How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania in 2025 – The Ultimate Beginners Guide

Pennsylvania’s friendly stance to the crypto industry has made it welcoming to the best altcoin exchanges in the US. In fact, it recently joined the list of states that have passed crypto legislation and also intends to introduce a Bitcoin reserve.

In light of this development and with the bull market around the corner, you probably have decided to join the growing number of Pennsylvanians looking to add cryptos to their portfolio. To help you get started with this, we teach you how to buy cryptocurrencies in this post.

We introduce you to the best places to buy digital assets and share tips that you can use to grow your portfolio faster and keep your coins safe. We also discuss Pennsylvania’s crypto laws and their approach to taxation.

How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania – An Easy 4-Step Guide

We start by providing you with a quick step-by-step guide to buying cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania via an SEC-regulated brokerage. Here, you will have access to the best cryptos to buy in the US, and you can start investing for as little as $10.

• Step 1: Create a crypto trading account: Start by registering a crypto trader account on the eToro.US website or the eToro mobile trading app. The platform will only ask for basic personal information and ask you to come up with a unique username and password for this account.
• Step 2: Fund your account: Deposit at least $10 into this account to start buying cryptos. The supported deposit methods include PayPal, ACH checks, Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit cards, debit cards, and bank wire transfers.
• Step 3: Identify the best crypto to buy: eToro exposes you to the most popular digital assets. Identify the best crypto buy from this list and hit the ‘buy’ icon.
• Step 4: Buy crypto: Use the trading tab that appears here to customize this investment. Indicate how much you want to invest in this coin and hit the “Open Trade” button to execute.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

We will be walking you through this process in more detail below. Before that, though, we need to understand what the most popular cryptos are in the Keystone State. We also need to introduce you to what our analysts consider the best crypto exchanges operating in this state.

Most Popular Cryptocurrency to Buy in Pennsylvania

Bitcoin is the most popular crypto in Pennsylvania and the US. We arrive at this conclusion based on the fact that it is listed among the most popular crypto trading platforms in Pennsylvania. It is also one of the most searched crypto and, by far, the most traded digital asset in the state. Our observation is also informed by the fact that Bitcoin dominates crypto news and discussions on both mainstream and social media platforms.

We, however, must add that it isn’t the only crypto dominating the news and online discussions in Pennsylvanian. Others include:

• Ethereum (ETH)
• Ripple (XRP)
• Pepe (PEPE)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Solana (SOL)
• Tether USD (USDT)
• Shiba Inu (SHIB)
• Tron (TRX)
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Where to Buy Cryptos in Pennsylvania

We have mentioned that all the top altcoin exchanges in the country have established a base in the Keystone State. To help you identify the one that appeals the most to you, we have vetted the most popular. Below, we will provide you with an overview of what we consider the best places to buy cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania. We will pay attention to their key features, highlight their strengths, and point out their biggest drawbacks.

1. eToro – The Overall Best Crypto Exchange in Pennsylvania

eToro tops our list of the best places to buy cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania because of its solid reputation and ease of use. Over the years, the decade-old crypto brokerage has placed great emphasis on transparency, security, trustworthiness, and regulation. It has also morphed into a highly reliable trading platform that is popular with beginners, professionals, and even institutional investors.

The transparency is evidenced in its fee model, particularly the fact that it doesn’t have any hidden fees. It is also very clear about all the charges impacting your trade and other transactions. These include the trading fee that is fixed at 1% of the trade volume and a $5 withdrawal fee. It extends to a 0.5% crypto transfer fee and other non-trading charges like the $10 inactivity fee.

The fact that eToro has never been hacked, despite offering Bitcoin trades since 2023, also means it is a secure platform. It even provides users with two free digital wallets. First is the custodial wallet that holds 90%+ of client assets offline. The other is the crypto mobile wallet app for iOS and Android devices, the eToro Money app.

Inexperienced crypto investors also flock to the platform to interact with the copy trading feature. This lets them earn by copying the trading strategies of popular investors. They are also exposed to a rich resource of educational materials that teach how to invest in cryptos and how to keep your cryptos safe. PRO traders are, on the other hand, exposed to 75+ advanced trading tools on a deeply liquid platform with ultra-fast transaction processing speeds.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

2. Binance.US – Best Crypto Exchange in Pennsylvania for Active Traders

Among the top factors making Binance.US the best crypto trading platform for active traders is the large crypto library. Today, you can buy 150+ cryptos on the exchange, including some of the more volatile cryptos like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pepecoin. It is also deeply liquid, processes transactions fast, and exposes you to 100+ advanced charting tools and technical indicators.

In addition to exposure to tools, Binance.US also charges highly competitive trading fees. The volume-based maker/taker model has fees ranging between 0% and 0.57%. You will also enjoy a 5% discount if you use BNB to pay the trading fees. But even more importantly, you can trade some Bitcoin pairs, such as the BTC/USDT fee-free.

In addition to appealing to active traders, Binance.US has positioned itself as one of the best crypto exchanges for long-term traders. It achieves this by listing the most undervalued and promising cryptos, like Bitcoin and Ripple. Secondly, it supports passive investing, allowing you to earn as much as 24% APY when you stake the likes of ETH, SOL, and ADA.

Other factors that make Binance.US one of the best places to buy future cryptos include the fact that it has a crypto launchpad. This exposes your portfolio to incredible gains when you buy the next crypto to explode early. May we also add that it is a safe exchange that provides users with free wallets. And that it is the only exchange with a $1+ Billion private insurance fund covering its platform users.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

3. Coinbase – The Best Crypto Exchange for Beginners in Pennsylvania

Coinbase has a quick and straightforward client onboarding process. It has also oversimplified the crypto buying process and even lets you buy cryptos instantly with credit cards and debit cards. Not forgetting that you only need $2 to start buying Bitcoin and other cryptos here.

The exchange also supports all the popular fiat deposit methods, from PayPal to bank transfers, ACH checks, and eWallets like Google Pay. And all these help make it one of the best crypto exchanges for beginners in the US.

Additionally, Coinbase supports staking and integrates a great deal of educational materials on its platform. It even supports the staking of such popular cryptos as ETH, DOT, ATOM, SOL, and AVAX, with interests of up to 12% annually. And runs the learn-to-earn program that awards you with free cryptos when you learn about digital assets.

The top trading platform also makes it to this list because it is the most liquid crypto exchange in the US. This has, therefore, endeared it to institutional investors who use its OTC platform for high-volume trades. Even the US government has used Coinbase to sell Bitcoins and other cryptos recovered from criminals.

Further, Coinbase makes it here because it provides users with three trading platforms. The Coinbase trading app is dedicated to beginners, while the desktop trading platform appeals to institutional and high-volume traders. Coinbase PRO, on the other hand, integrates more resources and tools that draw in professional crypto traders.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

4. BitStamp – One of the Most Secure Crypto Exchanges in Pennsylvania

After a security breach that resulted in the loss of $5 Million in 2015, BitStamp set out on a mission to further beef up security. This involved integrating institutional-grade custody solutions from BitGo. This means holding 95% of client assets in an offline storage environment and providing insurance to these funds. It also means regular audits and SOC2 Type 2 security certification.

On the customer side, BitStamp enforced 2FA and strong passwords. It also made it possible for users to whitelist addresses and receive email confirmation. These help make it one of the most trustworthy crypto exchanges in Pennsylvania.

Two more things that make BitStamp a great exchange are its user-friendliness and competitive trading fees. The altcoin exchange operates both as a web trader and as a crypto trading app. Both platforms are highly intuitive and user-friendly. Their layout and design are also straightforward and functional, ensuring the two sites work well.

The trading fees are, on the other hand, volume-based, with makers and takers paying between 0% and 0.4% per transaction. It also supports multiple payment processing methods and doesn’t charge a deposit fee for most of these. Credit card and debit card purchases will, however, attract a 5% charge.

Other factors making BitStamp one of the best trading platforms include its rich crypto library. It exposes you to 100+ digital assets, featuring the top trending coins as well as the best meme coins to invest in right now.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

5. Coinmama – Popular Exchange With One of the Best Crypto Trading Mobile Apps

Coinmama is one of the best places for beginners to buy cryptos in Pennsylvania. The trading platform is popular because of its user-friendly interface and its straightforward crypto-buying process. It also supports more fiat currencies and payment methods than most of the exchanges we have listed above. The most popular are credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, SEPA, and Skrill.

But we feature it here primarily because of its easy-to-use mobile trading app. This incorporates all the features of the Coinmama web trading platform. Note, however, that both are designed to facilitate quick and easy crypto purchases. They, therefore, do not integrate the complexities of an order book, charts, trading pairs, or any of the advanced trading tools or features found on a typical crypto trading app.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

6. Gemini – One of the Safest Crypto Exchanges in Pennsylvania Today

Gemini has been around since 2014, and it was founded by the Winklevoss twins. Two of its biggest selling points are regulatory compliance and security. It, for example, is one of the few exchanges on this list to seek licensing from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Trusts Office. The exchange is so strict when it comes to regulation that it is viewed as the most compliant exchange in the industry.

Gemini has approached security with a similar level of seriousness, making it one of the most trustworthy exchanges in the US. It has enforced several customer-facing security safeguards aimed at keeping your assets safe. These include an insistence on strong passwords, 2FA, email confirmation, and whitelisted addresses.

Internally, it holds 90%+ of client assets in multi-signature cold storage. It has also subjected its systems to audits and received several security certifications, including SOC2 Type 2 and ISO 27001. Gemini also hires independent third parties to conduct annual penetration tests on its systems. Not forgetting the bounty program for ethical hackers, dubbed the Coordinated Disclosure Program (CDP).

But Gemini isn’t just popular because of its security. It is also popular because of its crypto library and competitive trading fees. It exposes its platform users to all the best altcoins to buy in the US.

Here, you will have access to tens of the most sustainable cryptos, like ETH and ADA, as well as the best Web3 crypto coins. And as is the case with top exchanges, the trading fee will be volume-based, ranging between 0% and 0.4% on the ActiveTrader platform.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

Is Crypto Investing Legal in Pennsylvania

Yes, buying and selling cryptocurrencies in Pennsylvania is perfectly legal. It is also legal for crypto exchanges and trading platforms to set up businesses here. In fact, the state has been at the forefront of clarifying existing laws and crafting new ones that accommodate the crypto industry.

It started with a Money Transmitter Act Guidance for virtual currency businesses that was offered by The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. This guide states that crypto exchanges and trading platforms dealing with digital assets are not money transmitters.

Similarly, crypto ATMs, virtual currency kiosks, and Bitcoin vending machines cannot be defined as money transmitters. Therefore, all these types of crypto businesses do not need to apply for a Money Transmitter license in Pennsylvania.

However, the boldest move towards a digital future for the state came about in October 2024. With a decisive bi-partisan vote, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 2481, fondly known as the “Bitcoin Rights” bill.

Among other things, the bill grants crypto enthusiasts and businesses in Pennsylvania the right to self-custody digital assets. It also allows cryptos to be taxed at the same rate as USD while prohibiting additional taxes on cryptos.

But the state doesn’t want to stop there. It is building on this momentum by introducing House Bill 2264, also referred to as the “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act.” If passed, the bill would allow for the conversion of 10% of the State’s Rainy Day, General, and State Index funds into Bitcoin and other crypto ETPs (exchange-traded products). At the time of writing, this would mean converting as much as $970 Million into Bitcoin.

Crypto Taxes in Pennsylvania

The Keystone State has a fixed income rate of 3.07%. And we have already established that crypto incomes will be taxed at the same rate as USD. This implies that capital gains income on your crypto investments and trade will be subject to state tax at the rate of 3.07%.

Practical Tips for Buying Bitcoin and Top Cryptos in Pennsylvania

There are a number of things that crypto investors and traders in Pennsylvania can do to grow their portfolios faster. These include:

Research each digital asset

The last thing you want to do is commit your funds to a crypto with no value, immediate/future utility, and community backing. This can be avoided by avoiding FOMO and conducting thorough research about any coin that goes into your portfolio. Instead of listening to crypto influencers on TikTok and YouTube, go to CoinLore and use the information here to vet a potential crypto investment.

Consider dollar cost-averaging

Dollar-cost averaging is both an investment strategy and a risk management tool. It involves buying a fixed dollar amount of crypto at regular intervals. It helps you avoid losses associated with overcommitting to a crypto asset during its peak.

Follow news and understand market trends

The crypto market is wildly volatile and overly sensitive to both local and global news. Positive news and trends like interest rate cuts by the Feds or an end to the Russian/Ukrainian war would trigger a market rally. Negative news and trends like heightened geopolitical tensions or falling consumer interest in digital assets would trigger a bear market. Learn how to interpret and trade these news and trends.

Watch out for scams

Crypto scams and fraudulent activities like hacks continue to cause significant losses to the crypto community. In 2023, for example, the FBI reported that Americans lost more than $5.6 Billion to crypto scammers. To avoid falling victim, learn as much as you can about the different types of scams. Also, you need to master how to detect and avoid them.

Keep a long-term perspective

Understand that cryptos are known for their short-term price fluctuations and massive volatility. But when you zoom out, you will notice that all the promising cryptos have maintained an overall uptrending price action. Therefore, by keeping a long-term perspective, you will learn not to panic even if the crypto prices fluctuate in the short term.

How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania Walkthrough

In this post, we go over the detailed process of buying Bitcoin and other cryptos on eToro in Pennsylvania. As we have stated above, the process is rather easy and straightforward.

Step 1: Create a Crypto Trading Account

Start by opening the official eToro.US website or download the eToro crypto trading mobile app. Click on the “Join Now” icon on the home page of either platform and complete the registration form that pops up here. It will seek to capture your basic personal information like name, phone number, email address, and income sources. You also need a unique username and strong password for the account.

Step 2: Verify your Identity

Complete the registration process by verifying your identity. Simply upload a copy of your state ID, driver’s license, or passport.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

After receiving the account approval email, log in to this account and hit the “Deposit Funds” icon on your user dashboard. Identify your preferred payment option on the funding tab that appears. Choose this as your deposit method and follow the prompts to fund this account with at least $10.

Step 4: Identify Crypto Assets to Buy in Pennsylvania

Next, hit the “Discover” button to see all the financial instruments available on eToro. Choose cryptos to see the list of the hottest cryptos supported here. Identify the best altcoin to buy from this list and click on the “BUY” option against it.

Step 5: Buy Cryptos

A trading tab will pop up. Here, indicate how much you want to invest in the preferred cryptocurrency. Execute this buy order by clicking on the “Open Trade” button.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

How to Sell Cryptos on eToro in Pennsylvania

You can sell the crypto you just bought on eToro to either lock in profits or prevent further losses. This is how you go about selling cryptos on the brokerage.

• Step 1: Log back into your eToro trading account.
• Step 2: On your user dashboard, hit the “Portfolio” icon. This brings up a window that lists all your open positions on the platform.
• Step 3: Identify the crypto you want to sell and choose the “CLOSE” option against it.
• Step 4: On the trading tab that pops up, indicate how many coins you intend to sell. Then click on the “Close Trade” button to execute this sell order.

Note: eToro will immediately deposit the cash equivalent of the cryptos sold in your cash account. You have the option of withdrawing this cash or using it to trade meme coins and other supported assets.

Conclusion: How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Pennsylvania

Buying cryptocurrencies in Pennsylvania is not complicated. You only need to start by understanding your investing goal or strategy and matching it with an appropriate altcoin exchange. You also need to learn how to protect your crypto investments and the different ways of hastening the growth of your portfolio.

Are you in Pennsylvania and want to jump straight to buying cryptocurrencies? Follow the step-by-step guide to buying cryptos on eToro that we have outlined above.

More States Buying guides on Crypto2Community

• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in New Jersey
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Nevada
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Maryland
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Illinois
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Hawaii
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Georgia
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in California
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in North Carolina
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Colorado
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in New York
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Washington
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Connecticut
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Delaware
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Idaho
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Indiana
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Kansas
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Louisiana
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Kentucky
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Arizona
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in New Hampshire
• How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Iowa

References:

1. https://academy.binance.com/en/glossary/secure-asset-fund-for-users
2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288608/crypto-platforms-used-in-usa/
3. https://decrypt.co/294371/us-government-moves-2-billion-silk-road-bitcoin-2
4. https://blog.bitstamp.net/post/bitgo-provide-custody-our-crypto-assets/
5. https://www.gemini.com/areas-of-availability/pennsylvania-us
6. https://www.mcglinchey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MTA-Guidance-for-Virtual-Currency-Businesses.pdf
7. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2023&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2481
8. https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/pennsylvania-house-introduces-bill-implement-strategic-bitcoin-reserve
9. https://decrypt.co/291821/pennsylvania-strategic-bitcoin-reserve
10. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/13/how-to-identify-potential-cryptocurrency-scams.html