7 Ways to Buy Bitcoin with Cash in 2022

By: Steven Hay | Last updated: 8/26/22

Looking to buy Bitcoin with cash? In this short guide, I’m going to give you some of the best options available today.

5 Options for buying Bitcoin with Cash

1. Buy from an individual through Paxful
2. Buy Bitcoins from a Bitcoin ATM
3. Buy Bitcoins through a cash deposit at a bank
4. Buy Bitcoins with cash at a convenience store or pharmacy
5. Buy Bitcoins with cash through the mail

That’s how you buy Bitcoins with cash in a nutshell. If you want more information about each method, keep on reading – here’s what I’ll cover:

1. Why buy Bitcoin with cash?
2. Bitcoin peer-to-peer trading
3. Buying Bitcoin with cash in person
4. Buying Bitcoin through a Bitcoin ATM
5. Buying Bitcoin with a cash deposit at a bank
6. Buy Bitcoin with cash at CVS or 7-Eleven using LibertyX
7. Buying Bitcoin with cash in the mail
8. Where can I Get Cash for Bitcoin?
9. Conclusion

1. Why Buy Bitcoin with Cash?

Unlike using a regular Bitcoin exchange, cash purchases usually don’t require you to unnecessarily reveal information by submitting a ton of documents to verify your identity.

This tactic is a lot safer, given the ever growing risk of identity theft. Another reason for buying Bitcoin in cash is to avoid crackdowns by tax authorities.

Speed

This reason exists mostly because there’s no waiting for the arrival of bank transfers, or for verification by an exchange. Deposits usually take 1 to 3 business days, while verification can take 1 to 3 weeks.

Cash trades save a lot of time. When Bitcoin’s price is skyrocketing, even a few days can equate to a lot of money!

2. Bitcoin Peer-to-Peer Trading

Experts have suggested that the majority of Bitcoin’s trading volume occurs off-exchange.

This is actually a good thing; If cryptocurrency only becomes tradable with state approval, then it’ll be reduced to little more than a new form of fiat currency.

Therefore, all serious Bitcoiners should gain some kind of experience with cash trading. If your local government ever cracks down on Bitcoin, it’s good to have a Plan B in place…

Perhaps the best practical example of the importance of peer-to-peer trading came in late 2017, when China banned Bitcoin exchanges.

Nevertheless, OTC trading of Bitcoin continued. These charts depict known Chinese volume for two popular services that facilitate peer-to-peer trading:

As a result of the ban, LocalBitcoins’ volume in China spiked by at least 7x.

Paxful’s volume in China also noticeably spiked. Over a few months, it increased at least 6x.

3. Buying Bitcoin with Cash In-Person

To make such trusted friends, consider attending Bitcoin conferences or meetings in your area. To locate these events, search Meetup or Facebook for local Bitcoin groups.

Another thing to remember, unless you plan to meet near an ATM, make sure you bring the agreed-upon amount of cash.

Also make sure to bring your phone or laptop that can access your Bitcoin wallet. If you only bring your wallet address, you won’t be able to verify receipt of your coins.

Two Great Options for Escrowed In-Person Trading

In the past we used to recommend LocalBitcoins for in-person trading, however in 2019 the company decided to remove local cash listings. Therefore, Paxful is the next best service around.

Paxful buyer/seller matching

Paxful has been running since 2015 and has since grown to service most countries and regions. Over that time, the company has established a reputation for reliability, and has become well-known as a go-to website for OTC trading.

To buy BTC on Paxful:

1. Visit the site and sign up.
2. Click the “Buy Bitcoin” link in the top menu.
3. Enter your location, the requested amount and select “Cash” as your desired payment method.

A list of sellers will be displayed. it’s worth noting that there may not be a seller for in-person cash purchases in your area. If there are no sellers listed in your area, you’ll have to wait for one to appear or consider using a different method. The seller’s list will display a feedback score for each seller, including their exchange rate.

1. Choose a seller with a considerable positive reputation.
2. Enter your desired purchase amount, which must fall within their limits.
3. Arrange the further details of your trade via messaging.

For a complete demonstration take a look at this short video:

Since you can trust Paxful to send the coins to you, there’s no reason to wait for multiple confirmations after the seller releases the coins. You can read my Paxful review here.

Mycelium Local Trader

The popular Mycelium mobile wallet, for both iOS and Android, includes a feature known as Local Trader. This tool serves as a cash-only matching and escrow service for Bitcoin traders.

Depending on your area, you may find more or (probably) fewer sellers on this site than on Paxful.

Pretty much everything you need to know about the Local Trader process is available as a guide on Mycelium’s site.

After payment, the seller releases the coins from their Mycelium wallet to yours.

In other words, Mycelium provides an escrow service, and guarantees that the seller possesses the amount of bitcoins that they advertised as being for sale.

However, they don’t take actual possession of the seller’s coins, as Paxful does. Instead, the coins are directly released from the seller’s wallet to yours.

Mycelium has an algorithm that monitors the blockchain, and gives you an estimate of your transaction’s likelihood of properly confirming it. Nevertheless, for larger amounts, I’d advise waiting for actual confirmations.

Safety First!

I recommend that you only trade by enabling escrow. In this case, escrow means that a trusted service holds the seller’s Bitcoin.

I also recommend that you only do in-person trades in a secure location. Good choices are bank lobbies, police-station foyers, and courthouses.

When dealing with a seller for the first time or when trading large amounts, it’s wise to choose a location with access controls, metal detectors, security cameras and guards.

Overall, exercise common sense; although rare, there have been reported incidents of mugging and fraud.

4. Buying Bitcoin with Cash From a Bitcoin ATM (BTM)

Although BTMs have become more and more popular since their introduction some years ago, there are still many regions without one. The best way to locate a nearby BTM is to use the CoinATMRadar or CoinFlip if you are in the US. Use promo code “99BTC” to get 10% off your transaction fees at the CoinFip ATMs.

When you click on a BTM on this site, you will see a display with its precise location, fees, limits, and ID requirements (if any). The site will also provide contact details for the operator. You should take note of the operator’s contact details, in case there are any issues with your transaction.

When you go to the BTM, remember to also take your Bitcoin wallet or address! When using a BTM you should treat it just like using a regular ATM, so you should be on the lookout for suspicious characters who are lying in wait.

5. Buy Bitcoin with a Cash Deposits at the Bank

Both LocalBitcoins and Paxful, offer cash deposits as a payment option.

In the US, there are two more services which specialize in arranging and securing bank deposit purchases: Athena Bitcoin and Liberty X (which requires a smartphone).

Finally, Wall of Coins provides a similar service within the US, the UK, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Mexico, Poland, the Philippines, and Romania.

With this method, the seller will provide their bank details and you then visit the relevant bank, and fill in a deposit form. Sellers may specify a particular bank. You then make a cash deposit into the seller’s account via the bank teller.

This method is more reliable and physically secure than meeting with a stranger. Specifically, the seller has no way of knowing which bank or branch you’ll be using.

The downside is that such services are only available within banking hours and they’re slower than face-to-face transactions— particularly if there’s a long queue at the bank, or the service is slow to verify your trade.

As with face-to-face cash trading, you should only conduct bank-deposit trades via a reputable escrow service; doing so will protect you from fraud.

You can prove to the escrow service that you have made the payment by photographing or scanning your bank deposit receipt. In the event of a dispute, with proper proof, they’ll still release the seller’s coins to your Bitcoin address.

Always ensure that you keep your deposit receipt. Unlike a bank transfer, it’s really hard to prove that you made a payment without it!

6. Buy Bitcoin with cash at CVS or 7-Eleven using LibertyX

The retailers that offer the service are 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacies, and Rite Aid pharmacies. Participating stores can be located on the LibertyX website, or by using the LibertyX app, which is available on Android and iOS.

For these in-store cash purchases, there is a maximum limit of $500 per day and a retailer service fee of $4.95 per transaction.

The process goes like this:

1. Download the LibertyX app and create an account
2. Enter the Bitcoin address you want the Bitcoin sent to and tap “Start purchase”
3. Select the retailer you will be purchasing with, and tap “Add cash now”
4. The cashier will scan your barcode at store
5. Pay between $20 and $500, and your account will be credited with the Bitcoins within 10 minutes
6. Tap the “Convert to Bitcoin” button in LibertyX app

And that’s it! You will receive the corresponding amount of Bitcoin into your wallet.

7. Buy Bitcoin with Cash by Mail (not recommended)

Paxful also offers services for finding sellers who accept cash through the mail. You may also find suitable sellers on darknet markets.

As with in-person purchases, try to only trade with established users who have a good reputation. Choosing a reliable seller is your best protection against fraud, and escrow should always be employed.

This method involves some obvious downsides, such as slowness and the risk that your envelope may get lost or stolen en route. I recommend wrapping the bills in a couple of layers of paper, so that they can’t be easily detected without opening the envelope.

In the event that your envelope never arrives, or arrives empty, certain sellers may compensate you. To qualify, you may be required to film or photograph yourself placing the money within the envelope, sealing it, and mailing it.

For greater safety, I advise using registered mail, then having the seller sign after they receive the envelope. This method creates a degree of proof that you paid via escrow, although the amount of cash within the envelope may still be disputed.

Given the drawbacks of this method, I only recommend it for cash buyers who are too remote for other purchase methods.

8. Where Can I Get Cash for Bitcoin?

9. Conclusion

While buying Bitcoin with cash is faster and more anonymous than conventional methods, it’s still riskier than most of the online methods today (credit cards, wire transfers).

If you don’t have to use cash, it would probably be safer to use an online method assuming you purchase through a well known and reputable exchange.

If you know of other methods or have questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.