Bitcoin Exchanges
Another way to buy “real” bitcoins is through bitcoin exchanges. The best-known trading exchanges for cryptocurrencies include Bitfinex, CEX.IO, Kraken, Bitstamp and Paymium. Here, too, you should note that opening an account or verifying it can take a few days.
Attention: The bitcoin prices on the different trading platforms can vary greatly. While bitcoin trading on crypto exchanges is automated, trades on a marketplace are done manually. As an investor, you have to look for a suitable sales offer yourself.
If you actually want to buy bitcoins, all you have to do is specify how many coins you want to buy and at what rate (classic currencies such as US dollars or euros can be exchanged for bitcoins there at any time). If the Bitcoin exchange finds a suitable offer, it buys the bitcoins on behalf of the customer and then credits them to the customer account. Processing is particularly easy on CEX.IO, especially since credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard are also available as payment methods.
If you want to sell your bitcoins via bitcoin exchanges, it works according to the same principle as when buying bitcoins: Within a few minutes you have placed your offer for sale on a bitcoin exchange. If someone buys your bitcoins, the amount will be credited to your bank account.
Tip: In our crypto exchange comparison, we take a close look at the most important bitcoin exchanges. Among other things, we test the trading platforms BSDEX, Coinbase and Bitstamp there.