How To Buy Bitcoin & Crypto with DEGIRO Easily

In this article, I will discuss How To Buy Bitcoin & Crypto Using DEGIRO. DEGIRO is one of the leading European brokerages which gives their clients the ability to trade stocks, ETFs, etc.

DEGIRO does not support the direct purchasing of digital currencies, but users of DEGIRO can buy digital currencies indirectly through ETFs and ETNs.

In this article, we will discuss the process, the fee, the limitations, and the alternatives for investing compliantly in crypto in DEGIRO.

About DEGIRO

DEGIRO is one of the leading competitors in the European market in the field of online brokerage services, largely due to its low pricing structure.

The brokerage operates its services from the Netherlands, where its users can freely access and trade over 50 exchanges around the world.

The services users can trade include Options, Futures, Bonds, ETFs, and Stocks. The brokerage is considered to be secure as it is regulated, however, one of the downsides to the service is its lack of support for direct cryptocurrecy purchases.

Investors wanting to trade in crypto can only avail of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs. On the plus side

DEGIRO is perfect for traders wanting to save money and is crypto diverse while providing trade in other traditional financial instruments. The brokerage is also very beginner friendly.

How To Buy Bitcoin & Crypto With DEGIRO

How to Buy Bitcoin and Crypto with Degiro (Example Buying BTCetc – BTCE ETP)

Create Your DEGIRO Account

• Navigate to the DEGIRO homepage.
• Sign up and do ID verification.

Deposit Funds

• Add some money using a bank transfer to your DEGIRO account.
• Wait for the money to show up.

Search for the Bitcoin Product

• Type “BTCE” *in the search bar* (BTCetc – Physical Bitcoin ETP).
• BTCE is a bitcoin-backed, regulated and exchange-listed item.

Select the Exchange

• Select an exchange like *XETRA*, where BTCE is popularly listed.

Review the ETP Information

• Review all the ETP information such as the price, all trading fees, and the ETP information.
• Keep in mind that this is *real BTC*, that is, *indirect* exposure to Bitcoin.

Place Your Buy Order

• Click on *Buy*.
• Enter the units.
• Choose the type of order you want (Limit or Market).
• Finalize the order.

Track Your Investment

• Your BTCE ETP will show up in your portfolio.
• Keep an eye on the price changes like you would for any other stock.

Understand the Limitation

• BTCE balance/equity cannot be withdrawn as real Bitcoin.
• BTCE employees track the price of Bitcoin, one can see the value of but not own.

Can I Buy Bitcoin with DEGIRO?

You cannot buy or trade Bitcoin or Ethereum on DEGIRO since the platform does not offer direct trading or custody of cryptocurrencies.

There are ETPs (Exchange Traded Products), such as VanEck Bitcoin ETN (DE000A28M8D0), WisdomTree Physical Bitcoin (GB00BJYDH287), and 21Shares Bitcoin ETP (CH0454664001), that give investors exposure to cryptocurrencies.

ETPs are ordinary Bitcoin shares that track the cryptocurrency’s value, and investors do not need to own a crypto wallet to hold them.

If an investor requires direct ownership of crypto, he or she must trade with a regulated crypto exchange within the European Union, which offers the ability to buy, hold, and secure digital currencies.

DEGIRO Crypto ETF & ETN Fees

Service Commission: There is a fee of €2 per trade, one is charged each time they buy a crypto-linked ETF or ETN and as well when they sell one.

Service Handling Fee: On every trade, there is a fee of €1, which is a small fee for handling the trade.

Service FX Conversion Fee: 0.25% for transactions when the trade is done in a currency other than the one the account is set in (Auto FX fee).

Service Spread Costs: On average, they do charge around 1%, which is the difference of the price one can buy the asset for and the price that it can be sold for.

Service Exchange Connectivity Fee: €2.50 every year for each of the foreign exchanges one is utilizing to trade in crypto products.

Best Alternative Exchanges For DEGIRO Users

Binance

Binance holds more than 400 crypto assets and has some of the lowest trading fees among its competitors around 0.1%.

Investors from Europe can also take advantage of the deep market liquidity and the more advanced trading features.

The Institute-grade security features includes, cold storage and 2FA, and regular security audits. The platform has hundreds of trading pairs plus futures contracts, and a few other products in the cryptocurrency space allowing for more direct control of crypto assets than DEGIRO with ETFS or ETNs.

OKX

OKX has a presence in more than 300 cryptocurrencies and has a professional trading experience with a fee of 0.08% to 0.1%.

The platform is transparent, highly regulated, and has a reliable mobile app for active trading. OKX provides more than other brokers in Europe

Such as advanced order types, margin trading, and staking, as well as integrations in DeFi, and provides a direct connection to crypto markets.

OKX has an interface with a combination of functionality and usability, featuring detailed charts and analysis.

Beyond DEGIRO’s indirect crypto ETFs and ETNs, fast euro crypto deposits and withdrawals are available by trading real crypto.

Coinbase

Coinbase is an exchange registered under MiCA with 250 digital assets and is user-friendly. The trade is charged to have an average of 1.49% which is more expensive than Binance and OKX but the platform makes it easier with simplicity, security, and fast euro deposits. 

Coinbase is best in class when it comes to new investors as it provides a very clean interface with a mobile app and is highly trusted and regulated.

Coinbase provides wallets to store your assets, but you can also withdraw to other wallets for self-custody and all the self-custody management you want.

Coinbase is a more straightforward option for Europeans than DEGIRO, where you can hold Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Risks of Using DEGIRO for Crypto Exposure

Reliance on Issuers: ETFs are based on issuers like VanEck, WisdomTree, or 21Shares. You can lose all or a portion of your investment, and it does not matter what the market price for Bitcoin is, if the issuer is distressed financially.

Tracking Issues: ETNs do not track the spot price of crypto perfectly, if at all. Issuer fees, market spread, or currency conversion are all ways ETNs can underperform.

Access Issues: DEGIRO is a custodial account, so DEGIRO users do not have access to crypto on-chain and so miss on on-chain offerings like staking, DeFi, and self-custody.

Risk of Volatility: There is no getting around it, the crypto market is volatile, so even if the eTP is on a reputed regulated exchange it might move a lot over a short time.

Risk of Change: European crypto regulations are changing due to MiCA, which may impact how these products are offered or traded on exchanges within the EU in the future.

Limitations of Buying Bitcoin with DEGIRO

• No ability to withdraw real crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can’t be transferred to personal wallets.
• Higher fees compared to real crypto exchanges: Crypt linked ETFS and ETNS can be more expensive than other illuminated crypto exchanges.
• Limited exposure (no USDT, XRP, Solana, etc.): DEGIRO does not offer XRP and other hyped crypto.
• Only indirect investment—no self-custody: Users can’t directly access or hold crypto because of the investment via ETFS or ETNS.

Is Buying Crypto Through DEGIRO Safe?

As a licensed European broker regulated by Dutch authorities, DEGIRO provides regulatory protection when buying crypto.

The investors get a high level of security, as the firm has secure trading infrastructure, keeps clients’ money in segregated accounts, and has clear and transparent fees.

However, trading crypto ETPs have risks, such as tracking errors, market volatility, and limited liquidity, resulting in poor performance.

DEGIRO crypto products do not have self-custody features as one cannot hold real Bitcoin. Thus, investors cannot move their assets to private wallets, and as such

Cannot partake in staking or DeFi. DEGIRO is generally safe when it comes to regulated exposure, but it is not a substitute for actual cryptocurrency.

Pros & Cons of Buying Crypto via DEGIRO

Pros of buying crypto via Degiro:

• Regulated investment environment: DEGIRO is a licensed broker in Europe.
• Easy for stock investors: Employees get a crypto exposure interface that investors are used to.
• No wallet management: Investors do not manage private keys, no wallets. Touch cryptocurrencies indirectly.

Cons of buying crypto via Degiro:

• No crypto assets directly: Investors do not get to hold bitcoins or Ethereum.
• Less product diversity: Investors can only get a handful of crypto ETFs and ETNs.
• No wallet withdrawal: You cannot transfer your crypto to self custody.

Conclusion

To sum up the activities of DEGIRO, there are no direct crypto trading or withdrawal options. Investors can only get indirect exposure through crypto ETFS or crypto ETNs.

Investors can use the platform regulated by the authorities to buy stocks and other financial assets, but they won’t own anything, and there are no transfer wallets or other financial instruments.

If investors want full control of the crypto-assets, DEGIRO is not the best option. If crypto-assets control is what investors want, then a regulated exchange is a better option.

FAQ