How to Buy Ethereum?
It's the question everybody's been asking since Ethereum went from $8 at the start of 2017 to over $1,000 by the end of 2017.
Whether you already know a bit about cryptocurrencies or you know nothing about the topic, this guide is the place to begin. It’ll give you a good understanding of the different platforms you can use to buy Ether (Ethereum’s currency) and how to decide which is the best and safest option for you.
Crypto is new, ever-changing, and far from simple. The good news is: I'm going to make it simple! Before I teach you how to buy Ethereum, though, I will explain how Ethereum works. It is much more than digital money — Ethereum changes the way many businesses work.
Keep in mind that, whether it be trading cryptos or just investing in Ether, always make sure that you're using only the most reliable cryptocurrency exchange platforms out there.
Víctor Muñoz Albornoz
Founder at Bright NFT
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Table of Contents
- 1. How to Buy Ethereum: What is Ethereum?
- 1.1. How Does Ethereum Use Blockchain Technology?
- 1.2. How Does a Smart Contract Work?
- 1.3. What’s so Great about a Smart Contract?
- 1.4. The Fuel that Powers it All
- 1.5. Why Would I Buy Ethereum?
- 2. How to Buy Ethereum in Three Easy Steps
- 2.1. Step 1: Get a Digital Wallet
- 2.2. Step 2: Buy Ethereum
- 2.3. Step 3: Store Your Ether
- 3. Conclusion
How to Buy Ethereum: What is Ethereum?
To understand Ethereum, you must first understand the technology it uses. That's known as a “blockchain”. This requires some research, so I recommend reading our "Blockchain Explained" guide. If you don’t have time though, here’s a short explanation.
To put it simply, a blockchain is a global database that is shared and operated by many computers. These computers are called “nodes”. The nodes work together in a team to transfer information in the database and verify it using cryptography (secure code).
As the database is shared by many different nodes, it won’t be shut down if one of the nodes were to fail, break, or be hacked. This is known as being decentralized, meaning, it doesn’t operate out of one center, but many.
For example, sometimes, when you attempt to access a website and it crashes, this means its server is based in a single, central location. With the blockchain, there is never any downtime! With different nodes running at the same time all around the world, it cannot crash. This is because the information is shared everywhere, not just in one place! Hence, decentralized.
One thing that's worth mentioning is that Ethereum is not the same as Ethereum Classic - some people tend to get these two mixed up. Ethereum is actually the hard fork of Ethereum Classic - the latter was the original crypto project, before a breach of security forced the implementation of a fork.
Today, ETH and ETC are two different projects, with different use cases. While you can use Ethereum Classic for, say, NFT acquisition, you can't use it to pay for NFT minting gas fees, as well as many other things. If you want to learn more, check out our dedicated tutorial on how these two projects differ.
Another point worth mentioning has to do with ENS - Ethereum Name Service. Online, people wonder if they can use ENS tokens to purchase or create NFTs, or whether ENS is even ETH in a different name. Well, the answer to both of those questions is a no - ENS and ETH are two completely different concepts.
Now then - back to Ethereum.
How Does Ethereum Use Blockchain Technology?
Following the success of Bitcoin (the first major use of blockchain technology), Ethereum was launched in 2015. It is known as “Blockchain 2.0”, Ethereum improves the way the blockchain operates with the introduction of smart contracts.
A smart contract is like a promise that can’t be broken: once it is put in place, it cannot be changed. This provides a far more secure way to do business.
How Does a Smart Contract Work?
Let’s imagine that your employer is up-to-date with technology and wants to pay you in Ether. The employer will create a smart contract that tells the Ethereum blockchain to pay your salary to you in Ether on the 15th of each month. As you can see, smart contracts let you program / automate transactions on the blockchain.
Now, let’s imagine buying a car using a smart contract. If you pay the amount of Ether required for the car (by sending it to the smart contract), then the ownership of the car is sent automatically to you using the blockchain. This transaction is then verified by all the other nodes around the world and added to the blockchain. It is a much safer way to do business.
What’s so Great about a Smart Contract?
Smart contracts eliminate the need for a third party in many different transaction scenarios! In the examples I have just mentioned, you would normally rely on a third party.
In the employer example, you would rely on a bank to move the salary/money into your account on the day you are due to be paid (your “payday”). By using the smart contract instead, you do not need a bank to process your transaction — the smart contract tells the blockchain to process (send, verify, etc.) the transaction on your payday.
In the car example, you would normally rely on a car dealership and broker. With smart contracts, there is no car dealership or broker to which to pay a fee!
Additional note: If you worked abroad, the bank would charge your employer a lot of fees to pay you. The payment would take 3+ days to process, too. With smart contracts, it’s almost instant, and your employer has no bank / third party to which to pay a fee. This is another great advantage and reason to use smart contracts!
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The Fuel that Powers it All
So, now, you know what smart contracts are. You know that Ethereum is the platform / blockchain that operates them. But what is it that powers it all? These “nodes” must be using electricity, right? Who pays for that?
Well, this is where I introduce you to Ether (ETH). It is Ethereum’s currency. It is the gas that powers everything. In fact, it is actually called gas when we use it for Ethereum transactions.
The nodes that run Ethereum are paid in Ether for their work. This pays for their electricity costs, and also makes them a profit. This process is referred to as mining.
Due to the demand for Ether, it's highly liquid. This means it can be easily converted to cash (fiat currencies, i.e. USD, EUR, JPY etc.). Also, due to its demand, the price of Ether has increased a lot, so millions of people are investing in it.
Even though you know about Ether and its demand, it’s still confusing, right? I'm sure you’re still asking yourself why and how to buy Ethereum. So, let’s get into it.
Why Would I Buy Ethereum?
If you’re wondering, “should I buy Ethereum?”, perhaps you should ask yourself - “why shouldn’t I buy Ethereum?”. It is the second-most-popular cryptocurrency in the world, and there are good reasons for it.
Our world currently works in a centralized model. Foreign exchange rates, interest rates and taxes are all controlled by a central point (i.e. banks and governments). Ethereum and its smart contracts provide a new model — a decentralized model. It is important for investors and businesses to be a part of this new model as it is considered by many as the future.
Ethereum’s price has increased greatly since it was created. On 1st January 2017, 1 Ether was worth just $8.24. By 1st January 2018, 1 Ether was worth $747.52. That’s an increase of over 9,000%!
While Ether wasn’t the first cryptocurrency, it learned from the mistakes of those that came before it. For example, Bitcoin’s transactions take over ten minutes to process. Ethereum’s transactions, however, can take just seconds to process.
Because Ethereum and its smart contracts are changing the way the world works by removing third parties, the value is hard to put a price on. It is very volatile (the price changes a lot every day) in the short term. The general long-term forecast, though, is that the value of Ethereum will continue to rise as it becomes more and more popular each year.
When the world uses Ethereum for its main purpose (to remove third parties), then we’ll find out how much Ethereum is really worth. Even so, buying and selling Ether and other cryptocurrencies is a very popular way to make money.
So, now that you understand why people invest in Ethereum, how do you buy Ethereum?
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How to Buy Ethereum in Three Easy Steps
Now, with all of that said and out of the way, let's move on to talking about how to buy Ethereum. It can actually be done in just a few simple steps!
Step 1: Get a Digital Wallet
As Ether is a digital currency, you’ll need somewhere to store it — a digital wallet. Just like a regular wallet, you can store many currencies in it. When you visit other countries, you might carry US dollars, Euros and Pounds.
The same applies to digital currency — you can store lots of different cryptocurrencies, depending on which wallet you use. For Ethereum, you must use an Ethereum-compatible wallet.
You can get web-based wallets (available on a browser), software wallets (that you download), or hardware wallets (physical wallets that you buy and connect to your computer via USB).
Web-Based Wallets
This is the least-safe option, and we advise against it, if you’re storing an amount that means a lot to you. If you use one, we recommend MyEtherWallet, Mist and MetaMask.
When you go to MyEtherWallet, be sure to bookmark the website in your browser, for extra security.
If you’re unsure how to bookmark the website, see the image on the right taken from Google Chrome. You click the star while on the website, and then it’ll be put below your address bar when you open a new tab.
So now, when you go to MyEtherWallet, always click the bookmark instead of typing in “MyEtherWallet”!
Software Wallets
These are wallets that you download onto your computer, tablet or mobile phone. They offer better security than web wallets. I recommend Exodus and Jaxx.
Exodus isn’t available on mobile, but it has a fantastic design and is easy to use. I recommend Jaxx for its great mobile app! Another good thing about Exodus and Jaxx is that you can use them to convert from one cryptocurrency to another. For example, you can convert Ether into Bitcoin.
Hardware Wallets
The other option is to buy a hardware wallet. Hardware wallets are the most secure way of storing Ether and other cryptocurrencies.
They are small electronic devices that connect to your computer via USB. Your crypto will still be stored on the blockchain and in an online account, but you cannot access the account without your hardware wallet. As long as you keep your hardware wallet safe, you cannot be hacked!
For hardware wallets, I recommend Trezor Model T and Ledger Nano X.
Whichever wallet you choose, you’ll have an ETH address once you have created, downloaded or bought your wallet. When you buy Ethereum, this is the address to where you’ll send it.
Step 2: Buy Ethereum
Digital currencies are an open marketplace, which means you can choose how you purchase Ether. This gives you more control and allows you to build your portfolio in whichever way you prefer.
Note: For anyone who isn’t a bit of an investment geek, your “portfolio” is your collection of investments.
To know how to buy Ethereum, you first need to know where to buy Ethereum. You can buy Ether from many different exchanges (online platforms). You can also use ShapeShift to convert other cryptocurrencies into Ether, or buy from another person using LocalEthereum.
To buy Ether using fiat currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, JPY etc.), you’ll need to open an account on one of the following centralized exchanges. On each of them, you can buy Ethereum with a credit card and bank transfer. Sometimes, you can also buy Ethereum straight from your wallet, via a third-party payment processor - however, this is generally considered to be less safe, and isn't exactly recommended.
Note that while the below-mentioned exchanges are viable options, if you want the best fees and general service, your best bet would be to buy Ethereum on platforms such as Binance and Kraken.
CEX.IO is an easy-to-use exchange, although the website is simpler than the app is. One of CEX.IO’s big advantages is that it is available in more countries than other exchanges, such as Coinbase.
How to buy Ether with CEX.IO:
Step 1. Sign up for a CEX.IO account: click ‘Register’ in the top right of CEX.IO’s homepage. Type your details into the required boxes, or click ‘Login with Facebook’, if you would like to use Facebook to sign up.
Step 2. Open your email inbox and find the email that CEX.IO has sent you. Click the link in the email to verify your email address.
Step 3. Next, CEX.IO will ask you to enable two-factor authentication. This provides an extra layer of security to keep your account safe.
Step 4. The next page will say ‘Buy BTC’ when you first land on it. Click ‘BTC’, and you will see a menu. From the menu, select ‘ETH’.
Step 5. Next to ‘Buy ETH’, you will see ‘For USD’. If you want to use a different fiat currency, click ‘USD’, and you will see another menu. In the menu, choose EUR or GBP. These are currently the only fiat currencies you can use to buy Ether on CEX.IO — maybe they will update this!
Step 6. Choose / enter the amount of Ethereum you want, and then click ‘BUY’.
Launched in 2013, Coinmama is very beginner-friendly. You can only buy Ether and Bitcoin, but it has low fees, and accepts debit / credit cards & bank transfers. Note: Coinmama only accepts USD and EUR.
How to buy Ether with Coinmama:
Step 1. Sign up to Coinmama: go to the Coinmama homepage, and you will see a form below ‘Register’ on the right-hand side of the page. Type / enter your details into the boxes on the form. Click ‘Register’. Open your email inbox and find the email that Coinmama has sent you. Click the link in the email to verify your email address.
Step 2. Now that you have signed up, you need to log in to your Coinmama account. Once logged in, click the ‘Verify your account’ tab, and verify yourself: first, click ‘My Account’, then select ‘Verify my account’ on the left. Fill out the form with your information, and include your national identification.
Step 3. On the next page, you will need to upload copies of the front and back of your passport or national identity card. Then, you will need to take a photo of yourself while holding a piece of paper with ‘Coinmama’ written on it with today’s date. Coinmama provides the below example so you can get this right.
Step 4. Once you have taken your photos, attach them to the online form and click ‘Upload’. You will receive the following message:
Step 5. Please note: You will have to verify your account every time you wish to invest in larger amounts of Ether. This first verification will allow you to buy up to $10,000. The other amounts can be seen in this screenshot.
Step 6. Click ‘ETHER’. It is on the menu at the top of the website.
Step 7. Choose / enter the amount of Ether you want and click ‘buy now’.
Step 8. Click ‘credit / debit card via Simplex’.
Step 9. Type your wallet address (this is from the wallet you created in step 1) into the box below ‘Please insert your Ethereum wallet address’ and click ‘Complete payment’.
Step 10. Type your payment details into the boxes on your screen, and click ‘Pay now’.
Step 11. Your Ether will be sent from Coinmama to your wallet. This can sometimes take seconds, but at other times — when the Ethereum network is busy — it can take up to an hour. When the Ethereum network is really, really busy, it may take longer than an hour. This is an issue that Ethereum is working on.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a popular digital currency exchange and is also quite user-friendly. It’s as simple as downloading the app or visiting the site.
You can pay using a bank transfer on Coinbase, and it is one of the easiest ways to buy Ethereum. It isn’t available in every country, though, so make sure that you can use it in yours.
Coinbase’s fees are 1.49% - 3.99%. The fee is different for each payment method — debit / credit card fees are higher than bank transfer fees.
How to Buy Ethereum with Coinbase:
Step 1. First, open a Coinbase account. Just go to the Coinbase website, click ‘Sign Up’, and type your details into the required boxes.
Step 2. Next, open your email inbox and find the email that Coinbase has sent you. Click the link in and log in to verify your email address.
Step 3. Once you have logged in, you have to verify your phone number. Enter your phone number and click ‘send code’. Coinbase will send you an SMS with a code. Enter that code into the box on Coinbase.
Step 4. Now that you have signed up, add your payment method. Choose from debit/credit card or bank transfer.
Step 5. Select ‘Buy/Sell’ next to ‘Ether’ and select/enter the amount of Ether you want to buy. You can pay with USD, GBP or EUR.
Step 6. Click ‘Buy ETH’.
- 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
- Very low trading fees
- Exceptional functionality
- Mobile trading app
- Very competitive trading fees
- An intuitive mobile app
- Up to 100x leverage available
- Secure and reliable
- Low fees
- A good amount of fiat currencies accepted
- Reputable exchange
- Multiple fiat currencies are accepted
- Relatively low trading fees
Step 3: Store Your Ether
So, you’ve bought your Ether. Congratulations! Now, you’ll need to send your Ether to the wallet that you created in step 1. This is because it is much safer to store your Ether in your wallet than it is on an exchange.
I’ll show you how to send your Ether to your wallet from Coinbase and CEX.IO. If you bought Ether on Coinmama, you don’t need to do anything — your Ether is sent straight to your wallet when you buy it.
Sending ETH From Coinbase
- Select ‘Send/request’ from the menu at the top of the website.
- Type / enter the address for your wallet that you created in step 1.
- Type / enter the amount of Ether you want to send, and click ‘send funds’.
- Coinbase will send you an SMS with a code. Enter that code into the box.
- Click ‘confirm’.
Sending ETH From CEX.IO
- Click the ‘FINANCE’ tab in the top menu.
- Scroll down the page until you see ‘ETH’.
- Click the ‘withdraw' button that is next to ‘ETH’.
- Type / enter the amount of Ether you want to send in the box on the right. It is below ‘Select currency and amount’.
- Type / enter the address for your wallet that you created in step 1 into the box in the center of the page. It is below ‘Enter the recipient’s address below’.
- Click ‘Withdraw’.
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Conclusion
So, you now know where and how to buy Ethereum. You’ve either bought it already, or you’re thinking about it and still wondering which is the best way to buy Ethereum.
Well, if you’re still wondering, let’s use the information in this guide to help you decide.
Payment method
If you want to pay in GBP, you should use Coinbase, as the other exchanges don’t accept GBP. Coinmama only accepts EUR and USD, but CEX.IO accepts RUB as well as EUR and USD. So, if you want to use EUR or USD, you can use any of the three exchanges. But if you want to use RUB, you’ll have to use CEX.IO!
Location
If you’re living in the US, you’ll most likely have to use Coinbase or Coinmama. This is because CEX.IO is only available in a few U.S. states. If you’re living in France, Germany, China, Japan or South Africa (and lots of other countries in Asia and Africa), you can’t use Coinbase, so you’ll have to choose from Coinmama or CEX.io.
Tip: Coinmama is available in every country!
Fees
Let’s compare the credit/debit card fees on each exchange/platform:
Ease of Use
Coinbase is the most user-friendly — the website and the app (available on both iOS and Android) are both very easy to use.
Coinmama, however, sends your Ether straight to your wallet so that you don’t have to do it yourself. That saves you the whole of step 3 in our guide!
CEX.io is still user-friendly, but not as much as these two.
Remember that, if none of the mentioned exchanges suit your preferences, the best options still include Binance and Kraken.
There you have it. I hope that you are now able to make your decision with confidence and begin your Ethereum journey. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us!
Note: With any investment, it is important to think about all the risks involved. We must always do our own research.
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