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7 Best VPNs for Crypto Trading & Bitcoin Payments in 2024

Last updated: December 20, 2021

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Trading in cryptocurrency is gaining popularity all the time and there are many people out there who are making a lot of money by speculating on the price of cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, among many others.

Trading is often done using a Contract for Difference (CFD), which requires the buyer to pay the seller the difference in price between the value of the cryptocurrency when it is sold and its value when the contract was created. This usually happens without anyone actually owning the crypto coin in question, making it a trade-in “derivatives.”

Other Bitcoin enthusiasts actually buy cryptocurrencies with money (fiat currency) through an exchange, which will let you own some digital currency in a crypto wallet. They make their profit by actually using an exchange to buy and sell the underlying coins.

Cryptocoins

When one engages in crypto trading, one can use a centralized exchange or a decentralized exchange. Using a centralized exchange means that there is a middleman involved who enables the transaction in which you store your fiat currency and exchange it for some form of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. If you use a decentralized exchange, the process is conducted without any middleman being involved.

Going long (i.e., buying) or going short (i.e., selling) is usually done through an exchange and, though you do not have to own the underlying coins, you do have to put down a small deposit (margin) in order to access the market in cryptocurrency. You can also make margin trades with Bitcoin and other forms of crypto trading.

The problem with trading platforms, exchanges, and cryptocurrency wallets is that they are very vulnerable to being hacked, which can result in disastrous consequences! There are many cases reported in the press of people who have been robbed of huge amounts of cryptocurrency.

That’s where a reliable virtual private network (VPN) becomes extremely helpful, if not essential!

A VPN provides you will a level of encryption that keeps you — and your trading online — secure and safe, giving you the online security you require.

If you use a VPN that accepts cryptocurrencies and allows crypto payments, your IP address will be hidden and you will be able to trade anonymously.

Another benefit of a VPN is that it allows you to connect to a server that is not in the region in which you find yourself, which allows you to prevent any censorship.

Read on to find the 7 best VPNs for Crypto trading.

Our top pick is ExpressVPN, which provides a variety of highly impressive characteristics and features and is based in the British Virgin Islands, where your online privacy is assured.

In a Hurry? Here Are the Best 7 VPNs for Crypto Trading

How to Purchase a VPN Service Using Crypto

Here is how you can purchase a VPN using Crypto:

  1. Choose a VPN that allows you to pay for it in Crypto. Our top pick for this would be ExpressVPN; Read on the find out why.
  2. Purchase the VPN and then download and install it.
  3. Connect, and you will find yourself trading cryptocurrencies and researching the market in privacy, with no risk at all to your online security and privacy!

Why You Need a VPN for Crypto Trading

If you want to secure your trading and your online security when conducting crypto transactions, you need to be sure that you have the best VPN, which offers additional security features to crypto traders and prevents IP tracking.

Having one of the best VPNs for crypto trading VPN will:

1. Prevent anyone from tracking your IP

People tend to believe that they can remain anonymous when trading in cryptocurrencies; but this is not true, though there is some degree of privacy provided. There have actually been shocking instances when people’s assets have been stolen directly from the trading platform itself!

You need to be aware that transactions always take place in the public domain and, therefore, if someone wants to connect your bitcoin address to your IP address, they will be able to do so. This will allow them to gain access to your actual identity and to find out exactly where you are.

This is prevented when you use a VPN, as all your trades will look as if they come from the VPN provider’s servers — which are located all around the globe, and not from your own IP address on your computer or device.

Be aware that you need to make sure that you choose a VPN provider that has a very strict no-logs policy. If not, online criminals can check the logged info and match it to your transactions, thereby putting you at risk.

2. Secure your crypto traffic

When you use one of the best VPNs to connect to a server, it automatically provides encryption of your data before it arrives at its destination. This means that your traffic on the Internet is scrambled and, therefore, extremely challenging to decipher. Therefore, even if someone manages to hack and intercept a transaction, he will not be able to understand what he accesses.

When you use your WiFi connection or any public Wifi provider to conduct cryptocurrency exchanges, the network’s security will not be totally secure, leaving you vulnerable. You should never conduct transactions using public hotspots as they do not provide you with online privacy by encrypting your information. This enables online criminals to hack into your traffic and gain access to your private keys or your wallet or your details. The consequence can be that they will be able to take control of your account, potentially costing you a great deal of money.

How do you prevent this? Always use a VPN for all your cryptocurrency transactions.

3. Unlock trading platforms

There are geo-restrictions on some of the trading platforms, which means that you will be unable to gain access to them if you are in certain locations.

For example, all exchanges of cryptocurrency are banned in China, and Binance, a huge crypto exchange platform, is unavailable for your trading exchanges if you are in the USA (read our article about best VPNs for Binance to unblock Binance in the US).

The beauty of a VPN is that it disguises your actual IP address and routes your traffic via a server in an area that does allow you access to the trading platform on which you want to trade. You can even choose the virtual location through which you will be routed in order to trade in a specific region.

How to Choose the Right VPN Provider for Crypto Trading

When choosing the best VPN for crypto trading, you need to take the following 5 factors into account:

1. Large server network

Ensure that the VPN that you choose has many server locations, as this means that you will be enabled to get past any geo-restrictions that may exist.

Also, make sure that the VPN has servers in the areas that you want to access in order to trade, especially if you travel overseas a lot. Some VPNs have servers in areas that are usually restricted e.g. China, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

2. Strong security features

In order to secure your cryptocurrency transactions, you must ensure that the VPN that you choose provides a very high level of encryption of your information. The best VPN for crypto should provide AES-128 or 256 encryption in order to fully secure your transactions.

3. No-logs policy

Most VPNs prevent other people from viewing your transactions, but the VPN provider itself does have access to them. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the VPN you choose has a well-enforced, strict no-logs policy and keeps no information at all about any of your online activities.

4. Leak-Proof

Your IP address can be exposed if your WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6  leak while you are in the process of conducting cryptocurrency transactions. Therefore, you need to ensure that the VPN service that you choose has DNS leak protection.

In addition, the best VPN for crypto trading should also have an automatic Kill Switch. This feature will ensure that if your connection drops for any reason, the system will shut down and none of your information will be compromised.

5. Customer Support

If any difficulties arise at any point while you are conducting cryptocurrency transactions, or, indeed, any time that you need someone to assist you, you should ensure that your VPN service provides you with knowledgeable, quick customer support.

The Best VPNs all offer 24/7 live chat so that help is immediately at hand when you need it.

7 Best VPNs for Crypto Trading 

Here are our top picks for the best VPN services for crypto trading:

1. ExpressVPN 

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the very best VPN services, no matter what sort of online activity you are engaged in.

It also provides all the outstanding features that you require if you are going to be dealing with cryptocurrency payments, like military-grade encryption (256-bit AES), an automatic Kill Switch to protect your if connection drops, a strict no-logs policy, and a secure location in the British Virgin Islands. ExpressVPN also offers split tunneling, so you can route some of your traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel while allowing other applications to directly access the Internet.

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries and offers a built-in speed test to find the fastest server.

This easy-to-use VPN supports P2P sharing on all servers and easily lets users switch between protocols.

ExpressVPN accepts Bitcoin payments, making it a great option for those who want to remain completely anonymous when trading crypto or making Bitcoin payments on sites like Roobet.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live-chat support
  • Acccepts Bitcoin payments
  • OpenVPN Protocol
  • Military-grade encryption
  • No-logs policy

Cons:

  • No port forwarding
  • Pricier VPN

2. NordVPN

Devices compatible with NordVPN

NordVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside of the 5/9/14 eyes information-sharing alliance, and where VPNs are not required to collect and store the data of their users.

Nord VPN offers a wide range of features that enable crypto trading, like DNS leak resolver, an automatic Kill Switch, military-grade encryption, and a verified no-logs policy. NordVPN also offers Double Encryption, which routes your Internet traffic through two different servers, doubling your anonymity and protection online.

In addition, NordVPN is located in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly country.

This VPN offers over 5,100 servers in 60 countries, and you can connect to as many as 6 devices at once, so you can use your PC, Android devices, and other devices all to connect to different servers at once.

NordVPN accepts Bitcoin payments, so crypto traders can subscribe anonymously to this service.

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Double VPN
  • No-logs policy

Cons:

  • App can freeze at times

Devices compatible with Surfshark

Surfshark is also an excellent VPN for dealing with crypto assets, with one of the most affordable prices of quality VPNs.

Surfshark has strong security features including military-grade encryption, a Kill-Switch, and a no-log policy, as well as a split tunneling feature and obfuscated servers.

This VPN offers unlimited simultaneous connections to a single user account, so VPN users can connect to any of Surfshark’s 3,200 servers in 65 countries simultaneously.

This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes information-sharing alliance, reassuring users that their information will not need to be passed on to authorities if requested.

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Unlimited device connections
  • 24/7 live chat
  • No-logs
  • Kill Switch
  • Affordable price

Cons:

  • No port forwarding
  • Online chat responses not always accurate

Devices compatible with CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN is used by many crypto traders, with a very large number of servers (7,400+) in many countries (over 90), which leads to good VPN connection speeds and a stable connection.

This VPN offers great online privacy and security due to high levels of encryption, malware protection, and leak protection, offering protection against anyone being able to steal your data or phishing from bogus websites.

You can also choose between PPTP, OpenVPN, L2TP, and IPSec protocols, and be reassured that your data is protected by a strict no-logging policy.

CyberGhost is based in Romania, so VPN users will never have to worry that their data will need to be handed over to the government or authorities.

This VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is longer than its competitors allow, and you can pay in cryptocurrency, making it a good choice for crypto trading.

Pros:

  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • 7 simultaneous connections
  • Can pay in cryptocurrency
  • Based in Romania
  • No-logging
  • Military-grade encryption

Cons:

  • Can be challenging to install

5. PIA (Private Internet Access)

Devices compatible with PIA

PIA is a VPN provider that is highly effective for crypto trading, with an extremely large number of servers all over the world.

This reasonably-priced VPN offers 30,000 servers in over 70 countries and protects your security with very high levels of encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy that has been held up in court.

These verified privacy and security features are important since PIA is based in the USA, which is in the 5-Eyes Alliance.

You can pay for PIA using Bitcoin, which makes it a safe option for crypto-traders.

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Can use Bitcoin
  • Huge number of servers
  • No-logging
  • 10 simultaneous connections

Cons:

  • Slower speeds
  • Not as user-friendly

IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the best VPN providers for masking your IP address.

This VPN offers access to about 2,000 servers in 75 countries and allows users to connect as many devices as they want to a single user account.

IPVanish also supports server switching, which is helpful when trading in crypto.

IPvanish protects your crypto trading transactions with military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy,  and a Kill Switch, but this feature is only available on macOS, Android, Windows, so your connection may be left unprotected if you are using Linux or iOS.

IPVanish is also based in the privacy-unfriendly USA, which is an issue for some crypto-traders.

Pros:

  • Military-grade encryption
  • Kill Switch
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Can pay with Bitcoins

Cons:

  • Locate in the USA
  • No Kill Switch on iOS or Linux

PrivateVPN is a good VPN service for all sorts of crypto trading, with high speeds, 10 simultaneous connections supported, and port forwarding.

This VPN has a strict no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, and leak protection, as well as 2048-bit encryption with AES 256.

This VPN is, however, based in Sweden, which is a member of the 14-Eyes Alliance, so if you want to make sure you are using a VPN that can never ever be required to hand over your private data, you might want to go with one of the other top VPNs on this list.

Pros:

  • No-logs VPN
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Leak protection
  • Servers in 64 countries
  • 10 simultaneous connections
  • Can pay in Bitcoin

Cons:

  • Located in Sweden
  • Speeds can be inconsistent

 Can I Use a Free VPN for Crypto Activities?

We suggest that you exercise the utmost caution before using one of the free VPNs to conduct your Cryptocurrency trading.

It’s essential for you to stay safe when trading and it is highly unlikely that a free VPN is going to be able to provide you with an assurance that your data will be fully protected.

It is really not worth taking the risk in order to save a few dollars a month!

Bear in mind that many of the free crypto VPN services will keep a log of all your online activity and may well sell it to a third party, putting your security and privacy at severe risk.

In addition, there is a real possibility that the free services may contain malware that can be used to illegally gain access to your trading account.

To make the risks even higher, most free VPNs only allow you to select servers from a few countries and their performance is of a poor standard, so you will not be able to access crypto exchanges in other areas. With poor speed and high latency, you may not be able to conduct speedy transactions, preventing you from making quick decisions about when to buy or sell when the price is right.

It is highly recommended for you to use a premium VPN for crypto trading, like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, or one of the others mentioned above to enable you to trade crypto with top security, and with your privacy guaranteed.

Risks That Come with Cryptocurrencies

There are some very real risks that come with cryptocurrencies, like:

Initial coin offering (ICO)

Many startup companies are now offering ICOs but, though some of these are genuine, there are some that are not.

You need to be very wary before taking up any initial coin offering and should make sure to investigate well before taking up an offer of an ICO.

Unsecure addresses

You should never post your address on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network, or on WhatsApp or other messaging apps, as these can easily reveal you’re true identity.

Because Bitcoin addresses are actually not 100% anonymous, you can easily be compromised.

Also, beware as crypto addresses have to be recorded in the public domain due to a need for transparency. Therefore, hackers are able to target your cryptocurrency wallet and they will be highly motivated to do so if you hold a lot of cryptocurrencies.

Offline wallets

Be very careful about using offline wallets as they can be easily hacked and are difficult to work with.

They are cumbersome and vulnerable to hacking.

For example, hackers can use remote control spyware and Masad Stealer to access the offline wallet on your computer or your mobile devices and thereby gain access to your cryptocurrency.

Fake crypto exchanges

There are many reputable crypto exchanges that enable you to sell or buy digital currencies and bitcoins.

However, there are also fake crypto exchanges out there that will try to steal your money.

Investigate the exchange that you use really thoroughly and make absolutely sure that it is legitimate before you use its services.

Cryptojacking

Recently there are more and more incidents of online criminals hijacking people’s mobile devices and their computers.

Once they have done this, they can use the computer or phone’s CPU to access your bitcoin.

If you notice that your system is slowing down abnormally or shutting off, this could be because someone is trying to cryptojack you, as this is an intensive activity that is likely to overload your system. If this happens, immediately run a malware check.

Phishing attacks

Criminals can engage in phishing to con you into divulging your personal data by pretending to be a trusted entity.

There are recorded incidents of people being robbed of huge numbers of bitcoins using phishing, so be alert and never give out your personal data when you are online unless you are entirely convinced that the request is legitimate.

How a VPN Secures Your Crypto Activities 

Here are some ways a VPN can secure your crypto activities:

Gives you access to restricted trading platforms:

Using a VPN disguises your IP address and makes it look as if you are connecting to your Internet service provider from the country in which the server to which you connect is located.

As a result, you will be able to get past geo-restrictions and censorship and access trading platforms that you could not access otherwise. (e.g., If you are in the USA, where you cannot engage in crypto trading on Binance, as it is blocked there, using one of the best VPNs will allow you to trade.)

You can even use your VPN to switch locations online, allowing you to trade in cryptocurrencies that are specific to a particular area. (This also assists you when you are shopping online or booking airline tickets as you can choose the location that offers the best price.)

Prevents anyone tracking your personal IP:

People erroneously believe that cryptocurrencies are 100% anonymous, but this is not true, though they do protect your privacy to some extent.

It is possible to link your IP address to your bitcoin address because all transactions take place in the public domain, making you vulnerable to criminals finding out your real name and address.

By using a VPN, you ensure that all transactions appear to come from the server’s IP address, thereby ensuring that no one can track your personal IP.

Secures the traffic to and from your crypto wallet: 

By using one of the premium VPN providers, you ensure that all information that leaves your device is heavily encrypted. This will ensure that if a hacker manages to get access to this information, it will be scrambled and difficult to decipher, rendering it unintelligible.

If you conduct cryptocurrency transactions and make bitcoin payments online using public or private networks, the security offered will be insufficient and you will be vulnerable to hackers taking over your account, intercepting your information, and stealing your exchange credentials or your wallet’s private keys.

A good VPN prevents any of this.

Crypto Tips & Tricks

Here are some helpful crypto tips and tricks:

Use a really good password:

Hackers try to guess your password in order to gain access to your crypto wallet. Therefore it is important to use a powerful password and also to use a different password for each of your wallets if you have more than one.

Avoid public WiFi:

Hotspots on public Wifi tend to be unsecured and they make you extremely vulnerable to hackers and criminals.

Some public Wifi is actually created by hackers to lure you in.

Never use these networks to conduct crypto transactions unless you have one of the best VPNs installed on your device in order to protect you.

Avoid storing your crypto wallet on your mobile phone:

Phones are easily lost or hijacked so try not to store your wallet on your mobile or to use it to make bitcoin payments.

Unless absolutely necessary, it is far better not to store any of your cryptocurrency on your phone; but if you absolutely have to for some reason, make sure that you store as little as possible on it.

Use 2-factor authentication (2-FA):

2-FA is an additional security factor that protects you if your passport is not strong enough by introducing another level of security (like an SMS) to your phone or an email that you have to respond to before you can access your crypto wallet. It is highly advisable to ensure that you have 2-FA if you trade in cryptocurrency.

Be aware of your “Cyber Hygiene”:

Avoid clicking on links if you are not sure of their source, especially on email.

Also, be on the lookout for evidence of malware or infection with viruses.

Trade-in escrow:

Any time that you conduct trade with someone you do not know, try to do so using escrow (i.e., a legal arrangement in which a third party temporarily holds large sums of money or property until a particular condition has been met).

If the other party in the trade is averse to using escrow, he may well be a fraud and you should avoid transacting bitcoins with him.

List of the Most Popular Crypto Exchanges

There are dozens, if not hundreds of Crypto Exchanges out there and we cannot possibly deal with all of them here, so we have chosen 7 of the best-known ones to give you an idea of what a Crypto Exchange is likely to offer you:

☑️ Binance: You get highly competitive rates on this cryptocurrency trading platform that lets you exchange fiat currency (e.g., GBP) for coins like Bitcoin.

☑️ Bittrex: This is a speedy, stable crypto exchange that is secure and robust, so it is popular with amateur and professional traders. However, it has been accused of closing accounts without prior notification.

☑️ CITEX: Accessible in over 100 countries and with a website that is available in 5 languages, this digital asset trading platform allows you to trade in cryptocurrencies and in Bitcoin.

☑️ eToro: This is a well-known exchange platform for buying or selling cryptocurrencies, but it is not available in countries like Japan, Iran, Canada, and Sri Lanka, among others.

☑️ Gemini: Emphasis on privacy and security makes this a popular crypto exchange. It allows you to trade or store more than 20 cryptocurrencies. “Gemini Dollars” (GUSD), its own currency, is also available on this exchange.

☑️ Kraken: This well-known crypto exchange offers a large selection of coins in which to invest, including DogeCoin (you might need a VPN for Kraken to unblock this platform from certain regions).

☑️ Paxful: This provides a marketplace online in which sellers and buyers can trade in altcoins, including Bitcoins. It accepts a large number of payment options, which is convenient, and it provides escrow services for all bitcoin transactions.

FAQs

Do all VPNs support cryptocurrency?
Payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, and gift cards, are accepted everywhere as a payment method, but cryptocurrencies are not yet equally acceptable.

However, usage is increasing all the time and ExpressVPN, one of the best VPNs for crypto trading, will accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, as do NordVPN and Surfshark.

Should I use a VPN with Coinbase?
You can use Coinbase in well over 100 countries, but if you are in a country that is not supported by Coinbase, you can use a VPN to exchange bitcoins or buy cryptocurrencies on Coinbase. You should always use a VPN, either way, to protect yourself on this site.
Can I use Binance in the US with a VPN?
In its terms of usage, Binance states clearly that it is not permitted for US residents to access it using a VPN.

However, once you have a good VPN for Binance, you will be able to access Binance in the US because the VPN will assign you a new IP address that makes it look as if you are in a permitted area.

You need to be aware, however, that there is a risk of suspension of your account if Binance finds out that you are accessing it using a VPN in the USA.

Should I use a VPN for Binance?
Binance has been subject to many attacks from hackers so it is very important for you to use the best VPN for crypto trading if you are using Binance.

This will hide all your personal details and protect your identity so that criminals will not know where you are or what your IP address is, even if they manage to gain access to Binance’s database.

Can I use VPN to buy crypto?
Yes, you can, and having a VPN service allows you to access far more coins and crypto markets as if you are trading locally, in whichever market you choose to trade.
Do I need a VPN to trade crypto?
It is possible to engage in crypto trading without a VPN, but it is highly inadvisable as it makes you vulnerable to hackers and to cybercrime.

From the information above, you will be aware that having one of the best VPNs is a necessity if you are going to be involved in any form of crypto trading. As a consequence, you need to ensure that you secure your online account. The best way to do this is always by using a VPN provider.

Is using a VPN for crypto illegal?
No, it is not illegal to use a VPN for crypto in most countries.

However, in countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, China, and the UAE, it is illegal.

In addition, VPNs themselves are illegal in countries like Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, North Korea, and Turkmenistan.

Conclusion

It is extremely important to protect your privacy and ensure your security online when you are in the process of trading in cryptocurrencies.

Hackers and criminals have regularly attacked exchange platforms and stolen large amounts from people’s crypto-wallets.

Therefore, it is highly advisable to use a VPN because it encrypts your trades and hides your IP address, making this a strategy that is used by all advanced traders when trading cryptocurrencies.

Furthermore, by using a VPN that accepts Bitcoin as a payment option and supports it, you will be able to subscribe anonymously, which provides you with a further level of protection of your identity.

The list of 7 VPNs that we have included for you above includes each one of the best VPN services for crypto trading.

Each of them accepts bitcoin and, because they accept crypto for payment, it is clear that they prioritize your privacy and your online security.

We recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN for cryptocurrency trading, with amazing security and outstanding features, making it a VPN that is used by many experienced traders.

Happy trading!

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