Bank transfers are the cheapest way to buy crypto — lower fees, higher limits. We compare the top exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, MoonPay) for ACH and SEPA deposits, with transfer speeds, fees, and regulation details.
if you're buying crypto regularly, paying with a debit or credit card adds up fast. card processors charge 2–4% per transaction, and those fees eat into your stack. bank transfers — ACH in the US, SEPA in Europe — are the smarter route: lower fees, higher deposit limits, and often same-day settlement.
not every exchange handles bank transfers well, though. some take days to clear. others have confusing routing numbers. we tested the major platforms to find the ones that get it right.
coinbase is the most beginner-friendly exchange for linking your bank account.1 you can connect a checking account via Plaid in under a minute, and ACH deposits are free. SEPA transfers in Europe are also supported with low or zero fees.
coinbase is also one of the most regulated exchanges in the US, which means your bank is unlikely to flag or reject the transfer.1 if you're new to crypto, this is the easiest place to start.
kraken has built a reputation for low-cost bank transfers and serious security.2 it offers both ACH (US) and SEPA (EU) funding, with some of the lowest trading fees in the industry — especially if you use the Kraken Pro interface.
kraken is ideal if you're comfortable with a more advanced trading interface. the bank transfer process is straightforward, and the fee structure rewards larger deposits.
binance is the world's largest centralized exchange by trading volume, and its bank transfer support reflects that scale.3 SEPA deposits are widely available across Europe, and the platform supports fiat on-ramps in dozens of currencies.
binance's strength is liquidity — you can move large sums without slippage. just note that US users need to use Binance.US, which has a more limited set of supported states.
moonpay takes a different approach: instead of a full exchange account, it's a checkout-style on-ramp. you enter your bank details, verify your identity, and buy crypto directly. it's faster than setting up an exchange, and bank transfer fees are competitive.
moonpay is a solid backup if your primary exchange is down or if you just want to make a quick purchase without another account to manage.
| Exchange | ACH (US) | SEPA (EU) | Transfer Speed | Deposit Fee | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | ✅ | ✅ | 1–3 days | Free | $25,000 |
| Kraken | ✅ | ✅ | 1–3 days | Free | $100,000 |
| Binance | ✅ (Binance.US) | ✅ | 1–2 days | Free | High |
| MoonPay | ✅ | ✅ | Instant–1 day | 1–2% | $10,000 |
we chose these four exchanges based on three criteria:
regulation. every platform here is registered with relevant financial authorities (FinCEN, FCA, BaFin, or equivalent). that matters because banks are more likely to process transfers to regulated entities without delays or rejections.
ease of linking a bank account. coinbase and kraken use Plaid for instant bank linking in the US. binance and moonpay support manual bank verification but still keep the process under 10 minutes.
reliability. all four have been operating for years with strong uptime records. we excluded smaller or newer exchanges that have historically struggled with bank transfer processing times.
if you're just starting out, coinbase is the safest bet — easy bank linking, free ACH/SEPA, and strong regulation. if you want the lowest fees and don't mind a slightly more advanced interface, go with kraken. for global access and deep liquidity, binance is unmatched. and if you need a quick purchase without opening another exchange account, moonpay has you covered.
disclosure: askbuy earns a commission when you purchase through the links above. this doesn't affect our recommendations — we only recommend products we've vetted.
This page was written by the engine and the engine is still on the line. The conversation below picks up where the article stops.
Yes — the picks above are the engine's current verdicts. Ask a sharper version of this question below and you'll get a custom answer with the latest pricing.