set at a competitive 0.1%. What's more, if you opt to pay your trading fees using KuCoin's native token (KCS), you'll enjoy a substantial 20% discount, reducing the fees to an impressively low 0.08%.

For individuals under 18 interested in leveraging trading bots to capitalize on cryptocurrency market volatility while they sleep, KuCoin proves to be an excellent choice. KuCoin integrates its own FREE trading bots directly into the exchange, eliminating the need to navigate the complexities of linking external bots to the platform. KuCoin presently offers a range of bot options, including Spot Grid, Futures Grid, Smart Rebalance, DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging), and Infinity Grid bots.

Furthermore, KuCoin offers a plethora of additional features and options, which you can explore in detail in my comprehensive article. If you wish to compare KuCoin against the leading exchange, Bybit, you can also refer to our dedicated comparison article for further insights.

Pros
  • Buy crypto using fiat with a wide range of payment methods
  • More than 700+ coins
  • Low trading fees of 0.1%
  • Free trading bots built into the exchange
  • Crypto lending, crypto borrowing, and staking supported
Cons
  • No live chat support

#3. Margex: Best for margin trading

For individuals under 18 seeking to purchase cryptocurrencies, Margex presents itself as a viable option. Margex offers a user-friendly process for acquiring cryptocurrencies without the need for identification, allowing you to conveniently use your credit card or debit card for these transactions. Beyond its crypto acquisition capabilities, Margex stands out as an excellent platform for margin trading, boasting top-notch security measures.

Margex places a strong emphasis on security, ensuring the protection of user assets. All user assets are stored in cold storage, a secure storage method that reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, Margex employs an innovative system called MP Shield to prevent price manipulation and enhance market integrity. This system leverages liquidity from over 12 providers, utilizes AI algorithms, and continuously monitors trading activities for any suspicious behavior.

However, it's important to note that Margex primarily offers 55 coins on its exchange. While this covers major cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, SOL, and LTC, individuals looking for a broader selection of cryptocurrencies may need to explore other platforms.

To facilitate your crypto purchases on Margex, you can sign up using the provided link and receive a generous $100 bonus for FREE, along with a 15% bonus based on your initial deposit amount. For detailed information on how to redeem this offer and understand its workings, you can refer to this link.

Pros
  • Buy crypto using credit/debit card without ID
  • Excellent customer support
  • Best exchange for margin trading
  • Extremely secure, with safeguards against price manipulation
  • Welcome offer of $100 bonus FREE, plus 15% of your first deposit as bonus
Cons
  • Only has 55 coins to buy or trade

#4. Weex: Best for fee-free spot trading, margin market depth, and copy trading

If you want to not only buy, but trade crypto, then Weex is an excellent choice for you. Weex does not require any identity verification, so you can trade anonymously, which is great if you are under 18.

For those who like to trade on the spot, the good news is that Weex does not charge any fee at all, whether you are a maker or taker! This is an excellent way to maximize your profits as you are not paying any commissions to the exchange. Also, Weex's liquidity is extremely high, even more than MEXC and Bitget, so whether you are making small or large trades, you don't need to worry about your orders being filled. Slippage is also kept to a minimum, and the exchange even compensates you if the slippage ends up being higher than a certain threshold.

Weex also specializes in futures trading, where you can trade USDT perpetual, inverse contracts, and simulated contracts, with low fees of 0.02/0.06% (maker/taker). There are 30+ trading pairs available, and while it is not the widest range of coins, they are the most popular assets.

When you use Weex, you can trust that your funds are always secure, as they have top-notch security, and even have a user protection fund with 1,000 BTC in reserve. If the exchange is hacked, users will be paid out from this reserve fund. Weex also holds several regulatory licenses (US MSB, Canada MSB, and SVGFSA) so you know they are allowed to operate legally in various jurisdictions across the globe.

The main downside is that you cannot buy crypto directly using fiat with Weex. However, if you are just looking to trade, you can buy crypto using another exchange on this list, then transfer it to Weex and start spot trading with 0 fees.

Pros
  • Spot trade with zero fees
  • Trade futures with low fees (0.02/0.06%)
  • High liquidity and minimal slippage
  • Holds several regulatory licenses around the world
  • Copy professional traders with one click
Cons
  • Cannot directly purchase crypto with fiat

#5. PrimeXBT: Best for CFD trading

You may want to consider other options than buying crypto directly, and PrimeXBT is a platform that lets you buy CFDs (contracts for difference). What this means is that instead of buying the cryptocurrency itself, you are buying contracts that will make you money based on the price of the crypto. This means you can even bet on the price to fall, if you think the market is dropping. Not only that, but you can buy CFDs for other markets besides cryptocurrency, including forex, indices, and commodities.

If you are interested in this, but are not confident in your own trading ability, PrimeXBT's Covesting tool (copy trading) makes it simple. You choose to follow one of the most profitable investors, and PrimeXBT will automatically make the same trades as that investor, without any input from you. You can profit from the market easily, just by mimicking what the experienced traders do.

PrimeXBT's trading fees are really low, at only 0.05%, but you must remember that you are margin trading CFDs. Margin trading can be extremely risky, so make sure you do your own research first, to see if it is something right for you, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Pros
  • Invest in 40+ different coins, 50+ forex pairs, 11 stock indices, 5 commodities
  • Covesting lets you copy the trades of successful investors
  • CFD trading means you can bet on prices to rise or fall
  • Live chat support on hand
Cons
  • You do not own the actual cryptocurrency
  • Margin trading is risky

#6. Bisq: Best decentralized Bitcoin exchange 

Bisq rounds out my list of the best places to buy crypto if you are under 18. It is a decentralized exchange, where you can buy Bitcoin anonymously, without even the need to provide your name. It uses Tor, and is extremely secure, with no crypto or fiat funds held on the server.

There are over 15 methods of payment, but the thing to keep in mind is that you can only Bitcoin directly using fiat. To access the other 125+ coins that are available on Bisq, you need to first buy BTC, then trade it for the coin of your choice. The good news is that the trading fees are low, only 0.05% for makers and 0.35% for takers.

However, since it is a decentralized platform, it is not suitable for beginners. On the other hand, if you are quite tech savvy, then you may find Bisq to be the right exchange for you.

Pros
  • Fully decentralized Bitcoin exchange
  • Buy and trade anonymously
  • Extremely secure, with no crypto or fiat funds stored on the server
  • More than 125+ cryptocurrencies supported
  • Over 15+ payment methods accepted
Cons
  • Not suitable for beginners

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you buy cryptocurrency if you are under 18?

While there are generally no legal restrictions on individuals under 18 buying cryptocurrency, many exchanges impose age restrictions and may require ID verification. However, some exchanges do not require ID verification, allowing under-18 users to purchase cryptocurrencies anonymously.

Bybit (read review) is my top choice to buy crypto if you are under 18. Bybit is not available in the US, so if you are a US resident, I suggest my next best option, MEXC (read review).

How can a minor buy crypto?

A minor can buy crypto using an exchange that doesn't require ID verification. Read our article above to find the best option for you.

How do I get a crypto wallet under 18?

You can use decentralized soft wallets that do not require KYC, such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Atomic Wallet. Alternatively, you can purchase a hardware wallet, such as Trezor or Ledger.

Can I use Coinbase under 18?

Coinbase changed their rules on July 25, 2017, and implemented a new policy where users must be over 18. If you want to buy crypto under 18, have a look at the exchanges above to find one that is suitable for you.

Can I use Binance under 18?

Binance does not allow under 18 users to sign up. Since they require ID verification, you won't be able to use Binance if you are under 18. To buy crypto using an exchange like Binance, read our list above. Bybit (see review), and KuCoin (see review) are exchanges similar to Binance, and they do not require KYC, so you can sign up if you are under 18.

Can I use Kraken under 18?

To use Kraken, you must be over 18; if you're under 18 and looking for a suitable crypto exchange, consult the list above. Some of the best options are Bybit (see review), and KuCoin (see review) for buying crypto if you're under 18. 

Marketplacefairness.org provides all its content for informational purposes only, and this should not be taken as financial advice to buy, trade or sell cryptocurrency or use any specific exchange. Please do not use this website as investment advice, financial advice or legal advice, and each individual's needs may vary from that of the author. This post includes affiliate links with our partners who may compensate us. 

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