Bank transfers (ACH, SEPA) are the cheapest way to move fiat into crypto — often 0.5–1.5% vs. 3–5% on credit cards. We compared four trusted on-ramps — Coinbase, MoonPay, Transak, and Simplex — on fees, settlement speed, and regional coverage to find the best option for depositing via bank transfer.
If you're moving money from your bank account into crypto, the method you choose matters a lot. Credit cards are fast but expensive — 3–5% fees add up fast. Bank transfers (ACH in the US, SEPA in Europe) are slower but far cheaper, often under 1%.1
We looked at four of the most trusted crypto on-ramps that support bank transfer deposits. Here's what we found.
| On-Ramp | Bank Transfer Fee | Settlement | Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | 0% (USDC on Base) | 1–3 business days | 100+ countries |
| MoonPay | ~1.5% (ACH) | 2–4 business days | US, UK, EU |
| Transak | ~1% (SEPA/ACH) | 1–3 business days | US, UK, EU, CA, AU |
| Simplex | ~1.5% (SEPA) | 2–5 business days | 150+ countries |
Coinbase is the most established name in the space, with millions of verified users and deep liquidity. The standout feature? You can deposit USD via ACH and convert to USDC on Base with zero fees — that's hard to beat. Even outside that specific route, bank transfer fees are minimal compared to card payments.1
The trade-off is that Coinbase is a centralized exchange, not a pure on-ramp widget. If you want to buy directly into a DeFi wallet, you'll need to move funds out after purchase.
Best for: Anyone who wants the lowest possible fees and already trusts a major exchange.
MoonPay is the on-ramp you've probably seen inside MetaMask, Ledger Live, and dozens of other wallets. It supports ACH transfers for US customers and offers a smooth checkout flow. The fees are slightly higher than Coinbase's zero-fee route, but the integration is seamless — you can buy crypto and have it land directly in your self-custody wallet.1
Settlement via ACH takes 2–4 business days, which is standard for bank transfers. MoonPay is licensed in most major markets and has strong compliance.
Best for: DeFi users who want to fund a wallet directly without a detour through a centralized exchange.
Transak has built a broad regulatory footprint across the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. That matters because crypto on-ramps operate in a gray area in many jurisdictions — Transak has done the work to get licensed properly.1
Bank transfer fees hover around 1% for both SEPA and ACH, with settlement in 1–3 business days. Transak is deeply integrated with DeFi platforms and NFT marketplaces, making it a solid choice if you're buying from within a dApp.
Best for: Users outside the US who need reliable, licensed on-ramp access.
Simplex has been around since 2014 and is licensed in over 150 countries. It's one of the most widely available on-ramps, which matters if you're in a region where options are limited. Bank transfer (SEPA) fees run around 1.5%, and settlement can take up to 5 business days.1
Simplex is also the on-ramp behind many third-party integrations, so you might have used it without knowing. The trade-off is that it's slightly slower and pricier than the others on this list.
Best for: Users in regions where other on-ramps don't operate.
When comparing on-ramps, don't just look at the stated fee. Some providers bury their margin in the exchange rate spread. A 0.5% fee with a 1% spread is worse than a 1% fee with a 0.1% spread. Coinbase is generally transparent here; MoonPay and Transak are competitive. Simplex's all-in cost tends to be slightly higher due to a wider spread.1
If you're in the US and want the cheapest option, Coinbase via ACH to USDC on Base is the clear winner. If you need to buy directly into a DeFi wallet, MoonPay or Transak are better fits. And if you're in a region with limited options, Simplex has you covered.
Bank transfers aren't instant — expect 1–5 business days — but the savings over credit cards make them worth the wait.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through the links on this page. This doesn't affect our rankings — we recommend what we'd use ourselves.
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