BitBrainers. Bitcoin. No fluff.
We have held Bitcoin through multiple cycles, starting from the $3,500 era. Readers keep asking the same two questions: where do you buy it, and where do you keep it. This page answers both. We use Kraken to buy and a Trezor hardware wallet to store. That is the whole setup.
Buying
Kraken is one of the oldest and most regulated crypto exchanges in the world, founded in 2011. It operates legally across Europe, the US, and most of the Balkans. Fees on Kraken Pro run as low as 0.16 percent per trade, which is among the lowest available for retail buyers. It supports recurring buys, which means you can set it and forget it on a weekly or monthly schedule without logging in every time.
It supports SEPA bank transfers for European users, which means no currency conversion fees when funding from a euro or local bank account. Verification takes less than 10 minutes for basic tier access.
Storing: Trezor
If your Bitcoin is on an exchange, it is not your Bitcoin. That is not a slogan. It is what FTX, Celsius, and BlockFi users learned the hard way. A hardware wallet keeps your private keys offline, on a physical device that never touches the internet. Nobody can access your coins without the device and the PIN.
The Trezor Safe 3 is the right entry point. It costs under 80 euros, supports Bitcoin and hundreds of other assets, and has been audited and open-sourced since 2014. We recommend the Safe 3 over cheaper alternatives because the security model is transparent and the track record is clean.
The Three Mistakes
Buying on hype. The single most expensive mistake in Bitcoin is buying after a major price run because the news finally made it feel safe. The safe-feeling moment is almost always the worst entry. Dollar-cost averaging over time removes this risk entirely.
Keeping everything on an exchange. Exchanges get hacked, go bankrupt, freeze withdrawals, and get regulated out of existence. Any amount of Bitcoin you are not willing to lose should not be on an exchange. Buy on Kraken, withdraw to Trezor. That is the workflow.
Falling for guaranteed yield. If someone is offering you 8, 12, or 20 percent annual yield on your Bitcoin, they are either lending it out unsecured or running a Ponzi. There is no risk-free yield on Bitcoin. The asset itself is the return.
Is Kraken available in my country?
Kraken operates in over 190 countries including all EU member states, the UK, and most Balkan countries. Check their supported countries page during signup for the latest list.
Do I need a hardware wallet for small amounts?
If you hold less than one month's salary in Bitcoin, keeping it on a reputable exchange with two-factor authentication enabled is acceptable short-term. Once you cross that threshold, a hardware wallet is not optional. The Trezor Safe 3 costs less than one day's worth of most people's Bitcoin holdings.
What does BitBrainers earn from these links?
We earn a commission if you sign up for Kraken or purchase a Trezor through the links on this page. This does not change the price you pay. We only link to products we actually use. BitBrainers has held Bitcoin since the $3,500 era and has used both of these products through multiple market cycles.
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Subscribe FreeDisclosure: This page contains affiliate links to Trezor and Kraken. BitBrainers may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we use. This is not financial advice.
— BitBrainers Editorial
