How old do you have to be to buy crypto?
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Highlights
- You must be 18+ to open an account on most crypto exchanges.
- There are no federal age-specific crypto laws in the U.S.
- Teens can start learning about crypto and investing through parent- or guardian-managed accounts.
- Greenlight supports beginner investing and financial education for families, giving kids a safe space to learn with parental oversight.
Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm, and not without controversy. Some see it as the next frontier of finance, while others view it as a risky bet in an unpredictable market. For teens and families, it’s especially important to understand the rules before diving in. While you typically need to be 18 to buy crypto on most platforms, there’s still a lot young people can learn about investing and digital currency, with the right guidance.
Why age limits matter for crypto
While no federal law prohibits minors from owning crypto, most major crypto platforms like Coinbase and Binance.US require users to be at least 18. This is due to regulatory requirements known as "KYC" or Know Your Customer rules, which are designed to prevent fraud and money laundering. These rules ask platforms to verify users' identities using government-issued ID, something minors typically don’t have in their name.
Be a financially smart family!
Are there any options for teens?
While teens can't legally open their own exchange accounts, some families set up custodial accounts where parents manage the assets on their child’s behalf. This can be one way to introduce investing concepts in a supervised environment, helping teens learn the basics.
For example, a parent might:
Open a personal crypto account and earmark a portion for your child.
Use a shared learning experience to discuss investment decisions.
Explore educational investing apps like Greenlight, where kids learn to invest and parents approve every trade.
💡 You can make all of this easier to track by automating it with Greenlight. Greenlight's investing platform lets kids learn about stocks and ETFs with parental oversight—without the high-risk guesswork of crypto.
Learn more about the different types of digital currencies and about Bitcoin ETFs.
What about crypto gifts or wallets?
If your child doesn’t meet the age requirements to set up cryptocurrency, they can still receive it as a gift through a valid account. Parents or guardians can set up a crypto wallet, fund it on behalf of a child, and use it as a learning tool. That said, these wallets typically remain under adult control unless legally structured as a custodial account or trust.
Some families explore physical wallets or wallet apps that don’t require full identity verification (KYC), but these come with significant risks. Unlike traditional bank accounts, these tools lack FDIC insurance and may not offer fraud protections, so losing a password or facing a hack could mean losing access to the funds.
Curious about wallets? Learn how to set up a digital wallet and also about wallet addresses.
State laws and international differences
Some U.S. states may have their own laws or licensing requirements that affect how exchanges operate, but none have imposed minimum ages independently. However, other countries take different approaches:
UK: Generally requires users to be 18 or older on regulated platforms.
EU: Implements strict KYC requirements under anti-money laundering regulations.
Japan: Also requires parental consent for users under 20.
Always check the platform’s Terms of Use—they often spell out age requirements clearly.
What if a teen already owns crypto?
Some teens get crypto as a gift, from mining, or as payment for digital work. While it’s legal to own cryptocurrency at any age, converting it to cash or trading it on a formal exchange usually requires going through a verified adult account.
Rather than taking risks with anonymous wallets or peer-to-peer trading, families can focus on building financial literacy first. That way, teens will be ready to make smart crypto decisions once they turn 18.
The better place to start: financial literacy
Crypto may be trending, but understanding the basics of money—saving, spending, budgeting, and investing is timeless. Helping kids build that foundation early will prepare them for whatever future forms money may take.
Investing is for kids, too. With Greenlight, kids can learn to invest with parental approval on every trade. Build their financial confidence! Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†
This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.
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