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You'll need a Bitcoin wallet before you buy since some exchanges require one.
Don't have a wallet? Read our guide on the best Bitcoin & cryptocurrency wallets.
- Popular Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto in Costa Rica
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Coinmama- Works in almost all countries
- Highest limits for buying bitcoins with a credit card
- Reliable and trusted broker
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eToro- Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum & 15 other coins
- Start trading fast; high limits
- Clean & easy trading interface
This ad promotes virtual cryptocurrency investing within the EU (by eToro Europe Ltd. and eToro UK Ltd.) & USA (by eToro USA LLC); which is highly volatile, unregulated in most EU countries, no EU protections & not supervised by the EU regulatory framework. Investments are subject to market risk, including the loss of principal.
Kraken Buy Bitcoin Read Review
Founded mid-2011, Kraken is the one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and the largest in Europe based on daily average trading volume. It is available in almost all countries. Deposits can be made via bank wire, SEPA, ACH and SWIFT.
- Very low 0.25% taker fee, falling to 0.1% with sufficient trading volume
- Very low maker fee, falling to 0% with sufficient trading volume
- Highly-rated for security and data protection
- Requires ID verification, so not private
LocalBitcoins Buy Bitcoin Read Review
LocalBitcoins is an escrow service which also helps to match bitcoin buyers and sellers. Users may advertise trades for whichever payment method they prefer.
Buying bitcoins via an in-person meeting, secured and facilitated by LocalBitcoins, may be one of the fastest and most private ways to buy bitcoins in any country, including the United States, Europe (besides Germany), UK, Singapore, Canada, Australia and many more.
We may receive compensation when you use LocalBitcoins. Please visit LocalBitcoins for its exact pricing terms.
- Can be private, fast and easy
- In-person trades require no personal information
- Purchases of bitcoin can be made quickly via cash deposit
- Beware of scams; always follow the rules!
- Harder to buy large amounts of bitcoins compared to large exchanges
- Slightly to significantly higher prices than regular exchanges; premium for higher privacy
SatoshiTango Buy Bitcoin
SatoshiTango is a South American Bitcoin exchange. Users in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua can use SatoshiTango to buy bitcoin.
Payment methods include bank transfer, bank wire, cash deposit in Buenos Aires or through a coupons from PagoFacil, RapiPago, BaproPagos, CobroExpress or ProvinciaPagos.
- One of the best ways to buy bitcoins in the countries it covers
- Allows for the payment of utility bills and the purchase of airtime with bitcoin
- Not private since identity verification is required
- Due to regulations, a separate account is needed for each fiat currency SatoshiTango accepts; USD, EUR and ARS
Bitcoin ATMs Buy Bitcoin
You can use our Bitcoin ATM map to buy bitcoins with cash. Bitcoin ATMs can be a quick and easy way to buy bitcoins and they're also private. That convenience and privacy, however, comes with a price; most ATMs have fees of 5-10%.
- Our map makes it super easy to find a Bitcoin ATM near you
- Bitcoin ATMs often have 5-10% fees per purchase
How to Buy Bitcoin in Costa Rica
Costa Rica does not consider Bitcoin legal tender like most nations, but it's legal for Costa Rican citizens to buy and sell the digital currency.
There aren't a ton of exchanges available in Costa Rica, but Costa Rican citizens can still sign up with the most popular exchanges like Coinmama and eToro, two of the largest worldwide.
However, both of those exchanges (and many others) require identity verification before purchase, which ruins the privacy aspect of Bitcoin, one of its founding principles.
Luckily, Costa Rica has two Bitcoin ATMs, which are typically the most private way to buy Bitcoin. They don't require any identity verification, and they're easy to use.
LocalBitcoins is another popular, private way to buy Bitcoin. The platform matches you with other buyers and sellers – both in Costa Rica and abroad – facilitating peer to peer transactions on the blockchain without identity verification.
You should protect your investment, regardless of your exchange of choice. Centralized exchanges are subject to hackers and thieves stealing your Bitcoin, which is why you shouldn't leave your coins in an exchange wallet.
Instead, buying a hardware wallet like the Ledger Nano X is the best way to protect your investment. Cold storage is the only way to guard your private key, ensuring the safety of your Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Mining in Costa Rica
Being one of the leading factors in Bitcoin mining profitability, it's important to keep electricity costs as low as possible.
Central America has modest electricity prices, on average totaling $0.13 per kWh. For comparison, the United States' average electricity price is $0.12.
However, Costa Rica's average electricity cost is well above the average, coming in at $0.18 per kWh. The ordinary mining operation pays less than $0.05 per kWh to remain profitable, a price only found in some regions of the world.
Costa Rica's electricity cost isn't high compared to other nations around the world, especially in Europe and the Caribbean. But, it's still far too high for profitable Bitcoin mining.
In fact, according to our Bitcoin mining profitability calculator, you'd probably lose several thousand dollars per year, per miner, on top of your initial investment (a few thousand dollars minimum).
If you want to acquire Bitcoin, buying it directly from an exchange, Bitcoin ATM or another peer on the network via LocalBitcoins is the best and fastest way. Mining is hard, usually not profitable, and time-consuming.
