Paxful is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange and digital wallet provider. Customers can buy and sell cryptos using 350+ payment methods. Our Paxful review will cover how to open a Paxful wallet, the account login process, minimum deposit requirements, sending fees, and more. Find out whether to start buying and trading Bitcoin at Paxful.
About Paxful
Paxful was founded in 2015 (originally EasyBitz). Today the company has 4.8 million users and employs 200+ individuals, with global offices in Hong Kong, Estonia, and the Philippines. Its headquarters are located in the New York City (NYC) office, USA. Its users also span the world, with active Paxful traders found everywhere from Pakistan and Malaysia to the UAE, India, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia.
The vision of the founder and CEO was to create a world where finance was accessible to all, with cryptos connecting the dots.
The company’s charitable initiative #BuiltwithBitcoin was launched in 2017, supporting philanthropy projects in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda.
Coins
Users can buy Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), and Ethereum (ETH) at Paxful. No other digital currencies are available to purchase. This means the cryptocurrency trading platform is fairly limited vs competitors like Binance and Coinbase. Minimum limits for BTC transactions apply.
Wallet
The Paxful Inc wallet is a free, convenient, and safe way to manage cryptocurrencies or access the P2P marketplace to buy and sell Bitcoin. The wallet is available for download to PC, mobile devices, or via API trading.
Users benefit from 0% commission fees, cloud backup protection, and stringent security measures. Online wallet services are maintained by BitGo.
Opening An Account
To open a live account, clients need to meet mandatory registration requirements, including ID verification for specific territories. Note, clients from North Korea and Cuba cannot open a Paxful account. Additionally, should you reach volume or wallet activity limits, you may need to complete additional KYC identity checks, including video verification and answering security questions.
Requirement limits by verification level:
- Level 1– Email and phone verification. $1,000 per trade and lifetime limit
- Level 2 – ID. $10,000 per trade and lifetime limit
- Level 3 – Address. $50,000 per trade. Unlimited lifetime limit
- Level 4 – Enhanced due diligence. $50,000+ per trade. Unlimited lifetime limit
Paxful reserves the right to cancel a trade or delete an account with a one-time withdrawal. This may occur if terms of service are violated or if you are in a blocked jurisdiction when you log in. The company also uses a QR code feature for easy wallet address sharing to make trading efficient.
Mobile App
Paxful offers a Bitcoin wallet app available to download to iOS and Android (APK) devices. The application provides safe and secure sign-in access to the cryptocurrency marketplace. Other features include:
- Real-time balance
- Personalise your profile
- View the status of recent transactions
- Access updated crypto to fiat conversion rates
- Send, receive and store crypto coins in your mobile wallet, anytime and anywhere
Deposits & Withdrawals
The exchange does not charge a deposit fee. Paxful supports 350+ payment methods for account funding. This is a significantly higher offering when compared to Binance or Coinbase.
Payment methods include:
- Bank transfer – Domestic and international
- Digital currencies – Including Litecoin and Dogecoin
- Goods & services – Including gold, cars and game items
- Gift cards – Including Amazon, Google Play, and Xbox gift cards
- Debit/credit card – Including Greendot, American Express, and VISA
- Online wallets – Buy Bitcoin with PayPal, Zelle, Google Pay, MPesa, and mobile recharge
To start buying and trading Bitcoin:
- Sign up for a Paxful account and login
- Select the buy logo and click Bitcoin
- Click show all payment methods and select a deposit solution
- Click any currency and select your currency from the list
- Enter the amount you want to buy and trade
- Select your country from the location list
- Click search for offers and select as desired
- Confirm the transaction
Paxful wallets are free, however, withdrawal fees are charged. Users can remove Bitcoins from internal and external cryptocurrency wallets including Binance. External wallet transfers are subject to fees depending on withdrawal size. Withdrawals of $20+ incur a 0.0004 BTC charge. Internal wallet withdrawals incur fees based on associated limits. Withdrawals up to $1,000 per month incur no charge. After this, a fee of $1 or 1% (whichever is higher) applies.
Rates & Margin
Paxful offers a market price for Bitcoin taking an average rate from Coinbase, Bitstamp, and Bitfinex, though vendors can list an exchange price of their own. View the amount you can get for US Dollars under the rate per Bitcoin section of the ‘buy’ page.
Margin is set by the vendors. This can vary from 5% to 50%. Traders can review the terms and conditions set by the vendor before accepting an offer or finding an alternative that meets pricing expectations.
Speed
Platform speeds to send or buy Bitcoin can vary. Influencing factors include the availability of the seller, specific owner terms and conditions, and payment methods. To improve transaction speeds or to limit the queued to send out time, it’s worth contacting the seller directly via their online username to understand particular requirements. Once Bitcoin is sent, you will receive a notification via Paxful stating confirmed or unconfirmed BTC.
Fees
Cryptocurrency conversions are subject to a 0.5% fee. Paxful does not charge to buy cryptocurrency, however, an exchange fee is set by other customers and account owners offering Bitcoin purchases. Transfer fees apply to sell crypto coins, varying by payment method. Bank transfers incur the lowest charge at 0.5%. Alternative methods including debit cards, digital currencies, and online wallets are subject to a 1% fee. The gift card rate incurs the highest rate for selling crypto at 5%. An escrow network fee is deducted from a vendor’s wallet immediately and delivered to Paxful upon completion of a trade.
Pros
Reasons to start trading cryptos with Paxful include:
- Referral codes
- No commission fees
- Secure escrow trading
- Positive wallet reviews
- Mobile app with full account features
- Hundreds of supported payment methods
- Supports charitable initiatives with Bitcoin
- Select crypto venders suited to specific requirements and pricing
Cons
- Unregulated exchange
- Limited customer support options
- Services restricted in some countries
Customer Support
Customer support is limited. An online contact form and a live chatbot are available via the logo in the bottom right corner of the Paxful website, or on the mobile app. A support email address is not in use and a contact phone number is not provided. The exchange’s office mailing address is 3422 Old Capitol Trail PMB# 989, Wilmington DE, 19808, USA.
Paxful also offers an extensive FAQ page and help center (knowledge base). Topics include how to create a Paxful account, ID verification, how to buy Bitcoin, plus English and global language settings. Social media platforms including Twitter also provide the latest news and help.
Security
Peer-to-peer transactions may lead to an unfair trading environment. Some online concerns query whether Paxful is real or fake, and flag-related PayPal scams. Our recommendation to ensure legitimate trading is to keep transactions within the Paxful marketplace to maintain dispute and escrow protection. This will help reduce the risk of scams.
The Paxful BitGo wallet service provider assures high-tech features to protect client funds. This includes 2FA for account login, 3d secure payments integration, and dual-factor code requirements for all crypto transactions.
Paxful Verdict
Paxful is a unique peer-to-peer crypto marketplace and wallet service. Our review was pleased to see the exchange supports 350+ payment methods, secure logins, and crypto vendor opportunities. Limited customer support and unregulated services may be a concern for some investors. Also, be aware of high vendor fees and the narrow range of digital currencies available for investments.
FAQ
Is Paxful A Good Wallet?
Over 3 million customers have used the Paxful wallet to buy and sell over 40,000 BTC. The wallet is practical, secure, and easy to use on PC and mobile devices.
What Is A Paxful Account And Can I Sign Up Without ID?
Paxful is a P2P cryptocurrency trading platform and Bitcoin wallet. You can create an account quickly and easily after you’ve completed the ID verification requirements. A business account is available subject to eligibility criteria.
Is Paxful A Regulated Exchange?
Paxful is not regulated in any country. KYC and anti-money laundering standards are in place, however, meaning some of the verification standards seen at regulated exchanges are followed.
How Can I Become A Paxful Vendor?
Clients need to create a vendor account on the exchange’s website. New users can join over 12,000 registered vendors to create offers, set margins, and build unique customer offerings. See online forums for further details on how it works.
Does Paxful Have A Minimum Age Requirement To Open An Account?
You must be at least 18 years old to open an account to buy and sell cryptocurrency with Paxful.
How Do I Start A Dispute On Paxful?
Paxful intervenes in any disputes via a third-party moderator. The system provided through the exchange helps ensure quick and efficient resolutions. Head to the crypto broker’s website to get started.
Accepted Countries
Paxful accepts traders from Australia, Thailand, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Qatar, and most other countries.
Traders can not use Paxful from Korea, Cuba.
Alternatives to Paxful
If you are looking for alternatives to Paxful we have compiled a list of the top 5 brokers that are similar to Paxful below. This list of brokers like Paxful is in order of similarity and only includes companies that accept traders from your location.
- LocalBitcoins – LocalBitcoins is one of the leading online crypto exchanges offering Bitcoin.
- Bybit – Bybit is a one of the top crypto trading exchange offering the largest altcoins by market cap.
- Binance – Binance is a digital exchange offering trading on hundreds of cryptos across desktop and mobile applications with low fees.
- Remitano – Remitano is a leading crypto trading exchange with low fees and a long list of altcoins.
- Bitfinex – Bitfinex is among the best crypto exchanges for experienced traders with a free mobile trading app and low fees.
| Paxful is a crypto trading exchange and digital wallet offering low fees and easy sign-up. |
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