UK user here, where should I get a bitcoin wallet? What’s the best exchange and how do I store it offline?

Crypto Exchanges Forum
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Hey everyone,

I could really use some advice. I’m from the UK and want to buy my first bitcoin. I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos and checked out websites, but I’m still confused about which services to trust. I signed up for Coinbase, but I’ve read loads of bad reviews saying it’s hard to withdraw money.

What’s the best digital wallet to download? Which exchange do you recommend for buying bitcoin? And what’s the safest way to store it offline?

I appreciate any help you can give me!

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Stay away from Coinbase, they don’t support Bitcoin properly.

Good places to buy Bitcoin in the UK:

For wallets:

For faster and cheaper transactions with small amounts, consider Lightning wallets:

  • Phoenix – Android only.
  • Breez – For both Android and iOS.

For larger amounts, hardware wallets are the way to go:

  • Trezor – User-friendly, great for beginners.
  • ColdCard – The safest option according to most users.

Avoid Ledger since it’s not fully open-source and they’ve leaked customer data. Whatever you choose, buy directly from the manufacturer (no eBay or Amazon) and make sure to set up your own seed words. This wallet will hold your money, so be cautious! If your wallet breaks, no worries, just make sure your seed words are safe.

Welcome to Bitcoin! Feel free to ask questions anytime!

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@coincoin
Thanks! If I go with Kraken as the exchange, Samurai as my wallet, and get a Trezor directly from them, how do I move the bitcoin from the exchange to my Trezor?

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Shea said:
@coincoin
Thanks! If I go with Kraken as the exchange, Samurai as my wallet, and get a Trezor directly from them, how do I move the bitcoin from the exchange to my Trezor?

  1. Register on Kraken and buy some Bitcoin. I think there’s a three-day wait for your first withdrawal.
  2. In Samourai, tap the “+” and then “receive” to get a QR code and address. Use this for the withdrawal from Kraken.
  3. If you want to wait for your Trezor, skip the Samourai step. Once you have your Trezor, copy the receiving address and paste it in Samourai when sending your Bitcoin.

Before sending a large amount, test with a small one (like £10) to make sure it works. Keep your seed words offline, write them down, and don’t store them digitally. No screenshots, no cloud storage. You’re becoming your own bank, so security is key!

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@coincoin
Thanks again! What’s the best online wallet for a Windows desktop? And how much should I keep in it before switching to cold storage?

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Shea said:
@coincoin
Thanks again! What’s the best online wallet for a Windows desktop? And how much should I keep in it before switching to cold storage?

Avoid using Windows for your wallet. Your phone is much safer. But if you’re holding more than £300 in Bitcoin, get a Trezor One.

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@coincoin
Alright, thanks! Which iOS wallet should I use while waiting for my Trezor?

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@coincoin
Will I need to connect the Trezor to my phone directly to move Bitcoin?

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@coincoin
I ordered from Amazon, but it was from the official store. What should I do? :confused:

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Best Bitcoin wallets of 2020:

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Heads up! There are scammers in this forum who often send private messages. Be extra careful and report anything suspicious.

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Check out this link for more info: Binance Academy

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To buy Bitcoin, sign up with Kraken or Coinbase. You’ll need to go through verification by submitting proof of ID and address. Once you’ve bought Bitcoin, the simplest way to store it is by transferring it to a hardware wallet like a Ledger Nano.

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Hi u/selfmade-selfpaid, Sana here from Kraken. We have a section on our homepage called ‘Learn’ that’s super helpful for beginners. You might also want to check out our Crypto Security Guide videos.

If you have more questions or need help setting up an account, feel free to reach out to me.

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@Owen
I’m frustrated because Kraken changed their QR code system, and now I can’t scan it. I’m thinking of switching to another service.

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If you’re planning to hold a lot of crypto, hardware wallets are a good option since they balance security and convenience. These wallets make sure your private keys don’t leave the device, so you don’t have to worry as much about hacking compared to software wallets.

But if you’re just starting, here are some software wallets you might like:

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esleystanley said:
@Brianna
[deleted]

They offer a coin swap service.

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@Brianna
What hardware wallets do you recommend? I’m looking for something secure but easy to use.

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Kipp said:
@Brianna
What hardware wallets do you recommend? I’m looking for something secure but easy to use.

It depends on what coins you’re holding since not all wallets support every coin. Here’s a video where I compare 6 hardware wallets: YouTube link

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For beginners, Coinbase plus a Ledger Nano S is a really simple setup.