How to Buy Altcoins in 2025 (Complete Guide)

As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow, so do the number of options available to investors looking to buy altcoins. From decentralized exchanges to online brokerages, there are hundreds of platforms on which you can buy cryptocurrencies, each with slightly different features and processes.

With that in mind, it’s now more important than ever that you know how to buy altcoins safely. Below, I’ll explore some of the different options available to you, and run you through a step-by-step guide to buying altcoins.

A Quick Look at How to Invest in Altcoins 

If you want to know how to buy altcoins, follow this simple step-by-step guide:

1. Research altcoins – Research altcoins that you believe have good upside potential
2. Choose an exchange – Find a cryptocurrency exchange (centralized or decentralized) that suits your goals
3. Create an account – Create and verify your account
4. Deposit funds – Deposit funds using a payment method of your choosing
5. Buy altcoins – Visit the altcoin market page and buy your chosen altcoin
6. Transfer your altcoins – Transfer your new tokens to a safe, non-custodial wallet

Where Can You Buy Altcoins in 2024?

Understanding exactly where to buy altcoins can feel a little overwhelming, so I’ve broken down some of my favourite options for you.

Cryptocurrency exchanges

Cryptocurrency exchanges are centralized exchanges that allow you to buy, sell or trade a range of cryptocurrencies.

Crypto exchanges will usually require you to use fiat currencies to buy altcoins, but some will also enable you to swap one cryptocurrency token for another.

Coinbase

Coinbase is one of the world’s largest, most popular centralized exchanges. Coinbase allows you to buy, sell, swap and trade altcoins in a user-friendly, accessible manner. There are more than 250 altcoins available to buy on Coinbase, although it’s also possible to buy Bitcoin (BTC), of course!

Coinbase is a secure platform for buying altcoins, maintaining custody of your private keys and monitoring the exchange for fraudulent activity. With that in mind, all users must complete Know Your Customer (KYC) checks before they can start buying altcoins – this is a legal requirement that helps Coinbase ensure that only real people are using their platform.

Coinbase is also home to a number of educational resources as part of their “Learn” section. These guides help to break down a number of crypto-related topics, making Coinbase a great option for new investors.

Binance

Binance is another centralized exchange, this time with almost 250 million users. With Binance, users can buy, sell and trade more than 500 different altcoins, making it one of the best centralized platforms available. You can also stake certain altcoins on the Binance exchange, earning rewards for doing so.

Binance is a great option for both new and experienced investors, with some advanced trading tools that would be more suitable for traders with more knowledge about the crypto space.

If you’re looking to buy altcoins with leverage, Binance allows users to trade with up to 75x leverage. The platform also offers a VISA card that allows you to make purchases with cryptocurrencies directly. There is also 24/7 support available, in case you have any problems.

Kraken

If you’re relatively new to crypto and you want to know how to invest in altcoins, Kraken might be the best option for you. Designed to be incredibly user-friendly, Kraken is one of the preferred exchanges for inexperienced investors.

There are more than 290 different altcoins available, as well as a range of different trading features – this includes some advanced trading tools, which means that more experienced investors can also make use of the platform! Kraken is also home to a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace.

Users can easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies on Kraken. The site is well-designed, user-friendly and comes with a native cryptocurrency wallet for easy altcoin storage. You’ll also have access to 24/7 customer support, in case anything goes wrong!

Online brokerages

Some investors like to use online brokerages to invest in crypto.

An online brokerage differs from a centralized exchange – it’s a licensed firm that offers a platform for buying and selling a range of assets, including cryptocurrencies, although they have typically revolved around more traditional investments such as stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

IG

IG is a leading online trading provider. It’s an easy-to-use platform that provides users with access to more than 17,000 different markets, including cryptocurrencies.

You can engage in cryptocurrency trading by trading Contracts for Differences (CFDs). This allows investors to gain exposure to the price of altcoins, without needing to set up a cryptocurrency wallet.

IG allows you to open both long and short positions, with leverage, if that’s what you’re interested in. Users can trade a number of top altcoins or gain exposure to the general cryptocurrency market through the Crypto 10 Index CFD, an index fund that tracks the price movements of the world’s ten largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

11 major cryptocurrencies are offered with IG, including altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA) and Litecoin (LTC).

PrimeXBT

PrimeXBT is an online brokerage that allows users to invest in a range of assets, including cryptocurrencies. In fact, PrimeXBT is arguably one of the best platforms for buying altcoins, allowing you to buy crypto in minutes on a secure, user-friendly platform with 24/7 support.

With PrimeXBT, you can use your altcoins to your advantage:

• HODL – Store your altcoins in the PrimeXBT Wallet
• Send – Send altcoins to any wallet address
• Swap – Exchange one altcoin for another using your PrimeXBT account
• Sell – Sell altcoins for fiat currency
• Spend – Use altcoins to buy goods at participating retailers
• Trade – Use your altcoins to trade more than 100 markets on PrimeXBT

Alternatively, if you don’t want to buy altcoins and would instead prefer to trade them, PrimeXBT offers more than 40 different cryptocurrency CFDs with relatively low fees. This includes top altcoins such as Ripple (XRP) and Dogecoin (DOGE).

Peer-to-peer marketplaces

Peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces – more commonly known as decentralized exchanges (DEXs) – are one of the most popular methods for buying altcoins.

A peer-to-peer marketplace allows users to trade cryptocurrencies with one another, without requiring a third-party intermediary. Instead, trades are done using smart contracts, which are contracts that automatically execute once the terms of the agreement are met.

Also, if you specifically want to know how to buy new altcoins, decentralized exchanges will typically list new altcoins more quickly than a centralized exchange. Because you don’t need to create an account in order to use a P2P marketplace, they’re one of the best options for buying altcoins anonymously.

Bybit

Technically, Bybit is a centralized exchange, although it does have a number of decentralized features! Bybit offers spot and derivative trading, as well as crypto lending services. Bybit was popularized thanks to its speed and attractive interest rates, making it a great option for investors looking to buy altcoins.

There are more than 400 altcoins offered on the Bybit platform, which can be traded with up to 100x leverage. Perhaps most impressively, Bybit offers a “One-Click Buy” process, which allows you to buy your favorite altcoins in a single click. This can be done using a credit or debit card, although it’s also available to users that would prefer to trade on a peer-to-peer basis.

Bybit is also home to “Bybit Learn“, a comprehensive educational platform that provides a range of resources for users hoping to boost their knowledge of the crypto space.

HTX

HTX is a leading cryptocurrency exchange. Home to more than 47 million users, HTX is one of the world’s most popular platforms for buying altcoins. There are more than 700 cryptocurrencies available to trade, and users can earn generous rewards for locking their altcoins into the platform.

HTX is a transparent and secure platform, maintaining a minimum 1:1 proof of reserves (PoR) and regularly publishing PoR reports. Funds are held across a mixture of hot and cold wallets, and HTX uses multi-factor authentication to help keep user accounts secure.

If you want to trade altcoins on a P2P basis, HTX allows you to do so with zero commission. It’s possible to buy altcoins on the HTX peer-to-peer platform using any of the following cryptocurrencies: USDT, BTC, USDD, TRX and ETH.

Hodl Hodl

Hodl Hodl is one of the best P2P options, especially for those that want to purchase cryptocurrencies completely anonymously.

Hodl Hodl is a peer-to-peer marketplace that currently only facilitates the trading of Bitcoin (BTC), although it’s possible to buy Bitcoin using altcoins and stablecoins such as USDT and USDC.

Hodl Hodl is a non-custodial platform, meaning that users are always in control of their funds. All transactions are anonymous, and Hodl Hodl allows you to trade more than 100 currencies using any global payment system.

The platform uses multisignature (multisig) contracts to enable P2P trades, with sellers depositing Bitcoin into an escrow account, only releasing it once the buyer has paid for it via a pre-agreed payment method.

How to Buy Altcoins From a Crypto Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchanges, especially those that are centralized, are perhaps the most beginner-friendly method for buying cryptocurrencies, but do you know how to invest in altcoins with a CEX?

Step 1: Create an account

Before you can do anything, you’ll need to create an account.

This process is relatively simple and will involve you clicking “Register” or “Sign Up”. Then, add in any of the necessary details, which will usually include your personal details – name, address, email, etc. – and creating a secure password.

Step 2: Verify your account

Once you’ve added in all your details, the exchange will require you to verify your account. In theory, this is really straightforward; simply click the link in your email to confirm that you’re happy to create the account.

However, centralized exchanges will legally require you to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. This is to ensure that you’re a real user and that you’re legally allowed to access the exchange in question. To fully verify your account, you’ll need to send a photo of your passport and/or driving license. To confirm your address, some exchanges will also need a copy of a recent utility bill.

Step 3: Fund your account

Now that you’ve verified your account, you need to fund it. The easiest way is to make a deposit using your preferred fiat currency and payment method.

Find the “Deposit” page – which may have a slightly different name – and click on the payment method that you want to use.

Decide how much of your chosen fiat currency you want to deposit, and follow the necessary steps to complete the deposit. This may involve confirming the transaction with your bank or payment provider.

Confirm that you’re happy with the exchange rate provided – given the volatility of altcoins, this can change fairly quickly! – and the fees that you’ll be charged for the deposit. Depending on the deposit method used, this transaction may take a few hours or days, but most deposits will happen relatively quickly.

Step 4: Search for altcoins

At this point, you’ll need to search for the altcoins that you want to buy. Ideally, you should have conducted research into your options before this point – you should never rush into an investment, especially when it’s in crypto!

However, all of the best centralized exchanges will have a list of altcoins that you can invest in. These platforms will also typically show you a price chart, the altcoin’s total and circulating supply, as well as some simple background information about the cryptocurrency.

If you know which altcoin you want to invest in, use the search function to head straight to that market page.

Step 5: Buy Altcoins with Fiat currency

Click the “Buy” or “Trade” button to get the purchase started. Here, you can use the fiat currency that you deposited earlier – just make sure to choose this option when asked how you want to pay for your new altcoins.

You’ll need to decide how many altcoin tokens you want to purchase. You can either decide to buy a specific number of tokens or spend a certain amount of fiat currency, whichever is easiest for you to understand.

Confirm that you’re happy to complete the transaction, making sure you keep an eye out for any fees. The transaction should be finalized within a matter of minutes, although it can sometimes take a little longer, so be patient!

Step 6: Move altcoins to a secure crypto wallet

Once you’ve purchased your altcoins, they’ll be stored in a custodial wallet on the exchange itself. Although this option works for some people, you’re usually better off transferring your altcoins to a secure, non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet.

To do this, you’ll need to create a compatible wallet. These are free to download as either a browser extension or mobile app. Create the wallet and note down your 12- or 24-word seed phrase somewhere safe. 

Now you’ve made a new wallet, it’ll have a specific wallet address – copy this down! Use the exchange’s “Send” function to transfer your altcoins from the exchange’s wallet to your new wallet.

Common Risks to Be Aware of When You Buy Altcoins

Knowing how to buy altcoins is only half of the process – you also need to know to do so safely! There are several risks that you should be aware of when buying altcoins, some of which I’ll cover in more detail below.

Hacking and fraud

Although blockchain technology and cryptographic encryption makes cryptocurrencies very secure, crypto-related platforms are still susceptible to malicious attacks. For example, hackers will typically try to access online wallets and cryptocurrency exchanges to steal users’ private keys.

There is also a significant amount of fraudulent activity associated with the cryptocurrency space, with fraudsters trying to take advantage of unsuspecting investors. Keep an eye out for social media advertisements trying to sell you altcoins and promising you high returns! You should only buy altcoins on a reputable centralized or decentralized exchange.

Sending your crypto to the wrong wallet

It’s essential that you store your altcoins safely by transferring them to a secure private wallet. Each wallet has a unique address, made up of a string of random characters. When sending altcoins, you’ll need to use this wallet address to confirm where you’re sending your cryptocurrency to.

However, it’s perfectly possible that you send your cryptocurrency tokens to the wrong address if you’ve copied it down wrong. If this happens, it’s incredibly unlikely that you’ll ever be able to recover those tokens. Therefore, you should always make sure you’ve copied down the address correctly before you confirm the transaction!

Transaction fees

As with any financial investment, there are fees associated with almost every aspect of the process! This is especially true when it comes to buying altcoins via a centralized exchange, with the exchange typically charging fees for making a deposit or purchase, as well as for sending your cryptocurrency tokens to a non-custodial wallet.

Some altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH) will also have network fees. These can fluctuate, so always keep that in mind when transferring or spending your altcoins. Sending ETH when gas fees are high can be a very costly mistake!

Fake websites and exchanges

As mentioned above, the cryptocurrency market is full of fraudsters. Sometimes, these individuals will create fake websites and exchanges in an attempt at fooling investors. These sites will look incredibly legitimate, often designed to replicate a genuine exchange. However, when you create an account or make a deposit, they will steal your data, funds, or both. 

Always be incredibly vigilant when using a crypto-related service online. Double-check the URL of the platform in question and make sure you’re confident that the service being offered is genuine. As a general rule-of-thumb, if you’re not 100% sure that something is legit, avoid it!

Final Thoughts

Since 2017, altcoins have proven to be very lucrative, albeit incredibly volatile. There are so many options available that it can sometimes be difficult to know how and where to buy altcoins, but hopefully I’ve given you some good options to take a look at. In my opinion, the best place to start is by deciding which sort of platform you want to use: centralized or decentralized. From there, the process should be relatively simple.

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