Diversify your IRA with Bitcoin and other digital assets
Traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a great way to provide future financial security. However, as world events continue to increase the volatility of global markets, some investors are looking to diversify their IRAs with alternative assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Since Bitcoin is a digital rather than tangible asset, cryptocurrency IRAs require specialized management, greater protection of sensitive data, and deep expertise in cryptocurrency trading. We researched nearly a dozen Bitcoin IRAs based on expertise, security, experience, fees, and more. Here are our top picks.
The Best Bitcoin IRA Companies for 2021
Best Overall: Bitcoin IRA
Best Rates and Fees: iTrustCapital
Best Investor Experience: Coin IRA
Best for Security: BitIRA
Best for Self-Directed Investments: Equity Trust
Best Variety of Cryptocurrency Supported: Regal Assets
Bitcoin IRA is a full-service Bitcoin IRA provider offering 24/7 trading, secure cold storage for digital assets, and $100 million of insurance protection, making it our choice as the best overall.
Pros
Easy setup and trading
Secure offline digital asset storage
Digital assets insured up to $100 million
Cons
High setup and maintenance fees
Established in 2016, Bitcoin IRA is the first and largest cryptocurrency IRA company that lets individuals invest in cryptocurrency with their retirement accounts. The platform’s easy account setup and management, 24/7 real-time trading, and military-grade security features are why we chose it as the best Bitcoin IRA company overall.
Bitcoin IRA makes it easy to create an IRA account and digital wallet in just a few minutes using its app or web dashboard. Once funds are transferred to an account, users can begin trading within three to five days and can buy, sell, and trade online any time of day or night.
Bitcoin IRA supports trading nine types of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin. Although the minimum to open a standard account is $3,000, the company also offers a Saver IRA that requires an initial deposit of $100 with a recurring investment of $100 per month through a linked bank account.
Bitcoin IRA also takes security seriously. The platform offers 256-bit encrypted SSL trading, stores digital assets offline in separate cold storage accounts, and insures its digital assets up to $100 million.
Bitcoin IRA does not list fees on its site, but third-party sources indicate that the company charges a one-time fee of 10% to 15% of the initial investment, a $240 annual custodial account fee, a $75 asset conversion fee, a 5% buy fee, and a 1% sell platform fee.1
iTrustCapital makes it easy for both novice and expert investors to start a Bitcoin IRA with expert consultants and transparent pricing, making it our choice for the best rates and fees in Bitcoin IRAs.
Pros
Low account and trading fees
$1,000 minimum investment
24/7 trading
Cons
No financial advisors on staff
Founded in 2018, iTrustCapital lets individuals buy and trade cryptocurrencies and physical gold in real time through their retirement accounts. The company has the lowest service and trade fees we’ve come across, placing it in the top spot for best rates and fees.
iTrustCapital offers some of the most affordable trading and investing fees. While it’s not uncommon to pay up to 15% per transaction to trade cryptocurrencies, iTrustCapital charges just 1% per transaction. There is no monthly fee, and clients are charged no initial purchase fees, broker fees, or scaling based on the size of their assets. Additionally, new users get a $100 Bitcoin reward when they fund their account.
iTrustCapital allows clients to trade in 24+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, and EOS any time of day or night using its 24-hour transaction service. There is only a $1,000 minimum to start an account and a $30 trade minimum. iTrustCapital also lets its clients diversify their IRA portfolios with gold while enjoying the same fees.
In June 2021, iTrust announced that it began using Coinbase Custody to secure its digital assets up to $370 million. This is in addition to its basic coverage that begins at $50 million and is provided by Munich Re, a leading provider of insurance-related risk solutions with over 140 years of experience.
Coin IRA walks individuals through the process of setting up and managing a Cryptocurrency IRA and offers low fees and multiple storage options, placing it in first place for the best investor experience.
Pros
Cryptocurrency consultants available
Multiple secure wallet options
Low fees
Cons
$20,000 minimum to open a cryptocurrency IRA account
No fees listed on website
An offshoot of gold and silver IRA provider Goldco, Coin IRA was founded in 2017 to turn the company’s expertise in alternative asset IRA investing toward cryptocurrency. Its dedicated cryptocurrency advisors, low fees, and choice of security options make it our choice for the best investor experience.
Coin IRA helps individuals get started with its free, downloadable "Ultimate Guide to Cryptocurrency Investing" that educates readers on the investment benefits of Cryptocurrency IRAs, how to convert existing retirement accounts to invest in cryptocurrencies, and more. From there, the company offers specialized cryptocurrency retirement experts who can walk customers through the process of setting up an account.
Coin IRA supports investment and trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. It also gives its clients the option to choose their level of asset security. Assets can be stored securely offline, moved into a hard wallet that they control, or transferred directly to their preferred cryptocurrency wallet.
Coin IRA’s minimum investment is $20,000 to open a Cryptocurrency IRA, or $3,500 if funds are transferred from a non-IRA account.2 Although the company doesn’t publish fees on its website, they have confirmed the annual costs include a $50 setup fee, a $195 annual maintenance fee, and .05% monthly for cryptocurrency storage.
BitIRA offers Bitcoin IRAs with dollar-for-dollar insurance coverage for digital assets and true offline cold storage of private keys, placing it in the top position as the best for security.
Pros
Digital assets kept in guarded offline storage
Full insurance coverage for digital assets
Multi-encryption encoding for transactions
Cons
Must open accounts with a digital currency specialist
Though only established in 2017, BitIRA has made a name for itself by offering the highest levels of security for both cryptocurrency transactions and storage, backed by unlimited insurance coverage, making it our choice as the best for security.
BitIRA uses multi-encryption encoding for transactions to keep them secure while they’re most vulnerable online. Once completed, transactions are moved to physical keys kept offline inside grade-5 nuclear bunkers protected by armed guards and computer security specialists 24/7.
BitIRA is so confident in its security measures that it covers all digital assets dollar-for-dollar, insuring all client digital currencies at full value. The company also offers a $1 million consumer protection insurance policy to protect against internal cases of fraud or theft as well as a $1 million cybersecurity policy.
BitIRA requires a minimum investment amount of $5,000 to start an IRA and requires customers to work with a digital currency specialist to open an account. The company allows clients to invest and trade in six types of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.
Although BitIRA doesn’t list fees on its website, third-party sources indicate that customers can expect to pay a setup fee of $50, $195 for annual account maintenance, and 0.05% per month for secure offline storage.3
Equity Trust has been managing self-directed IRAs for 38 years with both traditional and alternative investments and no transaction fees, placing it in our top spot as the best for self-directed investments.
Pros
38 years' experience in self-directed IRAs
Supports traditional and alternative investments
No transaction fees
Cons
High administration fees
Must open accounts with a representative
As a financial services company established in 1974, Equity Trust branched into self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) in 1983. The company’s extensive expertise in traditional and alternative investments, no transaction fees, and personal guidance make it our top choice as the best for self-directed investments.
Clients will need to speak to a representative directly in order to start an Equity Trust SDIRA and are required to make an initial investment of $10,000. Once an account is open, clients can trade in up to eight cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, with no fees and a one-day settlement.
Equity Trust also takes security seriously, employing over six security features, including multi-factor authentication, multi-encryption, and secure cold storage. The company also offers end-to-end insurance on its digital assets.
Equity Trust offers its clients access to SDIRA specialists who can help them manage their accounts as well as educational tools to help them understand their investment options. The company does offer a dashboard to its clients for handling transactions, requiring them to issue directions to an account specialist to invest funds from their accounts.
Equity Trust does not list fees on its site, but our research shows the company charges annual administration fees between $205 to $2,150 depending on the size of the account as well as a $50 setup fee, a $20 per month platform fee, and a 0.07% monthly cold storage fee based on the account balance.
Regal Assets offers IRAs that allow clients to invest in both hard assets as well as digital assets including all popular cryptocurrencies, placing it in our top spot for the best variety of cryptocurrency supported.
Pros
Supports all popular cryptocurrencies
Flat-rate fees
Digital assets insured up to $250 million
Cons
$25,000 initial investment required
Must open accounts with a representative
Founded in 2010 as an alternate assets investment firm, Regal Assets added cryptocurrency to its portfolio in 2017. Although its original focus is on precious metals, the company allows trading of popular cryptocurrency investments and is our choice for the best variety of cryptocurrency supported.
Regal Assets makes it easy to create an IRA account with an initial investment of $25,000 or by rolling over funds from a traditional IRA. Once a client fills out an online application, a team member will contact them to set up their account.
As a top-rated crypto IRA company in the U.S., Regal Assets was the first company in the industry to receive a crypto trading license. Although the company’s site only lists 14 supported cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin, it allows its clients to invest in just about any cryptocurrency they want.
Another unique feature of Regal Assets is its flat fees, which include a $100 annual administration fee and a $150 yearly storage fee, both of which are waived during the first year. The storage fees include multiple offshore storage options for precious metals, which is less than other firms offer.
Final Verdict
As more firms allow their clients to add alternative assets like Bitcoin to their IRAs, understanding which ones offer the best expertise, security, and support can be tricky. In the end, companies with deep expertise in managing both traditional and digital assets are the ones who can future-proof their clients’ retirements.
As the first and largest cryptocurrency IRA company, Bitcoin IRA takes our top spot as the best overall due to its easy account setup, 24/7 real-time trading, and advanced security features.
Coin IRA is our pick for the best investor experience with its free, downloadable "Cryptocurrency IRA Guide," access to specialized cryptocurrency consultants, and choice of three secure digital asset storage options.
In terms of pricing, iTrustCapital wins for the best rates and fees with a simple 1% transaction fee and low monthly service fee of just $29.05, while BitIRA aced the best for security category with multi-encryption encoding for transactions and offsite storage in nuclear bunkers protected by armed guards.
Equity Trust brought nearly 40 years of experience in SDIRAs, seamlessly blending traditional and digital assets with no transaction fees, making it our choice as the best for self-directed investments.
Finally, we picked Regal Assets for the best variety of cryptocurrency supported since it allows its clients to invest in any popular cryptocurrency they desire as well as precious metals to create diverse and secure portfolios.
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