Alaska
Compare fees, payment methods, and features to find the best way to buy Bitcoin in Alaska.
River
Bitcoin-only exchange with 0% fees on recurring buys. AK residents can buy via ACH or wire transfer.
Gemini
Regulated by NY DFS. Buy Bitcoin with ACH, PayPal, Apple Pay, or wire transfer.
Uphold
Trade Bitcoin alongside 250+ other assets. Fund with ACH, wire transfer, or Apple Pay.
eToro
Buy Bitcoin ETFs with 0% fees, or actual BTC with 1% fee. Fund with ACH.
Kraken
Operating since 2011 with some of the lowest trading fees. Deposit with ACH, wire transfer, or Apple Pay.
River Private Client
For Bitcoin investments of $100k+. Dedicated relationship manager and priority phone support.
Coinbase
Largest US exchange with 100M+ users. Buy Bitcoin with ACH, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or wire transfer.
Bitcoin ATMs
Buy Bitcoin with cash — no bank account needed. Find ATM locations in Anchorage and across Alaska.
Table of Contents
Exchange Support
| Exchange Name | Support for Alaska |
|---|---|
| Binance.us | Yes |
| Coinbase | Yes |
| Kraken | Yes |
| Kucoin | No |
| Fold | Yes |
| Gemini | Yes |
| Uphold | Yes |
| Luno | No |
| Crypto.com | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What If You Bought Bitcoin?
See how much you would have made if you bought Bitcoin in the past.
Transaction Fees
A look at the transaction fees for each exchange, both spread and commission.
- Spread fee: Exchanges may charge a higher price than the actual price of Bitcoin.
- Fee: Exchange fee for the transaction.
- Total fees: The sum of the spread fee and the fee.
| Exchange | Spread Fee | Fee | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken |
0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| River |
0.3% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Uphold |
1.5% | 0.0% | 1.5% |
| Gemini |
0.5% | 2.99% | 3.49% |
| Coinbase |
1.0% | 2.99% | 3.99% |
Actual fees may vary. Fees are subject to change. Fee estimates based on our research and testing. Some exchanges may charge less depending on volume.
Estimated Fees on $100
An estimate of the fees for buying $100 worth of Bitcoin using a bank account.
| Exchange | Total Cost on $100 |
|---|---|
| Kraken |
$0.4 |
| River |
$1.3 |
| Uphold |
$1.5 |
| Gemini |
$3.49 |
| Coinbase |
$3.99 |
History of Bitcoin in Alaska
Alaska has historically lagged behind other US states in Bitcoin adoption and infrastructure. The state notably lacks any Bitcoin ATMs or physical tellers, limiting residents to online-only options for buying and selling cryptocurrency.
Alaska defines digital currencies as digital units meant for exchange that rely on decentralized repositories. A pending bill, HB 180 referred to authorities in 2018, would regulate cryptocurrency companies as currency exchanges or money transmitters requiring licensing. Currently, Alaska remains a gray state without specific Bitcoin regulations.
Financial & Regulatory Licenses
| Exchange | Licenses & Regulation |
|---|---|
| River |
Registered MSB with FinCEN in the United States. |
| Gemini |
Licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). |
| Uphold |
Registered with FinCEN (US), FCA (UK), FINTRAC (Canada), and FCIS (EU). |
| eToro |
Registered with FinCEN; regulated by the SEC and FINRA in the United States. |
| Kraken |
Registered MSB with FinCEN in the United States. |
| River Private Client |
Registered MSB with FinCEN in the United States. |
| Coinbase |
Chartered by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for virtual currency. |
| Bitcoin ATMs |
Regulations vary by jurisdiction; check with individual ATM operators for their regulatory status. |
Deposit Fees
These are fees exchanges may charge for deposits. Fees are subject to change.
| Exchange | Deposit Fees |
|---|---|
| River |
ACH: $0 Wire: $0 |
| Gemini |
ACH: $0 Wire: $0 SEPA: $0 SWIFT: $0 |
| Uphold |
ACH: Free Wire: $0 - $20 SEPA: Free FPS: Free |
| eToro |
ACH: $0 |
| Kraken |
ACH: $0 Wire: $0 SEPA: $0 SWIFT: $3 |
| River Private Client |
ACH: $0 Wire: $0 |
| Coinbase |
ACH: Free Wire: $10 USD SEPA: €0.15 EUR SWIFT: Free |
Bitcoin Scams in Alaska
One of the most notorious cryptocurrency scams targeting Alaska residents was Crypto Alaska Ltd. This ponzi scheme, operated from an unknown foreign location, promised to double any Bitcoin investment within 24 hours.
The scam used a professional-looking website to lure victims, but like most ponzi schemes, either paid early investors using new investor funds or simply took the bitcoins and disappeared. Alaska residents are urged to be extremely cautious of any service promising guaranteed returns, especially those promising to double investments in such a short timeframe.
Mobile App Support
| Exchange | iOS AppiOS | Android AppAndroid |
|---|---|---|
Earn Interest & Rewards
The following table shows interest rates offered by exchanges.
| Exchange | Interest Rate & Details |
|---|---|
| River |
3.3%
Earn 3.3% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.
|
| Uphold |
2 - 4.65%
Earn up to 4.65% APY on USD balances of $1,000 or more, or 2% APY on balances below $1,000 in Uphold's USD Interest Account.
|
| Kraken |
0.15% - 6.5%
Available for BTC (0.15% bonded/0.1% flexible), USDT/USD/USDC (6.5% bonded/4.5% flexible), and EUR (4.45% bonded/3.5% flexible).
|
| River Private Client |
3.3%
Earn 3.3% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraw anytime.
|
| Coinbase |
4.70%
Earn 4.70% APY rewards by holding USDC on Coinbase. USDC is fully backed 1:1 by US dollars. Minimum $1.
|
Exchange snapshots
River
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| iOS app score |
4.9
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Android app score |
4.6
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer |
| Review | Read our review |
Gemini
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| iOS app score |
4.8
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Android app score |
4.2
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
Uphold
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| iOS app score |
4.6
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Android app score |
4.7
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer |
eToro
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, PayPal |
Kraken
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| iOS app score |
4.7
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Android app score |
4.3
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal |
River Private Client
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Wire Transfer, Bank Account |
Coinbase
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| iOS app score |
4.7
Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Android app score |
4.6
Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
|
| Deposit Methods | ACH, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Bank Account, PayPal, Apple Pay, iDEAL, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Google Pay |
Bitcoin ATMs
| Minimum Deposit | Each ATM will have a different minimum deposit amount. Typically $20-$50 minimum. |
| Deposit Methods | Cash |