How to Buy Bitcoin With ACH

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Purchasing Bitcoin with ACH is relatively straightforward, but investors must only engage with crypto exchanges or brokers regulated by their respective government authorities. This guide outlines the steps to purchase Bitcoin with ACH and the pros and cons of this payment method.

Can You Buy Bitcoin With ACH?

ACH is a popular payment method for investors in the United States to buy Bitcoin in larger amounts since it typically comes with lower fees than other methods. However, only cryptocurrency exchanges that are regulated by FinCEN and hold a FINRA license can provide this online payment method. The best crypto exchange to buy Bitcoin with ACH based on our analysis is Kraken.

How to Buy Bitcoin With ACH – Quick Guide

These are the four steps to buy Bitcoin using ACH.

1. Create a new account on a FinCEN-registered and licensed crypto exchange. Complete the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process by submitting a relevant government-issued identity or driver’s license.
2. Link a bank account to fund the account. Do this by inputting the bank account details and routing number through which ACH transactions will be initiated.
3. Select USD as the fiat currency to deposit and choose ACH as the payment method. Enter the amount to transfer to buy crypto.
4. Once the account has been funded, click on the ‘Buy Crypto’ button to complete the transaction with ACH.

How To Buy Bitcoin With ACH – Kraken Tutorial

For ACH transfers of USD, Kraken is by far the best cryptocurrency exchange due to its low fee and quick service that is made possible through Plaid. Follow these steps using the Kraken web platform to complete the process quickly and easily.

Step 1 – Create an account with Kraken

To fund an account using ACH transfers, customers need to visit the Kraken website and create an account. After clicking ‘Sign Up’ at the top right-hand corner, enter an email address, username, and password to gain access to the platform.

Step 2 – Complete KYC

Being a FinCEN-registered crypto exchange, Kraken is required to verify the identity of its customers before ACH can be used to deposit USD. The KYC process can be completed quickly by electronically submitting a copy of a form of government-issued identification document. Kraken has multiple account tiers, however, the ‘Starter’ and ‘Intermediate’ tiers permit ACH transfers.

Step 3 – Deposit USD via ACH

After entering, the user should click the ‘Deposit' icon and choose USD as the funding currency to transfer. Next, click on the ‘Fund Directly with Plaid.’ button tab and insert the amount (minimum is $10). Click on ‘Connect Bank Account’ to fill in the funding details, including the account and routing number.

First-time users must connect their bank accounts by entering their account details. To proceed, they must select the bank from which the funds will be taken and review the payment details. Once they confirm the accuracy of the details supplied, they can click ‘Confirm’ to execute the deposit request. It typically takes one to five minutes for the user account to be credited for trading.

Step 4 – Buy Bitcoin

Once the deposit has been concluded, head back to the Kraken homepage and click on the ‘Buy Crypto’ icon on the top of the dashboard. Another option is to click on the ‘Explore’ tab on the left-hand side of the screen. This will show all the cryptocurrencies on offer on the platform.

To buy Bitcoin, tap the ‘Buy' button on the right side of the screen. The purchase page will appear. To complete the purchase, enter the amount of Bitcoin to be purchased and click the ‘Buy' button.

Where To Buy Bitcoin With ACH

Buying Bitcoin using ACH as the payment method is only available on certain digital currency exchanges in the USA. These are the most reputable and secure platforms that accept ACH payments.

1. Kraken

Kraken is our top pick to buy Bitcoin with ACH. Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange that has gained immense popularity and has established a strong foothold in the US, Europe, and Asia. Highly regarded as one of the best fiat-to-crypto exchanges, the exchange enables investors and traders to buy, exchange, and sell Bitcoin and over 200 digital assets for as little as $10.

The San Francisco-based exchange offers a wide variety of payment methods including credit/debit cards, wire transfers, and several others. ACH is supported in all US states with the exception of New York and Washington DC. However, before ACH can be used to buy Bitcoin, customer accounts must be verified to Express, Intermediate, or Pro levels. Other requirements include:

• A $10 funding minimum.
• A maximum of six deposit transactions can be completed in a 24-hour window.
• A $10,000 funding threshold for ACH transfers within a seven-day rolling period.
• A withdrawal lock is up to 100% on the first ACH deposit.

In addition, only three bank accounts can be connected at once to one Kraken account for initiating ACH payments where all accounts must correspond to the registered name of the crypto account. ACH deposits are free and processing takes up to five minutes using the Plaid platform. Withdrawals are also free with a maximum processing time of two business days.

With free ACH deposits, the only charges to be incurred include Kraken's low trading fees that are based on a 30-day trading volume basis. This means that they decrease with higher trading volume. The highest fee is 0.16% for makers and 0.26% for takers who trade between $0 to $50,000 for spot trades.

Read our full Kraken review for more information.

2. eToro

For investors who prefer the social trading aspect of buying Bitcoin using ACH, the best platform is eToro. The cryptocurrency platform supports trading over 80 digital assets and 3,000+ in other asset classes. eToro offers users multiple payment methods to buy, sell, and exchange digital assets. The copy trading platform only enables ACH payments on its US platform, eToro.US.

For first-time deposits, ACH transfers must meet the following requirements:

• The minimum for the first deposit is pegged at $50, while subsequent deposits can be as little as $1.
• A maximum threshold of $20,000 can be executed through the ACH deposit option within a 65-day period.

There are no deposit fees attached to using ACH bank transfer and withdrawals are free. The funds can take up to five business days to appear in a trader's account after a deposit has been made so this may prove to be a deterrent for some. In addition, withdrawals are also processed within three to five business days. eToro charges 1% for buying and selling cryptocurrencies on its platform. This trading fee is calculated as part of its bid-ask spread fee system.

Through the availability of ACH transfers, the FinCEN social trading platforms allow beginner investors to get started with their cryptocurrency portfolios faster. Users who find the success of experienced investors to be attractive can copy their portfolios. This automatically purchases Bitcoin and altcoins as per the copied portfolio using the funds that were deposited on the platform via ACH.

Read our eToro review for more information.

3. Uphold

Uphold is a multi-asset digital money service provider that supports investment opportunities for investors in commodities, metals, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and other assets. There is access to 250+ cryptocurrencies and highly competitive fees. The platform also supports the purchase of BTC with credit cards, ACH, and others. Uphold segments its payment methods according to the region where investors reside.

The platform support for ACH transfers is only available to US-based customers. ACH transfers and withdrawals are also free but minimum deposits are $10 whilst the maximum is $25,000 per month. Withdrawal minimums are set to $5 with a $10,000 daily limit and this would represent a low barrier for most investors.

Deposits through ACH are typically processed within five minutes, which is a lot faster than other platforms where a one to three business days wait may be the case. However, withdrawals are slower being completed in one to three business days.

Rather than paying a trading fee, trades on Uphold are subject to a spread that typically ranges from 0.8% to 1.2%. The spread fee may be higher for customers outside the US and those who trade low-liquidity assets. The crypto broker offers 2FA, cold storage of assets, and regular account monitoring and is regulated by FinCEN.

Read our full review on Uphold.

4. CEX.IO

Lastly, investors can buy Bitcoin with ACH by using CEX.io which offers crypto services to over 5 million customers across 30+ US states and other regions. For supported assets, CEX.io grants investors access to 122+ top altcoins. There are multiple payment methods including credit/debit cards, ACH (for US customers only), bank wire transfers, and others.

Customers looking to buy Bitcoin with ACH on CEX.io must complete their address verification with the exchange. ACH transfers are free of charge on the exchange in addition to daily deposits up to $5,000. Withdrawals are processed within three business days, while deposits are completed within 24 hours.

Also operating on a 30-day trading volume basis, CEX.io charges 0.25% and 0.15% for takers and makers, respectively. CEX.io is registered as an MSB by FinCEN and in Gibraltar. The crypto exchange secures users’ funds via 2FA, cold storage, SSL encryption, and multiple other safety measures.

Read our full CEX.IO review.

Advantages Of Buying Bitcoin With ACH

An ACH transaction offers users a myriad of benefits. So, what are the intrinsic advantages of buying Bitcoin with ACH?

A low cost method

Compared to traditional wire transfers from a bank account, ACH is the holy grail for the electronic transfer of funds in terms of its low fees. The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) directly controls the platform and maintains this network. This means that transactions are free as banks do not charge users for using this medium. On rare occasions they do but the fees are negligible. This makes it a cost-effective medium to buy Bitcoin for interested investors.

High ease of use

Another huge benefit is that ACH is quite easy to use. For one, ACH transfers are quite easy to complete and can be done by anyone with basic computer skills. This allows investors to move funds from their linked bank accounts more easily to buy Bitcoin with ACH on platforms that support this payment method.

Convenience

Linking bank accounts to a crypto exchange for ACH payments is a more convenient and hassle-free option than bank wire transfers. Transactions are quick and easy once verification is completed, allowing customers to deposit and purchase Bitcoin easily.

Downsides Of Buying Bitcoin With ACH

Much like every payment service, ACH transfers also come with their downsides. Below, we consider their disadvantages.

Slower than other payment methods

ACH transfers take longer to settle than other payment methods like credit/debit cards. While credit/debit cards can be settled within a few minutes, ACH transactions usually take one to three business days. Same-day processing can be done but for a fee. This slow processing time could see investors miss out on profitable trading opportunities.

Transaction limitations

Most financial institutions and even crypto exchanges have transaction and time limits for ACH transfers. Some exchanges set different limits stipulating how much can be transferred within a period. Investors may also be discouraged by this limitation since other options may not be as limiting. For example, Kraken users cannot deposit funds above $10K via ACH within seven days.

US only

ACH transactions are retail and domestic-focused, as only US residents can access the service. In addition, ACH transactions are done solely in US dollars and the use of other fiat currencies is not possible. This means customers with zero access to USD and who do not reside in the US are excluded from this payment option.

Frequently Asked Questions