How to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto with Robinhood
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Summary: Robinhood makes crypto easy to buy, hold, and transfer in the same app used for stocks and ETFs, with staking on select assets and a separate self-custody wallet, but simple orders can look free while the spread still drives the real cost.
It works well for convenience and basic spot buying. If lower fees, tighter execution, and better order control matter, compare the quote against a dedicated exchange before trading larger size.
Kraken is the best Robinhood alternative for serious crypto buyers because it offers lower trading fees, better order tools, and regulated operations across both the US and EU.
Licenses
Regulated in USA, Canada, Europe & More
Available Assets
550+ Cryptocurrencies
Deposit Methods
Bank Transfers, Cards, PayPal & More
Can I Buy Bitcoin and Crypto with Robinhood?
Yes, but you need an approved Robinhood Crypto account first. In the USA, crypto trading is only available to eligible users in supported states, while Robinhood Europe offers crypto to eligible residents across the EU and EEA.
In the app, you search the asset, tap Buy, enter your amount, review the quote, then place the order. Robinhood is better suited to simple spot buying and holding than exchange-style trading, and while trades are marketed as commission-free, your execution still reflects the spread.
The main practical point is transfers. Robinhood now lets eligible customers send and receive supported crypto, but wallet access and asset availability still depend on the coin and your location.
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Robinhood Crypto Trading Fees
Robinhood’s crypto pricing looks simple on the surface, but your total trading cost still comes down to a few moving parts.
- Spread: On standard crypto orders, Robinhood says there is no commission when orders are routed to market makers, but you still pay the gap between the buy price and sell price. That spread is the main cost for most casual users.
- Extra fee on some orders: Robinhood also offers Smart Exchange Routing, where fees are based on your trailing 30 day crypto volume. The current U.S. schedule starts at 0.85% for $0 to $50K and falls as volume rises, with a $0.01 minimum fee.
- Order execution: Your final cost depends on the quote available when the trade is executed. Robinhood says Smart Exchange Routing can produce prices that differ from market maker pricing, so the order type matters, not just the headline fee.
As an example, if BTC shows Buy = $40,200 and Sell = $39,900, then:
- Mid = ($40,200 + $39,900) / 2 = $40,050
- Spread % = ($40,200 - $39,900) / $40,050 × 100 = 0.749%
On a standard Robinhood order, your main cost is that 0.749% spread. If your order is routed through Smart Exchange Routing and you are in the lowest fee tier, your buy cost can be 0.749% spread + 0.85% fee, and a same day round trip means crossing the spread twice.
Best Crypto Exchange Alternatives to Robinhood
Robinhood is fine for simple crypto buys, especially if you already use the app for stocks or ETFs.
But if you want lower trading fees, better execution, more order types, or broader crypto functionality, the table below gives a quick overview of how the main alternatives compare.
Does Robinhood Support Crypto Staking?
Yes, but only for selected assets and in eligible regions. Robinhood currently supports staking for ETH and SOL, and while you can start with as little as $1, the platform charges a 25% commission on staking rewards.
Rewards are variable, unstaking can involve a waiting period, and availability still depends on your location.
Robinhood Crypto Wallet Features & Availability
Robinhood has two wallet products. Robinhood Crypto is built into the main app and lets eligible users buy, hold, send, receive, and sell supported coins. Robinhood does not charge its own transfer fee, but network fees still apply.
Robinhood Wallet is the separate self-custody app. It supports sending, receiving, and swapping crypto, along with dapp access across Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Dogecoin, Arbitrum, Polygon, Optimism, and Base. It can also receive and store NFTs, but not send them.
The key difference is custody. The main Robinhood app is for simple buying and transfers, while Robinhood Wallet is for self-custody and on-chain use. Availability still depends on the coin, account, and region.

About Robinhood
Robinhood is a retail investing platform that lets users trade stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto, while also offering cash management, retirement accounts, and its paid Robinhood Gold tier in one app.
It is designed for everyday investors who want a simple mobile-first way to buy, sell, and manage investments, and the company has reported roughly 27 million funded customers in recent public filings.
Final Thoughts
Robinhood is a decent entry point if you want to buy crypto quickly inside an app you may already use for stocks, but the detail that matters is cost after the tap.
Check the quote, understand that the spread is your main trading cost on basic orders, and do not assume the easiest app is the cheapest place to trade.
If you plan to stake, transfer coins out, or trade more than occasionally, compare Robinhood against a full exchange before putting serious size through it.

Written by
Antony Bianco
Head of Research
Antony Bianco, co-founder of Datawallet, is a DeFi expert and active member of the Ethereum community who assist in zero-knowledge proof research for layer 2's. With a Master’s in Computer Science, he has made significant contributions to the crypto ecosystem, working with various DAOs on-chain.



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