Hawaii
Compare fees, payment methods, and features to find the best way to buy Bitcoin in Hawaii.
River
Bitcoin-only exchange with 0% fees on recurring buys. One of the few fully licensed platforms in Hawaii. Fund with ACH.
Gemini
One of the few exchanges licensed in Hawaii. Regulated by NY DFS. Buy Bitcoin with ACH, PayPal, or Apple Pay.
Uphold
One of the few exchanges licensed in Hawaii. Trade Bitcoin alongside 250+ assets. Fund with ACH or wire transfer.
eToro
Buy Bitcoin ETFs with 0% fees. Crypto trading not available in HI, but ETF investing is. Fund via ACH.
Kraken
Operating since 2011 with among the lowest fees in the industry. Deposit with ACH, wire transfer, or Apple Pay.
River Private Client
For Bitcoin investments of $100k+. Dedicated relationship manager and priority phone support.
Coinbase
Available in Hawaii since 2024. Buy Bitcoin with ACH, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or wire transfer. 100M+ users worldwide.
Bitcoin ATMs
Buy Bitcoin with cash — no bank account needed. Find ATM locations in Honolulu and across Hawaii.
Table of Contents
Exchange Support
| Exchange Name | Support for Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Binance.us | No |
| Coinbase | Yes |
| Kraken | Yes |
| Kucoin | No |
| Fold | Yes |
| CEX.io | No |
| Gemini | Yes |
| Uphold | Yes |
| eToro | Yes |
| Luno | No |
| Crypto.com | Yes |
| Unchained | Yes |
| River | 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 Hawaii
Hawaii has had a unique relationship with Bitcoin adoption due to its strict regulatory environment. In 2016, the state's Division of Financial Institutions implemented double reserve requirements for Bitcoin businesses, requiring them to hold both the value of Bitcoin and an equivalent amount in fiat currency, which led many Bitcoin exchanges to cease operations in Hawaii.
However, in 2020, Hawaii launched a regulatory sandbox program called the Digital Currency Innovation Lab, allowing select Bitcoin companies to operate in the state without a money transmitter license. This initiative has helped increase Bitcoin accessibility for Hawaii residents while maintaining consumer protections.
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 Hawaii
Hawaii's isolated geography has not protected it from Bitcoin-related fraud. In 2019, the Cloud Stake mining operation, based in Honolulu, defrauded local investors of over $1.2 million by promising guaranteed returns through Bitcoin mining operations that didn't exist. The company's founder, David Puu, was later charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
The Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions regularly issues consumer advisories about Bitcoin scams, particularly those targeting the state's senior population. Hawaii residents are urged to be vigilant about Bitcoin investment opportunities and to work only with companies approved under the state's Digital Currency Innovation Lab program.
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 |
3.8%
Earn 3.8% 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 |