LemonTrades
TL;DR
- Three ways: a crypto exchange such as Coinbase or Kraken, a broker app such as Robinhood, or a spot ether ETF in any brokerage account.
- On an exchange: open an account, verify your ID, add money from your bank, then buy. You can start with a few dollars.
- Decide where to keep it: on the exchange is simplest, a wallet you control is safer from exchange failures but easier to lose.
- LemonTrades tells you what moved ether and bitcoin, and why, as it happens, with alerts on sharp moves.
Ethereum is the network; ether (ETH) is the coin you buy. Here’s how to get some.
The three ways
| Crypto exchange | Broker app | Spot ETH ETF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini | Robinhood, Webull | BlackRock’s ETHA, Fidelity’s FETH |
| You own | Real ether | Real ether, usually | Fund shares |
| Move it to a wallet | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Trades | Any time | Any time | Stock market hours |
| Costs | Spreads and fees | Spreads | A yearly fee of about 0.15–0.25% |
| Fits in an IRA | Rarely | Rarely | Yes |
Buying on an exchange, step by step
- Sign up and verify your identity. US exchanges must check ID.
- Link your bank account or debit card. Bank transfers usually cost less.
- Choose ETH, enter an amount in dollars, and check the total, including fees.
- Use the “advanced” trade screen for lower fees, or a limit order to set your price.
- Turn on two-factor authentication with an app, not text messages.
Where to keep it
- On the exchange: easy, but you rely on the company. FTX’s collapse in 2022 locked customers out.
- In your own wallet: you hold the keys. Write your recovery phrase on paper, never share it, and never type it into a website. If it’s lost, the ether is gone.
Taxes
The IRS treats crypto as property. Selling, swapping or spending ether can create a taxable gain or loss, and US exchanges now report sales on Form 1099-DA. Keep records of what you paid.
Before you buy
Ether can fall far: it has dropped more than 75% in past bear markets, and it’s down from its 2025 record. Buy only what you could lose. See will crypto go back up and should you buy bitcoin now. Comparing coins? See is Solana a good investment.
Sources
Education, not financial advice. Crypto can fall sharply and you can lose all of your money. See our disclaimer.
