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How to buy crypto through Robinhood

Robinhood is one of the largest US brokerages, and it supports three different ways to get crypto exposure: buy actual cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, SOL, and more) through Robinhood Crypto, buy spot Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT, or buy crypto-related stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR) and Coinbase (COIN). Each has different trade-offs. Here's how to decide.

The short version: If you want simple, IRA-compatible crypto exposure, buy a spot Bitcoin ETF like IBIT on Robinhood. If you want leveraged Bitcoin exposure, buy MSTR. If you want to actively trade individual coins with self-custody control, use Robinhood Crypto to buy BTC/ETH/SOL directly. You can do all three in the same Robinhood account.

Robinhood Crypto — direct crypto buying

You can buy actual Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, and other supported cryptocurrencies through Robinhood Crypto. Available 24/7. No trading fees on standard orders (Robinhood makes money through spread). Since 2023, Robinhood added self-custody wallets so you can withdraw your crypto — the biggest historical limitation of the platform.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs — the recommended default

Robinhood supports every major spot Bitcoin ETF: IBIT, FBTC, GBTC, ARKB, BITB, HODL. These are ETFs that hold actual Bitcoin. Advantages over Robinhood Crypto: IRA-compatible (Traditional/Roth), no crypto tax reporting complexity, tighter spreads, and the ETF handles custody so you never touch a wallet.

Bitcoin treasury stocks — leveraged exposure

MicroStrategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN), and Bitcoin miners (MARA, RIOT, CLSK) all trade on Robinhood. MSTR gives you leveraged Bitcoin exposure — bigger gains and losses than direct Bitcoin. COIN is exposure to crypto exchange volume growth. Miners are leveraged bets on Bitcoin's mining economics.

Robinhood Retirement Bitcoin IRA

As of 2023, Robinhood offers a Retirement product that supports spot Bitcoin ETFs in Traditional and Roth IRA accounts. Great tax structure for long-term Bitcoin exposure. Robinhood also offers a 1% or 3% (Gold subscribers) match on IRA contributions.

Frequently asked questions

Is Robinhood safe for crypto?▼

Robinhood is a regulated US broker-dealer (SEC/FINRA) and Robinhood Crypto is a regulated crypto entity in most US states. Your equity and ETF holdings are SIPC-insured up to $500K. Crypto holdings are not SIPC-insured but Robinhood does hold most user crypto in cold storage. For maximum safety with large positions, some investors self-custody Bitcoin using hardware wallets after buying on Robinhood.

Can I withdraw my Bitcoin from Robinhood to another wallet?▼

Yes, since 2023. Robinhood added self-custody wallet functionality that lets you withdraw Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported cryptos to external wallets. This was historically Robinhood's biggest limitation and is now resolved for major assets.

What are Robinhood's crypto fees?▼

Robinhood charges no trading commission on crypto — they make money through the bid-ask spread (typically 0.5-1.5% built into the price you see). This is often cheaper than Coinbase's ~1% fee for small trades but more expensive than Kraken's ~0.16-0.26% taker fee for larger trades. For sub-$1000 buys, Robinhood is competitive.

Should I buy IBIT ETF or direct Bitcoin on Robinhood?▼

For most investors, IBIT is simpler and better: (1) IRA-compatible, (2) taxed as securities not crypto, (3) no wallet management, (4) tighter effective spreads. Direct Bitcoin makes sense if you plan to withdraw to self-custody or trade actively during off-hours (crypto trades 24/7, ETFs don't).

Which crypto stocks can I buy on Robinhood?▼

Every major crypto-related stock: MicroStrategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN), Bitcoin miners (MARA, RIOT, CLSK, HUT, CIFR), spot Bitcoin ETFs (IBIT, FBTC, GBTC, ARKB, BITB, HODL), spot Ethereum ETFs (ETHA, FETH, ETHE), and treasury companies (MTPLF via OTC).

Robinhood vs Coinbase for buying Bitcoin?▼

Robinhood: simpler UX, integrated with your stock/ETF investments, tighter spreads for small buys, IRA-compatible ETFs. Coinbase: pure-play crypto exchange, better selection of altcoins, more advanced trading tools (via Coinbase Advanced), higher fees but more control. Many investors use both — Robinhood for ETFs/stocks, Coinbase for altcoins.

Does Robinhood support Ethereum ETFs?▼

Yes. Robinhood supports every major spot Ethereum ETF launched in July 2024: BlackRock's ETHA, Fidelity's FETH, Grayscale's ETHE and mini-trust ETH, plus VanEck, Bitwise, and Franklin Templeton versions. Same treatment as Bitcoin ETFs.

This page is educational content, not financial advice. Every data figure traces to a primary source (SEC EDGAR filings, company 10-Q / 10-K / 8-K disclosures, or licensed data feeds). See our About page for editorial standards + methodology.

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