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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 Switzerland
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eToro- Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum & 15 other coins
- Start trading fast; high limits
- Deposit with SOFORT, SEPA, Klarna + more
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.
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Coinbase- High liquidity and buying limits
- Easy way for Swiss users to get crypto
- Deposit with SEPA, SOFORT, IDEAL, card
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Coinmama- Global exchange with support for CH
- Highest limits for buying bitcoins with a credit card
- Reliable and trusted broker
Bitpanda 
Coinbase Pro Popular Buy Bitcoin Read Review
Coinbase's exchange, Coinbase Pro, is one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in the United States. Users can fund their accounts via bank transfer, SEPA, or bank wire. Coinbase Pro offers good prices and low fees, but their confusing user interface may initially prove difficult to navigate.
We may receive compensation when you use Coinbase Pro. Please visit Coinbase Pro for its exact pricing terms.
- Some of the lowest fees available for US and EU customers
- Possible to buy bitcoins for 0% fees
- User interface is confusing for first time buyers
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
Paymium Buy Bitcoin
Paymium was the first European Bitcoin exchange, founded in 2011. It provides a EUR/BTC exchange service, and complies with all relevent European Regulations. Customers can purchase bitcoins via SEPA, wire transfer, or credit card.
- Established and trusted exchange
- Mobile app available
- ID verification required for amounts over €2,500, so not private
Bity Buy Bitcoin
Bity is a Bitcoin exchange and ATM operator, based in Switzerland. Their 5 ATMs allow for a quick first purchase and only require phone verification for an initial buy limit of 1,000 EUR or CHF. Their online service accepts wire transfers, SOFORT and online bank transfers.
- Easy to start buying bitcoins after mobile phone verification
- Payment limit of up to €100,000 annually after intensive verification
- ID verification is required for most purchases, so not a private way to buy
- Low annual limit of only €4,000 without intensive verification
Bitstamp Buy Bitcoin
BitStamp is one of the world's largest and most well-known Bitcoin exchanges. Deposits can be made through bank transfer, SEPA transfer, international bank wire, and now even credit cards.
- One of the longest-running Bitcoin exchanges
- Very low 0.25% fee, falling to 0.1% with sufficient trading volume
- Good range of deposit and withdrawal options
- Deep liquidity promotes a price close to fair market rate
- Offers wide range of altcoins
- Has been hacked before, users should not store funds on the exchange for any period of time
- High 8% fee on small credit card purchases, falling to 5% with sufficient trading volume
- Geared towards traders; slightly confusing for first time buyers
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
Bitit Buy Bitcoin Read Review
Bitit lets you purchase bitcoin online with a 3DS-enabled credit/debit cards or with cash via Neosurf, Flexepin (coming soon) and Cashlib vouchers, available in over 150,000 local stores across Europe.
We may receive compensation when you use Bitit. Please visit Bitit for its exact pricing terms.
- Unique way of purchasing offers extra privacy over other methods
- 8% Neosurf fee is slightly better than Coinhouse's 10%
- Available in 50 countries
- €10,000 initial weekly Neosurf cash payment limit
- Bitcoin gift cards also available; more expensive than other options
- In-person buying methods offer more privacy but can be confusing
- Identity verification required for buying amounts over €25
- €500 initial weekly credit/debit card limit
itBit Buy Bitcoin Read Review
itBit is a global Bitcoin exchange, licensed with the New York State Department of Financial Services. It also operates a global OTC trading desk, making it easy for customers to buy large amounts (100 BTC and up) of bitcoin. It supports all US states besides Texas.
- OTC trading desk is one of the best ways to buy large amounts of bitcoins
- Deep liquidity promotes a price close to fair market rate
- Extremely low fees; 0% for market makers and 0.2% for market takers
- Fee on OTC brokering service is only 0.1%
- Limited payment options
- Geared towards traders; exchange interface may be confusing for first time buyers
- Requires ID verification, so not private
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Chapter 1
Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Trading in Switzerland
Buying Bitcoin in Switzerland is pretty easy thanks to the government's crypto friendly attitude (more on that below).
But before you sign up with an exchange, make sure you have a secure hardware wallet like a Ledger Nano S or a Trezor.
Although Bitcoin's blockchain is immutable and free from hackers, the centralized exchanges from which you buy Bitcoin - like Coinbase and Coinmama - are centralized, and vulnerable to attack.
While you can probably get away with storing small amounts of Bitcoin on an exchange, it's not a good idea, especially with larger amounts.
Protecting your Bitcoin should be a top priority, which begins with a secure form of cold storage that hackers can't access.
Take a look at our favorite hardware wallets below:
COMPARISON
After you get a wallet, choose an exchange, verify your identity, connect your payment method, and trade away!
If you want to buy from an exchange based in Switzerland, we recommend Bity. They're a Bitcoin ATM company based in Switzerland, with 5 ATMs that provide quick withdrawals and high limits.
Swiss Banks and Bitcoin
Switzerland's banking industry is known to safeguard wealth, which is why Bitcoin is a natural fit for the country.
Founded recently with a universal banking license, SEBA Bank AG has a plethora of services, from fiat currency storage to crypto custody (they manage your cryptocurrency).
The Swiss startup can hold a bunch of different fiat currencies, such as American dollars, Singaporean dollars, and Hong Kong dollars.
One of the coolest things about the bank is their crypto connected debit card that automatically transfers crypto on the backend to traditional currency. The card can be used in regular commercial settings, withdrawing from a cryptocurrency balance.
SEBA Bank AG is yet another testament to Switzerland's historical safeguarding of wealth, this time in the crypto sphere.
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Chapter 2
Top Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Exchanges in Switzerland
Switzerland has access to many large Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchanges.
Have a look at our favorites below:
- Popular Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto in Switzerland
- eToro
- Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum & 15 other coins
- Start trading fast; high limits
- Deposit with SOFORT, SEPA, Klarna + more
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.
- Coinbase
- High liquidity and buying limits
- Easy way for newcomers to get bitcoins
- "Instant Buy" option available with debit card
- Coinmama
- Works in almost all countries
- Highest limits for buying bitcoins with a credit card
- Reliable and trusted broker
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Chapter 3
Best Bitcoin Wallets for Switzerland
There are three main types of Bitcoin wallet and all of them are supported in Switzerland:
- Software (desktop or mobile - iOS and Android wallets
- Hardware wallet
- Cold-storage (paper or steel wallets, the latter of which are used to backup your main wallet.
Best for Security
Ledger Nano X
Secure storage for any cryptocurrency
Visit WebsiteThe Ledger Nano X is the newest crypto hardware wallet, and is very easy to use. It connects to iOS, Android & desktop computers.
Temporary Wallet
Atomic Wallet
Best for storing crypto for short period of time
Learn MoreAtomic wallet is a multicurrency mobile wallet with a beautiful interface and easy to use features.
Best for Desktop
Electrum
Simple yet powerful desktop wallet
Learn MoreElectrum is a Bitcoin-only wallet that has been around since 2011. It's easy to use, but has advanced features.
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Chapter 4
Exchange Hacks and Crypto Scams in Switzerland
Bancor Hack
In July of 2018, the "decentralized" exchange Bancor, based out of Irael and Switzerland, announced that hackers had stolen ~$23.5M in crypto assets.
These included:
- $12.5 million in Ether
- $1 million in Pundi X’s NPXS token
- $10 million in Bancor’s BNT
This hack occured when "a wallet used to upgrade some smart contracts was compromised", according ot Bancor's spokesperson.
Bancor raised over $150M during its Initial Coin Offering the previous year.
The lesson to learn from the Bancor hack is that just because someone claims their exchange is decentralized does not mean that the wallets can't be hacked or that the software does not have critical bugs that leave customers vulnerable.
Charlie Lee, Litecoin founder, put it best:
A Bancor wallet got hacked and that wallet has the ability to steal coins out of their own smart contracts. 🤦♂️
— Charlie Lee [LTC⚡] (@SatoshiLite) >July 10, 2018
An exchange is not decentralized if it can lose customer funds OR if it can freeze customer funds. Bancor can do BOTH. It's a false sense of decentralization. https://t.co/22UYygIhEF
E-Coin Scam
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) has blocked $2M worth of funds sent to Quid Pro Quo Association for issuing E-Coins. Quid Pro Quo claimed that E-Coin was a cryptocurrency, yet it was discovered that there was no Blockchain, and the coins simply existed on a database held on Quid Pro Quo's servers.
According to the statement from Finma,
These three legal entities accepted funds amounting to at least four million Swiss francs from several hundred users.
Finma SpokespersonThe scheme also promised to back the coins with physical assets, which it had failed to do. There were also apparently two other scam currencies, but these currencies were not named in the warning from Finma.
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Chapter 5
Mining Bitcoin in Switzerland
The cost of purchasing expensive hardware aside, mining takes time and energy (literally) which gets expensive.
Especially considering the price of electricity in Switzerland, buying Bitcoin from one of the exchanges listed above is your best bet.
Swiss citizens pay roughly 0.20 Franks per kWh, nearly double the cost of electricity in the United States, where mining is also not profitable.
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Chapter 6
FAQ
Does Coinbase work in Switzerland?
Citizens of Switzerland can convert, buy, and sell cryptocurrencies with fiat. Supported payment methods are:
- Bank Deposit
- PayPal
- 3D Secure Credit Card
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
Where Can I Find a Bitcoin ATM in Switzerland?
Switzerland is among the countries with the most Bitcoin ATMs per capita. At 103 ATMs across the country, you are never too far from a Bitcoin ATM, so if you want to stack some sats for cash, Switzerland is a great place to do it.
What is the price of Bitcoin in Switzerland?
The current price of Bitcoin in Switzerland is CHF 9,756, however this amount changes every minute, so always check the value on your local exchange.
Does Bitcoin mining use more energy than Switzerland?
Switzeraland currently consumes about 63 TWh of electrcity every year while emitting around 35 Mt of CO2 each year.
According to the International Energy Agency, a non-profit that works with governments and corporations to secure sustainable energy policies internationally claims that Switzerland consumes about 63 TWh of elctricity each year. It also emits about 35. Mt of CO2 each year.
By contrast, according to Digiconomist, Bitcoin consumes about 70 TWh of electricity and emits ~33 Mt of CO2 each year.
That means that Bitcoin atually consumes more electricity that Switzerland consumes while emitting less CO2.
Is there a bitcoin ETF in Switzerland?
There are currently no Bitcoin ETFs in Switzerland.
What is crypto valley in switzerland?
Crypto Valley is a city in Switzerland that was founded on the idea that companies, large and small, could move their headquarters to a place that is friendly to crypto startups. The city raised hundreds of millions of dollars to get the ball rolling, and indeed many startups did move there. However, in April of 2020, Swiss Blockchain Federation found that 80% of the 203 firms surveyed said bankruptcy was imminent and that only half of the 50 biggest companies in Crypto Valley would last another year.
In response to this, Crypto Valley management is turning to the Federal Government and asking for a 100 million Swiss Franc bailout to keep the project going. So much for decentralization!
Can you buy a house with Bitcoin in Switzerland?
Yes, you can currently buy homes and other property types with Bitcoin via Bithome.ch.
Where can I spend bitcoin in Switzerland?
Bitcoin is accepted at lots of stores and service providers all over Switzerland. So many, in fact, that we couldn't possibly list them all here. However, you can find specific kinds of services and goods filterable on a map over at coinmap.org.
Which banks in switzerland are bitcoin friendly?
Zurich-based SEBA Bank AG offers a suite of services for crypto enthusiasts, such as crypto custody and crypto-connected debit cards.
Falcon Group also offers these services as well as Bitcoin savings and brokerage services.
How do I cash out of Bitcoin in Switzerland?
Any exchange with a Swiis Franc trading pair will allow you to sell your Bitcoin for fiat currency. Bitit has CHF trading pairs for many popular coins.
Another way to sell Bitcoins in Switzerland is through automated teller machines (ATMs). These ATMs allow users to instantly purchase and sell cryptocurrency using cash, however most of them require at least a phone number, so they aren't totally private.
Local Bitcoins is another option. Here, you can buy and sell Bitcoin for a wide range of payment methods, from gift cards to bank transfers. Local Bitcoins is a peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange, where you buy and sell with another individual. This does introduce a degree of risk, though by ensuring that you conduct all business on the platform, make use of its escrow services, and only trade with users who have a good reputation, you'll minimize any potential problems.
You could also use a service like eGifter to sell your Bitcoin for gift cards.
