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Bitcoin IRAs are self-directed IRA crypto accounts offered by some of the best online brokerages and trading platforms. Investors can hold alternative assets, like bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, alongside traditional investments in their retirement portfolio, hoping for long-term gains.
Bitcoin IRAs are only available through specialized custodians equipped to track and manage the storage and security of these digital assets.
Best Cryptocurrency IRAs
- BitcoinIRA: Best for Account Security
- BitIRA: Best for Account Options
- Alto CryptoIRA: Best Investment Selection
- Coin IRA: Best Investor Experience
- iTrustCapital: Best for Low Fees
Compare the Top Bitcoin IRAs in 2024
The best bitcoin IRAs provide custodial services, storage options, and, in some cases, 24/7 trading access. They are popular for folks looking to avoid capital gains taxes. Cryptocurrency exchanges offer a range of crypto availability, account security, low fees, mobile access, and more.
Here are the best bitcoin IRAs provided by Business Insider's editors in 2024.
$1,000
0.99% - 2.99% one-time deposit fee ; 2.00% transaction fee; and a 0.08% security fee billed monthly
Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Solo 401(k), Solo 401(k) Roth, SEP IRA, and Simple IRA
$150 bonus when signing up
- Bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, and several other cryptocurrencies available
- Supports IRA rollovers, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and 401(k)s
- Secure, cold-wallet storage
- Top-not security and encryption technology
- High setup and maintenance fees
- Only offers cryptocurrencies and gold
- Features: 24/7 trading, offline storage, and $250 million insurance
- Better Business Bureau rating: A+
- Awards: Earned the Mobile Web & App of the Year award for the 2022 Globee American Best in Business Awards
$5,000
$50 account setup, $195 annual maintenance; 0.05%/month offline storage
IRAs
- Several supported cryptocurrencies
- Multi-factor authentication to protect crypto assets
- Offline cold crypto storage
- Costs include a $50 setup fee
- Features: Several supported cryptocurrencies, offline storage, $100 million custody insurance
- Better Business Bureau rating: A+
$10 cryptocurrencies
Alto CryptoIRA: 1% per crypto transaction, $50 account closure fee, and $25 for outbound wire transfers; Alto IRA: $10/month account fee or $100/year (with two months free), $10 partner investment fee, $50 account closure fee, and $25 outbound wire transfer fee
- Low fees
- 200+ cryptocurrencies
- Real estate, private equity, venture capital, fine art, and other alternative assets available
- Platform utilizes a combination of hot and cold storage
- Some investments are reserved for accredited investors
- Hawaii residents can’t open an account
$5,000
1.25% buy trades; 1% sell trades
Individual accounts; IRAs
- Supports bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, and other cryptocurrencies
- Offers Cryptocurrency Self-Trading platform that lets users easily place their own trades
- You can work with consultants if you have any questions
- No longer offers multiple wallet options; mainly uses Equity Trust to secure digital assets through offline storage
- Features: Crypto educational resources, consultant support, and crypto self-trading platform
- Better Business Bureau: A+
$1,000
1% per trade
IRAs
- 25+ cryptocurrencies; gold and silver available
- No monthly fees or setup fees; 24/7 trading
- Self-trades in IRAs are tax-free
- You can use several different methods — including IRA transfers and employer plan rollovers — to fund your account
- High $1,000 minimum
- No access to human advisors
iTrustCapital isn't just a good option for those interested in investing in both crypto and gold in an IRA.
iTrustCapital- Features: Cryptocurrencies and precious metals investing, 24/7 crypto support, and secure storage and insurance
- Awards: Named Innovator of the Year and Best Crypto Investment Platform in the 2021 IMA Impact21 Awards.
Top-Rated Bitcoin IRAs
Best Bitcoin IRA for Account Security
BitcoinIRA
BitcoinIRA is an industry-leading crypto IRA platform that supports 24/7 trading of 60+ cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ether, litecoin, cash, and digital gold. Set up an account in minutes for secure cold wallet storage, 256-bit encrypted SSL trading, and up to $250 million of digital asset insurance.
Bitcoin IRA covers support services for retirement fund rollovers. BitcoinIRA lets you roll over funds from a variety of retirement plans 403bs or 401(k)s). With a tax-advantaged BitcoinIRA account, you'll get offline cold-wallet storage, access a library of educational content, and a mobile trading dashboard.
What to look out for: BitcoinIRA only offers cryptocurrencies and gold. Fees are high compared to competitor platforms.
Best Bitcoin IRA for Account Options
BitIRA
BitIRA is another popular IRA option for investors looking to add bitcoin and other virtual assets to their retirement accounts. It supports multiple cryptocurrencies (including bitcoin, bitcoin cash, and Ethereum), and other alternative and traditional asset classes.
BitIRA heavily prioritizes security and is equipped with multi-encryption, end-to-end insurance coverage, and offline storage for digital assets. Additionally, BitIRA provides $100 million in custody insurance to shield you against theft, destruction, or loss.
It has a $5,000 minimum to open an account.
What to look out for: BitIRA's high minimum requirement is one of the largest drawbacks of the platform.
Best Bitcoin IRA Investment Selection
Alto IRA
Alto IRA offers low fees and access to 200+ of cryptocurrencies and other alternative investment options, including fine art, startups, real estate, private equity, and more.
It utilizes hot and cold storage and is integrated with Coinbase to access the Coinbase Exchange. It offers tax-free cryptocurrency trading, market and limit orders, and 24/7 trading access. Alto IRAs are available as self-directed traditional or Roth IRAs.
What to look out for: Some of Alto IRA's investments are reserved for accredited investors. Not available for Hawaii residents
Best Bitcoin IRA for Investor Experience
CoinIRA
CoinIRA is a low-cost cryptocurrency IRA company that focuses on customer education and ensuring a positive investor experience. The platform provides traders with consultants who can assist with crypto-related questions. It also offers a free crypto IRA guide about tax benefits, crypto retirement savings, inflation hedging, and more.
CoinIRA requires a $5,000 minimum starting investment, which is fairly high, but there are no start-up and maintenance fees or subsequent deposit requirements. There are no maximum purchase limits either.
Cryptocurrencies are stored in cold-wallet storage. You can also invest in precious metals through CoinIRA, which can be traded in a no-cost Digital Asset account or a separate Precious Metals IRA.
What to look out for: CoinIRA no longer offers multiple digital wallet options
Best Bitcoin IRA for Low Fees
iTrustCapital
iTrustCapital offers dozens of cryptocurrencies for traders interested in building long-term wealth through a bitcoin IRA. This affordable crypto IRA platform also offers traders low-fee gold, silver, and other precious metals to diversify their portfolios further.
You won't be charged a monthly, AUM, or broker fee. However, the platform does charge a 1% flat fee per transaction. There's a minimum $1,000 to open an account.
You can fund your account using various methods, including IRA transfers (iTrustCapital supports traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs) and employer plan rollovers (available for 401(k)s, 403(b)s, thrift savings plans, and 457 plans).
iTrustCapital is partnered with third-party custodian Fortress Trust Company.
What to look out for: The cryptocurrency is limited compared to other platforms on this list.
Why Choose a Bitcoin IRA?
Crypto and retirement investing have become popular, especially as brokerages like Fidelity have offered bitcoin as a 401(k) investment choice. However, several companies also offer crypto trading through self-directed IRAs.
A bitcoin IRA can be an alluring investment option for those who want to avoid capital gains taxes while building wealth. You'd be subject to capital gains taxes for regular crypto transactions without an IRA. But self-directed IRAs eliminate those extra costs (or at least defer them).
Adding bitcoin to your retirement portfolio can further diversify your holdings and mitigate risk. Cryptocurrencies can also hedge against inflation, similar to other alternative investment options. Plus, the possibility of higher returns makes crypto investment alluring despite the significant volatility and risk of investing in decentralized currencies.
Bitcoin IRA FAQs
Bitcoin IRAs are worth it for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and retirement-focused individuals. Bitcoin IRAs offer a range of alternative assets like real estate, precious metals, or cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin or ether. Investing in a Bitcoin IRA is a great way to diversify your investment portfolio and hedge against inflation. But keep in mind that cryptocurrencies are risky, highly volatile investments.
Yes. Some IRAs offer bitcoin and other cryptocurrency options for investors to trade. But keep in mind that assets like bitcoin have significantly more risk due to the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies. Only investors with a high-risk tolerance should open a bitcoin IRA.
Bitcoin IRAs generally have the same tax rules as standard IRAs do. Bitcoin IRAs are tax-deductible, similar to a traditional IRA. That means you'll only pay taxes when you withdraw during retirement.
Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology
Using Business Insider's rating methodology for investing platforms, we researched numerous bitcoin IRAs to find the best options for cryptocurrency selection, fees, security, features, and more. Investment apps are given a rating between 1 and 5.
On the fee side, we paid close attention to account minimums and account setup fees/advisory fees. We also considered customer service availability when narrowing down platforms.
