Looking to hedge your retirement with both digital and physical hard assets? We compare the top IRA platforms that let you hold crypto, gold, and silver in a single tax-advantaged account — from low-fee fintech upstarts to veteran custodians.
If you're building a retirement nest egg, you've probably heard the case for diversification. But what if you could combine two of the most talked-about "hard assets" — cryptocurrency and physical precious metals — inside a single tax-advantaged IRA?
That's the idea behind a crypto IRA that also supports gold and silver. You get the upside potential of digital assets alongside the centuries-old stability of physical metals, all while enjoying the tax benefits of an IRA. No separate accounts, no extra custodians, no headache.
Here's what to look for and which platforms actually deliver.
The logic is simple: different assets tend to zig when others zag. Crypto is volatile but has shown massive growth potential. Gold and silver are historically stable stores of value that perform well during inflationary or uncertain periods.1 Holding both in one IRA means you can rebalance without triggering taxable events — the whole account grows tax-deferred (or tax-free if it's a Roth IRA).
You also avoid the hassle of managing separate custodians for your crypto IRA and your precious metals IRA. One login, one fee structure, one annual statement.
Not every IRA provider supports both asset classes. The ones that do vary widely in fees, asset selection, and account minimums. Key things to compare:
iTrustCapital is the clear standout for investors who want a single platform for crypto, gold, and silver in their IRA.1 It's a fintech platform that connects you to a qualified custodian and a digital exchange, so you can buy, sell, and hold all three asset types from one dashboard.
Why it wins: iTrustCapital charges no monthly fees, no annual fees, no startup fees, and no exit fees.2 The only cost is a flat 1% transaction fee on crypto trades, which is among the lowest in the industry.3 Gold and silver trades have their own transparent fee structure. You also get access to crypto staking, which is rare for IRA accounts.
The platform supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies alongside physical gold and silver bullion. Account setup is fast, and the minimum investment is reasonable compared to traditional precious metals IRAs.1
Best for: Investors who want low fees, modern UX, and the ability to move between crypto and precious metals without friction.
Equity Trust is one of the oldest and largest self-directed IRA custodians in the country. They've been around for decades and support an unusually broad range of alternative assets — including both cryptocurrency and physical precious metals.
Why consider it: Equity Trust gives you more control than a typical fintech platform. You can hold not just gold and silver bars or coins, but also real estate, private equity, and other alternative assets alongside your crypto. It's a true self-directed IRA custodian, meaning you decide where to invest, and they handle the administrative and custodial side.
The trade-off is complexity. Equity Trust charges a setup fee and annual custody fees, and the account minimum is higher. You'll also need to manage your own relationships with approved crypto exchanges and precious metals dealers — it's less of an all-in-one experience than iTrustCapital.
Best for: Experienced investors who want maximum asset flexibility and are comfortable managing multiple provider relationships.
| Feature | iTrustCapital | Equity Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fees | $0 | Varies (annual custody fee) |
| Transaction fees | 1% crypto | Varies by provider |
| Gold & silver | Yes (in-platform) | Yes (via approved dealers) |
| Crypto | Yes (wide selection) | Yes (via approved exchanges) |
| Account minimum | Low | Higher |
| Best for | All-in-one simplicity | Maximum asset variety |
If you want a modern, low-fee, all-in-one platform where you can buy crypto, gold, and silver from a single dashboard with no monthly fees, iTrustCapital is the easy choice.3 It's designed for exactly this use case.
If you're a seasoned investor who wants to hold a wider range of alternative assets — maybe real estate or private placements alongside your metals and crypto — and you don't mind a bit more complexity and higher fees, Equity Trust gives you that flexibility.
Either way, combining crypto and precious metals in a single IRA is a smart way to diversify your retirement savings across both digital and physical hard assets — without the tax headaches of managing separate accounts.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you open an account through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend platforms we've researched and believe add real value.
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