Using Crypto 11 min read

How to Buy Crypto on Fidelity in 2026

Fidelity manages $5+ trillion in assets — and now lets you buy Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside your stocks and retirement accounts. Here's exactly how it works.

Quick Summary

  • Fidelity lets you buy Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) directly through Fidelity Crypto — with a $1 minimum
  • Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) is a spot Bitcoin ETF you can buy in any brokerage or IRA account
  • Fidelity Crypto IRA lets you hold actual Bitcoin in a tax-advantaged retirement account
  • Fees: 1% spread on direct crypto trades; 0% commission on FBTC (0.25% expense ratio)
  • Not available in all states — check restrictions before signing up

Why Buy Crypto Through Fidelity?

Fidelity isn't a crypto exchange — it's one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the world, managing retirement accounts for millions of Americans since 1946. So why would you buy cryptocurrency here instead of on a native crypto exchange like Coinbase or Kraken?

One dashboard for everything

Stocks, bonds, 401(k), IRA, and crypto — all in one place. No separate exchange account needed. If you already have a Fidelity brokerage account, you can add crypto in minutes.

Institutional custody

Fidelity Digital Assets provides custody for your crypto with institutional-grade cold storage. This is the same custody solution used by hedge funds and pension funds. Your crypto is stored offline in air-gapped vaults.

FDIC-like trust

Fidelity is a regulated financial institution. While crypto itself isn't FDIC-insured, the cash in your account is. Fidelity's 78-year track record provides a level of trust that newer crypto exchanges simply can't match.

Tax-advantaged crypto

Fidelity's Crypto IRA lets you hold Bitcoin in a Roth or Traditional IRA — potentially growing tax-free. No crypto exchange offers this natively.

The trade-off? Fidelity only supports a handful of cryptocurrencies (BTC and ETH for direct trading), charges higher fees than specialized exchanges, and doesn't let you withdraw crypto to your own wallet. If you want 200+ altcoins and full control over your keys, a dedicated exchange is better.

Three Ways to Get Crypto Exposure on Fidelity

Fidelity offers three distinct paths, each suited to different goals:

Method What You Own Account Type Fees Best For
Fidelity Crypto Actual BTC/ETH Fidelity Crypto account ~1% spread Direct crypto ownership
FBTC (Bitcoin ETF) ETF shares (backed by BTC) Any brokerage/IRA $0 commission + 0.25%/yr Stock-like exposure
Fidelity Crypto IRA Actual BTC/ETH in IRA Roth/Traditional IRA ~1% spread Tax-advantaged retirement

Fidelity Crypto — Buying Bitcoin and Ethereum Directly

Fidelity Crypto is a dedicated crypto trading feature within your Fidelity account. It's separate from your brokerage account but accessible from the same dashboard and app.

How to Set Up

1

Log into Fidelity

If you don't have a Fidelity account, open one (free, takes 10 minutes). You'll need your SSN and a linked bank account.

2

Enable Fidelity Crypto

Navigate to the crypto section (or search "crypto" in the app). Accept the terms and conditions. This opens a separate Fidelity Crypto account linked to your brokerage.

3

Deposit funds

Transfer cash from your bank or move money from your Fidelity brokerage account. Minimum purchase: just $1.

4

Buy BTC or ETH

Choose Bitcoin or Ethereum, enter your dollar amount, and confirm. Crypto is purchased at market price plus a ~1% spread (Fidelity's fee).

Supported Cryptocurrencies

As of early 2026, Fidelity Crypto supports Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) for direct trading. That's it. No Solana, no Cardano, no meme coins. This is intentional — Fidelity is conservative and only offers assets they deem sufficiently established.

If you want access to hundreds of different cryptocurrencies, you'll need a dedicated exchange like Binance or KuCoin.

⚠️ Important: You cannot withdraw crypto from Fidelity Crypto to an external wallet. Your BTC and ETH stay in Fidelity's custody. This means no self-custody, no DeFi, no sending to friends. If you want full control over your crypto, use a non-custodial wallet instead.

FBTC — Fidelity's Bitcoin ETF

The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (ticker: FBTC) is a spot Bitcoin ETF that launched in January 2024. It's one of the biggest Bitcoin ETFs in the world, competing with BlackRock's IBIT and Grayscale's GBTC. As of early 2026, FBTC holds tens of billions of dollars in Bitcoin.

An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) works like a stock — you buy shares that represent ownership of actual Bitcoin held in custody. You don't deal with wallets, keys, or crypto exchanges at all. It trades on the stock market during normal hours.

Detail FBTC
Ticker FBTC
Expense ratio 0.25% per year
Commission $0 (commission-free on Fidelity)
Minimum investment 1 share (~$50–100, varies with BTC price)
Available in IRA/401(k) Yes — including Roth IRA
Trading hours Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM – 4 PM ET (stock market hours)
Custody Fidelity Digital Assets (in-house cold storage)

💡 FBTC vs. direct Bitcoin: FBTC is better if you want Bitcoin exposure in a retirement account, never want to deal with crypto wallets, or already manage everything through Fidelity. Direct Bitcoin (on Coinbase/Kraken) is better if you want to actually use crypto, access it 24/7, or withdraw to your own wallet.

Fidelity Crypto IRA — Bitcoin in Your Retirement Account

This is arguably Fidelity's most unique crypto offering. The Fidelity Crypto IRA lets you hold actual Bitcoin and Ethereum inside a Traditional or Roth IRA — not just a Bitcoin ETF, but the real thing. Fidelity is one of the few major brokerages that offers this.

Why This Matters for Taxes

Roth IRA

Contribute after-tax dollars. Your Bitcoin grows completely tax-free. No capital gains when you sell in retirement. If Bitcoin 10x's over 20 years, you pay $0 in taxes on those gains.

Traditional IRA

Contribute pre-tax dollars (deductible). Your Bitcoin grows tax-deferred. You pay income tax when you withdraw in retirement — but no capital gains tax during the growth period.

Compare this to buying Bitcoin on Coinbase in a regular account — every sell triggers a taxable event. In a Roth IRA, you can rebalance, take profits, and sell with zero tax consequences. For long-term investors, this is a massive advantage.

For more on crypto retirement investing, see our crypto IRA guide.

⚠️ Contribution limits: IRA contributions are capped at $7,000/year ($8,000 if 50+) for 2026. You can't dump $100K into a crypto IRA all at once. Also, early withdrawals before age 59½ incur penalties. This is a long-term play.

Fidelity Crypto Fees Explained

Fidelity's crypto fees are straightforward — but higher than dedicated low-fee crypto exchanges:

Fee Type Fidelity Crypto FBTC (ETF) Coinbase (comparison)
Trading fee ~1% spread $0 commission 0.6% maker/taker (Advanced)
Ongoing fee None 0.25%/year expense ratio None
Withdrawal Not available (no crypto withdrawal) N/A (it's a stock) Network fee (varies)
Account minimum $1 1 share (~$50–100) $0

On a $10,000 Bitcoin purchase, the 1% spread costs you about $100. On Kraken or Binance, the same trade costs $10–26. That's a big difference — especially for frequent traders. But for a once-a-month IRA contribution? The convenience and tax benefits may outweigh the fee.

Fidelity vs. Crypto Exchanges — Which Is Better?

Factor Fidelity Crypto Exchange
Coins available BTC, ETH only 200–1,000+ coins
Fees ~1% spread 0.1–0.6%
Withdrawal to wallet ❌ Not available ✅ Full withdrawal
IRA option ✅ Crypto IRA ❌ (most don't offer)
Regulation/trust 78-year institution, SEC regulated Varies — some are newer or offshore
24/7 trading Yes (Fidelity Crypto) Yes
DeFi/staking ❌ Not available ✅ Most offer staking

Bottom line: Choose Fidelity if you want Bitcoin/ETH in a retirement account, prefer keeping everything with one trusted brokerage, and don't need altcoins or self-custody. Choose a crypto exchange if you want lower fees, more coins, or full control over your keys.

For a comparison of the best crypto trading platforms, see our dedicated guide.

State Restrictions — Is Fidelity Crypto Available in My State?

Fidelity Crypto is not available in all US states. Due to varying state regulations around cryptocurrency, some states restrict or don't permit Fidelity's direct crypto trading service. FBTC (the ETF) is available everywhere since it's a standard securities product.

Check availability: Fidelity's crypto service availability changes as state regulations evolve. Before opening a Fidelity Crypto account, log into Fidelity and check whether the crypto trading option appears for your state. If it doesn't, you can still buy FBTC as an ETF in your regular brokerage or IRA account.

If you're in a restricted state and want to buy Bitcoin directly, consider US-available crypto exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini — which have broader state coverage.

For context on crypto regulation in the US, see our crypto regulation guide.

Who Should Buy Crypto Through Fidelity?

✅ Fidelity Is Perfect For

  • • Retirement investors who want Bitcoin in a Roth/Traditional IRA
  • • Existing Fidelity customers who prefer one dashboard for stocks + crypto
  • • Conservative investors who trust a regulated brokerage over crypto-native exchanges
  • • Long-term BTC/ETH holders who aren't interested in altcoins or DeFi

❌ Look Elsewhere If

  • • You want altcoins — Fidelity doesn't support Solana, XRP, ADA, etc.
  • • You want self-custody — can't withdraw crypto to a hardware wallet
  • • You're fee-sensitive — 1% spread is 5–10x more than most exchanges
  • • You want to trade actively — no advanced order types, no margin

Key Terms

Spot Bitcoin ETF An exchange-traded fund that holds actual Bitcoin (not futures). FBTC is Fidelity's spot Bitcoin ETF. Trades like a stock.
Expense Ratio The annual fee an ETF charges, expressed as a percentage of assets. FBTC's 0.25% means you pay $25/year per $10,000 invested.
Spread The difference between the price you pay and the actual market price. Fidelity's ~1% spread is their hidden trading fee — no separate commission.
Roth IRA A retirement account where you contribute after-tax dollars and withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free — including capital gains.
Fidelity Digital Assets Fidelity's institutional crypto custody arm. Uses cold storage (offline) to secure client crypto — same infrastructure used by funds managing billions.
Custodial When a third party (like Fidelity) holds your crypto for you. You don't control the private keys — they do. Convenient but requires trust.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Bitcoin on Fidelity?
Yes — either directly through Fidelity Crypto (actual Bitcoin, $1 minimum) or by buying FBTC (Fidelity's spot Bitcoin ETF) in your brokerage or IRA account. Fidelity Crypto may not be available in all states.
What are the fees for buying crypto on Fidelity?
Fidelity Crypto charges approximately a 1% spread (the difference between market price and the price you pay). FBTC has a 0.25% annual expense ratio and no commission to buy or sell. Both are higher than dedicated crypto exchanges but lower than some brokerages.
Can I withdraw Bitcoin from Fidelity to my own wallet?
No — as of 2026, Fidelity does not allow crypto withdrawals to external wallets. Your Bitcoin and Ethereum remain in Fidelity's custody. If you want self-custody or to use DeFi, you'll need a crypto exchange that supports external withdrawals.
Is Fidelity Crypto safe?
Fidelity is one of the most trusted financial institutions in the world with 78+ years of history and $5+ trillion in managed assets. Your crypto is custodied by Fidelity Digital Assets using institutional-grade cold storage. However, crypto itself isn't FDIC-insured — only the cash in your account is.
Can I hold Bitcoin in my Fidelity IRA?
Yes — the Fidelity Crypto IRA lets you hold actual Bitcoin and Ethereum in a Roth or Traditional IRA. Alternatively, you can buy FBTC (the Bitcoin ETF) in any IRA account. The Crypto IRA holds real BTC; the ETF approach holds ETF shares backed by BTC.
How does FBTC compare to IBIT (BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF)?
Both track Bitcoin's price and have similar expense ratios (0.25%). The main difference: Fidelity custodies its own Bitcoin (in-house), while BlackRock uses Coinbase as custodian. If you're already a Fidelity customer, FBTC integrates seamlessly with your existing accounts. Performance-wise, they track nearly identically.

Ready to Buy Bitcoin?

Whether you choose Fidelity or a dedicated exchange, compare your options and find the best fit for your needs.

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