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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 Uruguay
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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.
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Coinmama- Works in almost all countries
- Highest limits for buying bitcoins with a credit card
- Reliable and trusted broker
CEX.io 
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
Airtm Popular Buy Bitcoin
Airtm offers a peer community. You can buy and sell dollars or crypto in exchange for other forms of value. The platform provides trust and transparency by authenticating users and establishing a higher degree of identity validation to the peers who facilitate the transactions. Airtm provides an escrow system, so that value exchanges are fair and are completed as agreed.
- Many payment methods available
- Low fees for South American countries
- Not private since identity verification is required
Bitex Popular Buy Bitcoin
Bitex.la is a Bitcoin exchange and broker which services many South American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. You can fund your exchange account with cash or AstroPay.
- Many payment methods available
- Low fees for South American countries
- Bitex brokers the sale of large amounts of bitcoin
- Not private since identity verification is required
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 Uruguay
Back in late 2017, during Bitcoin's huge price run, Uruguay announced they were launching their digital currency. Like most altcoins that launched in late 2017/early 2018, it didn't materialize.
Still, thanks to Uruguay's Bitcoin and blockchain-friendly attitude, trading Bitcoin is easy in Uruguay. There isn't any official regulation in Uruguay banning or permitting Bitcoin, so it's a bit of a gray area. Despite the government's lack of clarity on the topic, its residents are allowed to own Bitcoin, as long as they're not using for illegal activity.
Before you acquire any Bitcoin, you need a safe place to store your coins. Investing is no laughing matter, and securing your investment should be of the utmost priority. Like all countries, Uruguay has its fair share of crooks, and the last thing you want is to lose your Bitcoin.
Sure, you can keep your coins on an exchange wallet, but centralized exchanges are subject to hackers and theft. Instead, it's best to use a cold storage hardware wallet like the Ledger Nano S or the Trezor.
If you want to buy Bitcoin quickly and easily, we recommend using one of the popular exchanges above, like Coinmama, one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in the world.
Uruguay doesn't have any Bitcoin ATMs, so if you want to buy Bitcoin without revealing your identity, LocalBitcoins is the best option. The platform facilitates peer to peer transactions without identity verification. Just be careful and follow their rules, so you don't get ripped off.
Bitcoin Mining in Uruguay
If you're hell-bent on mining Bitcoin, here's what you need to know:
Electricity costs are the leading factor in determining mining profitability. If the value of your mined Bitcoin is higher than your electric bill, you're profitable.
Aside from buying powerful and efficient mining hardware, keeping electricity costs as low as possible is crucial for a profitable mining operation.
Unfortunately, Uruguay's electricity costs are too high for a profitable operation. Coming in at $0.18 per kWh, citizens of Uruguay pay more than those in the United States.
According to our mining profitability calculator, even using the best mining hardware in Uruguay would result in a loss of several thousand dollars per year, per miner, on top of the initial startup cost.
The majority of Bitcoin mining is performed in countries with cheap electricity, like China - at least, until they took a harsh stance on Bitcoin and mining farms. Either way, it's not profitable in Uruguay, and unless you want to mine Bitcoin for fun, you should buy it directly from an exchange-listed above.
Thanks to Uruguay's Bitcoin-friendly regulation, it's easy to buy and sell cryptocurrency in the country.
