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Bitcoin fractional shares: Can you buy fractional shares of Bitcoin?

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Fact checked by
Franklin Silva
Updated
Jul 26, 2024

Nearly every investor knows about Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s largest currency by market capitalization. Its rapid rise to fame overshadows its humble and anonymous origins even as its creator Satoshi Nakamoto refuses to reveal his true self. And a single bitcoin almost always costs tens of thousands of dollars. 

Enter Bitcoin’s fractional shares. A minimum Bitcoin investment is nowhere near $10,000. It’s possible to invest $10 in Bitcoin, or $100 if you’re feeling confident, through the option of fractional shares. These are sometimes referred to as partial shares, but both terms refer to trading decimals of a whole.

Yes, it’s possible to receive fractional shares of Bitcoin or buy “partial Bitcoins” with a minimum Bitcoin investment of $10 or less. The absolute minimum is defined by your online brokerage. We’ll get to this further in the article. 

What is a satoshi, or a fraction of a bitcoin?

The average BTC investor owns approximately 0.2 BTC or less. The smallest unit of value with BTC is a satoshi or a “sat” for short. There are 100,000,000 sats in a single bitcoin.

Taking a hypothetical example, one sat is worth $0.001 if one bitcoin is worth $100,000. This is how you can invest $100 in Bitcoin or even $10. Fractional shares of Bitcoin sustain the initial guiding ethos of Mr. Nakamoto–decentralized finance for all. 

What is the minimum amount of Bitcoin you can buy?

The satoshi remains the true, theoretical minimum of Bitcoin you can buy. However, since this amount is lower than a single penny, online brokerages have implemented their own arbitrary minimums. 

For example, Coinbase requires at least two full units (i.e., whole dollars) of your local currency. eToro requires $10 for US-based customers. Different brokerages set different rules. 

Best Platforms for Bitcoin Fractional Shares

eToro

Trusted by 30 million users worldwide, it gives you access to over 60 cryptocurrencies. You can trade by yourself or copy other investors’ trades through social trading features. Read our eToro summary.
Disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Coinbase

Coinbase is a top crypto exchange in the US and the second-largest exchange worldwide by trading volume. It has over 80 million users spread across 103 countries. Explore our Coinbase summary.

Kraken

Kraken is the fifth largest Bitcoin exchange globally, according to trade volumes. Kraken is operational in over 200 countries, with a chunk of its 10 million users resident in Europe. Read our Kraken summary.

Crypto.com

With over 250 types of cryptocurrencies, Crypto.com offers similar products compared to Coinbase with the addition of a more comprehensive, developed NFT marketplace and high rewards for using its crypto debit card. Explore our Crypto.com summary.

1# eToro

eToro logo
Visit brokerRead review

eToro at a glance

Real Crypto Exposure
Nº of cryptocurrencies60+
Minimum DepositVaries by countries
RegulatorsFCA, CySEC, ASIC
Fees1% (on buy and sell positions - other fees may apply)
Visit eToroRead review

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

eToro is the leading social trading platform in the world. The platform allows you to discuss the world of crypto by sharing your view and reading comments from other investors about investments. It is also possible to copy other traders’ strategies, leading to rewards for traders who can attract followers.

They currently offer 60+ options of cryptocurrencies, and the platform is intuitive and easy to use. When buying cryptocurrencies, you will gain ownership of the asset if you fulfil three requirements:

  1. There was no leverage on the position through CFDs;
  2. You did not short-sell the crypto asset;
  3. You are not a client under the supervision of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

If you are a client of eToro Europe, you can withdraw some of the cryptocurrencies from the platform to the eToro money crypto wallet and transfer them somewhere else if you wish.

The platform also allows you to leverage your cryptocurrency position through a Contract for Difference (CFD). This financial instrument is a derivative that lets you open a position without owning the underlying asset, benefiting from a higher rate of return than what you could gain initially, but exposing yourself to higher losses.

Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.

Read our in-depth eToro review for more details.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2# Coinbase

Coinbase logo
Visit broker

Coinbase at a glance

Real Crypto Exposure
Nº of cryptocurrencies100+
Minimum Deposit€50
RegulatorsNew York State Department of Financial Services and others.
FeesBetween 0.50% and 1.50% (3.99% for credit card purchases)
Visit Coinbase

Coinbase is one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, with more than 100 million registered users. The platform combines a user-friendly interface with a large offer of cryptocurrencies for the user to buy and sell. It also provides a massive library of information about cryptocurrencies, focusing on beginner education. Any user with limited knowledge of computers can use both the online website and the apps for Android or iOS.

For more advanced traders, the exchange enables the Coinbase Pro, which any retail investor can use to have more advanced types of trades, such as limit and stop orders, which are unavailable on the central platform.

While Coinbase is known for its simplicity, the platform has higher transaction fees than its competitors. Users also tend to complain about its customer service, saying that it is hard to contact other humans, with the service being primarily automated. Finally, Coinbase Europe is not a regulated financial service provider for digital currency services.

3# kraken

Kraken logo
Visit broker

Kraken at a glance

Real Crypto Exposure
Nº of cryptocurrencies185+
Minimum Deposit$10
RegulatorsFinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA in Japan
FeesBetween 0% and 0.26%
Visit Kraken

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the world. You can easily buy/sell over 185 cryptocurrencies with low fees (up to 0.26%), versatile funding options, 24/7 customer support via live chat, and high-security standards. You can buy bitcoin fractional shares starting with as little as $10!

It offers trading tools for beginners, scaling up to that needed by experts. In addition, there are detailed “Crypto Guides” alongside instructional videos, even a podcast if you’re so inclined. These are excellent tools for beginners to be informed before making any decision.

We like the inclusion of futures and staking. The latter functions are similar to a locked savings account. With the right cryptocurrency choice, you could earn 10%-plus in interest. It’s an ideal choice for traders who wish to keep a portion in a secure wallet but make something out of that too.

On the downside, It lacks a wallet for retail users, but it maintains a reputation for storing 95% of the exchange’s assets in cold storage across different geographies. Besides, Kraken’s trading platform and mobile app are pretty basic, so you might be disappointed if you’re looking for more advanced features.

4# Crypto.com

Crypto logo
Visit broker

Crypto.com at a glance

Real Crypto Exposure
Nº of cryptocurrencies250+
Minimum Deposit$20
RegulatorsMalta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)
FeesBetween 0.04% and 0.40% (2.99% for credit card purchases)
Visit Crypto.com

Crypto.com is a platform that is suitable for investors with some experience. With more than 50 million users from 90 different countries, the highlights of this platform are its cheap fees, the possibility to earn interest on crypto holdings at a high rate and its visa card that allows you to spend your cryptocurrencies and earn rewards for it.

The platform is also famous for its NFT market, which is easy to navigate and suitable for investors that want to start investing in this specific market.

If you hold the platform’s native utility token Cronos (CRO), you can lower your fees and earn higher rewards when using your crypto debit card. It is possible to get between 1% and 8% cashback when acquiring certain goods or services.

If you are beginning to invest, you may be overwhelmed by this platform’s interface and opt for other exchanges that are more user-friendly, even though they have higher fees for trading. If you have some experience and want to access a platform with low fees and an extensive list of assets, Crypto.com might suit your needs.

Is there a downside to buying fractional shares of Bitcoin?

Yes, there is one key downside to fractional shares: fees. Online brokerages tend to charge flat rates for small crypto transactions, in addition to any variable spreads between dealer prices and prices you receive. 

So if you trade $5.00 worth of sats, your brokerage may charge a flat $0.99 trading fee (like a service charge) in addition to a hypothetical spread of 2.00% and other service fees. A spread manifests through the difference in the bitcoin price you receive against what your broker receives. Since they’re offering a slightly higher price to purchase than the market, you receive fewer bitcoins. 

The core problem: you lose a significant percentage, in this example at least 20%, of your investment to fees due to fractional share trading.

Bottom line

Fractional shares of Bitcoin remain a core necessity for all crypto traders and investors worldwide. Otherwise, many would be left out of the market due to Bitcoin’s supply cap of 21 million coins and its price going into the tens of thousands. 

The minimum amount of fractional shares you can buy is determined by your brokerage since a single satoshi still holds a value of less than a single US penny. Further, trading fees consume significant portions of small crypto investments–making the task of choosing the right broker all the more critical. 

This is why we have included an in-depth review of the best platforms above for you. We want you to make the right choice for you, and turn a profit from your first Bitcoin trade!

FAQs

What do fractional shares of Bitcoin mean?

The term fractional shares refer to fractions of an equity share and most commonly is associated with traditional equities. In the context of Bitcoin, it technically refers to those satoshis you would own, but whose value is still less than a single bitcoin.

Is it good to buy fractional shares of Bitcoin?

So long as you’re aware of your online brokerage’s fees and are comfortable with purchasing Bitcoin, then fractional shares offer a fantastic opportunity for making a small investment.

How do Bitcoin fractional shares work?

Bitcoin fractional shares are defined as satoshis. A single satoshi worth less than $0.01 is all you need to get started, but most online brokers require an arbitrary minimum investment, such as $10 or €10.

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About the author
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Conor Scott, CFA
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Conor is a CFA charterholder who has been active in the wealth management industry since 2012, continuously researching the latest developments affecting portfolio management and cryptocurrency.

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