How to sell Bitcoin

You sell bitcoin by sending it to a service that pays you in local currency and then withdrawing that money to your bank, card, or a payment app, or by handing it to a buyer directly for cash. Which route you pick comes down to four things: speed, fees, privacy, and how much control you want. This guide, part of our Bitcoin learning hub, walks through each method, what it costs, and the mistakes to avoid.

Sell in the Bitcoin.com Wallet app:

1. Open the Bitcoin.com Wallet app and tap Sell
2. Connect your bank account if you haven't already
3. Enter the amount, in local currency or BTC
4. Review the details and confirm

How long does selling take, and how much can I sell?

Speed depends on the method. Selling for cash at an ATM or in person is near-instant. Selling through an app, website, or exchange is usually quick to execute, but how fast the cash reaches your bank depends on your region and payout method, ranging from a few minutes with some app withdrawals to one to three working days by standard bank transfer.

There's no minimum you have to sell. You can sell a small fraction of a bitcoin (measured in satoshis, the smallest units) or your whole balance. Larger sales may trigger extra identity checks on regulated platforms.

Ways to sell bitcoin compared

There are several ways to turn bitcoin into money. Each trades off speed, cost, privacy, and whether you keep control of your coins until the sale completes.

The pattern mirrors buying: the fastest and most private options tend to cost the most, while bank-linked methods are cheaper but slower.

The methods, step by step

Selling in a wallet app

A wallet app lets you sell bitcoin for local currency without moving it to a separate platform first. With the Bitcoin.com Wallet app you keep control of your coins until the moment you sell. Selling to cash in the app is available in supported regions.

1. Open the app and tap Sell
2. Follow the prompts to connect your bank account the first time
3. Enter the amount you want to sell, in local currency or bitcoin terms
4. Review the details and confirm

The money lands in your linked bank account, with timing that varies by region and method, from minutes to a few working days. Convenient and self-custodial, though wallet apps don't offer advanced trading tools.

Selling through the Bitcoin.com website

The Sell Bitcoin page converts your bitcoin to cash in a few steps. You send the bitcoin you want to sell to an address the service provides, and the cash lands in your bank account after processing.

1. Go to the Sell Bitcoin page and select bitcoin (BTC)
2. Choose the currency you want and enter the amount
3. Review the order, add your wallet address (used as the return address if anything goes wrong), and continue
4. Enter your payout details and send your bitcoin to the address shown

Depending on your region, you can receive the money by bank transfer, credit card refund, or a payment app. It usually takes one to three working days for a bank transfer to arrive, though some payouts are faster.

Selling on a centralized exchange

Centralized exchanges offer high liquidity and advanced trading tools, which suits larger or more active sellers. The tradeoff is that the exchange holds your bitcoin while it's there, so it pays to pick a reputable, well-established one.

1. Register and verify your identity on the exchange
2. Deposit the bitcoin you want to sell
3. Sell it for your chosen currency
4. Withdraw the funds to your bank account

See our Bitcoin exchange directory for a curated list.

Selling at a Bitcoin ATM

Bitcoin ATMs let you sell for physical cash on the spot, which is fast but usually the most expensive route.

1. Find a nearby machine with our Bitcoin ATM locator
2. Verify your identity if the amount requires it
3. Send bitcoin to the ATM's address and collect your cash

Selling peer-to-peer

Peer-to-peer platforms like Peach Bitcoin connect you directly with buyers and support flexible payment methods, often with less identity verification. The platform holds your bitcoin in escrow until the buyer's payment clears.

1. List your bitcoin for sale, or browse buyer offers
2. Agree on a price and payment method
3. Move the bitcoin to escrow and release it once payment is confirmed

Privacy is the draw, but the scam risk is higher, so trade with well-reviewed counterparties and never release escrow before payment lands.

Using a brokerage

A brokerage lets you sell bitcoin alongside traditional assets like stocks and commodities. These act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers and can suit people who already manage other investments in one place.

What selling bitcoin costs

Most services show the amount you'll receive before you confirm, but it helps to know what shapes that number. Three cost layers apply:

• Platform fee. What the service charges to process the sale.
• Spread. The gap between the price you're quoted and the current market price. It's usually folded into the rate rather than shown separately, so it's the one sellers overlook.
• Network fee. Paid to the Bitcoin network when you move bitcoin from your own wallet to the buyer or service.

Here's how it plays out. Selling $100 of bitcoin, a low-fee bank-transfer route might leave you with around $97 after fee and spread, while an ATM cash-out could return noticeably less for the speed and convenience. If you sell directly to someone you know for cash, the only cost is the network fee to send them the bitcoin.

Selling safely: mistakes to avoid

• Verify the address you send to. Bitcoin transfers can't be reversed. Confirm the service's or buyer's address carefully, and use a QR code where possible.
• Never release escrow or send coins before payment clears. In peer-to-peer deals, fake payment confirmations and chargeback scams are common. Wait for the money to actually arrive.
• Double-check your bank details. A wrong account number can delay or lose your payout.
• Ignore "buyers" who rush you or move off-platform. Pressure to skip the escrow or platform protections is a red flag.
• Protect your recovery phrase. No legitimate service or buyer needs it. Knowing how to back up and restore your wallet keeps your remaining coins safe.

Why do I need to verify my identity to sell bitcoin?

When you sell through a regulated service, it must follow know your customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering rules. That means providing identity documents and sometimes proof of address. Peer-to-peer and small cash sales often require less, though they carry their own tradeoffs. Because these services handle your money, the same care applies as with any financial platform, including keeping control of your own keys until the moment you sell.

Selling bitcoin with confidence

Selling bitcoin is the reverse of buying: choose a method that fits your priorities, check the amount you'll receive before you confirm, and keep control of your coins until the sale goes through. If you're new to moving bitcoin around, it helps to know how sending works and how to receive bitcoin, and if you decide to hold instead, our guides on buying and using Bitcoin round out the basics across our Bitcoin learning hub.