How to buy Bitcoin Cash (BCH) from the UK

By   |   Verified by David Boyd   |   Updated 13 Sep 2023

  • Bitcoin Cash was created to accommodate a larger block size compared to Bitcoin, which allows for recording more transactions into a single block of the blockchain.
  • BCH and BTC have many technical similarities. Both use the same consensus mechanism and both have their supply capped at 21 million.
  • Like all other cryptos, BCH too has gone through cycles of boom and bust within short periods of time.

Since its launch in 2017, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has gone on to be one of the top altcoins.

If you want a piece of the action around this Bitcoin alternative, here’s everything you need to buy from the UK.

Not sure which exchange to use?

Where to buy Bitcoin Cash

eToro Crypto

On website

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

eToro Crypto

Highlights

  • Trade and stake a range of crypto assets with low fees.
  • Copy successful traders. Practice with a demo account.
  • eToro is regulated by CySec, FCA and ASIC.

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.
Coinsmart

On website

Coinsmart

Highlights

  • Get $20 in BTC with your first deposit.
  • Trade major coins and popular altcoins including Dogecoin, Cardano, Solana, Polkadot, and Polygon.
  • Fund your account with wire transfers, credit / debit cards, or crypto with access to trade funds the same day.

Pros

  • Low trading fees.
  • Deposits are cleared within the day.
  • Supports CAD, EUR, and USD.
  • Get 24/7 customer support.

Cons

  • Limited coins.
  • Fee applies to credit card and debit card deposits.
Crypto.com

Crypto.com

Highlights

  • Earn up to 8.5% p.a. on your crypto, and up to 14% p.a. for stablecoins.
  • Spend with the Crypto.com Visa Card and get up to 8% back.
  • Shop with Crypto.com Pay and receive up to 10% back, paid in CRO.

Pros

  • Get access to additional features including lending, borrowing, debit cards, and more.
  • Start trading with just $1.
  • Interest-earning deposits are available.
  • There is a $2,000 referral bonus.

Cons

  • Lack of educational resources.

First time buying?

How to to buy Bitcoin Cash

Step 1: Choose an exchange that sells Bitcoin Cash

Bitcoin Cash is available to buy on many crypto exchanges, where it is easy to trade cryptocurrency.

Since there are so many exchanges, choosing one may seem overwhelming. On Finty, we only list exchanges that are legitimate and provide an excellent trading experience.

When you are comparing exchanges, there are several things to look out for. Check the maker and taker fees or the spread (if there is one). Also, consider any fees there may be to deposit and withdraw fiat currencies.

Although we only list trusted exchanges, whoever you ultimately choose to use should be secure. Look for features such as 2FA account protection and offline cold storage of crypto assets.

Step 2: Get verified

Once you open an account on a cryptocurrency exchange, you’ll need to provide personal information like your name, number, and email address. Other details may be required, depending on the exchange and type of account being set up.

Crypto exchanges need to prove your identity in order to satisfy local regulations and taxation laws. It is possible to confirm your identity with any acceptable photo ID (so long as it is current). Verification could be as quick as 5 minutes. After your identity is verified, you'll be able to complete the account setup and start trading.

Step 3: Set a budget

Make sure you only invest money you can afford to lose, a rule that is especially true for crypto investments because of their volatility.

Step 4: Fund your account

Depending on the exchange, you can deposit funds (GBP) with a bank transfer, debit card, credit card, PayPal, etc. If you're using a credit or debit card to transfer funds, you'll probably incur a transaction fee.

Although most exchanges accept crypto transfers from external wallets, some exchanges do not allow crypto-to-crypto exchange.

Step 5: Buy Bitcoin Cash

Market orders, commonly referred to as an instant buy, are the easiest way to buy Bitcoin Cash on an exchange, but only if you aren't concerned about slippage.

On most exchanges, you can configure an order to execute once a set of criteria have been met, commonly known as trigger orders. For example, you could set up a trigger order to buy automatically once Bitcoin Cash reaches a specific price.

Many exchanges also have automated recurring orders so you can buy Bitcoin Cash at given intervals, such as every week or month regardless of the price at the time. This can be beneficial in that the cost of acquisition can average out over time.

After you buy

Where to store your Bitcoin Cash

To make it easier to access your BCH tokens, they can be kept in the wallet on the exchange where you purchased them. You can always transfer crypto to a different wallet in the future. Be aware that hot wallets are connected to the web and are, therefore, more susceptible to hacks.

Cold wallets, on the other hand, are not connected to the internet. These hardware devices are a more secure way to store crypto. However, keep in mind that forgetting the access key means any crypto stored on the device will be inaccessible.