Fees, Risks, and the Right Fit for You

Not long ago, I was quoted a staggering 12.5% front-end fee just to open a crypto IRA. Today, competition has driven costs down, and adding digital currency to your retirement portfolio can be nearly as affordable as investing in stocks or bonds.

Here are my rankings of the best crypto IRA platforms available to investors right now.

What Is a Crypto IRA?

The IRS doesn't officially recognize the term “crypto IRA.” What we're really talking about is a self-directed IRA that makes it possible to hold digital assets. These accounts have been around for decades, originally designed for investing in things like real estate, private businesses, or precious metals.

When it comes to crypto, there are two main types of self-directed IRAs: custodial accounts and checkbook control accounts.

• Custodial accounts are the most common. Here, a qualified custodian holds your crypto in institutional-grade cold storage. You can log in and trade much like you would with Coinbase, but without having to worry about managing private keys or compliance. For most buy-and-hold investors, this is the simpler and more affordable path.
• Checkbook control accounts are more advanced. In this setup, your IRA owns an LLC that you manage. This gives you the ability to trade directly on-chain, use wallets in the LLC's name, or even pursue DeFi strategies. While it offers maximum flexibility, it also comes with higher setup costs, more responsibility, and the need for larger balances to justify the fees.

Most investors will be best served with a custodial account. Checkbook control tends to make sense only for very experienced traders who understand on-chain security and want that extra level of control.

The Best Crypto IRAs: Our Ranking Criteria

When ranking these platforms, I put the most weight on fees and security. Having access to more coins can be nice, but let's be honest — trading meme coins inside a retirement account isn't a smart long-term move. That's why I ranked cost and safety above everything else, while still factoring in asset variety and overall user experience.

Here's my rundown of the top crypto IRA platforms:

• iTrustCapital: Best for cost-conscious investors and long-term buy-and-hold.
• IRA Financial: Best for experienced investors wanting checkbook control.
• Fidelity IRA. Best for accounts who only want exposure to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
• Alto: Best for small accounts who want access to more coins.
• Rocket Dollar: Ideal for advanced DIY self-custody users.
• Bitcoin IRA: Only for those prioritizing staking despite high fees.
• Choice: Not recommended due to regulatory concerns.

#1. iTrustCapital

iTrustCapital is a self-directed IRA provider specializing in cryptocurrencies and precious metals. Founded in 2018, it has processed more than $10 billion in transactions and serves over 200,000 accounts.

iTrustCapital customers can set up traditional, Roth and SEP IRA accounts. iTrustCapital also has an IRA rollover function that lets you transfer crypto you currently hold within an IRA to minimize transfer time; they're the only provider we identified that offers this feature. 

iTrustCapital supports more than 80 digital currencies, and crypto assets are held with institutional storage providers (Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks). Fees are straightforward: a flat 1% per transaction, with no monthly, annual, or setup costs.

iTrustCapital is best suited for crypto-focused investors who want to buy and hold popular blue-chip assets while keeping fees as low as possible over time.

iTrustCapital Pros:

• No monthly, annual, setup, exit, commission fee
• Features crypto custody provided by Coinbase Custody & Fireblocks, which secures assets with cold storage, MPC, and HSM
• Offers the option to transfer a crypto IRA from another IRA provider.
• Has competitive transaction fees for buys and sells.
• Allows staking for Solana
• Highest third-party review scores of any platform

iTrustCapital Cons:

• $1,000 account minimum investment requirement.
• $500 minimum for additional contributions.
• Does not support stocks or other traditional assets, nor does it support alternative assets besides crypto and metals.

To learn more, read our iTrustCapital Review.

Visit the iTrustCapital website.

#2. IRA Financial

IRA Financial is a self-directed IRA custodian that stands out for offering both custodial and checkbook control IRAs, along with one of the broadest ranges of account types in the industry. In addition to standard IRAs, clients can open Solo 401(k)s, HSAs, and even Coverdell ESAs. Founded in 2010, IRA Financial now manages over $4 billion for 24,000+ clients nationwide.

Where IRA Financial shines is checkbook control. With this structure, you establish an IRA-owned LLC, allowing you to invest almost anywhere — from trading crypto directly on-chain to buying real estate or private equity deals. This flexibility comes with more responsibility, but for experienced investors it provides unmatched control.

On the crypto side, IRA Financial partners with Bitstamp, a regulated exchange. Investors own crypto directly, with custody handled through Bitstamp's cold storage. There's a flat $100 annual crypto fee plus a 1% trading fee.

IRA Financial is best suited for experienced investors or business owners who want multiple account types under one roof, or those who value the ability to use checkbook control for greater flexibility.

IRA Financial Pros:

• Offers both custodial and checkbook control IRAs
• Supports a wide range of accounts (IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, HSAs, ESAs, ROBS)
• Crypto custody via Bitstamp with cold storage and insurance
• Offers in-house compliance/tax filing ($299/year after the first year)

IRA Financial Cons:

• Higher setup costs for checkbook control ($999 setup)
• Annual fees ($495) less appealing for smaller accounts
• Better fit for DIY investors comfortable sourcing their own deals

To learn more, read our IRA Financial Review.

Visit the IRA Financial website.

#3. Fidelity Crypto IRA

Fidelity's entry into the crypto IRA space in 2025 was a major milestone for the industry. Through Fidelity Digital Assets®, investors can now buy and hold crypto directly in a tax-advantaged retirement account with the backing of one of the most established names in financial services.

Fidelity Crypto® IRAs support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin only.

There are no account opening, maintenance, or custody fees. Instead, Fidelity charges an approximately 1% spread on each crypto buy and sell. Unlike some competitors, there are no monthly subscription costs.

Security is a key selling point. Fidelity Digital Assets® provides cold storage custody, with most assets held offline and never lent out. Cash balances are FDIC-insured at Citibank, N.A. up to applicable limits. Assets are custodied in omnibus wallets, with customer ownership tracked on Fidelity's books. While crypto itself is not FDIC- or SIPC-insured, Fidelity offers its own Customer Protection Guarantee against unauthorized access.

Fidelity Crypto® IRAs are linked to a Fidelity brokerage IRA, which acts as the funding account. You can transfer or roll over funds into the brokerage IRA, then move them into the linked crypto IRA to trade.

Fidelity Crypto® IRA Pros:

• Backed by Fidelity, one of the largest and most established financial institutions
• No setup, custody, or maintenance fees; only ~1% trading spread
• Institutional-grade custody through Fidelity Digital Assets® (cold storage)
• FDIC insurance on cash balances up to limits at Citibank, N.A.
• Strong customer protection policies and 24/7 support

Fidelity Crypto® IRA Cons:

• Very limited crypto selection (BTC, ETH, LTC only)
• No staking, DeFi, or self-custody options
• Only available in 38 states

Visit Fidelity's website.

#4. Alto IRA

When you open an Alto crypto IRA, Alto provides the account management features (such as IRS reporting) while Coinbase provides the crypto exchange and custodial services.

Alto's partnership with Coinbase means you have access to the same wide selection of coins available on the Coinbase exchange (more than 250).

Alto's fee structure is one of the most straightforward among the crypto IRA providers on this list. The company doesn't charge any maintenance fees, nor does it have a minimum investment requirement. Alto only charges a 1% cryptocurrency trading fee (which includes the Coinbase fee).

Note that one downside is that Alto's crypto IRA can only hold crypto — not other assets, like real estate, mutual funds and stocks. While you can invest in alternative assets with the company, you would need to open a separate IRA account to do so and pay a minimum $10 per month fee.

Alto IRA Pros:

• Alto is a low-fee Bitcoin IRA company with no maintenance or custodial costs.
• All cryptocurrency trading and custodial services happen through Coinbase.
• The platform gives you access to 250+ cryptocurrencies. 
• It has a user-friendly interface with a quick onboarding process.

Alto IRA Cons:

• Alto's crypto IRA can't hold any type of alternative investment asset other than digital currencies.
• The company is a newcomer to the industry.
• Lower scores on third-party review sites (BBB/TrustPilot) that iTrustCapital

To learn more, check out our Alto IRA review. 

Visit Alto IRA's website.

#5. Rocket Dollar

Rocket Dollar is a self-directed retirement account provider for individual investors who want to diversify into alternative assets.

Unlike many other providers, Rocket Dollar offers both a Classic plan (where transactions flow through a custodian) and a Gold plan (where they set up a retirement-owned LLC or trust, giving you “checkbook control”). With checkbook control, you can invest directly in almost any asset allowed by the IRS, from crypto and real estate to startups and precious metals.

If you want to use Rocket Dollar for crypto, you can open exchange accounts in the name of your IRA LLC or Solo 401(k). This lets you trade at platforms like Gemini or Kraken, and even use hardware wallets — giving you more control than most custodial crypto IRAs.

The trade-off is higher costs. The Classic plan costs $360 setup + $30/month, while Gold costs $600 setup + $40/month. Setup and funding can take several days to weeks depending on your custodian and state filings.

Rocket Dollar is best suited for experienced, hands-on investors who want self-custody, access to DeFi/staking, or the ability to combine crypto with other private investments. It's less attractive for beginners or small balances, where the subscription fees eat into returns.

Rocket Dollar Pros:

• Supports multiple exchanges and even hardware wallets for crypto
• Offers Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s

Rocket Dollar Cons:

• Higher setup and monthly costs, especially for smaller accounts
• Longer setup/funding timeline due to LLC formation
• Investors are responsible for wallet security and IRS compliance (e.g., UBTI, prohibited transactions)

To learn more, read our Rocket Dollar Review. 

#6. Bitcoin IRA

Bitcoin IRA was one of the earliest crypto IRA providers, launching in 2016. It has grown to serve more than 170,000 users and over $2 billion in transactions. Assets are custodied with Digital Trust, a Nevada-chartered trust company, and secured by BitGo with multi-signature wallets, cold storage, and SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Where Bitcoin IRA stands out is staking support. Unlike most competitors, it allows you to earn rewards on Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), and Solana (SOL), with Polkadot coming soon. That said, custodial staking inside an IRA remains a gray area from a tax perspective, and the platform's high fees eat away at rewards. For example, between a 30% custodian fee, Coinbase's 4–6% cut, and the platform's $20/month minimum account fee, you need a significant balance staked just to break even.

Fees are the biggest drawback. Between the setup charge, 2% trade fee, and ongoing maintenance costs, Bitcoin IRA is one of the most expensive options in this space. On a $15,000 account, first-year costs can exceed $700 versus about $150 at iTrustCapital. Even in later years, annual costs remain much higher than peers.

Bitcoin IRA Pros:

• Among the earliest and largest crypto IRA platforms
• Offers staking for ETH, ADA, and SOL (rare in this industry)

Bitcoin IRA Cons:

• Very high fees (setup, trading, and monthly)
• Staking rewards significantly reduced by platform fees
• Complex fee structure, less transparent than competitors

I don't have a dedicated review of Bitcoin IRA, but you can learn more about the platform in my article on Bitcoin IRA vs. iTrustCapital.

Visit the Bitcoin IRA website.

#7. Choice by Kingdom Trust

Choice IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account custodian service from Kingdom Trust. It's a low-fee platform specializing in crypto IRAs, but it also supports investments in traditional assets like stocks and ETFs.

With Choice IRA, you can open a traditional or Roth IRA that you can use to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through Kraken's digital asset exchange. Retirement accounts at Choice can invest in 25 different coins, with low fees that max out at 1.26%. 

Customers can select from one of three account plans: No Annual Fee, Cold Storage and Hold Your Keys. The main difference between these plans is where your Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are held.

• For No Annual Fee subscribers, your cryptocurrencies are loaned out to earn revenue for the company (this revenue isn't shared with you but does provide you the ability to trade for free). 
• Assets in Cold Storage retirement accounts are held securely by Fidelity Digital Assets.
• Hold Your Keys account holders can manage their own coins through a cold storage solution provided by Casa.

However, Choice ranks last on our list due to significant regulatory violations. In 2023, FinCEN assessed Kingdom Trust a $1.5 million penalty for willful Bank Secrecy Act violations.

Choice IRA Pros:

• Provides different custody options for the digital currencies in your cryptocurrency IRA, including self-custody.
• Competitive fee structure with low costs for account maintenance and trading.
• Cryptocurrency investing provided by Kraken.
• Choice retirement accounts can also invest in stocks and ETFs.

Choice IRA Cons:

• Choice IRA is a young company with a limited track record.
• Customer support is only available via chatbot.
• With the free account, your assets are loaned out to earn revenue for the company. No insurance is provided on these loans. 

Read our Choice IRA Review.

Visit Choice's Website.

Compare Top Crypto IRA Platforms

Looking to dive deeper into specific providers? We've published in-depth reviews and side-by-side comparisons to help you evaluate fees, features, and fit.

Explore the guides below to find the best crypto IRA for your needs:

Best Cryptocurrency IRA Company: FAQs