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How to Buy Bitcoin in New Zealand
Most people do not think of New Zealand as a major hub of activity around Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but the reality is that a number of Bitcoin businesses, such as Brave New Coin, are based in the country. Although this was not an area of the world where adoption took place quickly, the country now has all of the basic necessities that a Bitcoin enthusiast would need to take care of their cryptocurrency-related activities. It’s possible that New Zealand’s strong economy and national currency created a situation where there was not much interest in a revolutionary new financial system.
While the use case of Bitcoin as a digital gold is obvious in places dealing with high levels of inflation, most of the people who have become interested in Bitcoin in New Zealand have done so from a technological perspective. That said, many people eventually learn about the tremendous value of a deflationary, apolitical, and global reserve currency no matter what brought them to the cryptocurrency space in the first place.
If you’re interested in buying crypto in New Zealand, then there are plenty of options to get started with today, no matter what payment system or currency you’d like to use.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges in New Zealand
- Beginner-friendly UI make it easy to make quick buys
- One of the oldest and most reliable exchanges
- Earn $200 in free crypto after completing sign-up process. Terms apply.
- Variety of products including exchange, staking, wallet
- Advanced Trading options for experienced traders
- Exceptionally secure exchange with proof of reserves
- Supports many different funding options
- Accepts users from across the globe including USA and Canada
- Very high trading volume
- Easy sign-up process
- Lowest transaction fees of any major exchange
- 175+ different digital assets available
- Free deposits
Is Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Legal in New Zealand?
As a developed country, there has not been much reason for the New Zealand government to institute any kind of serious clamp down on Bitcoin and blockchain technology. If you’d like to get started with Bitcoin today and you’re located in New Zealand, you don’t have anything to worry about in terms of breaking the law.
Of course, there are some restrictions on the use of Bitcoin in terms of how it is used as a form of money. While most governments don’t have much of an issue with the existence of Bitcoin, they still want most of the traditional financial rules and regulations to apply to this new type of digital currency. For example, you’ll need to hand over some personal information when you sign up for a cryptocurrency exchange in New Zealand. This is for the authorities to be able to track the movement of money through these exchanges in an effort to guard against things like terrorists financing and money laundering. Additionally, it should be noted that Bitcoin and altcoins are taxed as property in New Zealand, so you still need to make sure that you’re paying your taxes if you ever find yourself in a situation where you’ve made large profits in your cryptocurrency trading.
While there have not been serious concerns regarding the use of Bitcoin as a potentially illegal activity in New Zealand, the digital asset was not officially recognized as a legal form of payment until the summer of 2019.
Where Can I Buy Bitcoin in New Zealand?
All of the most well-known names in the cryptocurrency industry, from Binance to Coinbase, can be accessed from New Zealand. Additionally, there are a number of local exchanges that focus on the New Zealand market more specifically, which can be helpful when a user needs a bit of hand holding with their first crypto asset purchase.
Independent Reserve has been operating in Australia and New Zealand since 2013, and there one of the most well-respected cryptocurrency brands operating in this part of the world. Australian dollars, New Zealand dollars, and US dollars are all supported by this exchange, and the fees can get close to zero if you’re monthly trading volume is large enough. All of the common payment mechanisms in New Zealand are supported by Independent Reserve, although the user interface can be a bit confusing to those who are not used to making investments over the internet. If you’re looking for a New Zealand-focused exchange that is perfect for beginners, then you may want to take a look at Kiwi Coin, where fees are still competitive when compared to other brokerage-type exchanges around the world.
What is the Cheapest Cryptocurrency Exchange in New Zealand?
If your main concern when buying and selling cryptocurrency in New Zealand is the cost of the transactions, then you’ll definitely want to stick with one of the global exchanges. That is because these exchanges tend to have the most liquidity, meaning you’ll be able to find buyers and sellers without experiencing much slippage in your trades. Depending on which currency you’re looking to trade against Bitcoin or your cryptocurrency of choice, Kraken will be an excellent option for trading on a platform with competitive fees.
It should be noted that the brokerage platforms that focus on user experience over cost should be avoided if you want to avoid high fees. While these sorts of platforms can be great for newcomers, you do not want to be losing 0.5% or more on trades if you’re trying to turn a quick profit or making large orders. Additionally, it would be wise to avoid peer-to-peer trading platforms and Bitcoin ATMs if you’re worried about fees, as trades on these platforms can come with fees as high as 10% of the value of the transaction. That said, peer-to-peer exchanges are the best option if you’re looking to retain a higher degree of privacy because you won’t have to hand over your personal data to a third party.
How Can I Buy Bitcoin with a Credit Card in New Zealand?
It is not recommended that you buy Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency with a credit card because it is simply not an economical purchase. The differences in how credit card systems and cryptocurrency networks operate make it extremely difficult for exchanges to offer this sort of service at a competitive rate. That said, Coinmama is a well-known and trusted exchange that operates all over the world and will allow you to buy Bitcoin with a credit card in New Zealand. The actual fee on this transaction will depend on the amount of Bitcoin you are buying at one time, but it can range from roughly 5% to 6%.
