Key Takeaways
- Cardano (ADA) is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the market, and you can buy it on many popular exchanges;
- Some of the best platforms to buy Cardano include Binance, KuCoin, and Kraken;
- While most exchanges offer integrated wallets as a feature, it is recommended to store your ADA on a separate, non-custodial wallet.
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Did you know that Cardano was created by the same person who co-founded Ethereum? Well, it was! Anyway, if you’re looking to learn how to buy Cardano and get an ADA wallet to match, you’re in the right place!
The first part of my "How to buy Cardano" guide is going to tell you a bit about what Cardano (ADA) is before showing you how and where to buy it (spoiler alert, you can do it on Binance, Bybit, and other top exchanges).
We’ll then move on to how to get an ADA wallet so that you can store your Cardano after purchasing it. That said, let's get started!
Carlos Diaz
PhD Researcher in Business Innovation at RMIT University
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Table of Contents
- 1. Roots of Cardano
- 2. Where to Buy Cardano
- 2.1. Binance
- 2.2. KuCoin
- 2.3. Kraken
- 2.4. Gate
- 2.5. HitBTC
- 2.6. Bittrex
- 3. How to Buy Cardano
- 3.1. Open an Account on Binance
- 3.2. Buy Cardano on Binance
- 3.3. Deposit Funds Into Binance
- 3.4. Trade Cardano on Binance
- 4. Where to Store Cardano (How to Get an ADA Wallet)
- 5. Conclusion
Roots of Cardano
As of 2025, Cardano has evolved significantly since its 2017 launch by a foundation now known as Input Output Global (IOG), co-founded by Charles Hoskinson. They wanted to create a blockchain that was capable of outperforming older blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which the founders call first and second-generation blockchains.
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Today, Cardano continues to develop into a platform capable of a global payment system and dApp network by processing really fast, cheap, and scalable transactions. The team also explores cross-chain and smart contracts to build a bridge between the crypto-finance and traditional finance worlds.
In 2024, Cardano made progress with its Hydra Layer 2 solution, a scaling protocol designed to drastically boost transaction speed[1] and reduce costs for dApps and microtransactions. Hydra is one of the key technologies supporting Cardano's vision of real-world scalability.
People sometimes get confused about the difference between Cardano and ADA, so let me clear it up. The name of the blockchain that processes and stores transactions is Cardano, while ADA is the ticker symbol of the cryptocurrency used on the Cardano blockchain. It’s as simple as that!
📚 Check Out: What is Cardano and What is It Used For?
Now that we've established the basic information about Cardano, it's time to learn the best places to buy ADA.
Where to Buy Cardano
I’ll show you where to buy Cardano before showing you how to buy it. So, if you’re already set on where you’re going to buy it from, just skip to the "How to Buy Cardano" section. Although I genuinely think knowing the best places to buy Cardano can be beneficial.
As you probably know, there are now hundreds of different cryptocurrency exchanges on the market, each with its own pros and cons.
📚 Related: Best Cryptocurrency Exchange
That is why I thought it would be a good idea to go through all of the advantages and disadvantages of each exchange that I have reviewed, so you can decide for yourself which one best suits your needs! Let’s start with Binance.
Binance
Although Binance only launched in 2017, it is now the largest exchange in the world based on daily trading volume. One of its greatest advantages is that it lists over 350 different cryptocurrencies, and it is often the first exchange to list a new popular coin after it has finished its ICO.
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| Beginners | Advanced Users & Beginners | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | Turkey, Argentina, Vietnam, Ukraine, + 180 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | One of the leading crypto exchange platforms in the industry. | |
| Supported ✅ | Not Supported ❌ | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
See TOP10 Brands
Read review |
Table: Main information about Binance
Interestingly, Binance regularly processes tens of billions of dollars in daily trading volume, depending on market conditions. One of the reasons for that could be the fact that it allows users to deposit and withdraw crypto using traditional payment methods such as debit/credit cards or bank transfers.
📚 Check Out: Binance Review
Plus, you will not be charged when depositing crypto into your account, and withdrawing Cardano will only cost 0.8 ADA (if you're using the Cardano network), which is very reasonable. When it comes to trading fees, these are also low, starting at just 0.1% for each trade on the spot market.
Binance interface includes flexible views and tools suitable for both beginners and advanced traders.
Binance also implements essential safety measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) for users, real-time monitoring of suspicious activities, and IP-focused access control, among others. To help keep your account secure,[2] it is well worth using their Google Authenticator feature, which will require you to enter a mobile code every time you log in.
Finally, when it comes to customer service, contacting support is very easy. The platform offers 24/7 support via live chat and a comprehensive Help Center with guides and FAQs. Below, I have listed the overall advantages and disadvantages of buying Cardano from Binance.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ More than 350 supported crypto coins | ✗ Might be somewhat confusing for complete beginners |
✓ Competitive trading fees | |
✓ Large liquidity | |
✓ Excellent security | |
✓ Live customer support |
Table: Binance pros and cons
So, now that you have a good understanding of what Binance can offer you, let's take a look at another popular exchange - KuCoin!
KuCoin
KuCoin, founded in May 2017 by a team with backgrounds at Ant Financial and iBox PAY, has since grown into one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges. It is a very intuitive platform that is recommended for those who are looking for the easiest way to purchase Cardano.
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| Beginners | Best for Buying & Selling Crypto with Small Fees | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | United Kingdom, India, Russia, Mexico, + 150 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | A reliable and well-established cryptocurrency exchange platform. | |
| Supported ✅ | Not Supported ❌ | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
See TOP10 Brands
Read review |
Table: Main information about KuCoin
With its user-friendly interface and mobile app for both Android and iOS, KuCoin is accessible for beginners, while still providing a wide range of advanced features that appeal to more experienced traders. For example, complete beginners can buy Cardano directly using fiat with the instant buy feature.
On the other hand, advanced users can enjoy other trading products, such as spot trading, margin trading, futures trading, KuCoin Earn, staking, and even lending.
KuCoin supports 900+ cryptocurrencies and more than 1,600 trading pairs. Currently, there are four available trading pairs for Cardano: ADA/USDT, ADA/USDC, ADA/BTC, and ADA/KCS. While it’s not the biggest lineup out there, you can margin trade the stablecoin pairs with up to 10x leverage. That gives more room to move, especially if you're into more advanced trading.
📚 Read More: KuCoin Review
Speaking of which, KuCoin offers competitive trading fees with the tier-based model starting from 0.1% for both makers/takers on the spot trading platform. The ADA withdrawal fee on KuCoin is (1.8 + amount * 0%) ADA, with a minimum amount of 3.8 ADA.
KuCoin comes with strong security measures, too. These include 256-bit encryption technology, multi-layer user authentication, cold-storage with multisig technology, and regular proof-of-reserves audits. That said, I'd still recommend keeping your assets in a secure hardware wallet like Ledger Flex or Trezor Safe 5.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ Supports more than 900 different coins | ✗ Unavailable in the US |
✓ Suitable for beginners and advanced traders | |
✓ Low trading fees | |
✓ Strong security |
Table: KuCoin's pros and cons
Unfortunately, as of writing, KuCoin is not legally available for US traders. So, if you want to buy ADA in the region, you'll have to consider other options.
Kraken
Kraken is one of the most trusted and established crypto exchanges out there, and it's a solid choice if you're learning how to buy Cardano.
The platform supports over 400 cryptocurrencies, which is more than enough for most traders, and when it comes to ADA, it offers 8 trading pairs, including popular fiat options like ADA/USD, ADA/EUR, ADA/GBP, and ADA/AUD. That makes it super convenient if you want to buy ADA directly with fiat.
You can also buy ADA using Visa/Mastercard via the platform's instant buy feature.
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|---|---|
| Beginners | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
Table: Main information about Kraken
Kraken is also packed with features that cater to casual buyers or advanced traders. These range from spot and margin trading to staking and OTC services. It's also one of the few major exchanges that's regulated in the US, which adds a layer of peace of mind.
📚 Check Out: A Guide to Kraken's OTC
Security-wise, Kraken is known for its strong reputation. It uses cold storage, two-factor authentication, and other best practices to keep user funds safe.
In terms of fees, Kraken charges up to 0.26% for regular spot trades, with discounts available based on your 30-day volume. Depositing ADA is free, and withdrawing ADA costs just 1 ADA, which I think is quite reasonable.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ Strong security measures and track record | ✗ Fewer supported coins compared to some competitors |
✓ Offers fiat trading pairs for ADA | |
✓ Supports 400+ cryptocurrencies | ✗ Relatively higher trading fees |
✓ Regulated in the US |
Table: Kraken's pros and cons
Additionally, Kraken offers an earning feature where you can stake Cardano and earn up to 6% APR from your holdings. All in all, Kraken strikes a great balance between security, accessibility, and features, making it a top-tier choice for anyone looking to buy Cardano with confidence.
Gate
Created in 2013, Gate (formerly known as Gate.io) is one of the more popular options people turn to when searching for where and how to buy Cardano. The platform lists more than 3,600+ cryptocurrencies to trade, many of which are less popular altcoins that are sometimes difficult to find elsewhere.
One of the best features of using Gate is that it is one of the most user-friendly exchanges available, with clear and crisp colors making it easy to navigate. Although their trading volumes are lower than those of Binance, there is still a good amount of liquidity available on Gate.
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| Beginners | Beginners | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | United Kingdom, Russia, Morocco, Egypt, India, + 180 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | One of the oldest crypto exchanges with a wide selection of crypto assets and features. | |
| Supported ✅ | Not Supported ❌ | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
See TOP10 Brands
Read review |
Table: Main information about Gate
As of writing, Gate only has three trading pairs for Cardano: ADA/USDT, ADA/USDC, and ADA/BTC. Admittedly, this can be pretty limited for some people. But the good news is, Gate lets you trade ADA in the futures and options trading platform, so at least you have more options other than spot trading.
Also, please note that it is not possible to fund your account using fiat currency as of writing, which means you will need to deposit using a cryptocurrency. Thankfully, depositing funds to Gate is free. You can also buy Cardano directly using fiat via its instant buy feature, which is a nice alternative.
Speaking of which, trading fees in general start from 0.1% for both makers and takers. However, they can be reduced when you trade larger amounts and increase your VIP level.
According to the Gate fee structure, you will only pay 0.683 ADA to withdraw your Cardano, which is relatively low.
Keep in mind that the fee rate might change from time to time. Make sure to always check the official page for the most up-to-date rate.
While it did have a security breach in the past, as of writing, Gate's security looks good on paper. Users are offered the opportunity to set up two-factor authentication. Gate also uses cold storage to store the majority of customer funds, which adds an extra layer of security. Plus, its hot wallet is protected by a professional service provider.
Regarding customer service, Gate didn't have a live chat or phone support in the past, so you needed to submit a ticket through your online account or send a message on Telegram. Now, you can use its live chat support option as well.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ Wide selection of cryptocurrencies | ✗ No fiat deposit options |
✓ Ideal for beginners - user-friendly | |
✓ Low trading fees - the more you trade, the less you pay | ✗ Has had its security breached in the past |
✓ Low withdrawal fees |
Table: Gate's pros and cons
Overall, I think Gate is a proper option when it comes to buying Cardano. It offers decent options and is easy to use. Just be mindful if you prefer depositing fiat to your account, since currently you can't do that on Gate.
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HitBTC
Based in Estonia and launched in 2013, HitBTC has been around for a lot longer than Binance. The platform allows users to buy and sell more than 1,000 different cryptocurrencies as of 2025, including Cardano.
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| Beginners | Advanced Users & Beginners | Active trading | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | Turkey, Argentina, Vietnam, Ukraine, + 180 more | Colombia, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Belarus, + 150 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | One of the leading crypto exchange platforms in the industry. | Recommended cryptocurrency exchange platform. | |
| Supported ✅ | Not Supported ❌ | Supported ✅ | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
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Read review |
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Table: A comparison between Binance & HitBTC
Unfortunately, you can't buy ADA with fiat money on HitBTC, at least at the time of writing this. So, if you prefer the convenient traditional methods of crypto-fiat acquisition, you might want to consider other top-tier exchanges that list Cardano and support numerous fiat currencies.
HitBTC also does not support direct fiat deposits or withdrawals. So, your only option to buy Cardano on HitBTC is by depositing or purchasing another cryptocurrency first.
Currently, the platform supports five Cardano trading pairs, including: ADA/BTC, ADA/ETH, ADA/USDT, ADA/HIT, and ADA/USDC.
To buy ADA on HitBTC, you simply need to create an account. You won’t even need to pass through KYC, which adds a layer of simplicity (although it might come with compliance risks) to deposit your crypto. However, users who have passed the KYC can withdraw a higher amount of coins or tokens per day.
By the way, buying crypto with fiat money can be quite expensive at HitBTC. At the time of writing, HitBTC partners with third-party providers like Banxa and Mercuryo, and each payment processor charges different fees. They also make their cryptocurrency withdrawal fee structure quite unclear, and users have reported that these are also high.
When it comes to trading fees, takers are charged 0.25% for spot/margin trading and 0.7% for futures trading, while maker pays 0.12% for spot/margin trading and 0.02% for futures trading.
The market maker is the person who provides the exchange with liquidity (i.e., submits limit orders), and the market taker is the person who “takes” the price on offer. The rates can further go down as you increase your trading volume.
The platform is more suited for experienced traders, as the interface can be unclear at times. If this is your first time buying cryptocurrency, it might be best to try another exchange.
A final point to consider is security. The exchange experienced a major hack in 2015, with the bad guys managing to steal lots of coins. However, nothing has happened since it is concerning that the exchange’s servers were not more secure. This is why it is important to withdraw your coins straight to your ADA wallet!
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ A wide selection of payment methods | ✗ Reports of expensive and slow withdrawals |
✗ Poor customer service | |
✓ More than 1,000 supported cryptocurrencies | ✗ Not ideal for beginners |
✓ Quick sign-up process | ✗ Experienced a hack in 2015 |
✗ Low liquidity on some of their coins |
Table: HitBTC pros and cons
At the end of the day, I think the first three ADA coin exchanges I've listed (Binance, KuCoin and Kraken) are better options than HitBTC when searching for where to buy Cardano.
Bittrex
Bittrex filed for bankruptcy in 2024. If you’re looking for alternatives, go for highly reputable exchanges mentioned above.
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| Beginners | Advanced Users & Beginners | Best for Buying & Selling Crypto with Small Fees | |
| United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more | Turkey, Argentina, Vietnam, Ukraine, + 180 more | United Kingdom, India, Russia, Mexico, + 150 more | |
| All Kraken Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | See All Coupons of Best Exchanges | |
| One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US. | One of the leading crypto exchange platforms in the industry. | A reliable and well-established cryptocurrency exchange platform. | |
| Supported ✅ | Not Supported ❌ | Not Supported ❌ | |
|
Visit site
Read review |
See TOP10 Brands
Read review |
See TOP10 Brands
Read review |
Table: Comparison between Binance, Kraken and KuCoin
Bittrex, created in 2014, was a US-based cryptocurrency exchange. They had one of the largest daily trading volumes, meaning that you were never struggling to find liquidity. They listed all of the major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and, of course, Cardano, as well as some smaller coins.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to deposit funds to the exchange using traditional payment methods such as a bank account or debit/credit card, so you needed to fund your account using another cryptocurrency. However, this was free, as were crypto withdrawals, so you only needed to pay the blockchain transaction fee.
Unless you were planning on trading really large amounts (the equivalent of 1 BTC/day), you didn't have to submit an ID. If you set up two-factor authentication, this would increase to the equivalent of 3 BTC/day.
A further disadvantage to using the Bittrex platform was that their customer service options were really limited. There was no live chat or phone support, so you needed to submit a ticket.
However, being a US-based exchange, Bittrex took account security very seriously and kept most of its funds in cold storage.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✓ A large range of cryptocurrencies | ✗ Didn't accept fiat money |
✓ Low deposit and withdrawal fees | ✗ Trading fees were slightly higher than other exchanges |
✓ Suitable for both beginners and more experienced traders | |
✓ Decent security | ✗ No live chat or phone support |
Table: Bittrex Global's pros and cons
Just don't forget, while Bittrex was a place where you could buy Cardano, it's not anymore.
So, there you have it, some of the more popular exchanges to buy Cardano on (except for this last option, which is not available anymore). They all have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it just depends on what you like to prioritize the most.
In the next part of my “How to buy Cardano” guide, I'm going to show you how to buy ADA coins step-by-step!
Looking for more in-depth information on related topics? We have gathered similar articles for you to spare your time. Take a look!
How to Buy Cardano
To show you how to buy Cardano, I'll use Binance as an example. The platform has the largest trading volume, its fees are low, and it’s really simple to use the site, in general. Please note that the process is very similar throughout each of the exchanges I mentioned in the "Where to Buy Cardano" section.
Open an Account on Binance
First, you will need to visit the official Binance website, then follow these steps:
Congratulations, now you have a Binance account! But how do you buy Cardano on Binance?
Buy Cardano on Binance
Binance makes buying Cardano very simple with its "Buy Crypto" feature. It allows you to seamlessly buy crypto with fiat. Here's how to do it:
To make sure that your payment is successful, navigate to your Spot or Funding wallet, and see if the ADA you’ve purchased is there.
Deposit Funds Into Binance
Interested in not only buying ADA, but also trading it with top-tier crypto coins like Ethereum, among others (and the other way around)? I’ll show you how. First, you need to either buy another crypto asset on Binance or deposit it from some other exchange or wallet where you hold your funds. Here's how to do the latter:
One thing I really want to emphasize is, even though you can simply copy and paste the deposit address, always double (or triple) check it before you finalize your transfer. Trust me, a few seconds of verification can save you a lifetime of regret.
- Secure and reliable
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Lots of trading options
- Reputable exchange
- Accepts fiat currencies
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- Beginner-friendly
- Secure
- Decent trading and withdrawal fees
- Crypto.com Visa Card
- Automated tools & bots
- Ecosystem synergy with CRO
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Simple to use
- Supports only trusted cryptocurrencies
- A leading cryptocurrency exchange platform
- Best for all type investors
- Accepts fiat currencies
Trade Cardano on Binance
If you have followed my step-by-step buying guide so far, you should now have a fully funded Binance account. The final part of this guide is going to show you how to buy Cardano by trading it for another crypto asset.
If this is your first encounter with spot trading, the interface and overall process can be a bit overwhelming. However, I recommend learning more about this trading method and experiencing it yourself since it can give you more benefits than simply buying Cardano or other crypto coins using fiat.
Where to Store Cardano (How to Get an ADA Wallet)
Since ADA is reigning as one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies, it’s probably not surprising to know that it’s available to store in all the major wallets.
📚 Read More: Best Cardano Wallet
That said, I’ll focus on one wallet that is designed for ADA. It's called Daedalus, and it is the official wallet created by the Cardano team. The wallet has some really strong security features.
Unfortunately, as of writing, Daedalus is not yet available on mobile devices. So, you will need to download it on your desktop or Mac, which you can do by visiting the official Daedalus web page. The site also gives you step-by-step instructions, should you need any assistance.
Once you have installed it, you will be able to send, hold, or receive ADA coins. This is one of the safer ways to store them, so try not to leave your coins in an exchange for too long.
Cardano developers are currently working on other features within the wallet, such as an Android and iOS app, as well as support for other cryptocurrencies. The team has also confirmed that ADA is now compatible with popular hardware wallets like Ledger Flex, Trezor Safe 5, and others. So, for extra security, I suggest you go with those.
Browse our collection of the most thorough Crypto Exchange related articles, guides & tutorials. Always be in the know & make informed decisions!
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed my “How to buy Cardano” guide! If you made it all the way through, you now know exactly how to buy Cardano, plus, you’ve got a good look at some of the top exchanges to use, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The reason I selected those particular exchanges is that they each offer different things for different users.
For example, if you prefer to get started straight away and want an exchange with lots of liquidity, Binance is the best option. KuCoin is great, too, especially when it comes to hassle-free crypto purchasing. For those who look for an exchange with a strong security track record, you can't go wrong with Kraken. Either way, it’s all about personal preference.
Curious about ADA price movements? Check out BitDegree Crypto Tracker to get the detailed information and the latest updates on the coin!
Always start by understanding your own needs and preferences, and then it will be easier to find the perfect exchange for you. The same goes for choosing an ADA wallet. Whether you choose a software wallet like Daedalus or a hardware wallet like Ledger Flex, make sure you pick one that fits your situation and needs.
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.
Scientific References
1. Jourenko M., Larangeira M., Tanaka K.: 'Interhead Hydra: Two Heads are Better than One';
2. Wang Z., Yang X., Chen D., Gao H., Tian M., Jia Y., Li W.: 'Simple But Not Secure: An Empirical Security Analysis of Two-factor Authentication Systems'.
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