In this "how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal" guide, I am going to show you five different platforms in which this option is available. I’ll also give you some of the advantages and disadvantages of using each of them.
When Bitcoin was created in 2009, it was almost impossible to purchase during the first few years of trading. This was because there were hardly any exchanges that sold cryptocurrency! Even if you could find a reliable exchange (such as Binance), it was really difficult to find one that accepted real-world payment methods.
However, in 2023, it is now really easy to buy Bitcoin with a debit/credit card or a bank account. But did you know that you can also buy BTC with PayPal? Well, now you do, and today, I’m going to show you how!
I am then going to give you a really simple step-by-step guide! By the end of reading this, you will know how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal! If you're open to purchasing Bitcoin in some other ways, though, you could visit a high-end exchange, and purchase BTC from a leader in the space, such as Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken.
Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s start by finding out why it is difficult to use PayPal when purchasing cryptocurrencies.
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Table of Contents
Where Can You Buy Bitcoin with PayPal?
It is important to remember that the majority of cryptocurrency exchanges do not accept PayPal. Even a majority of the exchanges that allow you to deposit using fiat currency don't support it.
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The main reason for this is the way that the PayPal chargeback policy works. Essentially, when people pay for products using PayPal, they are offered something called "Buyer Protection". This means that, if they are not happy with the product they purchased, they can raise a claim with PayPal in an attempt to get their money back.
In the majority of cases, if the seller can’t prove that they delivered the item, PayPal will take the funds back and refund them to the buyer!
As you can imagine, there is no way to prove that the buyer didn't receive the Bitcoin (even if they did). This is why exchanges are worried about including PayPal within their available payment methods.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it, because, as I am about to show you, there are a few different ways you can. Let’s start with LocalBitcoins.
LocalBitcoins
LocalBitcoins is a Peer-to-Peer exchange that allows people from more than 200 different countries to buy and sell BTC. It was created in 2012, and its headquarters are in Finland.
The greatest thing about LocalBitcoins is that it supports more than 20 different payment methods – including PayPal!
The way it works is simple. If somebody wants to sell their Bitcoin, they list the price that they want to sell it for in their local currency, along with a list of payment methods that they accept. Seeing as PayPal is a global payment system, it doesn’t matter which country you choose!
Once you find a seller that is happy to accept Bitcoin, you enter the amount of BTC that you want to buy, and then wait for the buyer to accept. Once they do, their Bitcoin is locked into an ‘escrow’. This protects both the buyer and the seller from losing their Bitcoin or payment.
As soon as the PayPal payment has been transferred, the buyer notifies the seller. When the seller can see the payment is in their PayPal account, they notify LocalBitcoins, and the BTC is instantly released!
I have used PayPal to Bitcoin before on LocalBitcoins, and the process took no more than 10 minutes. There is one thing to remember though — because PayPal carries a bit of risk for the seller, they sometimes charge much higher rates!
Although it is possible to trade anonymously on LocalBitcoins, some sellers ask that you verify yourself to them. They may ask you to upload a copy of your ID, confirm your email address and phone number before they accept to trade with you. If you are using PayPal to buy Bitcoin, then the LocalBitcoins seller will most likely ask you to do this.
PROs
✓ Easy sign-up process
✓ Lots of sellers accepting PayPal
✓ Protected by escrow
CONs
✗ Sellers often charge higher Bitcoin rates for PayPal payment
✗ You may need to verify yourself (sellers choice)
So, now that you know about LocalBitcoins, the next part of my ‘Buy Bitcoin with PayPal’ guide is going to look at VirWoX!
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VirWoX
The next option on my list of merchants that allow you to buy Bitcoin with PayPal is a platform called VirWoX. This company was created in 2007, which was two years before Bitcoin was launched!
They specialize in selling something called 'Second Life Lindens', or SLL for short. SLL is a virtual currency that is used in an online game called Second Life. Confused? Let me explain.
The platform allows you to buy SLL coins using PayPal. You can then use the built-in exchange to swap the SLL tokens for Bitcoin. Once you have done that, you can simply withdraw the Bitcoin back to your wallet!
As I mentioned earlier, there is more risk for sellers who accept PayPal, so VirWoX has installed limits. When you register you will need to provide some personal details like your full name and nationality.
This will allow you to buy €90 worth of coins every 24 hours. These limits are increased as your account gets older. The maximum you are allowed to buy is €1,000 per 24 hours, which you can do after 60 days of registering an account.
An additional security measure also means that, when you first open an account, you won’t be able to buy BTC with PayPal until 48 hours have passed.
Another thing to consider are that the fees to buy Bitcoin with PayPal on VirWoX are high. Firstly, you will be charged 3.4% for using PayPal. After that, the exchange rate between SLL and BTC can be really bad. However, if this is the method you want to go for, fees will always be higher when using PayPal to buy Bitcoin.
PROs
✓ Lots of sellers available
✓ Direct PayPal deposits are available
✓ No withdrawal limits
CONs
✗ The fees are very high
✗ Have to wait 48 hours after registration before you can buy
✗ Low deposit limits
So, now that you know about VirWoX, the next part of my ‘Buy Bitcoin with PayPal’ guide is going to look at eToro.
- Very low trading fees
- Exceptional functionality
- Mobile trading app
- Very competitive trading fees
- An intuitive mobile app
- Up to 100x leverage available
- A very well-known crypto exchange platform
- More than 500 different cryptos available
- Two-factor authentication
- Over 500 different cryptocurrencies available
- Strong security
- Small withdrawal fees
- Fully reserved and transparent
- Multiple tradable asset classes
- Early new token support
- 265 supports cryptocurrencies
- Secure & transparent
- Fully reserved
eToro
eToro is a major marketplace where people can buy and sell a range of financial products. This includes real-world currencies (like USD/EUR), commodities (like Gold/Oil), stocks (like Apple), and, of course, Bitcoin!
eToro was created in 2007 and now has over 5 million customers in more than 170 countries! However, the platform is slightly different, as you don't actually 'own' any of the assets that you buy or sell. Instead, you are purely speculating on whether the price of the asset is going to go up or down.
eToro is fully regulated by various national authorities including the Financial Conduct Authority (in the UK) and the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission. This means that your funds are protected up to a certain amount!
Here’s how it works when you buy Bitcoin with PayPal at eToro. Once you have created an account, you can instantly make PayPal deposits. You can then make a bet on the price of Bitcoin going up (or down). If at any point you want to close the trade and make a withdrawal, your trade is converted to real-world fiat currency.
Note: Credit cards and PayPal are not available for deposits to the eToro balance of users under the FCA regulation.
You can then simply withdraw it back to your PayPal account! An even bigger perk to using eToro to buy BTC with PayPal is that you can purchase up to $2,250 worth of Bitcoin without verifying your account!
PROs
✓ Fully regulated in multiple nations
✓ Low Fees
✓ High-level security
✓ Good limits for first-time buyers
✓ Instant PayPal to Bitcoin deposits
CONs
✗ You don’t actually ‘own’ the Bitcoin
✗ Only recommended for users who understand what they are doing
So, now that you know about LocalBitcoins, VirWoX and eToro, in the next part of my guide, I am going to give you step-by-step instructions on how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal. I will show you how to purchase using all three platforms. Again, let’s start with LocalBitcoins!
How to Buy Bitcoin with PayPal
LocalBitcoins
1. Visit the LocalBitcoins website.
2. Click on the green Sign up free button, and follow the account registration process. I would advise that you enter accurate information, as you will be more likely to find a seller that is happy to accept a Paypal payment from you.
3. Once your account is set-up, click on Buy Bitcoins at the top of the page.
4. Enter your local currency value of Bitcoin you want to buy, then select the country that you want to buy from. Although I have selected the United Kingdom, you can choose any country you want. After that, click on the all online offers drop-down box, and select Search.
5. You will now see a long list of sellers who will allow you to buy Bitcoin with PayPal. The results are ranked by the price that the seller is willing to accept. Next, to the username, you will also see the total amount of trades that the seller has completed, along with their feedback score.
As you will see, the top seller has completed more than 500 trades and they have a 100% feedback score (this is super-important). Not only this, but they are also offering PayPal to Bitcoin at the cheapest rate! Once you have selected a seller, click on Buy.
6. You are now at the final stage before your trade request is sent to the seller. Check that the information is correct, including the rate and the amount you want to buy. On the right-hand side, you will see some individual terms specified by the seller.
In this example, the seller is requesting that the buyer has completed at least 30 trades. As I have been using LocalBitcoins for many years now, I meet his terms, so I can move on to the next step. If you don’t, simply go back and choose another seller!
7. Now you need to simply click on Send Trade Request.
8. As soon as the seller accepts your Bitcoin with PayPal request, their coins will be locked in escrow. You will be provided with the PayPal address that you need to transfer the funds to. As soon as you have done it, click on Payment Sent.
9. The seller will then be notified that you have sent the payment. They will check their PayPal account and as soon as they see it, the Bitcoin will be released to your LocalBitcoins wallet! You can then simply withdraw them back to your wallet!
So, now that you know how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal on LocalBitcoins, the next part of my step-by-step guide is going to look at VirWoX.
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VirWoX
UPDATE: As of January 2023, VirVox has halted its operations. The company recommends BitPanda as an alternative.
1. Visit the official VirWoX homepage.
2. On the left side of the page, click on Not Registered Yet.
3. Follow the account opening process. You will need to choose a username and enter your email address, full name, and country of residence.
4. Once you have registered and logged in to your newly created account, click on Deposit on the left-hand side of the page.
5. You will now see a long list of payment methods. Scroll down and look for PayPal. Enter the amount you want to deposit and then click on the Check out with PayPal. You will now be re-directed to your PayPal account to complete the transaction.
6. Your account will now be funded with your chosen currency (mine was USD, but it could also be EUR). Next, look for Exchange on the left hand of the page and then click on USD/SLL (or EUR/SLL).
7. Exchange your USD/EUR for SLL coins at the best market price. This should be completed instantly.
8. Now that you have SLL coins in your account, click on BTC/SLL which is on the left-hand side underneath
9. Exchange your SLL coins for Bitcoin at the best market price. Again, this should process instantly.
10. Your account is now funded with Bitcoin. Now you can withdraw them to your Bitcoin wallet!
Now that you know how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal at VirWoX, the final part of my step-by-step guide is going to show you how to do it with eToro!
- Very low trading fees
- Exceptional functionality
- Mobile trading app
- Very competitive trading fees
- An intuitive mobile app
- Up to 100x leverage available
- A very well-known crypto exchange platform
- More than 500 different cryptos available
- Two-factor authentication
- Over 500 different cryptocurrencies available
- Strong security
- Small withdrawal fees
- Fully reserved and transparent
- Multiple tradable asset classes
- Early new token support
- 265 supports cryptocurrencies
- Secure & transparent
- Fully reserved
eToro
1. Visit the official eToro homepage by clicking on this link.
2. At the top of the page, click on Get Started, followed by Sign Up.
3. Follow the account opening process, which will require you to enter your full name and email address. You will also need to choose a strong password.
4. Once your account is set up and you are logged in, click on Deposit Funds. Enter the number of funds that you want to deposit and then select PayPal. You will be re-directed to the PayPal website. Log in to your PayPal account and complete the transaction.
5. Now that your account is funded, search for Bitcoin at the top of the page and then click on Trade.
6. Enter the amount of Bitcoin that you want to buy in your local currency, then click on Buy. Don't forget, you do not own the Bitcoin that you have just bought. You are simply betting on the price going up or down.
I would only recommend this option to users who understand the risks of using this platform and have read all of the terms.
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Conclusions
And that’s the end of my ‘Buy Bitcoin with PayPal’ guide! As you now know, trying to buy Bitcoin with PayPal isn’t as easy as using other payment methods, such as a debit/credit card or bank account. However, it is most certainly possible.
Each of these exchanges have their pros and cons — it all depends on what you are looking for. However, if you are simply looking for a reliable exchange, then I would suggest eToro. Just make sure you check out the platform first. If you're looking for a place to buy Bitcoin with a credit card, see my guide here.
Alternatively, if you've decided that PayPal isn't actually the best way to go about buying Bitcoin, don't forget that you could check out industry-leading exchanges, such as Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken!
So, which exchange are you going to use? Let me know in the comments below!
The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.
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