How To Buy XRP: Step-by-Step Instructions for 2025

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What Is XRP and Why Buy It?

Ripple, the company behind XRP, is a payment platform that uses blockchain and cryptocurrency to make many financial transactions of digital assets more efficient. For example, individuals trying to convert currencies or make international fund transfers can complete these transactions in very little time using Ripple and its native token, XRP.

However, Ripple has undergone some scrutiny in the United States, which can make it a little more difficult to purchase XRP than other cryptocurrencies. Keep reading to find out where you can buy XRP.

Where To Buy XRP

You can purchase XRP from many major crypto exchanges like Binance.US, Coinbase, Kraken and Bitstamp. When XRP was under investigation by the SEC, it was more difficult to find an exchange that supported XRP. Now major exchanges allow you to buy XRP.

When reviewing exchanges, it’s a good idea to review the fees, security and ease of use of each exchange. 

Exchanges that Support XRP

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Platforms

You may also choose to purchase XRP directly from another user on a crypto peer-to-peer, or P2P, platform. These platforms allow you to exchange crypto or fiat currency directly with another user without the regulation of a major crypto exchange. This can help with anonymity as well as lower transaction fees and spreads.

While P2P support is limited for XRP, exchanges like Binance or KuCoin have P2P marketplaces built in that facilitate transactions. Be careful with making a P2P exchange, though, as there are little to no legal protections if something goes awry, such as if the exchange doesn’t go through as expected, or you encounter fraud or have a disputed transaction.

How To Buy XRP: A Step-by-Step Guide

Acquiring XRP involves several steps:

1. Compare crypto exchanges
2. Select your crypto exchange
3. Buy your XRP
4. Store your XRP

1. Compare Crypto Exchanges

A crypto exchange allows you to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies using your crypto assets, as well as fiat money. Crypto exchanges are more secure than other buying methods, but each platform will have its own rules, procedures, services and other features.

Exchanges typically offer only a selection of cryptocurrencies — you can’t buy every crypto at every exchange, so make sure the crypto exchange you choose supports your choice of cryptocurrency. The following exchanges support XRP in the U.S.:

• Coinbase
• Bitstamp
• Gemini
• Kraken.

2. Select Your Crypto Exchange

It can be nerve-wracking to not only decide to invest but also to decide where to invest. When it comes time to enter the amount you’d like to put in, make sure you feel secure. Consider the following factors when choosing a crypto exchange:

• Security: The safest crypto exchanges have two-factor authentication, biometric logins, identification requirements and a program that allows ethical hackers to be rewarded for finding vulnerabilities.
• Fees: Aim for an exchange that charges around 1% or less on your transaction.
• Rewards: Look for crypto exchanges that provide incentives for users to earn more crypto, such as staking coins, cash-back programs or cryptocurrency loans.
• Support: Choose an exchange with good customer support. If you will be making fiat money transactions, make sure the exchange offers fiat support.
• Liquidity: Make sure that you can liquidate your assets into fiat money quickly without losing too much value.
• Compliance: Choose a crypto exchange that is licensed and operating legally in your geographical location.

3. How To Buy XRP on Major Crypto Exchanges

Once you’ve picked out a crypto exchange, you’ll need to follow these steps to actually buy XRP:

Create an Account

Signing up for a crypto exchange is similar to signing up for a bank account. You’ll need to provide personal and financial information, as well as verify your identity. Crypto exchanges are regulated in the U.S., and comply with Know Your Customer policies.

This means you’ll need to take a picture of yourself within the app and potentially submit documentation such as a photo ID or a copy of your utility bill to verify.

Deposit Funds

Once you have a registered account, you can deposit funds or connect a payment method to the exchange. While some major crypto exchanges let you pay with a credit or debit card, or even PayPal, there are usually very high fees. It’s better to link a bank account and transfer over fiat currency (such as U.S. dollars or euros) to trade for XRP.

Search for XRP

Once your account is funded, you can place a trade for XRP. You’ll need to search for the XRP token on the exchange or platform, choose how much you’d like to purchase, and then place an order.

Place Your Order

Placing an order for XRP involves filling out an order form. If you’re just starting as a crypto investor, it may be better to use the “Instant Buy” feature on a crypto exchange for a much simpler ordering process (but may have higher fees). If you do choose to place a regular trade, you’ll want to start with a market order and simply fill out how much XRP you’d like to purchase.

If you want to place a more advanced trade, you may consider a limit order to choose the price at which you purchase XRP, and you can even set a stop-loss order to automatically sell XRP if it drops in price too much. It all depends on whether you’re investing in XRP for the long term, or if you want to actively trade crypto.

4. Store Your XRP

When buying XRP, you will want to store your coins in a cryptocurrency wallet such as Ledger Nano S, Exodus or Toast Wallet. Choosing a crypto wallet is similar to choosing a crypto exchange. You should consider factors such as:

• How you intend to use your cryptocurrency
• Security features
• Service availability, such as trading, selling or buying
• How many cryptocurrencies you can hold

Types of Wallets

You can opt for a wallet provided by the exchange, but these typically leave your crypto in the custody of the exchange. While these are usually free, they are the least secure option and not advisable for anyone who isn’t trading frequently or staking their crypto. There are other types of crypto wallets to consider.

• Cold wallet: Also known as a hardware wallet, cold wallets are a physical device that you can disconnect from the internet to keep it secure. These are the safest but also the most expensive option.
• Hot wallets: Also known as software wallets, are less expensive, but they stay connected to the internet, so they’re easier to hack. 

Setting Up Your XRP Wallet

To set up your chosen XRP wallet, you’ll want to follow the on-screen instructions for that specific wallet. Most crypto wallets require making a secure password but also have private keys and a recovery phrase (in case you forget your password) that give you direct access to the wallet itself. You’ll want to write down the private keys and recovery phrase somewhere safe and store it in a lock box for best protection.

How To Track and Manage Your XRP Portfolio

Once you own XRP, you’ll want a way to track your returns and how XRP compares to the rest of your crypto portfolio. While you can do this within a crypto exchange, you can also use third-party tools to manage your portfolio and track crypto prices.

Coinmarketcap is a leading crypto market tracker that lets you see data about XRP and other cryptocurrencies. You can view the market capitalization, trading volume and entire price history of XRP. You can also set alerts to know when XRP’s price moves up or down a certain amount.

You can also use a digital wallet like MetaMask to view the details of the coins held in your digital wallet. Metamask recently launched a portfolio view to let you see your wallet activity, portfolio value, and changes in price to XRP and any other coins you hold.

And finally, there are crypto portfolio tools like CoinStats that let you see all your crypto wallets in one place — giving you a complete view of your XRP holdings and entire crypto portfolio.

Alternatives to Buying XRP

You can stake your XRP to earn interest — which means locking it up on a crypto exchange or other staking platform for a certain amount of time. Staking provides crypto loans or liquidity to crypto platforms, and in return, you can earn interest on your XRP holdings.

And while XRP has become one of the most popular cryptocurrencies available, it’s not the only strong player in the crypto space. And instead of buying more XRP, you might consider trading XRP for other coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum. XRP has been highly volatile due to SEC lawsuits and public scrutiny, but it has also gone up in value recently. Ultimately, it’s up to you to choose whether to hold or trade your XRP.

XRP Transaction Fees

When buying XRP, you’re likely to pay transaction fees and potentially withdrawal fees as well. Most crypto exchanges list fees on their website, and all are required to show fees in your order form before you make a purchase.

There are two main types of fees you’ll pay: exchange fees and withdrawal fees.

Exchange Fees

Most exchanges charge transaction fees based on your trading volume, with lower fees available to those who trade more. Maker and Taker fees are assessed, with Maker fees being lower because you’re placing an order on the books, instead of “taking” one off the books. There may be fees based on your payment method (debit and credit cards pay high fees), and you may also be charged a spread fee as well. All of these fees are listed on your order form, except the spread fee, which is just buying XRP at a slightly higher price.

Withdrawal Fees

When you want to withdraw XRP to your digital wallet, you may have to pay an exchange withdrawal fee and potentially a network fee as well. Most exchanges use the withdrawal fee to pay for network charges so you should only get charged once — but make sure to review exchange withdrawal fees before executing the transaction.

Understanding XRP’s Market Trends and Risks

As with any investment, you will need to do thorough research to understand whether XRP fits into your strategy. In the end, the decision of whether to buy XRP is one that you should make based on your investment strategies, financial situation and personal preference. Here are some key takeaways:

• XRP is an affordable cryptocurrency with a relatively high market cap, which may indicate investor confidence. 
• It is one of the more well-known altcoins, and it has recently grown massively after the SEC case neared a close.
• XRP (as with any crypto) is a very volatile investment that can drop in price rapidly. Invest accordingly.

Taylor DeJesus and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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