How to buy USDC from Australia

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Updated 21 Oct 2022

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  • USDC is the 2nd biggest fiat-backed stablecoin in the world by market cap and is available to buy, exchange or sell on just about every crypto exchange on the Internet.
  • Since 2018 the USDC stablecoin has been pegged at or near the fiat US Dollars.
  • USDC serves as a good crypto staking coin for earning returns.

This step-by-step guide will take you through the process of buying USDC from Australia and get you up and running in no time.

Binance Australia

On website

Highlights

  • Sign up on Binance Australia to get a 100 USDT cashback voucher. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • World's largest crypto exchanges.
  • Buy, sell, trade, and stake 1,000s of crypto coins and trading pairs.
  • Zero-fee deposit via PayID or Osko from Australia.

Pros

  • It has some of the lowest trading fees out there. 0.1% for spot trading and 0.5% for instant buy or sell fees.
  • Credit card or debit card deposits are accepted.
  • Provides charting and trading tools suitable for advanced crypto traders.

Cons

  • The platform UI can be complicated to learn for new investors.
Swyftx

On website

Highlights

  • Receive $10 worth of BTC when you sign up and verify your account.
  • Trade over 300 assets on Swyftx including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin as well as DeFi coins such as UniCoin.
  • Deposit or withdraw funds from your account using several payment methods (PayID, OSKI, POLi or bank transfers).
  • New to Crypto? Try Swyftx's demo mode, it allows you to mock trade with no financial risk while you learn the ropes of crypto trading.

Pros

  • Trade more than 300 crypto assets through the Swyftx platform.
  • Offers tight spreads and low trading fees.
  • Get support within 5 minutes through their live chat.
  • Practice trading with a demo mode.

Cons

  • Lacks access to advanced trading markets.
CoinSpot

On website

Highlights

  • Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and over 370 other digital currencies.
  • Refer a friend and earn $10 BTC.
  • Get 24/7 helpdesk support.

Pros

  • Trade for only 0.1% and withdraw in AUD for free.
  • Multiple deposit options.
  • Access CoinSpot NFT Marketplace.
  • CoinSpot is regulated by AUSTRAC and is ISO certified

Cons

  • Margin trading is not available.
eToro Crypto

On website

Crypto assets are unregulated & highly speculative. No consumer protection. Capital at risk.

Highlights

  • Access thousands of assets across multiple categories.
  • Copy trades of popular investors that trade Crypto.
  • Access powerful analysis tools and innovative social features.

Pros

  • The user-friendly website and app make it easy to trade from anywhere.
  • Trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 60+ other crypto assets.
  • With its CopyTrader feature, you can replicate the moves of other investors.
  • Start trading with just $10.

Cons

  • There is a 1% fee that is added to the market price.
  • Other exchanges have more selections of crypto coins and tokens.
Binance Australia

On website

Highlights

  • Sign up on Binance Australia to get a 100 USDT cashback voucher. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • World's largest crypto exchanges.
  • Buy, sell, trade, and stake 1,000s of crypto coins and trading pairs.
  • Zero-fee deposit via PayID or Osko from Australia.

Pros

  • It has some of the lowest trading fees out there. 0.1% for spot trading and 0.5% for instant buy or sell fees.
  • Credit card or debit card deposits are accepted.
  • Provides charting and trading tools suitable for advanced crypto traders.

Cons

  • The platform UI can be complicated to learn for new investors.
Uphold Crypto

On website

Crypto assets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Uphold Crypto

Highlights

  • Invest in 250 + cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, 27 national currencies, and multiple precious metals with 0% commission.
  • Ability to trade crypto against other assets like foreign currency and commodities.
  • Registered with FinCEN (US), FCA (UK), and FCIS (Lithuania).

Pros

  • Open an account in less than a minute.
  • Low deposit requirement and commission-free trading.
  • Option to trade fiat currencies and precious metals.

Cons

  • High spreads on low-liquidity assets.

Step 1: Select an exchange that sells USDC

USDC has been the 2nd most dominant stablecoin in crypto for a long time and is listed on just about every crypto exchange in the world. Finding an exchange that sells USDC is not difficult — we've listed some good options above — but there are some points of differentiation to consider:

  • account funding options
  • what they charge for trades,
  • and also if they charge a fee on deposits and withdrawals.

Step 2: Register and verify your identity

After you've chosen an exchange, you'll have to register an account and prove your identity. What information is required will vary by the exchange. Typically you'll need to provide your name, date of birth, and address. Additionally, a copy of a government-issued form of ID may be required before your account can be verified and secured. In all, this process can be completed within a few minutes.

Step 3: Set your budget

Crypto is a volatile asset class that experiences bull runs and sudden drops, so it's important to decide how much USDC you want to buy and stick to it. Only ever invest what you can afford to lose.

Step 4: Fund your account

You can send fiat currency or cryptocurrency to your exchange account.

Most exchanges accept fiat currency (AUD) transfers from a bank account, credit card, or debit card. Payments via PayID, Osko, PayPal, POLi, etc. may also be supported, but this varies widely between exchanges. Fiat deposits can take a few hours or even days to clear into your account at the exchange.

An alternative way to fund your account is to transfer cryptocurrency from a wallet you control, but this may incur processing charges.

A minimum amount may be required for your first deposit.

Step 5: Buy USDC

Various order types are available for buying, much like there are with a stock broker. More complex order configuration tends to be limited to exchanges that are more geared towards the intermediate to experienced trader.

If you are new to trading, a market order is the easiest option, i.e. buy USDC at the next available price. Some exchanges offer the ability to configure recurring buys, which means you can take advantage of dollar cost averaging over time.

Where to store your USDC

You can store USDC in the exchange wallet and third-party wallets.

If you want easy access to your coins, store your USDC in a hot wallet (e.g. at the exchange). Hot wallets are very accessible, meaning you can trade more frequently. However, they have a greater risk of theft since they are connected to the internet.

A safer alternative is to store your USDC in a cold wallet. These offline storage devices can be manually connected to the internet when you want to access your crypto.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer’s alone and do not constitute financial advice. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content. However, Finty and/or the writer may have a position in the cryptocurrencies mentioned. Finty is committed to providing general, factual, honest, and accurate information that is compliant with governing laws and regulations. Do your own due diligence and seek professional advice before deciding to invest in one of the products mentioned. For more information, see Finty’s editorial guidelines and terms and conditions.

As seen on

Media - The Sydney Morning Herald
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Media - Daily Mail Australia
Media - Australian Fintech
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