How to Buy Cardano UK 2025

In short, the easiest way to buy Cardano in the UK is to buy it online from a regulated crypto exchange, such as eToro, Coinbase, or Uphold. Crypto exchanges make it easy to buy ADA Cardano’s native cryptocurrency directly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

My beginner’s guide aims to provide you with a straightforward guide on how to buy Cardano in the UK, covering essential aspects like selecting the right exchange, payment methods, and security precautions.

In this complete beginner guide to buying Cardano, you’ll learn:

• • How to choose the right crypto exchange to buy ADA

• • Setting up and securing your trading account

• • Different ways to fund your purchase

• • Making your first Cardano investment

• • Safely storing and managing your purchased ADA

• • Options for selling or using your ADA tokens

This article was reviewed by Tobi Opeyemi Amure, a cryptocurrency expert and writer at Investopedia, Investing.com, and Trading.biz.

A Step-by-Step Detailed Guide on Buying Cardano

Let me walk you through each step of buying Cardano, making the process as clear and manageable as possible.

1. Choosing a Cryptocurrency Exchange

While dozens of cryptocurrency exchanges are available to UK investors, they don’t all have the same level of security, features, and user experience.

Based on my extensive testing and personal experience, I’ve narrowed down the top exchanges that make buying Cardano safe and simple.

I’ll give you more information about each of these exchanges later in the guide, breaking down their features, fees, and what makes them stand out.

2. Creating an Account

Getting started with a UK cryptocurrency exchange is straightforward. You’ll need your email address, create a password, and provide some personal information like your name and address.

Just as you would when opening a regular bank account, you’ll need to verify your identity with a passport or driving license, and, in most cases, you’ll have to take a selfie.

The verification process is part of UK regulations and shows that the exchange follows proper security standards.

3. Securing Your Account

This is a really important step that too many people rush through. You want to treat your crypto account like your online banking – properly locked down.

Create a strong, unique password. You’ll also want to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional protection. 

Some exchanges also let you set up extra security measures for withdrawals – definitely worth doing if it’s available.

4. Depositing Funds

UK exchanges typically give you a few options for depositing your funds. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest way – they’re often free but might take a few hours to show up.

If you want to start buying ADA straight away, you can use a debit card instead. Just keep in mind there might be a small fee for this.

Credit cards aren’t always accepted, and even when they are, they often come with higher fees.

5. Placing a Buy Order for Cardano

Right, you’ve funded your account – now let’s buy some Cardano! Look for ‘ADA’ or ‘Cardano’ in the exchange (ADA is just Cardano’s trading symbol, like pounds are GBP).

You’ve got two options here: you can either enter how many pounds you want to spend or how many ADA tokens you want to buy. 

The exchange will show you the current price and calculate everything for you. 

Starting with a smaller amount, even £10, is perfectly fine as you familiarise yourself with the process.

6. Reviewing and Confirming the Purchase

Before you hit that final ‘Buy’ button, take a moment to review everything. The exchange will show you a summary screen with all the important details: how much Cardano you’re getting, what price you’re paying, and any fees involved.

7. Transferring Cardano to a Wallet

While your Cardano is secure on the exchange, many investors prefer using their own wallet for additional security, especially for larger amounts. 

You can choose between software wallets, which are apps for your phone or computer, and hardware wallets, which are physical devices specifically designed for storing cryptocurrency. Read our detailed guide on storing your crypto safely here.

8. Withdrawing to Your Wallet

When transferring Cardano to your personal wallet, you’ll need the wallet’s address. This works like a bank account number but is significantly longer.

It’s essential to check the address carefully before sending any Cardano. Unlike regular bank transfers, cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed once sent. To avoid typing errors, wallets provide a copy-and-paste feature for addresses.

9. Tracking Your Investment

Once you own some Cardano, you’ll probably want to keep an eye on how it’s doing. Most exchanges have user-friendly dashboards showing your current balance, what it’s worth in pounds, and how the price has changed. 

You can usually set up price alerts, too, so you’ll know if there are any big price movements.

10. Selling or Using Cardano

When you eventually want to sell your Cardano, you can do this right back through the same exchange where you bought it. 

The process is basically buying in reverse – choose how much you want to sell, and the exchange will convert it back to pounds. You can then withdraw these pounds back to your bank account.

Some people also use their Cardano for other things, like buying other cryptocurrencies or using services that accept ADA payments.

Where to Buy Cardano UK?

Take a look at the list I’ve prepared below of the best places to buy Cardano in the UK.

I’ve chosen these platforms based on their user-friendly interfaces, accessibility, and security features.

1. eToro – Overall best place to buy Cardano UK

If you’re looking to buy Cardano in the UK, eToro is a great option for you. You’ll feel like you’re part of a bustling trading floor with their user-friendly platform.

eToro is a social trading and investment platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, including Cardano.

One of the great features of eToro is its CopyTrader tool, which allows you to automatically copy the trades of other successful traders. This is a great way to learn from the best and potentially make more profitable trades.

Additionally, eToro has a wide range of payment options, including bank transfers, debit cards, and e-wallets, making it easy to deposit funds and start trading Cardano.

If you’re looking for a reliable, user-friendly platform to buy Cardano in the UK, eToro is definitely worth checking out.

Finally, it’s worth noting that as of 2024, eToro announced that they reached over 38 million registered users worldwide.

On top of this, they have an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot (which is quite rare for crypto exchanges), with over 26,000 reviews.

Read my complete eToro review.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

• • Fees: Crypto trading fees are 1%.

• • Supported Assets: 92 cryptocurrencies, stocks, indices, commodities, fiat currencies and ETFs.

• • Customer Support: 24/5 support via live chat, email and ticket system.

• • GBP Deposit Methods: Bank Transfer, Debit Card, eToro Money, Skrill, Neteller, Rapid Transfer & Trustly.

2. Uphold – Best ADA exchange for a large selection of other altcoins

You’ll find Uphold to be a reliable and user-friendly platform for purchasing Cardano in the UK.

The platform offers a simple way to buy Cardano using a wide range of payment methods, including bank transfers, debit/credit cards, and even cryptocurrencies.

This makes it easy for UK residents to get started with buying Cardano without any hassle.

One of the key features of Uphold is its competitive pricing model, which allows users to buy Cardano at some of the lowest fees in the industry.

The platform also offers a high level of security, with all transactions being processed through a secure payment gateway, and users’ personal information and funds being kept safe with multi-layered security measures.

Additionally, Uphold is an established and reputable platform with a proven track record of providing reliable and efficient services to its users.

Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable and user-friendly platform to buy Cardano in the UK, Uphold is definitely worth considering.

• • Fees: Deposits are free when funded by a bank account, debit/credit card, using Bitcoin, or from another Uphold account. Crypto trading fees range between 0.8% and 1.2%.

• • Supported Assets: 250+ cryptos, shares, precious metals and fiat currencies.

• • Regulation: FCA.

• • Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat and email.

• • GBP Deposit Methods: Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, SEPA, Google Pay & Apple Pay.

3. Coinbase – Beginner-friendly place to buy Cardano in the UK

When using Coinbase, you’ll find that the platform offers a variety of features and tools that can help you manage your Cardano investments more effectively.

You can also set price alerts that notify you when Cardano reaches a certain price point, enabling you to make informed decisions about when to buy or sell.

In addition, Coinbase offers a secure platform for storing your Cardano.

The platform uses industry-leading security practices, such as two-factor authentication and cold storage, to protect your investments from hackers and other threats.

Moreover, Coinbase provides insurance for its users’ funds, adding an extra layer of protection to your Cardano holdings.

Overall, Coinbase is a reliable and user-friendly platform that can help you buy, sell, and store Cardano in the UK.

• • Fees: 0% – 3.99%. Varies by type of transaction; other fees may apply.

• • Supported Assets: 200+ cryptos.

• • Regulation: FCA.

• • Customer Support: Live messaging support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (although it can be quite slow).

• • GBP Deposit Methods: Bank Transfer, Faster Payments Transfer, SEPA, 3D Secure Card.

Tips When Buying Cardano

Many new cryptocurrency buyers focus only on buying Cardano but overlook basic safeguards that protect their investment. Most crypto thefts happen due to basic security mistakes.

Security comes first. These three steps make a big difference:

• • Add two-factor authentication to your accounts

• • Use a password manager for strong, unique passwords

• • Get a hardware wallet for larger investments

The Cardano blockchain (as with all public blockchains) shows all transactions publicly. Keeping your investments private helps prevent you from becoming a target. Here’s what helps:

• • Create a separate email address for your crypto accounts

• • Keep your Cardano investments off social media 

• • Don’t share your wallet addresses publicly

Buying Tips:

• • Look at fees for buying and selling ADA between exchanges

• • Start small

• • Keep records for tax season

What Is Cardano?

Cardano is a blockchain platform and cryptocurrency known for its scientific approach and peer-reviewed protocols. It aims to provide a secure and scalable infrastructure for decentralised applications (dApps) and smart contracts.

Cardano’s native cryptocurrency is ADA, which can be staked for network participation and used for transactions and governance. With a focus on research and modularity, Cardano aims to be a leading player in the blockchain industry.

How Does Cardano Work?

Cardano operates through a multi-layered blockchain platform that utilises a unique proof-of-stake consensus algorithm called Ouroboros.

Here’s how Cardano works.

Settlement Layer: At the core of Cardano is the settlement layer, responsible for handling ADA transactions. It ensures secure and fast transfers of ADA between addresses. The settlement layer employs the Ouroboros protocol to achieve consensus among network participants, who can also stake their ADA to help secure the network and earn rewards.

Computation Layer: On top of the settlement layer, Cardano incorporates a separate computation layer. This layer is designed to support smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps). By separating computation from settlement, Cardano aims to enhance security, scalability, and flexibility. This layer supports different programming languages, making it accessible to developers with varied coding backgrounds.

Plutus & Marlowe: Cardano provides two distinct development environments. Plutus is a functional programming language for building complex smart contracts, while Marlowe is a simplified domain-specific language tailored for creating financial contracts and dApps with predetermined behaviours. These environments allow developers to create secure and verifiable applications on the Cardano platform.

Governance and Voting: Cardano incorporates a decentralised governance model, enabling ADA holders to participate in decision-making processes. Through a voting system, stakeholders can propose and vote on protocol upgrades, funding allocation, and policy changes. This democratic approach aims to ensure the platform’s evolution aligns with the community’s interests.

Research and Peer Review: Cardano emphasises scientific research and formal methods to enhance security, reliability, and innovation. Its protocols and developments undergo rigorous academic scrutiny and peer review before implementation, ensuring a strong foundation and advancing the understanding of blockchain technology.

By combining these elements, Cardano strives to offer a secure, scalable, and sustainable blockchain platform that supports various use cases, fosters developer-friendly environments, and incorporates decentralised governance to ensure the platform’s future growth and adaptability.

Is Cardano Safe?

Cardano aims to prioritise security and employs several measures to enhance the safety of its platform.

Here are some factors that contribute to the safety of Cardano:

1. Peer-reviewed Approach: Cardano takes a scientific approach to its development and protocols. Its designs and advancements undergo rigorous peer review by experts, ensuring a robust and secure foundation.

2. Consensus Algorithm: Cardano utilises the Ouroboros proof-of-stake consensus algorithm, which has been extensively researched and analysed. This algorithm helps secure the network, prevents double-spending, and maintains the integrity of transactions.

3. Layered Architecture: Cardano’s multi-layered architecture separates the settlement layer (for transactions) from the computation layer (for smart contracts and dApps). This design enhances security by isolating critical components and preventing potential vulnerabilities from affecting the entire system.

4. Secure Programming Languages: Cardano offers Plutus and Marlowe as development languages. Plutus is based on the Haskell functional programming language, known for its emphasis on correctness and security. By using secure programming languages, Cardano aims to mitigate the risk of coding errors and vulnerabilities in smart contracts.

5. Ongoing Security Audits: The Cardano development team is committed to regular security audits and testing to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the system. This proactive approach helps ensure continuous improvement and enhances the platform’s overall safety.

However, it’s important to note that no system is entirely immune to risks or attacks. While Cardano strives to provide a secure environment, users must also exercise caution, follow best security practices, and be mindful of potential risks associated with managing their own wallets and private keys.

As with any investment or participation in the cryptocurrency space, it’s recommended to conduct thorough research, stay informed about the latest developments, and exercise due diligence to make informed decisions and protect your assets.

Is Cardano a Good Investment?

Cardano ranks among the major cryptocurrencies by market value. The project features a growing developer community and a slow but steady research-based approach to blockchain development.

The cryptocurrency market sees regular price movements, both up and down. Like other digital assets, the value of Cardano can change substantially within short periods.

Before investing in Cardano, take time to:

• • Research its technology and development

• • Understand the risks involved

• • Consider your investment goals

• • Review the project’s roadmap

No cryptocurrency project comes without risks. Many investors choose to include crypto as just one part of a broader investment strategy and only invest funds they can manage without.

For guidance specific to your circumstances, consider speaking with a financial advisor.

Ready to Buy Your First Cardano?

Since its launch in 2017, Cardano has established itself as one of the most technically sound blockchain projects in the market. Its steady development, from launching smart contracts to building a thriving DeFi ecosystem, shows the project’s commitment to long-term growth. 

While other projects rush to market, Cardano’s research-first approach and peer-reviewed updates have helped it maintain its position among the top cryptocurrencies.

Buying Cardano in the UK is now possible through several cryptocurrency exchanges that accept GBP deposits and withdrawals.

For beginners, I recommend eToro. The platform combines competitive fees, strong security, and an easy-to-use interface. You can get started with just a few simple steps:

1. 1. Create your eToro account

1. 1. Add funds using your preferred payment method

1. 1. Search for Cardano (ADA)

1. 1. Make your first purchase

It’s really as simple as that!

FAQ About Cardano

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