For anyone tracking PayPal crypto available countries, the company long kept its distance from digital assets, even preventing people from using its service to send or receive funds to cryptocurrency exchanges. That posture shifted in late 2020 when PayPal unveiled plans to add virtual-asset capabilities inside its own platform.
PayPal’s crypto rollout has progressed through several key markets, with more expansion planned.
| Country/Region | Crypto Availability Status | Launch Date/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Available | Live since 2021 |
| European Union | Planned expansion | Preparing to extend service across the 26-country trading bloc |
| Luxembourg | First European Union launch market | Chosen as initial entry point, aligning with the company’s regional headquarters |
PayPal said availability would begin “in the coming days,” without naming a precise launch date.
After the feature goes live, local customers will be able to use PayPal on the web and in the mobile app to buy, sell, or hold supported digital assets.
Service Details: How It Works
At the outset, support will include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ethereum, with a minimum purchase of just 1 euro to keep entry costs low and accessible. PayPal’s supported-asset lineup can vary by country, so the app displays which digital assets are available in your region.
People can fund transactions in several familiar ways:
- PayPal wallet balance
- European Union-issued debit cards
- Linked bank accounts
PayPal Aims to Advance Crypto Literacy in the European Union
Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s senior leader for blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies, called the Luxembourg move a significant milestone that advances the mission to make digital-asset services easier to access.
With PayPal’s global payment footprint widely used across Europe, this addition builds on what customers already do and could encourage newcomers to receive payments and participate more confidently.
He also noted that PayPal will continue to work closely with policymakers and regulators to help define crypto’s role in the future of international finance and commerce.
Hands-on experience with PayPal’s technology could inform lawmakers as they consider Europe’s landmark Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation when voting occurs in 2023.
Clear, consistent rules could create a more supportive climate for exchanges and other crypto firms—and PayPal is positioned to help nurture that landscape.
In June, PayPal also announced the ability to transfer crypto to personal wallets and to exchange accounts, linking its service more directly with the broader blockchain ecosystem.
Before that, users were limited to buying and selling inside PayPal, which left those coins isolated from external wallets.
What does this mean for the cryptocurrency economy?
For investors and everyday users worldwide, the news is substantial: mainstream backing from PayPal signals durability and long-term viability for digital assets, even after years of controversy.
Integrating crypto into everyday payment apps can reduce friction for first-time buyers, but it also raises the bar for clear disclosures, strong account security, and user education.
PayPal’s crypto service is not exclusive to the United States. It began with availability for customers in the United States, later expanded to the United Kingdom, and is now preparing for a broader rollout in the European Union starting with Luxembourg.
Yes—where the feature is available, you can buy crypto on PayPal (and typically sell and hold it within the app).
PayPal has not announced in-app crypto buying and selling as available in Nigeria, so Nigerian accounts generally should not expect the crypto feature to appear, even if other PayPal services are accessible.
If you’re asking whether you can withdraw crypto profits to your PayPal account, the usual path is to sell the crypto inside PayPal (where supported) so the proceeds land in your PayPal balance; from there, you can keep the balance in PayPal, spend it where PayPal is accepted, or withdraw to a linked bank account. In eligible markets, PayPal may also allow transfers to external wallets, but availability and limits depend on your country and account status.
To buy crypto with PayPal, open the PayPal app or website, navigate to the crypto section, pick a supported asset, tap buy, enter the amount, review the price and fees shown at checkout, select a funding source available on your account, and confirm the purchase.
Buying crypto with PayPal can be safe from an account-security standpoint when you use strong passwords, device security, and available authentication and verification options, and when you watch for phishing or fake support messages. The main risks are still crypto-native ones—price volatility, the possibility of sudden losses, and the fact that transfers (where available) can be hard to reverse if sent to the wrong destination.
PayPal can apply purchase, transfer, and other account limits to crypto activity, and those limits can vary by country, account verification level, and other factors. The minimum purchase noted for Luxembourg is 1 euro, while other caps and thresholds are typically shown in-app during checkout or in your crypto settings.
Benefits of using PayPal for crypto trading:
- Convenient access from a familiar payments app
- Simple onboarding for first-time buyers
- Multiple built-in ways to fund purchases
- Clear in-app flows for buying, selling, and holding
Downsides and limitations to consider:
- Asset availability and features can differ by country
- Account-based limits may restrict larger purchases or transfers
- Fees and spreads can make frequent trading expensive
- Self-custody options may be limited or require eligibility
