<p>It is about the blockchain. A transaction goes in to a block and gets stacked on the blockchain. This process takes a lot of cryptographic processing power, which is done by miners. This process becomes practically irreversible as more block go up the chain.</p>

<p>So the power of bitcoin is its guarantee a transaction is becoming irreversible and definitive as the blockchain grows. This means, you buy Bitcoin it is yours. Yes, if it is still in the exchange they hold the private key to respend your BTC, but they won't hold the lock forever.</p>

<p>Chargeback is one thing. A stolen credit card another. Credit card fraud is at large scales currently. All this is putting a big administrative overhead on the exchanges. Users will have to do all sorts off verification to prove the credit card is really theirs. So, that 10% is the administration fee for all that, plus risk mitigation. Also I believe, that withdrawal is restricted anyway, regardless of this fee.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-05T09:06:32.253Z
If I go to a currency exchange shop and use my credit card to buy Euro banknotes I don't pay a 10% admin fee even though the chargeback or stolen-card risk is the same as you describe.
RedGrittyBrick
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-05T09:28:51.137Z
Where I'm from, you identify with a passport to the exchange and you sign the exchange receipt. In case you issue charge-back, the exchange will submit this as evidence it was actually you doing the buy and not some fraud. Probably they even have surveillance camera's. This is more difficult to prove when the exchange is online.
Tim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-05T08:44:37.040Z
2019-06-05T08:44:37.040Z
Tim
<p>There are many sites accepting credit cards to buy Bitcoin, but they charges a huge fee, sometimes is more than 10% (and I think never less than 5%).<br>
Why is that? <strong>what is the problem with buying Bitcoin with CC?</strong> because usually buying via bank transfer has no extra cost.   </p>

<p>I think could be related to some chargeback protection, but if this is the case, is not possible for example to block the "withdraw" of BTC from the seller account for a few days (or whatever is safe to avoid chargebacks)?</p>

<p>Sorry if it's duplicate but I couldn't find the answer neiter here nor google :(</p>

<buy-bitcoins><bitcoin-credit-card>
Why is so expensive to buy Bitcoin with Credit Card?
Enrique
# Why is so expensive to buy Bitcoin with Credit Card?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-04)

There are many sites accepting credit cards to buy Bitcoin, but they charges a huge fee, sometimes is more than 10% (and I think never less than 5%).  
Why is that? **what is the problem with buying Bitcoin with CC?** because usually buying via bank transfer has no extra cost.

I think could be related to some chargeback protection, but if this is the case, is not possible for example to block the "withdraw" of BTC from the seller account for a few days (or whatever is safe to avoid chargebacks)?

Sorry if it's duplicate but I couldn't find the answer neiter here nor google :(

**Tags:** buy-bitcoins, bitcoin-credit-card


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-06-05. Score: 0

It is about the blockchain. A transaction goes in to a block and gets stacked on the blockchain. This process takes a lot of cryptographic processing power, which is done by miners. This process becomes practically irreversible as more block go up the chain.

So the power of bitcoin is its guarantee a transaction is becoming irreversible and definitive as the blockchain grows. This means, you buy Bitcoin it is yours. Yes, if it is still in the exchange they hold the private key to respend your BTC, but they won't hold the lock forever.

Chargeback is one thing. A stolen credit card another. Credit card fraud is at large scales currently. All this is putting a big administrative overhead on the exchanges. Users will have to do all sorts off verification to prove the credit card is really theirs. So, that 10% is the administration fee for all that, plus risk mitigation. Also I believe, that withdrawal is restricted anyway, regardless of this fee.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: If I go to a currency exchange shop and use my credit card to buy Euro banknotes I don't pay a 10% admin fee even though the chargeback or stolen-card risk is the same as you describe.  
> **username_1**: Where I'm from, you identify with a passport to the exchange and you sign the exchange receipt. In case you issue charge-back, the exchange will submit this as evidence it was actually you doing the buy and not some fraud. Probably they even have surveillance camera's. This is more difficult to prove when the exchange is online.  

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