How to Sell Bitcoin – A Beginner’s Guide

People who want to sell their Bitcoin for fiat currency (i.e., dollars, euros, etc.) have several ways they can do so online and offline. In the following post, I will cover the different selling methods available.

How to Sell Bitcoin Summary

If you want to convert your Bitcoin back to “normal” money, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Find an exchange (e.g. Coinmama, CEX.IO, Coinbase)
2. Send your Bitcoin to that exchange
3. Trade your Bitcoin for fiat
4. Withdraw the fiat to your account

If Coinmama doesn’t work out for you, here are some additional exchanges recommended for selling Bitcoin:

That’s how to sell Bitcoin in a nutshell. If you want a more detailed explanation about how to sell Bitcoin and to know about a variety of other methods available, keep on reading. Here’s what I’ll cover:

1. Selling Bitcoin in a Nutshell
2. Selling Bitcoin with PayPal
3. Selling Bitcoin with a Credit Card
4. Selling Bitcoin with a Bank Account
5. How do I Sell Bitcoin for Cash?
6. Additional Ways of Selling Bitcoin
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Conclusion

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1. How Do You Sell Bitcoin?

When you feel like it’s time to trade your precious Bitcoin back to fiat money, there are a few things you’ll need to think about.

First, how do you want to get paid?

Do you want to receive money in your PayPal account? Your credit card? Your bank account? Or maybe you prefer cash?

These considerations will lead you to the second question: Which exchange do you want to use?

Different exchanges provide different payment methods, fees, and exchange rates. It’s important to conduct ample market research before choosing the right exchange.

Finally, there’s the issue of taxation.

I won’t go into detail about this one since it’s different for each country. I’ll just say that it’s important to know how your country taxes cryptocurrency sales in order to understand if and when to report the sale to authorities.

Some countries haven’t come up with clear guidelines, while others have very strict rules. Make sure to consult a CPA in your jurisdiction.

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let me review the various methods you can use to sell Bitcoin.

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2. Selling Bitcoin with PayPal

One method people search for online often is how to sell Bitcoin and receive funds to your PayPal account.

PayPal, in general, isn’t very fond of Bitcoin, mainly due to the fact that they can’t give their customers chargeback protection for Bitcoin transactions.

Having said that, there are still some workarounds that will allow you to sell Bitcoin with PayPal.

Exodus

The popular self-custody crypto wallet Exodus allows you to connect your Exodus account with your PayPal account. While residents of every country won’t be able to buy Bitcoin this way (currently available to US and EU customers), you will be able to sell Bitcoin on Exodus and withdraw the funds to your PayPal account.

Here’s how it’s done:

• Step 1: Sign up to Exodus
• Step 2: Tap on the Buy & Sell Crypto button.
• Step 3: Go to Sell Crypto and choose your preferred payment method.
• Step 4: Choose the cryptocurrency you’d like to sell, and then pick the fiat currency you’d like to receive in exchange. Specify the total crypto you want to sell and check the currency you will receive. Then tap Continue and follow the onscreen prompts to complete the transaction. 

Visit Exodus

LocalCoinSwap

LocalCoinSwap brings buyers and sellers together in a marketplace for a range of coins, including BTC and Ethereum. It’s unique in that you can transact in almost any method imaginable, including PayPal, wire transfer, Western Union, WebMoney, credit and debit cards, and cash, with a 1% sell fee. You can read my full LocalCoinSwap review here.

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3. Selling Bitcoin with a Credit Card

Some exchanges allow you to withdraw funds straight to your credit card. This method is usually faster than a wire transfer but also a bit more expensive.

CEX.IO

London-based CEX.IO allows you to withdraw your funds to your MasterCard or Visa. The amount you can withdraw depends on your verification, with no limits on Enhanced Verification accounts.

The fee for withdrawing funds to a card can range anywhere between 1.2%-3%, depending on the card type. You can read my full CEX.IO review here.

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4. Selling Bitcoin with a Bank Account

Probably the most common method for selling your Bitcoin would be via a wire transfer or some other form of transfer to your bank account (e.g., SEPA, ACH, etc.).

Almost all Bitcoin exchanges support this method, including Coinbase and CEX.IO. Here is a breakdown of an additional selected few.

Coinmama

If you reside within the EU, Coinmama gives you the option to sell your Bitcoin via a SEPA transfer. The advantages of SEPA are quick and relatively cheap transaction times.

Coinmama is considered relatively expensive when it comes to exchange rates. You can read my full Coinmama review here.

Bitpanda

Bitpanda, the Vienna-based service, allows you to sell Bitcoin and withdraw funds via a bank account or a SEPA transfer. You can read my full Bitpanda review here.

Bitstamp

Bitstamp is one of the oldest Bitcoin exchanges around. It allows you to sell Bitcoin and withdraw it via a wire or SEPA transfer. You can read my full Bitstamp review here.

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5. How Do I Sell Bitcoin for Cash?

In order to maintain anonymity or maybe just out of plain convenience, some people prefer to sell their Bitcoin for cash or directly to another person. If that’s the case, then you have several options.

Bitcoin ATMs

Bitcoin ATMs are machines that accept Bitcoin and spew out cash. Not all ATMs allow you to sell Bitcoin; some allow you only to buy Bitcoin. Some of them won’t even require any type of ID or verification.

Usually, ATMs have a restricted limit on how much you can withdraw, but for a small amount, this may be a good option. You can view the complete coverage of ATMs worldwide here.

Paxful

Paxful has been running since 2015, and it allows you to find buyers (or sellers) that trade with various payment methods, including cash. This means Paxful can locate cash buyers in your area.

I recommend that you only trade by enabling escrow in Paxful. 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.

You can read my Paxful review here.

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6. Additional Methods for Selling Bitcoin

In this post, I tried to focus on the main methods for selling Bitcoin. However, there are numerous other methods you can use to sell your Bitcoin.

For example, Skrill, Neteller, Amazon gift cards, and more. Another option would be to just exchange your Bitcoin for real-life goods you want to buy, such as a car, a house, a computer, etc.

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7. Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Illegal to Sell Bitcoin for Cash?

It depends on the rules of your country. Most countries haven’t banned Bitcoin, but several few have (e.g., China). You can view the legal status of Bitcoin here.

How Long Does it Take to Sell Bitcoin?

Depending on your payment method, it can take anywhere from 2 seconds to several days. When using methods like PayPal and credit cards, the transaction is usually instant (although it can take some time to show up on your account).

Wire transfers usually take longer since the money has to go through several intermediary banks until it reaches your account.

Can Bitcoin Be Traced?

Yes. Bitcoin is actually 100% traceable. However, it’s hard to know who the person holding the Bitcoin is. Simply put, Bitcoin is pseudonymous. Here’s a short video about this issue:

 

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8. Conclusion

There’s no shortage of methods you can use when it comes to selling Bitcoin. Keep in mind that methods such as wire transfers will almost always give you better rates and lower fees than methods such as credit cards and PayPal.

The biggest question you probably have to ask is not how to sell Bitcoin but when to sell it. Trying to time the market to make a profit is an almost impossible task. You can learn a bit more about this in my Bitcoin trading guide.

Do you know of any other methods for selling Bitcoin? Have any comments or questions? Leave them in the comment section below.