If you’re looking to invest in Bitcoins in the UK, then you need to understand the different wallets that are available to you for this purpose. Some trading platforms only allow you to trade CFDs, so you don’t really need to have a crypto wallet for this since you do not own the underlying asset anyway.
In this case, it is important for you to be aware of the different crypto wallets that are available for you to choose from, in addition to knowing the various peculiarities of different Bitcoin wallets that you can choose from. In this guide, we review the various Bitcoin wallets and provide you with a bit of background information on how these Bitcoin wallets work.
In This Guide
You can sign up for a Bitcoin wallet in the UK in just 3 quick steps:
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75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Your money is at risk. The exchange holds an e-money license from the FCA.
Crypto assets are highly volatile, unregulated investment products. No EU investor protection
In order to buy Bitcoins and store them, the first thing you need to do is to identify a good wallet provider. Often, wallet providers are also trading brokers, and you can simply trade through them, upon which point your cryptocurrencies will be stored on their wallets. On the contrary, some cryptocurrency trading platforms do not have their own wallets, and you can connect your own wallets to their platform and trade through that. A list and a detailed review of some of the top Bitcoin wallets that you can trade through have been given below.
eToro is easily the best overall Bitcoin trading platform and wallet in the UK for 2022, and this is for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the platform is very heavily regulated, by both the CySEC and the UK’s FCA. This is particularly important for the cryptocurrency markets since this means that any cryptocurrencies you trade through eToro are done in a secure manner so as to not risk your capital. In addition to Bitcoins, the platform provides you with the option of buying around 17 altcoins, including ETH, BNB, ADA, XRP, etc.
When it comes to storing the Bitcoins that you buy, you have two options. If you buy Bitcoin directly via the eToro platform, then you can simply entrust eToro to look after them on your behalf through your wallet. However, if you do not wish to buy Bitcoins via eToro, then you can simply make use of their eToro wallet to store your Bitcoins. Its proprietary digital wallet supports over 120+ cryptocurrencies – including Bitcoin. The wallet can be downloaded as a mobile app and is compatible with both iOS and Android. This makes it really convenient, as you don’t need to be sat at your desktop device to be able to send and receive funds. The eToro Bitcoin wallet is also useful for exchanging cryptocurrencies. In fact, the wallet supports over 500 crypto-pairs, so you don’t need to worry about using a third-party exchange if there is a particular digital coin you are interested in.
Depending on the location where you live, you might also be allowed to trade Bitcoin options, however, this is only available for the more popular cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, ADA, and BNB. you can trade crypto-fiat pairs, and exchange fiat currency for BTC. At the same time, you can also trade crypto pairs, where you exchange one cryptocurrency for another. eToro is also a complete commission-free site, and the only fees they charge are their spreads. This means that you can enter and exit a trade whenever you wish to do so, without having to incur any additional charges.
eToro also offers a variety of passive trading tools that you can use to trade BTC. This includes a variety of traders that you can choose to copy or mirror through the platform’s social trading tools. However, in addition to this, they also have a curated CryptoPortfolio, which is a basket of bitcoin alongside several prominent altcoins including Bitcoin that are given varying weights. This portfolio is managed by the eToro investments team, so you do not have to worry about rebalancing the portfolio regularly. You can get started with an eToro trading account in minutes – and deposit methods include debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Paypal.
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67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Binance is one of the most popular cryptocurrency platforms in the world, and it boasts of the highest selection of altcoins. If there is any altcoin you wish to invest in, whether it is small-cap or large-cap, there is a very high chance that Binance will have it. It allows you to exchange BTC not just for fiat currencies but also with BNB, ETH, and a variety of other cryptocurrencies. The platform also deals with billions of dollars in trading volume every day. Usually, you will be able to deposit funds into Binance via credit/debit card or a bank transfer, making for a convenient experience.
If you wish to store your cryptocurrencies through the Binance wallet after buying them through the platform, you can do this directly. If you do, you won’t control your private keys. You will, however, benefit from a range of safeguards. This includes the vast majority of client funds being held in cold storage, alongside two-factor authentication and email confirmation on key account features being accessed. However, if you feel more comfortable having full control over your private keys, you might want to consider the Binance Trust wallet, which is downloadable as a mobile app. This will allow you to store your Bitcoins on the app in a completely decentralised manner, wherein even Binance itself will not have access to your funds.
The platform charges high fees for deposits and withdrawals - between 2% and 3%. However, they have very low trading fees and are known for being one of the cheapest crypto trading platforms in terms of their fees. Usually, the fee is 0.1%, and it is even lower if you have an allocation of the Binance Coin (BNB). They also have a wide variety of tools and technologies available specifically for cryptocurrencies, which makes them a suitable option for highly experienced crypto traders.
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Your money is at risk.
Over 100 tradable cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano are offered through Coinbase, a cryptocurrency trading, and investing platform. Over 73 million users access Coinbase, which has more than $255 billion in assets under management. You can use Coinbase primarily for its digital wallet. This is available in two forms – through the Coinbase website or via a native mobile app. If opting for the former, it’s just a case of sending your Bitcoin into the unique wallet address that Coinbase gives you.
Alternatively, if you want the convenience of being able to access your Bitcoin on the move, then the Coinbase wallet app is likely to be more up your street. You can download the wallet onto your Android or iOS phone free of charge. The wallet is backed by heaps of security features – including two-factor authentication. This requires you to enter a code that is sent to your mobile phone before you can access your Bitcoin wallet.
Simple buy and sell orders are likely to be preferred by beginners on the original Coinbase platform. However, Coinbase Pro, available to all Coinbase users, offers more advanced features and order types.
In general, digital currencies are an emerging asset class that can be risky and volatile, making them unsuitable for all investors. Nevertheless, if you're into cryptocurrencies and wish to trade Bitcoin in the UK, Coinbase is an excellent option for both beginners and veterans.
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If you are a beginner and have little to no knowledge of how wallets or cryptocurrencies work, then CoinCorner is the perfect platform for you. This is because the platform has been designed specifically with beginners in mind, who might not be very aware of the peculiarities that afflict the cryptocurrency world. The platform also serves as both a broker and a wallet, with you being allowed to purchase Bitcoins through a UK debit/credit card or bank account transfer, and providing the functionality of being able to store it on the CoinCorner wallet app.
The app can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple Store. Whilst this is likely the be the most convenient option on the table for beginners, the CoinCorner wallet isn’t as secure as the other entrants we have discussed thus far. As such, for the benefit of increased convenience and ease of use, there is a slight trade-off with security.
Finally, we should also mention that CoinCorner is worth considering if you are looking to make small but regular Bitcoin investments. This is because it supports recurring payments that are automated to your preference – for example, £20 per week or month.
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If you are looking to invest in Bitcoin, then one of your biggest considerations should be about how you plan to keep your coins safe. In this regard, you need to understand that, unlike traditional money, Bitcoins cannot be stored in a bank account. Instead, they have to be stored in a ‘digital wallet’. There are several Bitcoin wallets that you can use for this purpose, and each of them differs from the others in its own way. Some people might choose to go for a mobile wallet since it allows them to monitor and manage their cryptocurrency investments on the move. On the other hand, some people might choose to have a wallet that is only available on desktop devices.
Regardless of the different types of wallets, which are discussed below in detail, the primary purpose of the wallet is to allow you to send, receive, and store digital currencies. Each of these wallets has a unique address that you can use in order to send and receive cryptocurrencies from other wallets. When you want to send funds to your personal Bitcoin wallet, you will need to enter your public address. In terms of safety, your Bitcoin wallet is protected by a ‘private key’. This is like the password and pin codes that you use to access your online bank account.
Most Bitcoin wallets in the UK allow you to easily access your wallet without having to remember the private key, simply by setting up a password or a biometric login for your convenience.
As mentioned above, there are several types of Bitcoin wallets that you can use in order to store your Bitcoins. Each of these has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and therefore are chosen by different people based on their preferences. For example, two of the biggest categories of Bitcoin wallets are paper wallets and hardware wallets. Both of these categories have been discussed below in detail.
A Bitcoin paper wallet is an old-school way of storing cryptocurrencies because your Bitcoin wallet address will be printed onto a piece of paper in the form of a QR code. In order to do this, you will need to use an online platform that has the capacity to generate a free Bitcoin wallet address. Then, it’s just a case of transferring the Bitcoin to the respective address, and printing the credentials. In theory, it’s virtually impossible for somebody to hack your Bitcoin paper wallet. After all, the funds are kept offline at all times. However, the main drawback here is that when it comes to transferring your Bitcoin out to another wallet (for example, if you wanted to cash out your coins), the process can be cumbersome.
On the other hand, on a hardware wallet, your coins are stored via a physical device. Hardware wallet providers offer top-notch security on your Bitcoin funds. To get started with a hardware wallet, all you need to do is to buy a Bitcoin hardware wallet from your chosen provider, set up a PIN number via the device that arrives with your wallet, and transfer the Bitcoin to your unique hardware wallet address. Opting for a hardware wallet to store your Bitcoin is a really safe option to consider. For example, funds can only be sent if you have access to the physical device – which requires your PIN for authorization. If you forgot your PIN or the device was stolen, you can remotely access your Bitcoin wallet with the previously mentioned passphrase.
As mentioned earlier, there are a variety of factors to consider when you are trying to choose to right kind of wallet for your needs. In this regard, each of these factors has been discussed below in detail.
When trying to choose the right kind of wallet for yourself, it is important for you to understand what the different types that are available are. These can be discussed as follows:
There are two types of Bitcoin wallets that are available: custodian and non-custodian wallets. They differ solely in the sense that custodian wallets are responsible for keeping your Bitcoins safe in the wallets, whereas when you use a non-custodian wallet, the onus is on you to keep the crypto you store in the wallet safe and sound. In other words, when you use a custodian wallet, you don’t need to worry about storage as this role is reversed for the entity behind the wallet. Crucially, if you do go the custodian route, consider an FCA-regulated broker like eToro.
Most Bitcoin wallets only offer the bare minimum when it comes to services, in that they allow you to store your crypto safely with them, and transfer it whenever you wish to do so. On the contrary, some other crypto wallets, such as the eToro Bitcoin Wallet specifically, allow you to even buy and sell cryptocurrencies without paying any commissions. They also allow you to buy shares, ETFs, commodities, and all the other products that are available on the eToro platform. At the same time, another benefit is that these platforms usually allow cross-currency transactions, meaning you can easily change one cryptocurrency to another.
While at present your main focus might be on storing Bitcoin, there might come a time when you decide to invest in other cryptocurrencies. This is an important consideration to make, as some online wallets only support Bitcoin. As such, if you then decided to buy Ethereum or Litecoin, you would need to obtain a secondary wallet. This is why the best Bitcoin wallets in the UK offer support for heaps of other digital coins. In the case of our top-rated UK wallet provider eToro – you can store over 120 different cryptocurrencies. This allows you to build a diverse portfolio of digital assets and keep all of your coins in a single wallet.
The first thing that you need to do is to navigate to the eToro homepage and click on “Join Today”. Then, you will be asked to fill a short form that asks for your contact details and makes you set up your login credentials. Alternatively, you can also sign up via your Facebook or Google account for easier sign-ins and to avoid having to remember your username and password.
The next step is for you to verify your identity by uploading a copy of your ID. Since eToro is a regulated platform, they have to complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) process before they allow you to trade. This verification process has two parts to it. The first part involves verifying your identity. For this, you can upload a copy of any government-issued ID, such as a passport, driving license, or visa. The next part is an address proof, for which you can either upload a bank statement or utility bill. Once you have uploaded the documents, eToro has a quick response time, and will usually verify your account in a few hours.
The third step is to then deposit funds into your account. The minimum deposit on eToro is 200 GBP. This can be done in a variety of ways. For starters, you can add money to your eToro account via bank transfer or via credit/debit cards. They also accept a variety of e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill. You can add funds in different currencies too, such as USD, GBP, and EUR. There are no fees or charges associated with depositing funds into your account, and they show up almost immediately.
Once you have registered with the eToro app, then the next step for you is to download the eToro wallet app. You can easily download it from either the Google Play Store or the Apple Store by clicking the link on the app. Once the app has been downloaded, you can then sign in to your wallet using your normal eToro credentials.
Now that you have access to your eToro wallet, you need to transfer your Bitcoin. If at this stage you do not have any Bitcoin, you can buy some directly from within the eToro app. If, however, you already own Bitcoin, you will need to locate your unique wallet address from within the app. Copy it to your clipboard and then head over to the wallet in which the Bitcoin is currently stored. Then, you simply need to paste the wallet address and specify how much Bitcoin you want to transfer. The funds should appear in your eToro Bitcoin wallet in less than 20 minutes.
At some stage – whether that’s in weeks, months, or years to come – you will want to cash out your Bitcoin back to pounds and pence. eToro allows you to do this at the click of a button. As soon as you confirm the sale, the cash will be placed into your eToro account. Then, you can withdraw the funds back to your debit/credit card, e-wallet, or bank account.
While there are several platforms on which you can trade and store Bitcoins, eToro is easily the overall best Bitcoin wallet for any investor in the UK. This is true for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the wallet is simple to use and it doubles up as a brokerage and exchange service.eToro provides The platform also provides you with leverage when investing in cryptocurrencies, making it easier for you to invest in BTC while only risking a small amount of capital on your own part. In addition to this, they also offer a variety of verified and reliable altcoins to trade on in addition to Bitcoins, and the regulatory requirements that they comply with mean that your money is safe when you invest in BTC and other cryptocurrencies through eToro.
The best Bitcoin wallet for iOS will differ largely based on your requirements and trading preferences, but overall, Coinbase is definitely the platform most optimised for iOS use.
The best Bitcoin wallet for Android will differ largely based on your requirements and trading preferences, but overall, Binance is definitely the platform most optimised for Android use.
This depends on the type of wallet you have opted for. If it's a mobile wallet, then you can usually view your address as soon as you load the app up. If opting for a web wallet, you can find your address from within your account dashboard.
The safest Bitcoin wallet is clearly eToro, as in addition to its other features, the platform is also FCA approved, making it the most secure place to store your funds.
The vast majority of Bitcoin wallets allow you to store your funds anonymously. The exception to this rule is if you are using a wallet provider that also supports purchases with a debit/credit card or other fiat currency method. If it does, you will be required to verify your identity before you can start using the wallet.
The easiest way to keep your wallet safe and secure is to write down your private keys on a piece of paper and keep them securely somewhere.
Yes, if you are using a multi-currency wallet, then you can store Bitcoins, Etheruem, and a variety of other cryptocurrencies in the same wallet.
I'm a second year Accounting and Finance student at the University of Warwick, in addition to being an incoming Trading Analyst at Morgan Stanley. I'm passionate about the financial markets and all things finance.
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