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How to Sell Cryptocurrency in 2024

Stephen Ngari
Stephen Ngari
Stephen Ngari
Author:
Stephen Ngari
Writer
Stephen is a seasoned crypto and fintech specialist with industry experience. Having worked in tech, helping people send money globally and rollout solutions, he understands the impact that tech like blockchain brings to real world issues. He is passionate about crypto, writing and basketball.
July 31st, 2023

There is a wide range of ways for you to sell your cryptocurrency, with so many choices it is important to make sure you use the method that is best for you and what you are trying to accomplish. You have the option to use an exchange, broker, crypto ATM, or even P2P marketplaces. In addition to this, each interface will have alternative methods of withdrawing your assets – that could be using a credit card, debit card, or a direct bank transfer.

Each method will come with different fees that you need to be aware of. Additionally, other factors like speed and accessibility are aspects of research.

We have put together this guide for you to navigate the best possible ways to sell your cryptocurrency, an in-depth look at all the reputable methods, and have included some crucial information about tax and security.

What Is the Best Way to Sell Cryptocurrency?

With such a wide choice of ways to sell your cryptocurrency, we have put together this list that clearly shows which are the best options available to you.

Exchange:Why we like it:Best for:
Coinbase
– User-friendly interface
– Native crypto wallet
– Earn interest on your crypto
– Low account minimum
Beginners looking to trade large-cap coins.
eToro– Access stocks and crypto in one place
– Copy the trades of experts
– Regulated by global bodies
– Access Bitcoin Spot ETF
Investors who want to buy crypto and stocks.
Kraken– Cold wallet storage
– Trade with leverage up to 5x
– Advanced traders can access
– Kraken Pro with sophisticated trading tools
– Over 200 cryptocurrencies available
Advanced traders who are interested in margin trading.
Crypto.com– Excellent mobile app 
– Users can receive trading discounts by holding CRO
– Native decentralized wallet
– Over 250 cryptocurrencies available
Traders who want to manage their portfolio on their mobile phones.
Binance– Over 500 cryptocurrencies available
– Extensive range of educational materials
– Automated trading
Users who are looking to build a diverse portfolio with lots of different cryptos.

Key Takeaways

  • You can sell your cryptocurrency using an exchange, Bitcoin ATM, P2P marketplace, or in person.

  • Each method of sale will have different withdrawal options for getting your cryptocurrency changed into cash.

  • Each withdrawal option needs to be carefully considered in terms of fees, speeds, and transaction limits.

  • Binance offers a great range of sale methods.

  • You will have to pay taxes on the crypto you sell and you need to take precautions to make it as secure as possible.

How Do You Sell Cryptocurrency?

There is a huge range of ways to sell cryptocurrency. Here is a quick look at the most popular methods available to you:

Brokerage:

  • The most centralized way to sell your cryptocurrency. The broker sets the price for sales and charges a commission for facilitating them.

Cryptocurrency Exchange:

  • Provide slightly lower fees than most brokerages but can be more complicated.

Decentralized Exchange (DEX):

  • These operate in the same way as a traditional exchange, but are unregulated and are not owned/operated by a singular entity.

P2P:

  • Person-to-person exchanges offer great rates as they have no middle man; it’s best to think of this as swapping rather than trading.

Here is a more detailed look at the best ways we think there are for you to sell your cryptocurrency, including some examples:

Sell Cryptocurrency Using an Exchange

An exchange is one of the most popular methods of trading cryptocurrency. It is a mediated arena for users to make trades between themselves via an order book or ledger, so prices are not set by an individual or business as they are with a broker. Usually, this means that exchanges offer some of the best rates on offer when selling cryptocurrency.

On these types of platforms, you can sell your cryptocurrency in a variety of different ways. You could sell them for fiat currency, a different crypto asset, or trade them – you can then withdraw these funds to your bank account or card if it is supported by the platform.

Example: Binance

Binance is the biggest exchange on the market today and offers some of the most competitive rates to sell your cryptocurrency.

Sell Cryptocurrency for Fiat Currency

One of the most popular methods to choose is to sell your cryptocurrency for fiat currency. Fiat is the standard dimension of currency that we use in day-to-day life and is registered as legal tender (GBP, USD, EURO, etc).

This method is going to get you one step close to being able to withdraw your cryptocurrency into a bank account or card that you can use in day-to-day life.

Example: Binance

Binance offers a huge range of trading pairs which means a wider range of supported fiat currencies. The most popular tokens/coins will have the largest selection of available pairs, and you will find on a big exchange like Binance that there is a huge array of supported fiat currencies.

Exchange Cryptocurrency for Other Cryptocurrencies

As well as trading your assets for fiat currency, you can also trade them for other forms of cryptocurrencies. It may be slightly more difficult for you to transition a crypto-based asset into your bank account, but there are some other methods to use that we will go into further on in this guide.

Example: Binance

Again, the more trading pairs a platform has the more trading options there are available to you. Binance is probably the industry leader in terms of the number of assets and pairs it offers to its user – it certainly isn’t challenged by any of the other industry leaders.

Direct Trades (Person-to-person)

Direct trades have the undeniable financial benefit of not paying a middleman. Selling your assets directly, whether this is through a P2P marketplace or actually selling them in person, allows you to cut costs and save more money.

Online P2P Selling

The cryptocurrency began as a means of person-2-person trading without the need of a mediator and now there are platforms specifically designed to offer this online service. These types of platforms cut out the middleman and directly link traders to one another.

Example: Binance P2P

Binance now has its own P2P platform built onto its parent exchange. Here users can directly trade with one another and set their own prices for assets. You may be able to get some better rates using this method when you sell your cryptocurrency, but it is worth noting that these trades can be quite complex and also have a lesser degree of protection compared with conventional selling methods.

Sell Cryptocurrency in Person

Selling cryptocurrencies in person is definitely one of the more niche ways of selling your assets. For this reason, there may not be a wide choice of coins/tokens that you can sell in this way, but some organizations do accept Bitcoin for cash.

Example: Shops and Private Sale

These days there are some shops you can go into and sell your crypto assets but these are rare. You can also just simply sell your cryptocurrency to your friends and family. As long as you all know how to use a wallet and how to send cryptocurrencies to and from different wallets you can negotiate the right price for you and sell your cryptocurrency in a more traditional manner.

How to Sell Cryptocurrency Using an ATM?

Bitcoin ATMs are becoming more popular these days; they work in the same way as a traditional ATM but instead of linking to bank accounts they link to the internet. However it is worth noting that not all Bitcoin ATMs will have the ‘Sell’ function, some will only allow you to buy. As the popularity of cryptocurrency grows it is possible we will see an expansion of this platform, and perhaps ATMs that will allow you to buy and sell other cryptocurrencies and not only Bitcoin.

  • Step 1: Create an account with the applicable application.

  • Step 2: Find a cryptocurrency ATM near to you to withdraw cash.

  • Step 3: Find your wallet address.

  • Step 4: Input your wallet address and convert your Bitcoin into cash.

Different Ways to Withdraw Your Money When Selling Cryptocurrency

Each platform that you can sell your assets on will have a range of different withdrawal options. It will depend on what the specific platform supports but here are some to name a few:

  • Bank transfer

  • Debit/credit card

  • Paypal

  • External wallet

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your withdrawal method:

  • Fees

  • Min/max transaction limits

  • Process time

How to Sell Cryptocurrency?

Here is our step-by-step guide for how to sell your cryptocurrency using the popular platform Coinbase or crypto.com. We have chosen Coinbase as its not only one of the most popular platforms, but it is also an exchange that also offers features that a brokerage would also offer.

  • Step 1: Open the web trader or mobile app.

  • Step 2: Create an account with Coinbase by inputting all of your personal information and following the relevant KYC regulations.

  • Step 3: Click the ‘Buy/Sell’ tab.

  • Step 4: Click the cryptocurrency that you wish to sell.

  • Step 5: Select the amount of your cryptocurrency you want to sell and then input the price at which you would like to sell it if you are making a limit order or executing the trade at market price. Then, complete your order.

  • Step 6: Wait for the trade to be executed, and then find your funds in your wallet.

How to Choose the Best Way to Sell Cryptocurrency

When selling cryptocurrency there will be a lot of things to consider depending on the user’s needs. Here are some of the considerations you should make when selecting your interface:

  • Ease of selling coin on the chosen platform

  • Selling for fiat currency or exchanging for other cryptocurrencies

  • Which currency do you want to cash out in

  • Where you keep your coins

  • Available withdrawal methods

  • Transfer speeds

  • Market changes and sentiments

  • Transaction fees & commissions

Selling Larger Amounts of Cryptocurrencies

Selling big amounts of cryptocurrency must be done with great care. You need to make sure you are getting a good rate for your assets, but also that you are using a trusted interface that has good levels of security and maybe even some kind of insurance.

Do I Have to Pay Tax When Selling Cryptocurrencies?

Yes. This is one of the most common mistakes people make – you will need to pay taxes on your cryptocurrency earnings. The specific regulations and amounts you will need to pay will depend on the following factors:

  • Amount sold

  • Country of residence

  • Country your account is based in

  • Different regulations

  • Amount of gains made

Privacy and Security Tips When Selling Cryptocurrency

Security is essential when trading any asset, and cryptocurrency is no different. We have put together a simple list of steps you can follow to make it as safe as you can to sell your cryptocurrency:

  • Enable 2-factor authentication

  • Complete only necessary KYC

  • Request support only through official sources

  • Double-check the receiver address of your assets

  • Use different passwords if using multiple exchanges/wallets/brokers

  • Keep your large amounts of cryptocurrencies on a hardware wallet / cold storage

  • Only use a trusted interface

FAQs

Is It Legal To Sell Cryptocurrency for Cash?

Yes, it is. But depending on where you are based you may need to register it for tax purposes.

How Easy Is It To Sell Cryptocurrency?

This depends on what platform you use to sell your assets. Exchanges and brokerages are fairly straightforward and also they have a host of educational materials. P2P exchanges however can be slightly more complex as your transaction is more independent.

How Long Does It Take To Sell Cryptocurrency?

This depends on what platform you use to sell your assets. Usually, with an interface like an exchange, sales are instant.

Can My Transaction Be Traced When Selling Cryptocurrency?

Blockchain technology means that all transactions made are recorded and documented, so there will always be a record of the sales you make, but how that can be traced directly to you will depend on what interface you use and how much of your personal information you had to use to make the sale.

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Contributors

Stephen Ngari
Writer
Stephen is a seasoned crypto and fintech specialist with industry experience. Having worked in tech, helping people send money globally and rollout solutions, he understands the impact that tech like blockchain brings to real world issues. He is passionate about crypto, writing and basketball.