Exploring the Real Scope of Buying Crypto with a Credit Card: Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Can You Really Buy More Than Just Bitcoin and Ethereum with a Credit Card?

Here’s the problem: you want to buy, say, Solana, Cardano, or even a more obscure altcoin, but all the guides online seem to focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum. I ran into this exact roadblock when I first tried to use my credit card to buy Dogecoin—yes, the meme coin—on a whim, late one evening. So I decided to put this to the test across multiple platforms.

Step-by-Step: My Actual Purchase Attempts

1. Binance: The Multi-Crypto Option (but Not Limitless)

On Binance, after logging in, I clicked on “Buy Crypto > Credit/Debit Card”. A dropdown appeared with a list of cryptocurrencies available for direct credit card purchase. To my surprise, there were more than ten options: BTC, ETH, BNB, ADA, SOL, XRP, DOT, and even USDT and USDC.

But when I typed in “Dogecoin” or “SHIB”, they weren’t in the list. Turns out, Binance only allows direct card purchases for a select group of coins—mostly large caps and stablecoins. For smaller altcoins, you have to buy a major coin first (like USDT) and then trade for your preferred token.

2. Coinbase: Fewer Options, High Trust

On Coinbase, the list was even shorter: BTC, ETH, and a handful of others (LTC, BCH at the time of writing). According to Coinbase Support, direct card purchases are limited to coins with deep liquidity and strong regulatory standing. Again, altcoins are off-limits for direct card buys.

3. Third-Party Payment Providers: MoonPay, Simplex, and Ramp

Some platforms (even non-custodial wallets like Trust Wallet or MetaMask) integrate third-party payment processors. My experience with MoonPay was interesting: they offered about 20-30 coins, including some lesser-known altcoins like AAVE, CHZ, or SAND. However, when I tried to go further down the list (like DOGE or SHIB), my card was declined or the option was "temporarily unavailable"—likely due to local compliance checks or liquidity limits. Simplex, another provider, had a similar pattern: big names, plus a handful of trending altcoins, but not the full universe you’d see on regular spot exchanges.

4. Real-World Glitch: My Failed SHIB Purchase

Let me be honest: I actually tried buying SHIB directly with my credit card via MoonPay on MetaMask. The purchase went through the first verification step, but the transaction was ultimately declined by my bank. The reason, according to my bank’s support: “Crypto purchases for unverified coins may be restricted under local financial regulations.” So, even when the platform says a coin is supported, your bank and local laws may throw a wrench in the gears.

Why Can’t You Buy Every Altcoin with a Credit Card?

The main reasons are compliance, risk management, and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. Large exchanges are under regulatory pressure to only support direct fiat purchases for coins that have passed certain listing and risk checks. For example, according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), crypto-to-fiat exchanges must implement strict KYC and only provide “verified trade” access for compliant assets.

This is mirrored in the US by guidance from the FinCEN agency, which expects platforms to monitor for “high-risk digital asset activity.” As a result, exchanges limit direct fiat purchases to coins with high transparency, liquidity, and established histories.

International “Verified Trade” Standards: How Countries Differ

As you can see, every country’s approach to “verified” crypto trading is slightly different. Some (like the US and EU) focus on broad regulatory frameworks, while others (like Japan) maintain strict registries of approved coins. This means that if your exchange is based in or serves one of these regions, your direct card purchase options may be broader or narrower.

Case Study: A Cross-Border Purchase Gone Wrong

Here’s a real-world story from the CryptoCurrency subreddit: A user in the UK tried to buy a mid-cap token with a credit card on a US-based exchange. The transaction failed. The reason? The UK’s FCA had flagged that token as “high-risk,” and the exchange automatically blocked direct fiat purchases. The user could have bought USDT first and then traded, but the platform wouldn’t allow a direct altcoin buy. This kind of cross-border friction is common—and annoying.

Expert View: Why Direct Altcoin Purchases Are Unlikely to Expand Soon

“Even as crypto matures, I don’t expect most exchanges to open up direct fiat-to-altcoin trading for the long tail of tokens,” says Dr. Lina Zhu, a compliance officer at a leading Asia-Pacific crypto exchange, in a recent interview. “The regulatory burden, especially around card fraud and AML, just isn’t worth it for small coins.”

This matches my personal experience: unless a coin is in the top 20 by market cap and has solid, global liquidity, it’s unlikely you’ll find a way to buy it directly with a credit card.

Practical Tips: How to Get the Coin You Want

If your favorite altcoin isn’t available for direct card purchase, here’s what I do:

• Buy USDT or USDC with your card (since these are almost always available)
• Transfer those stablecoins to a spot exchange or DEX that lists your desired altcoin
• Swap stablecoins for the altcoin you want

It’s an extra step—and yes, you’ll pay an extra fee—but it’s the only reliable workaround for now.

Final Thoughts: What You Can (and Can’t) Buy with a Credit Card

In summary, you can buy more than just Bitcoin and Ethereum with your credit card—think of top 10 coins, some stablecoins, and occasionally a few trending altcoins, depending on the platform and your country. But the vast universe of DeFi tokens, meme coins, and small-caps? For now, you’ll have to take the roundabout route: buy a major coin first, then trade. The rules aren’t likely to change soon, given how different countries interpret “verified trade” and the regulatory risk for exchanges and banks.

My advice: double-check your exchange’s actual purchase list, be ready for occasional hiccups (especially with international banks), and don’t be surprised if your dream altcoin isn’t available for direct card buys. Regulators are watching, and for now, the safest (and only) direct credit card purchases are for the big, liquid, and well-vetted coins.