How to Turn Bitcoin into USD

If you own any bitcoin, whether through investment or even sent to you as a gift, then at some point or another, you’re going to start to wonder how exactly you can turn it into standard centralized currency (fiat currency). Thankfully, there are plenty of ways for how to turn bitcoin into USD, or really any major currency that you want.

Some of the methods are what you would expect when transferring one currency into another, while others are quite surprising given that bitcoin is not yet considered to be a widespread currency. The first step to turning your hidden stash of bitcoin into USD, is to make sure that your anonymous bitcoin wallet is in check.

Make Sure You Have a Bitcoin Wallet

When buying, selling, or trading bitcoin, your bitcoin wallet is one of your most important pieces of equipment. While technically no bitcoins are stored in the virtual wallet, it does give you a private key, which is a piece of information that you’re not going to want to lose, as you need it to spend your bitcoin.

Of the estimated around 16.7 million bitcoins in circulation, worth about 192,160,303,500.00 USD, up to 30% could have been lost due to forgotten private keys and technology malfunctions.

You can use your wallet to keep track of your bitcoin and buy or sell bitcoin. Most of the primary ways for how to turn bitcoin into USD are also going to rely on you having a wallet. There are plenty of different types of wallet for you to choose from; operating online, on your desktop, on mobile, or through hardware.

It’s possible to have multiple wallets for different systems, so keeping track of them is essential. Popular bitcoin wallets include BitcoinCore.org, Bither, Coinbase, and Bitcoin Knots. When choosing a wallet to use, it should be secure, and you should never give out your private key.

Get Familiar With Exchanges

Cryptocurrency exchange services are one of the most popular ways to exchange bitcoin for USD, or any other currency. If you have purchased bitcoin previously, then the chance is, you have already encountered this method for exchanging currency as most major sites that enable you to buy bitcoin also let you sell bitcoin. These are commonly known as centralized exchanges.

Most processes are very simple; you can select different wallets to withdraw from and different bank accounts for the currency to go into. While this process is straightforward, there are fees attached to withdrawal, so it is important to shop around and find a service that is right for you.

Here are our top 5 picks for centralized exchanges:

Bitstamp

Where: Luxembourg

Founded in: 2011

Pairs: 14

Commissions: 0.25% < $20,000

Bitstamp.net is owned by Bitstamp Ltd., a company which has its base in the United States, Luxembourg and the UK. Bitstamp is Europe’s first stock exchange to operate under license from Luxembourg’s Supervisory Commission, and this ensures that all of its activities are fully regulated.

Bitstamp offers many excellent features for traders including:

• The ability to use fiat money to deposit funds into trader accounts and to withdraw funds with ease.
• A large and varied selection of popular USD and EUR cryptocurrency pairs including Litecoin, Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum
• High liquidity thanks to the large trade turnover which stands at approximately 14,000 bikkin per day
• An extremely high level of security, with approximately 98% of its coins being kept in cold wallets and customers’ funds being kept in secure vaults offline. Bitstamp also full Two Factor Authentication as well as mandatory confirmation emails to confirm identity and improve security for traders. As an added benefit, Bitstamp also uses PGP data encryption I order to authenticate uploaded files
• No commission is charged to replenish trader accounts with Bitcoins to save traders money

However, there are a few negative points to consider too, including:

• There is no way of trading through Bitstamp by using the margin trading tool
• Verification is required for any operation, which although ideal for improving security can lead to time consuming procedures

Kraken

Where: USA

Founded in: 2011

Pairs: 45

Maker/Taker Volume: 0.16%/0.26% < 50,000

One of the oldest crypto-exchange exchanges, Kraken.com was established in San Francisco in 2011 by Jesse Powell and Payward Inc. Taking the TOP-1 among all of the exchanges in terms of its trading volume in the Bitcoin/Euro pairing, Kraken offers over 50 different cryptocurrency pairs offering impressive choice for traders. Kraken also uses both semi cold and cold storage media, ensuring an excellent level of security for the traders’ peace of mind.

There are many advantages to using Kraken to exchange crypto-currencies, including:

• All traders’ personal information is fully encrypted for additional security and protection from cybercrime.
• Most operations attract only a very low commission fee of just 0.26%
• Margin trading is possible through this exchange
• Kraken offers a downloadable mobile application for users of iOS devices for extra convenience of trading while on the move
• Two-factor authentication is required to improve security for traders overall
• Traders are able to withdraw their funds in either Euros or Dollars for extra versatility and convenience
• The list of crypto-currencies has been carefully selected by this exchange, with only trusted coins being accepted on this stock exchange
• Kraken offers a “dark pools” option which enables investors to make large transactions anonymously – very appealing to many traders who would prefer to keep their trading details private

However, there are also some negatives to consider too including:

• Large commissions are charged on withdrawals in Euros or Dollars
• Many payment systems are not supported by this currency exchange
• Although it is possible to have an unverified account with this exchange, in practice they are very limited

Bitfinex

Where: Hong Kong

Founded in: 2012

Pairs: 103

Commissions: Maker 0.1% / Taker 0.2%

Bitfinex.com is one of the biggest exchanges that allow citizens from many countries to trade and as an added benefit, it offers a user friendly and intuitive interface which makes trading with this exchange very simple. Bitfinex also offers an outstanding range of cryptocurrencies for trading as well as offering the possibility of margin trading, ensuring that traders can enjoy an excellent trading experience.

There are many benefits to choosing Bitfinex when looking for a cryptocurrency exchange, including:

• Impressive range of Cryptocurrency pairs to choose from, ensuring that traders can enjoy plenty of variety
• Bitfinex offers its own downloadable mobile application, making trading on the move easier than ever
• Funds can be withdrawn in fiat currencies to improve convenience and versatility for traders
• There is an excellent level of security with this exchange. Two factor authentication ensures that traders can have complete peace of mind, and this is paired with other impressive features including blocking fund withdrawals from unrecognized IP addresses, encryption of all mail, secret passwords to confirm fund withdrawals and disablement of the open session function
• There is a large selection of input and output options for greater flexibility and a wide selection of orders available to facilitate professional trading
• Traders can benefit from the use of an extensive set of analytical tools to improve their trading experience and maximize their profits
• Trader accounts can be replenished without any commissions being charged by the exchange, representing excellent value for money and internal commissions are exceptionally low
• The user interface is extremely intuitive and offers traders the ability to adapt the interface to suit the tasks which need to be completed
• Bitfinex has an excellent training and education section, offering plenty of detailed information to help novice traders to learn more about the process

However, there are few negative points that need to be borne in mind including:

• The verification process can be held up and complicated further as the exchange will only accept copies of personal documentation in the English language and this can take as long as 6-8 weeks, meaning that getting started with trading can take longer than necessary
• The amount of commission which is charged for conducting transactions on this exchange is higher than that charged by other similar exchanges
• A minimum deposit of $10,000 is required for any new user, which is an extremely high amount and makes trading out of reach for many new and low limit investors

Cobinhood

Where: Cayman Islands

Founded in: 2017

Pairs: over 100

Cobinhood.com is a newly established cryptocurrency exchange which was set up at the end of November 2017 by Taiwanese entrepreneur Popo Chen. This exchange is owned BEING Inc which is based in the Cayman Islands. Cobinhood stands out in the cryptocurrency exchange marketplace because it purports to be the first digital currency exchange to offer zero commission fees for traders.

There are some excellent advantages to choosing this exchange, including:

• Zero fees are charged on margin trading and on spot trading to offer impressive value to traders
• Very high levels of security, with assets being stored in a multisig offline vault. All cryptocurrency assets which are stored in online wallets have the protection of insurance for the trader’s peace of mind
• Cobinhood has developed its own proprietary order matching engine which is capable of processing millions of orders in just a few milliseconds, making trading faster and more convenient than ever
• This exchange markets itself as an ICO underwriter with other services available including legal compliance reviews and smart contract code reviews
• Multiple fiat currencies are supported by this exchange, and in fact, Cobinhood promises to support every mainstream currency including USD, JPY, EUR, GBP, NTD, AUD, CAD, CNY and HKD
• Multi-lingual support is available in a variety of languages to make this exchange accessible to traders from all around the world

On the downside, there are a few negative points to consider including:

• This is a very new currency exchange and as yet they have not been tried and tested
• Traders cannot withdraw funds until they are level 1 verified, which can be quite a time-consuming process
• Due to internal banking systems, Cobinhood has decided to temporarily halt servicing fiat transactions and replace all USD trading pairs with USDT and only support crypto-to-crypto trading.

Poloniex

Where: USA

Founded in: 2014

Pairs: 99

Maker/Taker Trade Volume: 0.15%/0.25% < 600 BTC (trailing 30-day avg)

Founded in 2014 by Tristan d’Agosta, this stock exchange still has a number of anonymous employees and has no license for the provision of exchange services in the USA. Based in San Francisco, this currency exchange is primarily geared towards the American market, however it is starting to become increasingly popular, with its large trade volume attracting altcoin traders from around the world.

There are many advantages to using Poloniex.com to trade cryptocurrencies including:

• Poloniex.com offers a reduced commission for larger trade volumes, so the higher the user transaction, the smaller the commission due to the exchange. The lowest possible commission available is 0.05%, an impressively low amount
• A large amount of currencies and currency pairs are offered by this exchange to ensure excellent variety and choice for traders
• Offering Two Factor authentication, Poloniex ensures optimal security of user data for the traders’ peace of mind
• Poloniex offers the possibility of independent development of programs and application to work in conjunction with the stock exchange
• This exchange offers margin trading as a possibility, with any user being able to issue or give a loan with interest rates

On the downside, there are a number of negative points to consider including:

• Unfortunately, fiat money is not supported with this exchange which is a distinct limitation for traders. That means you can’t exchange BTC to USD directly, but through USDT for example.
• Support for traders is poor, and it is difficult to get help as and when required
• Traders frequently experience significant delays when trying to withdraw their funds from their trader accounts.

A handful of other popular centralized exchanges include:

• Coinbase.com – Widely used and well-established, Coinbase is a versatile and easy to use exchange for bitcoin purchases and sales.
• Binance.com – A popular exchange that allows you to buy and sell bitcoin, with an easy to use layout, and easy viewing of the current market for multiple cryptocurrencies.
• Bittrex.com – Specializing in fast personal and business transactions, Bittrex offers users the ability to buy and sell a great range of innovative cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin.
• Cubits.com – With a style of service that is easy to adapt to, you can buy bitcoin, and sell bitcoin for an extensive range of currencies, including USD, GBP, and EUR.
• GDAX.com – A regulated U.S exchange, GDAX is one of the most trusted exchanges for digital assets, allowing you to buy and sell multiple cryptocurrencies.

Top Six Ways How to Turn Bitcoin into USD

Despite being a relatively new currency, technology has kept up with the bitcoin craze and enabled users to cash-in or out of bitcoin, for the most part, with ease. Some methods you can use from home, whilst you may be surprised to learn that others you’ll encounter out and about.

Here are the top six ways for how to turn bitcoin into USD:

Option One: Transfer to a Different Digital Wallet

Just like withdrawing bitcoin straight into your bank account, it is also possible to transfer bitcoin between digital wallets. This can be done though certain centralized exchanges and is a very similar process to withdrawing straight to your bank account. One of the preferred digital wallets, and one that many people already use on a day-to-day basis, is PayPal.

It’s possible on some sites to exchange bitcoins directly for PayPal USD or convert them first and then send the fiat currency directly to PayPal. Again, this does have fees involved, but is an alternative withdrawal system for those that prefer, or are accustomed to using, other digital wallets.

Option Two: Trade Your Bitcoins Personally

Trading bitcoins is a much more in-depth and personal way to sell your bitcoins – and one that could potentially earn you additional currency. It works almost like a bartering system; people post deals, and other people respond. You can normally select a payment currency, give feedback, and pick and choose from buyers or sellers. Before any transaction can take place, all parties must agree to the terms – then the currency will be released.

Popular sites, like LocalBitcoins, offer this kind of platform for peer-to-peer bitcoin trading. The process has been made quite simple and many people prefer this method, despite the slight risk, because it’s fast and anonymous.

Option Three: Get a Bitcoin Debit Card

An option that might be surprising when looking to turn bitcoin into USD, is the use of a bitcoin debit card. For the most part, these work almost exactly like your standard debit card does – just linked to your bitcoin wallet instead of your bank account. Just like the exchange service, there are multiple different systems that you can use to obtain a debit card, including Bitpay.com, Wirexapp.com, and Shiftpayments.com.

There are very few restrictions on the use of a bitcoin debit card, which can generally be used anywhere that a standard debit card is accepted. During each transaction, the amount of money that you need to pay will be converted from your bitcoin balance to pay in fiat currency.

There are mixed feelings about the adoption of bitcoin debit cards, as it is shifting bitcoin towards a more centralized form of currency. However, if are out and about, and you need to pay for something, then it is a quick and easy way to turn bitcoin into USD.

Option Four: Use a Cryptocurrency Exchange Service

When choosing a digital currency exchange, the amount of services offered, and user-friendliness are important, but primarily you should consider security. Each exchange offers a different security service, terms and conditions, and fees. Take note of the insurance polices when picking your exchange, exchanges like Coinbase offer a $250,000 insurance policy on their wallets, whilst others don’t have a similar policy in place.

Each site has a different process, wait time, and conditions, but once you have mastered the general process, you should have no trouble using the majority. Generally, you will be faced with one of two options; convert your currency then withdraw or select an amount of USD to withdraw and then wait for confirmation that you have enough bitcoin to receive that amount of USD.

(See Get Familiar With Exchanges above for our guide to the most popular exchange services)

Option Five: Use a Bitcoin ATM

Running with a similar theme to obtaining a bitcoin debit card, is the use of a bitcoin ATM. The bitcoin ATMs can be used to buy bitcoin and many also allow you to sell bitcoin in exchange for instant fiat currency.

A bitcoin ATM a little different to your standard ATM, but you may be surprised to learn that there are more than 1500 ATM’s in operation across America. Cities like Washington, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago, have some of the highest concentrations of bitcoin ATMs.

The internet-connected machine will direct the user to a bitcoin exchange, where they will be able to complete their transaction – normally with a higher charge than through alternative methods. The machines have popped up all over the world in recent years, giving bitcoin users a new way to use the currency as part of their daily lives.

Option Six: Spend Your Bitcoin

The final option for turning your bitcoin into USD, is more of an indirect way – spending it. While bitcoin is a long way off being widely adopted, with some of the major companies in the USA, it can take the place of USD. This works a little differently to the bitcoin debit card, and certainly isn’t as flexible, but it is a viable way to turn bitcoin in your wallet into products or services that you would have otherwise purchased for fiat currency.

The process of spending bitcoin without additional services, generally involves the use of QR codes. All you need is a bitcoin wallet that operates on your mobile device. To spend the bitcoin, you just need to scan the QR code and agree to the transaction.

There are big companies and small companies alike that accept bitcoin transactions in place of standard transactions. These include Microsoft and Reddit – with services you can purchase from your own home using bitcoin, and smaller stores like Helen’s Pizza – where you can buy a pizza slice for bitcoin.

This concept and the ability to pay directly with bitcoin has seen a slow but steady adoption. It has come a long way since the first believed tangible bitcoin transaction which took place in 2010, when a developer purchased two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins – worth around 115,610,400 USD today!

Is it Worth Turning my Bitcoin into USD?

While there are now multiple ways to convert your bitcoin into USD, with the services available only seeming to increase, a big worry for many is whether it’s worth converting their bitcoin now or waiting. The bitcoin market is constantly changing, much more dramatically than fiat currency, so it is difficult to tell exactly when the right time is to sell or even buy bitcoin is.

In February 2018 alone, you could have purchased one bitcoin for as low as $6,914.26 and sold it just a couple weeks later at $11,228.24 – earning $4,313.98 in the process.

There is no denying that having so many options available, many of which you can use on the go, is incredibly handy, and a step forward for the wider adoption of cryptocurrency in the future. Whether it is worth turning your bitcoin in USD now though, is a question that only time will be able to answer.

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