Bitcoin IRA Reviews: Top Crypto IRA Companies in 2024

Given that cryptocurrencies are nascent assets (the first BTC token was mined in 2009), they have long runways for growth. As immature assets, they have the capacity for significant growth and losses, making them risky but potentially rewarding stores of value.

technological advances such as cryptocurrencies will almost certainly face wider adoption around the world. As internet infrastructure improves worldwide, cryptocurrency usage is set to become more and more prevalent in the years ahead.

Cryptocurrencies also have a long growth runway when it comes to institutional adoption, as many sovereign central banks, including the People's Bank of China, are experimenting with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that peg their national cryptocurrency to the value of their fiat currency.

The degree of anonymity of cryptocurrencies is very appealing to many people who value their financial privacy. They allow you to discreetly conduct your transactions and even lower the likelihood of your identity becoming stolen or used fraudulently.

Holders of cryptocurrencies are not subject to the whims of the U.S. Federal Reserve and its currency interference. Bitcoin and Ethereum are completely decentralized as they are not issued by any central bank or issuing agency. This gives them the same appeal as gold, silver, and the various other precious metals IRAs and 401(k) assets.

There are no holding fees with most cryptocurrencies, unlike what you're bound to run into with banks and credit unions. With crypto, you can hang onto more of your hard-earned money without third parties eating into your profits.

When economic, financial, and geopolitical crises hit, fixed quantity safe haven currencies like gold, precious metals, and now the main two cryptocurrencies enjoy the benefit of a dramatic flight to safety as geopolitical tensions around the globe increase. World governments may print more paper money in such scenarios, yet neither gold nor cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can be endlessly reproduced. Their limited nature gives cryptocurrencies huge appeal during periods of economic instability. Therefore, both gold IRAs and cryptocurrency retirement investments make for strong portfolio diversifiers.

Limited supply and growing demand may suggest that the price can only rise over time as long as demand continuously increases. There are no more than 21 million total Bitcoins that can ever be produced by the rules of its underlying blockchain system. This means that the world will soon reach the point where Bitcoin (which currently has about 19 million coins in circulation) reaches its hard cap of 21 million. This makes BTC far rarer than even gold and precious metals.

Ethereum is similarly limited in production. The fact that BTC and Ether are scarce resources means that their prices will never be subject to the various types of inflation via mass production.

It's possible that your retirement portfolio is either stock or bond (or both) heavy. Virtually every successful investor will say the same thing regarding investing: you should never place all of your proverbial eggs in the same basket. Cryptocurrencies provide you with another viable asset class in which to diversify a portion of your retirement holdings in a way that's non-correlated to the equities market. In other words, if your mutual funds and ETFs decline in value, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may provide a much-needed counterweight to the stock market's downtrend.

As more and more dollars are printed to finance the U.S. Treasury's annual trillion-dollar deficits, the value of the greenback is likely to decline in perpetuity. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are finite in number and can not simply be inflated away with time. Both gold and altcoin (i.e., non-Bitcoin) cryptocurrencies provide you with an alternative currency hedge against the decline of the dollar and other fiat currencies.

It's better to go with a firm that boasts as many positive reviews from its customers as possible. Trusted review authorities such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Business Consumer Alliance (BCA), Google user reviews, and Trustlink are most important. It is also good to consider whatever feedback is available from reputable websites including Yelp, Complaint Board, and the online version of Yellow Pages. Disregard reviews that appear to be written by bots or paid advertisers.

The #1 risk when it comes to investing in an intangible digital asset like Bitcoin is the threat of hackers, fraud, and theft. Ask your provider how they plan to mitigate hacking and malware risks. These questions are good starting points:

1. Do they print your private key using an offline machine?
2. Do they use cold storage vaults to protect their customers' keys?
3. Do they use the multi-sig security protocol?

Ask each company's customer service representatives about all the ways they are protecting their client's assets and see if they have all their bases covered.

We've heard of clients who have waited several months just to have their IRA accounts established and ready for first purchases. You want a Bitcoin or Ethereum IRA company that has a fast (ideally same-day) account setup process. With the explosive speed of the crypto market, waiting weeks before you can purchase your BTC or Ethereum might mean paying hundreds of dollars more or less per token, as demonstrated below:

Source: CoinMarketCap

Therefore, if you want price security, you may want to consider acting sooner than later as the price of cryptocurrencies are known to change at the drop of a dime.

A Bitcoin IRA is essentially a special type of Self-Directed IRA used to invest in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and others. Only certain custodians in the US are allowed to open Bitcoin IRA accounts, so please make sure you are working with an authorized and accredited company with a proven track record.

The last thing you want is to invest with a non-compliant company and end up paying large penalty fees, or worse: lose your entire investment. If done wrong, your cryptocurrency IRA can end up costing thousands of dollars in penalties and even get you in trouble with the IRS, which is why it is imperative that you work with a company that has mastered the process and is able to provide 24/7 support regarding any questions or concerns you might have. Also, the best Bitcoin IRA companies have flawless IRS compliance records so you don't end up on the hook for violating federal regulations.

Bitcoin is a risky investment. While gold is generally considered a safe investment that has proven the test of time, Bitcoin is relatively new. Although a lot of people like to compare Bitcoin to gold, it's too early to tell whether Bitcoin will follow the same path and become a trusted hedge against economic instability and inflation. 

We have seen Bitcoin drop 30%+ in a matter of hours. Unlike gold and silver, cryptocurrencies are not backed by anything tangible (a point of controversy in the gold vs. Bitcoin debate). As such, they're a unique asset class with no historical precedent.  Therefore, invest with caution and, again, do not invest any sum of money that you could not afford to lose.

Many experts, like Mark Cuban, recommend that no more than 10% of one's savings should be allocated to crypto assets. The exact percentage of your portfolio you decide to allocate to cryptocurrencies should vary according to your individual time horizon, risk tolerance, and proximity to retirement. Speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision.

Bitcoin IRA companies and custodians reviewed on this page will usually charge a percentage markup on the value of the Bitcoin IRA investment. We recommend that you call a few of them to obtain the best price. Compare not only their price but also their security, their reputation, and their hidden fees. Some companies charge for selling or trading, have a live trading platform, and offer cold storage, while others don't. Shop around. In addition to the percentage markup, you will also pay an annual fee which is usually between $100 and $350, depending on the custodian.

You first have to determine if your current IRA or 401k is eligible to be rolled over. Many employers are strict when it comes to allowing transfers and rollovers.

Now, if you currently have a self-directed IRA, you should be able to roll it over or transfer it to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without any issue. A Bitcoin IRA rollover means that your current retirement account's custodian will write you a check for the full value of your account. You then have a period of 60 days to send the funds to your new Bitcoin IRA custodian. If you are late, you will pay a hefty distribution fee. A Bitcoin IRA transfer means the custodian will wire the money to your new custodian immediately. This is the preferred option since you don't need to be the medium between both. You also avoid any chance of missing the deadline and paying a penalty fee.

The IRS rules are very similar to when you invest in gold and silver. You basically need to work with an accredited custodian that will hold your investment on your behalf. You cannot personally hold your crypto. On this page, all the companies we reviewed are authorized to own Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptos within an IRA, and they can help you through the entire process.

Yes. Ethereum, XRP, and several other cryptos are allowed by most companies reviewed here. However, the list changes quite often, so please make sure you check in with each company to see which cryptos they allow.

At the end of the day, we recommend sticking to the top cryptos and not venturing into the lesser-known ones, unless you have a very high tolerance for risk and have done your research on those altcoins.

Yes, most likely. Crypto IRA custodians on this page are all experienced in setting up SDIRAs that they use to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptos. Most other investment accounts do NOT allow alternative assets.

We recommend you call a few of them. Request their free kits. Compare their security, fees, and reputation, and make sure you know about all the hidden fees. These companies change their fee structure quite often to stay competitive.

No. Brokerage firms such as these offer ETFs that invest in Bitcoin or other cryptos, but not Bitcoin itself.

Yes, most custodians on this page will allow a traditional or Roth IRA for your Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrency investments. Call them and ask them about the different types of accounts they can set up for you.