Binance is the most popular Bitcoin exchange in Russia with 215,000,000 users
ByBit allows buying and selling Bitcoin with 9 forms of payment
OKX accepts users and payments from 189 countries
Ease of Use
Medium
Fees
Low
Verification
1 Day
Reputation
Trusted
Within 8 months of launching in July 2017, Binance quickly skyrocketed into the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, processing more than $1 billion on a daily basis.
Ease of Use
Easy
Fees
Low
Verification
1 Day
Reputation
Trusted
ByBit sits amongst Binance as one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges known for its vast selection of cryptocurrencies and professional trading features.
Ease of Use
Easy
Fees
Low
Verification
1 Day
Reputation
Trusted
OKX is a leading cryptocurrency exchange known for its vast selection of cryptocurrencies.
After buying bitcoin from an exchange, it's important to withdraw to your own non-custodial wallet for security, privacy, and to have full control over your bitcoin.
Zengo is an easy iOS & Android crypto and NFT wallet. Buy, sell, and self-custody directly from the app.
Ledger Nano S Plus is a secure hardware wallet that connects to your computer via USB-C
BlueWallet is a popular desktop Bitcoin wallet which is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux
Ease of Use
Easy
Fees
Average
Verification
1 Day
Reputation
Trusted
Changelly allows one to exchange one cryptocurrency for another and also buy using a bank card.
Buying bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in Russia is a simple process and usually takes less than 10 minutes to get fully setup.
The first step is to register with a platform, app or exchange and complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process.
The exchange you choose will be interoperable with most devices, desktop and mobile, and will allow you to withdraw to your own personal hardware wallet.
There are also several options available for buying and selling without verification on P2P exchanges, although they are much less user-friendly and are recommended for more advanced users.
Before purchasing, there are a couple of important things you'll need to prepare:
1. Create an account with an exchange
Russia has 4 trusted exchanges available for you to sign up for, with the most popular being Binance and ByBit, which account for a combined 235,000,000 active users.
Both exchanges are considered to be beginner-friendly and offer multiple deposit methods and a variety of cryptocurrencies.
Exchanges will differ by fees, security, payment methods, and other features, so explore the "info" tab on the exchanges listed above to find which one is the right fit for you.
The platform you end up choosing will depend on your preferences and the cryptocurrencies and payment methods they support.
Also it's important to note that you can always sign up to other exchanges later.
2. Complete the KYC verification process
After signing up to an exchange you will need to verify your identity and address, which is part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. This is an unavoidable legal requirement for almost all exchanges in Russia.
To complete this step you will need your photo ID readily available to take pictures of both the front and back sides of the document.
In most cases your verification will be approved instantly and at most can take 1-2 days.
3. Make a fiat deposit
To begin buying bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies you will need to link a bank account or credit card to the exchange.
Some of the payment methods provided by Binance and ByBit are: Credit Card, Debit Card, Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT.
Depending on the payment method, it could take anywhere from a couple of minutes to days for the funds to arrive at the exchange.
4. Buy cryptocurrency
Once your account has been funded, you are ready to buy your first bitcoin. It's important to note that you do not need to buy a full bitcoin.
Most exchanges will let you buy as little as a few dollars worth of bitcoin, or any other cryptocurrency.
5. Send your bitcoin to a personal wallet
Once you've purchased bitcoin or your cryptocurrency of choice it's important to withdraw it to your own secure personal wallet.
Leaving your coins on an exchange poses a security risk as many exchanges are targets for hackers to steal user funds. Storing your own coins on your personal hardware wallet mitigates that risk.
The Bank of Russia has repeatedly warned investors that cryptocurrency markets are extremely volatile, and digital currencies are not allowed to be used as a method of payment domestically.
Despite this, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown acceptance of alternative currencies saying in an 2021 interview that cryptocurrency, “has the right to exist and can be used as a means of payment”.
🌎 View bitcoin and cryptocurrency legality around the world
There are 4 trusted exchanges operating in Russia with the most popular being Binance , ByBit , and OKX.
You can review each of these exchanges and find best exchange that works for you. Bitrawr ranks exchanges in Russia based on fees, users, and security while giving placement preference to exchanges located in Russia or specifically catering to users in Russia.
Most of the exchanges operating in Russia have debit/credit card payment options available. Remember that this requires completing KYC.
No! For complete custody of your Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies it is recommended to store them in a hardware wallet as it keeps private keys safe and entirely offline.
Bitcoin ATMs are an excellent way to buy bitcoin using cash and offer little to no requirements for KYC. ATMs are commonly located inside of convenience stores, shops, restaurants, malls or airports. Find one near you using our ATM map.
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