Investors who fully understand cryptocurrency and want to invest in this alternative asset through their retirement savings can use a self-directed individual retirement account (IRA). To be clear, a crypto IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account (SDIRA) that holds bitcoin investments.
Bitcoin Custodian for IRA
Previously, it was challenging to find a custodian that would accept Bitcoin in an IRA. The narrative has since changed with the creation of players such as Alto CryptoIRA, Bitcoin IRA, BitIRA, and Equity Trust. You can’t invest Bitcoin in a pre-existing, regular IRA that holds your stocks, bonds, ETFs, or mutual funds.
Revenue Ruling 78-406 states that the direct transfer of funds from one IRA trustee to another does not result in a penalty for the distribution of funds as defined in Section 408 (d). Bitcoin IRA offers a solution for those who want to move their retirement account outside the traditional market. A Bitcoin IRA will generally charge a minimum monthly account fee, a holding fee, a founding fee, and fees for money transfers and asset purchases. That means you need to find a custodian that will host your self-directed ira and allow you to make cryptocurrency trades.
Roth IRAs are preferred by investors who expect to fall into a higher tax bracket when they retire and withdraw money from the account. Consult with your financial advisor to decide whether cryptocurrency in an IRA is the right strategy for your investment portfolio. Specific investments in a Roth IRA are restricted, including the direct purchase of property for personal use. Cryptocurrency is a volatile market. Research independently and invest only what you can afford to lose.
Crypto assets regulations continue to evolve, still, many brokers do not allow direct investment in cryptocurrencies via Roth-IRAs. We will update this guide as the regulation changes.
