How to Buy EOS (EOS) - Beginner's Guide 2024
EOS, the native cryptocurrency of the EOS.IO blockchain protocol, has gone from strength to strength, rising to cement its position in the top ten projects by market cap.
There is certainly a lot of optimism for the future of a smart contract platform with no fees, rapid speeds and a growing decentralised application (dApp) ecosystem. That’s why EOS is regarded as one of the top cryptocurrencies.
If you are new to cryptocurrency and investing you may be asking: what is the best way to buy EOS tokens?
Our professional team of experienced cryptocurrency traders has prepared this guide to take the stress out of buying EOS.
We will cover subjects like where and how to buy EOS, what is the best way to purchase EOS and how to buy EOS with PayPal, credit or debit card. If you want more information about the EOS platform, how it was created and the technologies behind it then take a look at our main EOS guide.
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How to Buy EOS - Step-by-Step Guide
If you are one of those traders or investors who believe in the EOS development project or think that the price of the EOS token will continue to improve over the course of next few months, then buying EOS tokens and owning them through a cryptocurrency exchange is a better fit for you.
However, you can’t just choose any exchange you want, and you will have to weigh the pros and cons of each to find out which platform serves your needs the best.
Features to look for include exceptional reputation, regulatory status, ease-of-use, client support, and affordable transactions. Note that the exchanges that don’t follow regulatory compliance may appear to be more tempting, but they also pose a greater risk to your investment.
1. Set up an EOS Wallet
When new investors hear about storing their EOS or other tokens in a crypto wallet, they usually imagine a complex and technical process. However, it has become increasingly easy and straightforward to use your wallet to store your funds. Depending on your investment strategy and security requirements, you can choose any of the following EOS wallets:
- Exchange/Web Wallets – Browser-based wallets, extensions, and the wallets that come with the trading platform account are referred to as web wallets since they are accessible online.
- Software Wallets – These are software applications for your desktop and mobile devices that can be installed to store EOS tokens. These apps bring a lot of value-added features and offer reasonable security for your coins.
- Hardware Wallets – When your top priority is security, there is no better option than a cold hardware wallet. They include dedicated hardware to keep your funds safe and have no network connectivity to avoid any vulnerabilities.
2. Choose and Join an Exchange That Sells EOS
Since EOS is one of the most popular altcoins in the cryptocurrency sphere, it is generally available on all exchanges, including the top ones like Binance, Coinbase, and CEX.io.
But before you select any exchange, assess them for their advantages and disadvantages so you can decide which exchange is more adequate for your use case. For instance, many exchanges require minimal information, while some will verify your identity.
It is a better idea to rely on an exchange that maintains regulatory compliance for security reasons.
3. Choose Your Payment Methods to Buy EOS
Once you have signed up on the exchange, you need to evaluate all the payment modes they offer. Remember that each payment method has its pros and cons, and you will also need to manage your transactional expenses to maximise profit.
For example, a credit card is a convenient mode of payment but is also a bit costly. Similarly, wire transfer is economical, but money can take days to show up in your account.
To facilitate trading, some exchanges also enable you to link your bank account with the exchange’s account so that you can have your conventional currency always accessible to purchase EOS tokens.
4. Place an Order to Buy EOS
On many exchanges, you won’t be able to buy EOS directly, and you will first need to acquire a popular token such as Ethereum or Bitcoin. And then you can exchange it for an altcoin such as EOS.
A few exchanges may sell EOS directly, but the cost of the transaction could be quite high. To place your purchase order, select the fiat currency you want to use to pay for the investment, and it will show you how many EOS coins you can get after adjusting for the exchange rate.
Add the amount and send your purchase request through. It will take a few minutes for coins to show up in your account.
If the 2FA option is enabled on your account, then you will receive a one-time password (OTP) which you will need to put in before your transaction is processed.
5. Safely Storing Your EOS in a Wallet
If you are not going for a long-term EOS investment, it is perfectly okay to hold your coins in the exchange wallet. This way, you won’t have to worry about safe storage and withdrawal charges.
However, if you want to hold your EOS coins for a longer period (weeks or months), it is a better idea to transfer your EOS currency to a dedicated wallet. In order to do that, you will have to enter the public key prior to the EOS coins being transferred.
Once again, if the 2FA option is enabled, you will need to enter the OTP for verification of the transaction.
5 Things to Consider If You Want to Buy EOS
Before buying EOS, you will need to consider the several different methods of buying and storing the cryptocurrency and choose the one that is right for you.
You will have several decisions to make; from trading platforms, payment methods and choosing an EOS wallet. Choosing the right method is critical to ensuring your expectations are met.
Carefully choose your preferred secure payment method
While some countries offer a wide array of payment methods, others do not.
Payment methods vary in terms of convenience, speed and cost. If you have options you will need to choose one based on your priorities. Let’s look at some of the most popular payment methods step-by-step.
Will you need to set up your own wallet?
Longer-term investors generally like to store their EOS in dedicated wallets, as leaving crypto coins on an exchange comes with a lot of risks.
Exchanges get hacked or go bankrupt and in some high-profile cases exchange founders have ‘exit scammed’ with traders’ coins.
Cryptocurrency wallets have different levels of security and you’ll need to choose one that is trustworthy.
Comparing costs
EOS.IO blockchain protocol is a smart contract platform that has eradicated transaction fees.
Yes, you heard that right. It costs nothing to send EOS – the native cryptocurrency of the EOS.IO blockchain. That’s why cryptocurrencies like EOS are considered disruptive when compared to existing payment rails.
If you decide to trade EOS, blockchain transaction fees are not a cost you’ll need to consider.
Safety and security
The EOS blockchain is based on a delegated proof-of-stake consensus algorithm (DPoS) and secure by design.
Unlike the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm employed by Bitcoin, proof-of-stake consumes less electricity and computing power.
Notably, Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, recently changed from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in the belief it is more secure, faster and more efficient.
A bigger concern for most traders than the security of the underlying protocol is the level of security on the exchange or trading platform they use.
Two of the industry’s leading trading platforms are MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5(MT5). Both have cutting edge security mechanisms, innovative automated trading systems and professional helpdesks.
A further level of security often provided by brokers and exchanges is ‘two-factor authentication’ (2FA) – a mechanism that requires users to provide two different pieces of digital confirmation for identity verification.
Can you understand and navigate the platform?
Once you have identified the exchange or trading platform you want to use, you’ll need to become very familiar with how to navigate it effectively before risking funds.
A wrong address, an extra zero or an incorrect key can result in a lot of heartbreak. Avoid trading on exchanges with a level of complexity where you feel out of your depth.
If you are not comfortable trading on an exchange, brokers offer a more easy-to-use solution.
What is the Best Payment Method for Buying EOS?
It’s really up to the individual to decide the payment method that suits them best. Let’s look at some of the most popular.
Buying EOS with PayPal
The preferred payment option of millions of merchants and consumers around the world, PayPal is one of the most convenient payment options around.
Purchasing EOS with PayPal can be difficult, however, as many exchanges don’t offer it as a payment option.
Brokers are far more likely to offer PayPal as a payment option as they are also regulated. In terms of fees, PayPal is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive option on this list.
Purchasing with Cash
If you think about it, cryptocurrencies like EOS were invented to provide a better means of transferring value digitally.
The digital world and cash have never been a match made in heaven and purchasing anything digital with cash aren’t easy.
Basically, you will need to find a person selling EOS on a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can arrange to meet in public to conduct the transaction. It’s still likely they’d want to make a digital monetary exchange such a bank transfer.
EOS is not as prevalent on these marketplaces as Bitcoin and finding someone who is willing to sell you EOS via this method is a challenge.
Via Bank Transfer
Bank transfer remains one of the most popular methods of purchasing EOS online but it isn’t always smooth sailing.
You will need to find an exchange or broker that accepts transfers from your bank and they can take time depending on bank processing.
Bank transfers do compare favourably to other payment methods in terms of fees, however, being lower than both PayPal and credit cards.
Brokers normally accept more fiat currencies for bank transfers than cryptocurrency exchanges.
Buying EOS with Credit Cards or Debit Cards
Everyone knows that credit and debit cards are one of the most convenient payment methods around but convenience comes with a cost.
Credit and debit cards are generally only offered as a payment method at the more established global crypto exchanges.
Due to the fees, buying smaller baskets of cryptocurrencies like EOS with your credit or debit card isn’t really economical.
Being regulated by global authorities, brokers are far more likely to offer this payment method, due to having greater regulatory clarity than exchanges.
What Fees Are Involved when you buy EOS?
Unlike most other cryptocurrencies, EOS has zero fees when transferring a coin from one address to another. For this reason, investors and traders don’t need to factor in the cost of blockchain fees and can concentrate on the EOS price.
Exchange and brokerage fees do need to be considered, however. No matter where you buy and sell your EOS, you will most often be charged fees of some kind.
Transaction Fees
As mentioned earlier, there are no transaction fees on the EOS.IO blockchain. Exchanges and brokers do have fees to consider, however.
Deposit Fees
As brokers don’t involve the actual transfer of coins, deposit fees tend to be fewer than on exchanges. In some cases, brokers will offer no deposit fee whatsoever to encourage more clients to use the platform.
Withdrawal Fees
Most exchanges will also charge you fees to withdraw your coins or fiat currency from the platform. Like with deposits, brokers tend to charge fewer withdrawal fees than exchanges. The number of fees will be affected by the payment method you have chosen.
Safely Storing Your EOS
If you decide to purchase EOS on an exchange rather than a broker, you’ll need to research how to store it securely. There are several options available with varying degrees of risk.
Leaving your coins on an exchange is considered risky as exchanges have been hacked in the past. One high profile example is Mt Gox – a large Japanese exchange hacked for 650,000 Bitcoin. Storing your EOS in a dedicated cryptocurrency wallet is a safer option but not without some risk.
If you prefer to purchase EOS through a broker (CFDs) you will not require a personal wallet and the platforms have built-in security.
Okay, let’s look at the different cryptocurrency wallets available to store EOS coins.
Web Wallet
Essentially a web wallet is a custodial wallet located on the servers of the cryptocurrency exchange. They are called custodial because a third party stores your private keys.
While many people choose to leave their crypto coins on the exchange, it is not the safest option as MT Gox demonstrated. Exchanges can go bankrupt and in some cases ‘exit scam’, running away with investors’ funds.
Desktop Wallet
Desktop wallets are a type of ‘hot wallet’, so named as it has access to the Internet. These enable you to store your cryptocurrency within encrypted software on your desktop.
While a safer option than web wallets, these wallets are far from infallible. You will need to research and identify those that have a long track record of keeping funds safe. These can also be bolstered with security measures like 2FA. Popular desktop wallets to sore EOS include Atomic Wallet and Jaxx Liberty.
Mobile Wallet
Another form of ‘hot wallet’, mobile wallets are similar to desktop wallets in that they are also connected to the Internet. They feature encrypted software where you can store your EOS coins and your private keys.
In some ways, mobile wallets are more secure than desktop wallets, in that they have in-built security features like pin codes and fingerprint verification.
However, mobile phones are also vulnerable to a type of attack desktop wallets aren’t. Known as a ‘SIM swap’ attack, hackers can convince your mobile carrier to switch your phone number over to a SIM card they own.
This enables them to bypass your verification process and access your account. Well-established mobile wallets include Mycelium and Coinomi.
Hardware Wallet
Most investors in cryptocurrency recommend you get your coins off exchanges as soon as possible and store them in a ‘cold wallet’ or hardware wallet. These are not connected to the Internet and therefore are almost impossible to hack.
These wallets often look like a simple USB thumb drive and connect to your computer when you want to gain access to your coins. Just don’t lose it! Popular hardware wallets for storing EOS include the Trezor and the Ledger Nano X
Wallet Combinations
It is never a good idea to keep all your valuable digital assets in one place as a security breach or personal mistake could see you lose your investment.
If you want to buy and sell EOS through an exchange and store it safely it’s a good idea to spread your investment between different EOS wallets.
For many looking to only purchase EOS for trading purposes, a broker represents the best option, as you will not be required to take ownership of your EOS or secure them.
What Other Coins Can I Trade or Use to Buy EOS?
In cryptocurrency, the term ‘trading pairs’ refers to a trade between one type of cryptocurrency and another, rather than a fiat currency (USD).
For example, a person might buy EOS with Bitcoin (BTC) if that market pair is offered by the Bitcoin exchange in question.
Bitcoin remains the cryptocurrency with the most exchange pairs worldwide but more and more are being added daily as the market grows. EOS can be purchased with Bitcoin and Ethereum on many exchanges.
What’s the Smallest and Largest Amount of EOS I Can Buy?
Some people still believe when you buy a cryptocurrency you have to buy at least one. The truth is most are divisible.
Bitcoin is divisible to the 8th decimal place, so it can easily be split into 100,000,000 units. This is convenient as not everyone can afford to own a whole Bitcoin. With a larger supply than Bitcoin, a whole EOS is extremely affordable for most people. There is typically no minimum purchase for EOS.
You are really only limited by the fees charged by the exchange or broker. If the amount of EOS is too small it may not be economical.
Likewise, there is no maximum limit to how many EOS you can own within the available supply. How much EOS you can buy is really only dependent on your budget.
Can I Buy EOS Anonymously with no ID? Is it Safe and Legal?
Unless you are buying a dedicated privacy cryptocurrency, your transactions will appear on a public blockchain and can be discovered.
If you were buying Bitcoin, there is the option to buy anonymously through an ATM. Unfortunately; it is not currently possible to do this with EOS.
It is both safe and legal to buy EOS in many countries around the world. Check your regulatory environment if you have any concerns.
Will Buying EOS Make Me Money?
So, does buying EOS make you money? If someone tells you the answer is yes, they are not telling you the whole truth.
It is never as simple as ‘buy EOS get rich’. Cryptocurrencies are volatile and their price depends on a number of factors like fundamentals, the health of the network and adoption. The more usage the EOS.IO network sees the higher in value its native EOS token will likely go.
While EOS appears to have a very bright future, it’s prudent to thoroughly research any cryptocurrency you are considering buying.
Head over to our EOS price page where you’ll find all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Long vs Short Term Investment
A long-term investment is made by those investors who believe in the EOS project or think that the price of the token will continue to surge in the long run. They are in it for the long haul and are usually patient investors with a great temperament. For such investors, cryptocurrency exchanges are the right choice.
The short term investment is made by those traders who want to use the unpredictability of the EOS token price to their advantage and earn quick profits. They rely on temporary surges and crashes to make their move and are generally profit-driven. For these types of investors, brokers and trading platforms are a better fit since they offer financial instruments of cryptocurrencies.
The Pros and Cons of Buying EOS
Pros
- Design: The design of EOS includes inbuilt functionalities that make it easy for developers to work with. This means that updates and improvements are inevitable.
- Transaction Speed: The speed of the EOS network is one of its main appeals. Due to its processing technology, transaction validation speed is thought to be in the millions per second.
- Voting System: The tokenised governance model means that anyone who has an EOS token can be eligible to take part in the vote that determines how the chain’s governance works. In short, the more tokens you hold, the more stake you have.
- Marketing: Finally, it was the stunning early success of EOS fundraising that makes it such an eye-catching prospect. Before EOS even launched in 2018, it had raised over $4 billion through an ICO (Initial Coin Offering) which gave investors tokens commensurate to the investment.
Cons
- Decentralisation: With just 21 block producers, you could not really claim that it is completely decentralised in the way that other blockchain currencies are. Compared to Ethereum, for example, it is hardly decentralised at all.
- Competitors: EOS also has several similar competing cryptocurrencies which – although they are not necessarily offering exactly the same thing as EOS – could be seen as a long-term threat. Apart from the aforementioned Ethereum, there are cryptocurrencies like Golem (GNT), Elastos (ELA) and NEO (NEO) to consider.
3 Tips to Buy EOS
If you have been reading to this point, you have developed a basic understanding of how you can invest in EOS and other tokens. We are sharing the three most important tips of crypto trading that you should never ignore.
Choose the Right Time and Do Your Own Research
Many new investors end up buying at a high price and ultimately lose money on their trades. It is important that you choose your buying and selling moments with precision and you can only do so if you researched the coins, gone through all of our guidance, and have kept an eye on the news related to the coin.
Comparing Costs to Buy EOS
New investors also underestimate the impact of transactional expenses, which can rack up and slash down your profit margin. Choose your payment method and withdrawal times wisely so you can minimise the transaction expenses and maximise your profit.
Safety and Security
You need to be aware and take measures for ensuring the safety of your crypto assets as an investor. Ensure that you have enabled two-factor authentication, using different and strong passwords, and enabled passphrase for your wallet.
Other Ways to Acquire EOS
The ways we have discussed above are some of the most popular, affordable, and convenient methods to buy EOS tokens. There are also some lesser-known methods to purchase EOS which you can utilise if you want.
- Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Exchanges – These are websites or platforms that act as an intermediary between crypto buyers and sellers. You can choose your buying terms here and your preferred payment method. There are hundreds, even thousands, of sellers, so the likelihood of finding the right match is high. P2P exchanges are more affordable and versatile.
- Since EOS tokens have been pre-mined, you can’t get them through a mining process.
We are committed to providing the best and latest information to our users about cryptocurrencies and how to buy and trade those currencies. This is why we will continue to update this guide as more and more information, updates, news, developments, and reviews come in related to EOS.
How to Spend Your EOS
To understand where EOS can be spent, you first need to understand the EOS.IO platform. EOS is designed for the development of decentralized applications (DApps), similar to Ethereum.
Many people believe DApps are the future of the Internet. They are comparable to normal apps, but the main difference is they run on a peer-to-peer network where no single individual or entity has control of the network.
Businesses and services built on the EOS.IO blockchain accept EOS as a payment.
There are now a growing number of DApps on the EOS.IO blockchain covering everything from games to social media and DeFi (Decentralized Finance).
How to Sell Your EOS
When you sell EOS it also comes with varying levels of complexity depending on how you have purchased and stored your EOS.
If stored in a digital wallet, you will need to send it to crypto exchanges first before you can sell EOS and this will incur fees.
If you bought EOS for trading purposes through a broker, the process is far simpler and generally incurs fewer fees. There are no coins to move and all your transactions are executed in a split second on the broker’s trading platform.