How to Buy Crypto in Poland
With the growth of crypto popularity worldwide, investment opportunities in digital assets are everywhere. Poland has an active cryptocurrency trading ecosystem, helped in part by a hands-off regulatory environment for cryptocurrency activities.
This guide will explore where and how to buy bitcoin and other digital currencies in Poland, the risks involved, and a general overview of the usage of bitcoin in Poland. The guide will be useful to both regular Polish users and first-time buyers looking to buy crypto with the security and convenience of traditional financial institutions.
Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Trading in Poland
Cryptocurrency trading in Poland is not directly regulated by any government entity, and this looks unlikely to change in the short term. The KNF, Poland’s Financial Supervision Authority stated on January 12, 2021 that digital currencies are not subject to any specific regulation under Polish law.
While the KNF does not regulate trade in virtual currencies and the Polish bitcoin market remains to all intents and purposes an unregulated market, it does however have regulatory jurisdiction over the activities of bitcoin exchanges as payment service providers. In its January statement, the KNF also clarified the legal status of bitcoin trading, stating that it is a legal activity in Poland, albeit one with no direct regulatory oversight.
Exchange Hacks and Crypto Scams in Poland
Over the past decade, there have been no fewer than 3 high-profile security breaches affecting Polish cryptocurrency trading platforms including Bidextreme, Bitcurex and Bitmarket. Most Polish exchange platforms offering digital currencies have since taken measures to improve their security, including limiting the use of on-platform hot wallets.
More recently, a rash of sophisticated crypto scams originating in Poland have made headlines. In August 2020, the KNF itself was impersonated by a cold-calling scam targeting Polish consumers. The calls, purported to be from companies supposedly offering KNF-regulated cryptocurrency investment products.
How to Buy Crypto for PLN?
Users in Poland can buy cryptocurrency using PLN in a variety of ways including debit/credit card, NETELLER, PayPal, bank transfer, SEPA transfer, bank wire, bitcoin ATMs, and in some cases, even in-person cash deposits at selected retail outlets.
How to Buy Bitcoin in Poland
There are several ways to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in Poland. However, each method will usually involve the following steps:
- Find a reputable crypto exchange in Poland – When searching for an exchange, there are Important factors to consider such as the exchanges reputation and security offerings. Consult the list of exchanges below for some additional recommendations.
- Register on that crypto exchange – Now that you have chosen the exchange you will be using, it is time to download their app or visit their website (depending on the exchange) and complete their registration process.
- Send fiat money to the crypto exchange – Once registered you can send your fiat money to the exchange which you will later exchange for Bitcoin or another crypto. This usually involves making a wire transfer from your bank account or using your debit or credit card to send money.
- Use fiat money to purchase BTC or other cryptos – After your money has arrived in your exchange account it is time to find the cryptocurrency you would like to buy and purchase it using your fiat money.
We recommend using CryptoWallet.com as a safe and easy way to follow the steps above and purchase Bitcoin or other crypto in Poland.
Here are the Best Exchanges to Buy Crypto in Poland
1 CryptoWallet.com #1 Recommended
To begin with, we’d like to draw your attention to CryptoWallet.com. Much more than an exchange, the CryptoWallet.com app allows you to buy and trade crypto, store it in your mobile device, earn passive income, and even spend crypto as real money in stores!
The inability to use crypto to buy things has long been an issue in the community. With the CryptoWallet.com debit card, the wait is over — order your crypto debit card here!
2 eToro
Etoro is an Israeli-based exchange platform that deals in stocks, CFDs, and crypto-assets.
- Ease of Use: eToro offers an intuitive user interface that is easy to figure out and get used to.
- Deposit Methods: eToro does not support cryptocurrency deposits, but it supports fiat deposits using a range of options namely: China Union Pay, credit and debit cards, Giropay, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill Limited UK, WebMoney, Wire Transfer, Wire, Yandex and ACH.
- Fees: eToro charges above-average fees for trading activities, particularly for holding leveraged positions over the weekend. It also charges fees for withdrawals to bank accounts and credit cards which are set at a minimum of $50,
- Fiat Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RMB, THB, IDR, MYR, VND, PHP, SEK, DKK, NOK, PLN, CZK
- Cryptocurrencies: eToro supports 14 cryptocurrencies namely Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), DASH, Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Stellar Lumens (XLM), NEO, EOS, Cardano (ADA), IOTA, TRON, Zcash (ZEC) and Tezos (XTZ).
3 Crypto.com
Crypto.com is a leading crypto exchange with a user-friendly interface and a limited range of assets to choose from.
- Ease of Use: Crypto.com has a nifty, beginner-friendly interface that gets out of the way as much as possible.
- Deposit Methods: The platform supports bank transfer, credit card, debit card and crypto transfer.
- Fees: Crypto.com charges trading fees assessed based on the user’s 30-day trading volume, as well as withdrawal fees for withdrawals to external wallet addresses. Deposits made using credit cards in the EU are free, while credit card purchases from elsewhere vary from 1 to 3 percent.
- Fiat Currencies: AUD, BGN, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, USD and ZAR.
- Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH),EOS (EOS), Litecoin (LTC), Ripple (XRP), Dash (DASH), Cardano (ADA), Stellar (XLM) and NEM (XEM)
4 Exmo
Exmo is a UK crypto exchange with a wide variety of payment options for deposits. The exchange suffered a security breach in 2020, but has since taken steps to beef up security.
- Ease of Use: Exmo features an extremely stripped-down, basic UI that even first time users will immediately understand. Account verification takes up to 24 hours.
- Deposit Methods: Exmo users can make deposits using crypto transfer, Payza, Skrill, Neteller, debit cards, wire transfer and SEPA transfer.
- Fees: Exmo charges no fees on most crypto deposits, but charges flat fees on all cryptocurrency withdrawals that vary based on the coin involved. Fees for fiat deposits vary from 1 percent to 6 percent depending on the type of deposit, and withdrawal fees vary from 1 percent to 5 percent also depending on the medium used.
- Fiat Currencies: EUR, USD, RUB, PLN and UAH.
- Cryptocurrencies: Currently Exmo supports 5 cryptocurrencies namely: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR).
5 Binance
Binance is one of the world’s leading exchanges, with a large selection of fiat/crypto pairs available. Due to the high user volume, the customer support service is reportedly quite lacking and often a source of complaints.
- Ease of Use: Binance has a decidedly less beginner-friendly and more clunky interface compared to its competitors. It has tried to make up for this with the recent introduction of Binance Basic, which tries to offer a less cluttered and confusing layout, albeit to not much effect.
- Deposit Methods: Binance supports crypto transfer, debit card, credit card, bank transfer and SEPA transfer.
- Fees: Binance charges a 0.1 percent fee on every trade. Crypto withdrawal fees are assessed using flat amounts based on the cryptocurrency involved.
- Fiat Currencies: AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, KES, KZT, MXN, NGN, NOK, NZD, PEN, PLN, RUB, SEK, TRY, UAH and UGX.
- Cryptocurrencies: Binance supports over 50 cryptocurrencies including: ADA, BAT, BCH, BNB, BTC, BUSD, CHZ, COMP, DAI, DASH, DOGE, EOS, ETC, ETH, IDEX, LINK, LTC, MATIC, MKR, ORN, SNX, SXP, USDT, VET, XRP, XTZ, ZEC and ZIL.
6 Coinbase
Coinbase is arguably the most popular exchange in the world, launching in 2014 to great success thanks to its early gateway to fiat/crypto transfer options.
- Ease of Use: Coinbase offers an uncluttered, simple UI that users will find easy to adapt to.KYC verification is also near-instantaneous.
- Deposit Methods: Coinbase supports crypto transfer, wire transfer, SEPA transfer, debit card and crypto deposits.
- Fees: Coinbase charges no fees for deposits, but instead charges a 1.49 percent fee for buying crypto, which is significantly higher than many competitors.
- Fiat Currencies: Supported fiat currencies include USD, EUR, GBP.
- Cryptocurrencies: Coinbase supports 53 cryptocurrencies namely: ADA, ALGO, ANKR, ATOM, BAL, BAND, BAT, BCH, BNT, BSV, BTC, Celo (CGLD), COMP, CRV, CVC, DAI 1, DASH, DNT, EOS, ETC, ETH, FIL, GRT, GNT, KNC, LINK, LOOM, LRC, LTC, MANA, MATIC,MKR, NMR, NU, OMG, OXT, REN, REP, SUSHI, SKL, SNX, STORJ, USDC, UMA, UNI, WBTC, XLM, XRP, XTZ, YFI, ZEC, ZRX and AAVE.
7 Revolut
Revout is a popular FinTech mobile app that allows users to buy and trade crypto as well as to trade fiat currencies for one another at low fees or even no fees. However, the service does not allow users to send or receive crypto from outside sources — essentially, users can gain exposure to crypto, but cannot actually use the crypto outside of the app.
- Ease of Use: Beginners may be a bit overwhelmed by the dazzling array of crypto and fiat features, but there is a handy and detailed FAQ section.
- Deposit Methods: Revolut supports SEPA transfer, cash, cheque, local bank transfer, credit card and debit card.
- Fees: For standard users, Revolut charges weekend exchange fees of 2.5 percent on every cryptocurrency transaction. Fiat withdrawals to local or SEPA accounts are free.
- Fiat Currencies: AED, AUD, BGN, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NOK, NZD, PLN, RUB, QAR, RON, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR.
- Cryptocurrencies: Revolut supports 10 cryptocurrencies namely: BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, XRP, XLM, EOS, OMG, ZRX and XTZ.
8 Paybis
Paybis launched in the UK in 2014, going on to become one of the most popular exchanges in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe.
- Ease of Use: Well designed and crisply laid out, the platform also features a useful and accessible FAQ section.
- Deposit Methods: SEPA transfer, Skrill, Neteller, credit card, debit card
- Fees: Credit/debit card deposits are charged 6.99 percent, which goes up to 8.99 percent for any currency outside of USD and EUR. SEPA transfers are charged 1.5 percent and eWallet charges range from 5 percent to 10 percent.
- Fiat Currencies: Paybis supports 47 of the world’s most major fiat currencies including AED, AUD, BGN, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NOK, NZD, PLN, RUB, QAR, RON, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR.
- Cryptocurrencies: Paybis supports 10 cryptocurrencies namely: BTC, BCH, BNB, ETH, LTC, NEO, XRP, XLM, TRX and USDT.
9 Kraken
Kraken is a San Francisco crypto exchange with a firm reputation not just for crypto trading, for hard-hitting market research as well. The exchange also suffered a widely publicized liquidity shortage in 2021, leading to complaints from many users of inaccurate pricing and lost funds.
- Ease of Use: Quick signup and KYV verification. Useful crypto education guides for beginners.
- Deposit Methods: SEPA transfer, wire transfer.
- Fees: No fees for non-leveraged exchanges. Free SEPA transfers.
- Fiat Currencies: USD, EUR, CAD, AUD, GBP, CHF and JPY
- Cryptocurrencies: 50+ including BTC, BCH, BNB, ETH, LTC, NEO, XRP, XLM, TRX and USDT.
10 Bittrex Global
Bittrex is a US exchange that provides low fees and a medium selection of crypto assets, including BTC and ETH.
- Ease of Use: Average layout. Partnership with Jumio helps execute KYC verification in over 200 territories around the world.
- Deposit Methods: Wire transfer, SEPA transfer, crypto transfer, credit card, debit card
- Fees: Flat rate of 0.25 percent on all trades. No fees on withdrawals and deposits.
- Fiat Currencies: No support except for enhanced verified accounts
- Cryptocurrencies: BTC, BCH, ETH, NEO, ZEC, DASH, OMG, SC, NXC.
11 Bitpanda
Bitpanda was founded in Vienna in 2014, going on to list over 50 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin.
- Ease of Use: Simple layout specifically designed for beginners. Lengthy KYC confirmation period.
- Deposit Methods: Credit card, Debit card, SEPA transfer, bank wire, Sofort, Neteller, Skrill, GiroPay.
- Fees: Bitpanda charges a 1.49 percent fee for buying cryptocurrency
- Fiat Currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, CHF, TRY
- Cryptocurrencies: 52 including BTC, BCH, BNB, ETH, LTC, NEO, XRP, XLM, TRX and USDT.
12 CoinSwitch
Coinswitch offers a major selection of cryptocurrencies, last totaling 387, along with fiat currency pairs and deposit options.
- Ease of Use: Coinswitch has an easy-to-use layout, zero transaction limits and a zippy, responsive interface.
- Deposit Methods: Credit card
- Fees: Depending on the asset being traded, Coinswitch fees range from 0-0.5 percent. Withdrawals and deposits are free.
- Fiat Currencies: USD, JPY, RUB, EUR
- Cryptocurrencies: 387 including BTC, BCH, MIOTA, XVG, NEO, ADA, XRP, TRX, ONT, ZIL
Poland Crypto Exchange FAQs
Is crypto legal in Poland?
Yes, it is completely legal for consumers to buy, trade, hold and sell cryptocurrencies in Poland. This is according to the KNF, which is Poland’s Financial Supervision Authority.
In fact, cryptocurrency trading is a very popular activity with a growing scene within Poland. Like in most other countries, taxes are expected to be paid on all profits made in crypto. In addition to this, certain regulations which apply to all industries and activities in Poland must be adhered to by all crypto participants.
The confusion as to whether or not crypto was legal in Poland mainly came from the fact that up until October 2021 cryptocurrency was technically unregulated in the country (though still legal for participants).
However, in October of 2021 the KNF provided further regulatory clarity when it announced the implementation of the AML (anti-money laundering) V Directive. This new legislation is aimed particularly at businesses operating in the cryptocurrency space as opposed to consumers in Poland and provides a list of laws which companies offering crypto services in the country must abide by.
Therefore, it is completely legal to use crypto in Poland, so long as you pay your taxes on crypto gains and do not use crypto to undertake otherwise illegal activity.
How do I buy Crypto without a credit card verification
You can buy crypto with cash using a bitcoin ATM. Polish nationals using BitPay can also pay cash to fund their wallets in person at Żabka and FreshMarket stores around the country, as well as at the post office or any bank. Most crypto trading platforms in Poland also permit users to buy crypto using debit cards.
Is there a Bitcoin machine in Poland
Yes, there are several bitcoin ATMs across Poland including 20 in Kraków, 34 in Warsaw, 19 in Gdańsk, and 8 in Wroclaw. You can find a list of Polish bitcoin ATMs and tellers here.
How to make a cryptocurrency deposit or withdrawal?
To make a cryptocurrency deposit, get the wallet address of the receiving wallet and initiate a transfer from the sending wallet to this address. After the transaction is confirmed, the new cryptocurrency balance will reflect in the receiving wallet. To make a withdrawal, repeat the same steps using the address of your desired receiving wallet.
Is Coinbase available in Poland
Yes, Coinbase is available in Poland as well as most of the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA).