Independent comparison
Buy & securely store Bitcoin
An overview of the providers we recommend on Bitcoin21st.de – with their key strengths and weaknesses side by side, so you can make the choice that fits you best.
01
Buy Bitcoin
Before building your first position, you'll choose a way to acquire bitcoin. Here are the most relevant providers from our “Buy Bitcoin” section, compared side by side.
Our pick
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21bitcoin
Strengths
- Very beginner-friendly, buy in a few clicks
- Low, flexible fees with savings-plan discount
- Automatic transfer straight to your own hardware wallet
Weaknesses
- Only available as an app, no web interface
- Full verification (KYC) required
- Based in Austria, primarily geared to DACH customers
Ledger - Live
Strengths
- Purchase flows directly into your own Ledger wallet
- Wide range of payment methods depending on country
- Well-known, established brand with a large user base
Weaknesses
- Fees usually higher than dedicated crypto exchanges
- Limited payment options in some countries
- Full functionality requires owning Ledger hardware
Kraken
Strengths
- One of the oldest, most established exchanges (since 2011)
- Extensive 24/7 support incl. live chat
- Regulated, including a MiCA license
Weaknesses
- Geared more toward advanced users
- Standard fee around 1% plus spread
- Support communication mostly in English
02
Store Bitcoin
Once you've bought bitcoin, how you store it determines how secure it really is. Hardware wallets are considered the safest way to hold your own private key – here are the differences between the models we recommend.
Our pick
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Bitbox - Hardwarewallet
Strengths
- Firmware and app fully open source
- Bitcoin-only edition for maximum security focus
- Lean codebase reduces the attack surface
Weaknesses
- No iOS/iPhone support
- Touch controls take a bit of getting used to
- Limited selection of supported cryptocurrencies
Ledger - Hardwarewallet
Strengths
- Very broad support for different cryptocurrencies
- Large, active user base and lots of documentation
- Convenient companion app with buy/swap features
Weaknesses
- Secure-element firmware not fully open source
- A 2020 data leak exposed customer data (not funds)
Trezor - Hardwarewallet
Strengths
- Oldest hardware wallet maker (since 2014)
- Hardware and firmware fully open source
- Large independent security community audits the code
Weaknesses
- Interface feels less polished by comparison
- Older models had known physical attack vectors, since patched
03
Bitcoin & Tax
Bitcoin gains are taxable in most countries. Tax tools automate tracking your transactions and generating the reports you need – here's how our recommended providers differ.
Our pick
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Cointracking
Strengths
- One of the longest-established tax tools (since 2013)
- Very broad exchange/wallet support via API or CSV
- Detailed, customizable reports
Weaknesses
- Interface feels complex for beginners
- Can get expensive at high transaction volumes
- Tax reports sometimes need manual follow-up
Accointing
Strengths
- Clear, beginner-friendly interface
- Portfolio tracking and tax report in one app
- Mobile app available
Weaknesses
- Fewer countries with full tax compliance than competitors
- Fewer features for complex DeFi transactions
Blockpit
Strengths
- Specialized in German/Austrian/EU tax rules
- Automatic country-specific tax reports
- Modern, clean interface
Weaknesses
- Mainly built for DACH tax law, less relevant elsewhere
- Full feature set often needs a higher-tier plan
- Importing complex DeFi history can be cumbersome