The experience of buying crypto in MetaMask varies depending on whether you're on MetaMask Mobile or Extension. Select the correct tab below to view all relevant information for each:
The availability of providers for buying crypto varies between countries/regions. If you're unable to buy crypto in MetaMask, see here for some alternative options.
Buy crypto in the MetaMask Portfolio Dapp
You can now access our buying experience in the Portfolio Dapp — click here to check it out. The process works exactly the same as the 'Mobile' tab below, so head there for an overview, or to see our FAQs.
In this section:
How does it work?
The process for buying crypto on MetaMask Mobile and in the Portfolio Dapp uses an aggregator of on-ramp providers, making the process accessible, fast, and scalable.
When you enter how much of a token you want to buy, MetaMask's integrations with our vetted providers will spring into life, and fetch you quotes from each. These quotes automatically refresh every 10 seconds to account for gas price fluctuations, minimizing the potential for failed transactions (if gas prices rise after submitting the transaction, your quoted total may be too low to cover transaction costs by the time the transaction is picked up by the network).
Since you input your region and currency during the process, the quotes you're presented with are automatically configured for your circumstances: so no need to worry about whether you'll be able to use the available payment methods in your region, or whether your region is supported by that provider. If it appears on the quote list, you will be able to buy as quoted. Easy.
How do I use it?
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On the mobile app, head to your wallet homepage and find the blue 'Buy' button, located between the 'Receive' and 'Send' buttons in the center of the screen. On the Portfolio Dapp, head to the 'Buy' tab.
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If you're a first-time user, you must select your region, which will generally default to your current location. If you've used this feature before, MetaMask skips this step and uses the region you selected last time, which is saved in local storage.
From the drop-down menu, search or scroll until you find the country where your payment method (card/bank account) is registered. US users will then be able to select their state. If your region is not currently covered by at least one of our provider and payment method combinations, we'll let you know at this point. You can read more about other ways to purchase crypto here.
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On the next screen, select your payment method (you can always adjust this afterwards if you change your mind):
Choose from Apple Pay/Google Pay (this will adjust according to your device), debit/credit card, PayPal (US only, excluding Hawaii), and bank transfers (with the mechanism adjusted according to your region, KYC details, and currency: e.g. UK Faster Payments, ACH for the US, Pix for Brazil, and SEPA for Europe). Make sure you're comfortable with the estimated duration and payment limits detailed next to each option.
- Select the token you want to buy, using the You want to buy menu at the top of the screen.
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Input your preferred amount, i.e. the value (in fiat) of the token you want to buy.
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Choose your quote. After a brief wait, you'll see the quotes available based on your preferences. They're arranged in descending order based on how much crypto you receive, with the best-value option at the top. Pull down from the top of the screen to force refresh the quotes.
When you pick a provider, you may have to complete KYC if you've never used their service before.
FAQs
- Ethereum mainnet
- Binance/BNB Smart Chain
- Polygon
- Avalanche (C-Chain)
- Fantom
- Optimism
- Arbitrum
- Celo
- Harmony
- Transak
- MoonPay
- Sardine
- PayPal (US only)
- Banxa
- Onramp.money
- Mercuryo.
We're always working to integrate new providers, subject to rigorous security and reliability checks.
Payment methods are determined by your selected region, and there are far too many permutations for us to exhaustively list here. You can see what's available—without making any commitment to spend—once you've selected your region.
We aim to provide users in as many countries as possible with at least one option to buy crypto.
At present, users in 170+ countries will be able to buy crypto through at least one provider.
The fiat value you input into MetaMask will always be more than the value of crypto you end up receiving.
This is because you have to pay a few different fees for each transaction. In addition to the fee that MetaMask charges, you also need to pay the provider's fee and the gas fees for the transactions required to get the purchased crypto into your wallet.
You can see the provider's fee listed as 'processing fee' on the quote. This number includes the fee that MetaMask charges for the service. Gas costs are listed on the quote as the 'network fee'.
MetaMask charges a 1% fee on every transaction, calculated as a percentage of the fiat value you request.
So if you input $100, we will calculate our share of the fees as $1.
The 1% fee is consistent across all regions, payment methods, providers, and tokens.
MetaMask does not fulfil the transactions you order: it is the provider (e.g. MoonPay, Transak, etc.) that receives your request and executes the necessary steps.
MetaMask is an intermediary in this process. All that MetaMask is doing is compiling quotes, enabling you to select one, and then allowing you to order your chosen amount of crypto through the provider.
In order to get your ordered crypto into your MetaMask wallet, the provider you choose must execute transactions on-chain. This means that, as a minimum, you will need to wait for as long as it takes for the transactions to be processed by the network (block time).
Once you submit your request, you can see the pending transaction in your MetaMask activity.
Since MetaMask does not execute your transaction, it’s likely that the provider will be better placed to support than our team. In these situations, we recommend you contact their support teams first.
For any issues you encounter with MetaMask itself (such as problems selecting your region or currency, or with the buying process), get in touch with MetaMask Support via the 'Start a Conversation' button on the Support page.
If you're facing problems using a provider's platform, such as payment limits, payment methods, or KYC, we recommend you get in touch with their support teams directly.
When you buy crypto in MetaMask, you're not buying crypto with or from MetaMask: you're buying with the provider you choose.
If you want to manage any personal information that the providers hold, you must access the provider's platform directly, log into your account, and make the changes there. MetaMask does not collect or hold your login details for on-ramp providers at any point during or after the buying process.
Contents:
- How to buy tokens in MetaMask
- Available providers, payment methods and supported regions
- What is KYC?
- Alternative ways to get crypto into your MetaMask wallet
You can get crypto directly into your MetaMask wallet without even leaving the app, through what are often known as 'on-ramps'. Our supported networks include:
- Ethereum mainnet
- Avalanche
- Polygon
- BNB Chain
- Fantom
- Celo
- Optimism
- Arbitrum.
Please note that not all providers support all the above networks. See the platform-specific information below for more clarity.
In each case, you can buy the network's native token and, in some cases, stablecoins and/or other tokens. For example, you can buy MATIC directly on Polygon, or BNB for BNB Chain. Stablecoins that will be available include, for example, Dai, USDC, and USDT (on Ethereum and Polygon) and BUSD on BNB Chain.
'On-ramps' and 'off-ramps'?!
'Ramps' are the North American terms for roads which connect regular traffic to ('on-ramp') and from ('off-ramp') freeways. This analogy has been adopted across web3 to describe the process of converting fiat currency (e.g. dollars, pounds, euros, etc.) into crypto, and vice versa.
Since MetaMask's users are spread across the world, we're transitioning to more neutral language to improve clarity — so you'll see us using this term less and less.
How do I buy tokens?
Firstly, make sure your wallet is currently connected to the network you want to buy for.
- On the main screen of the Extension, click the 'Buy' button.
- You'll now see a screen where you can select which provider you'd like to use. See below for an overview of how your region affects availability, and the kinds of payment options each provider supports.
- When you've selected a provider, you'll be redirected to their platform. Enter the amount of fiat currency you'd like to spend to generate an estimate of how much crypto you'll receive and the fees you'll have to pay.
- It's at this stage that you can change the type of token you're buying. Make sure you've selected the one you want.
- Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.
Alternative method: go direct to the token
You can also head to a specific token in your 'Assets' tab, and click the 'Buy' button that appears there. If the token is available to purchase through one of our supported providers, the button will be available to click, and you'll be shown which providers you can choose from. From there, the rest of the buying process is the same!
Since the token deposit into your wallet is a regular blockchain transaction, you'll need to wait for the transaction to be processed by the network. Although this isn't long, it may not be instant, so don't worry!
If your transaction is complete and you don't see the tokens in your wallet, make sure you have added the token in MetaMask. See our article for further guidance on this.
What providers and payment methods are available?
Each of our providers enabling you to buy crypto has undergone a comprehensive technical integration to make sure their solutions work seamlessly and securely with MetaMask. Available vendors include:
Supported locations: Transak supports 100+ countries.
Payment options: You can buy using credit/debit card or bank transfer (depending on location). Also supports region-specific payment methods such as SEPA transfers (Europe), MobiKwik (India) and the UK Faster Payments bank transfer system. Apple Pay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay are also supported.
Supported networks: All supported networks: Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon, BNB Chain, Celo, Arbitrum, Optimism and Fantom.
Supported locations: Available in 140+ countries globally. MoonPay does not currently maintain a list of supported countries. If your region is supported, you will be able to select MoonPay in MetaMask.
Payment options: Supports debit/credit card and bank transfers, Pix for those with Brazilian bank accounts; Apple Pay and Google Pay also available on Mobile (Samsung Pay is unsupported).
Supported networks: Ethereum, Binance Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, and Celo.
Coinbase Pay, supported from Extension v10.16.2, offers a novel method for buying crypto directly within MetaMask, and is slightly different from our other providers.
If you're an existing Coinbase user, you can use Coinbase Pay to directly buy tokens in MetaMask. You'll be able to access your Coinbase account and saved payment details and buy crypto as you normally would on the Coinbase Exchange. It will then be deposited directly into your MetaMask wallet, removing the need to transfer it separately.
You can also transfer any funds that are already in your Coinbase wallet (the wallets into which your purchased crypto goes on the exchange; not to be confused with Coinbase Wallet).
Supported locations: For both transfers and direct purchases, Coinbase Pay is available in all countries except Japan, Singapore, and Canada. Please see Coinbase's register of supported regions for more information.
Payment options: US users only: ACH transfers and credit/debit cards. For users elsewhere, we recommend you purchase on Coinbase and use the transfer method. We hope to be able to add support for debit cards in most other countries very soon.
Supported networks and tokens: Ethereum and Avalanche (for both transfers and purchases).
For further information on the policies, fees, and availability of each provider, we recommend you review their support pages:
What is KYC?
KYC stands for "Know Your Customer", and refers to a process where platforms gather proof of the user's identity. Generally, KYC is mandatory in certain regions and for certain services in order for providers to achieve regulatory compliance. By obtaining these details, the platform is essentially doing its due diligence to ensure you're not involved in criminal activity, such as money laundering or fraud.
Depending on your location and the payment method you choose, you may need to submit the following (or other forms of proof) to complete your transaction:
- ID (e.g. passport or valid ID card)
- Proof of address
- A selfie or video of yourself.
Specific guidance on KYC requirements is clearly detailed by our providers at the point of purchase.
What other methods can I use to get tokens?
Alternatively, if someone wants to send you tokens, or you have some in another account or wallet you want to send to your current wallet, check out how you can direct deposit: How to deposit (receive) tokens to your MetaMask Wallet.
For an alternative way to buy tokens, you can always check the cryptocurrency exchanges that operate in your country here.
