How a Crypto IRA Works: Open, Fund & Trade

Eligibility Requirements

Before opening a Coin IRA account, confirm the basic account eligibility requirements.

✓ Be a U.S. citizen or green card holder with a Social Security number.

✓ Have a legal residential address located within the United States.

✓ Be at least 18 years old.

Three Steps to Get Started

Coin IRA keeps the account process straightforward: apply online, choose the funding path that fits your current account, then trade supported cryptocurrency and Flex Fractional Metals after funds arrive.

Open Your Account

Create your login credentials and choose between a Crypto IRA and a Capital Freedom non-IRA account. The application takes about 5 minutes, and the minimum starting investment is $5,000.

Fund Your Account

IRA accounts can be funded through a transfer, rollover, or eligible contribution. Individual taxable accounts can be funded by wire, ACH, check, or Plaid bank linking.

Start Trading

Once funds arrive, you can buy and sell supported cryptocurrency and Flex Fractional Metals through your secure Coin IRA dashboard.

Funding Your IRA Account

Choose the funding method that fits your current retirement account situation.

Transfer

Transfer all or part of the funds from a cash or cash equivalent position in an existing IRA of the same type. Simply provide the current custodian's information along with your account number, and electronically sign the transfer document emailed to you via DocuSign in just a few minutes. We handle the rest.

Rollover

Open a compatible IRA: pre-tax funds roll into a Traditional IRA, after-tax funds into a Roth. Once your account is approved, call your plan provider with the rollover instructions in hand. No advance liquidation, no taxable event, and no penalty on eligible funds.

Read the 401(k) rollover guide →

Contribution

Contribute all or part of your annual eligible contribution amount based on IRS guidelines. Consult your tax advisor to confirm eligibility and contribution limits.

Rolling Over a 401(k)? Here Is What to Expect

Moving retirement funds is the step most new investors worry about, and it is more routine than it sounds. A direct rollover from a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or another IRA into a Cryptocurrency IRA is not a taxable event and carries no tax penalty: the funds move custodian-to-custodian and never pass through your hands.

As soon as your account is approved and your new account number is assigned, you are ready to contact your existing plan administrator with the rollover instructions that will be provided to you on the Coin IRA Trading Platform.

✓ No tax penalty with a direct rollover or transfer
✓ No need to liquidate your employer-plan assets in advance
✓ Coin IRA provides rollover instructions

How Is a Crypto IRA Different From a Crypto 401(k)?

Coin IRA offers self-directed IRA accounts, not a 401(k) plan. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan governed by the employer's plan rules. A Crypto IRA is an individual retirement account administered through a qualified custodian that can hold supported cryptocurrency and other available alternative assets.

If you have an eligible 401(k) from a former employer or qualify for a distribution under your current plan, you may be able to move eligible retirement funds into a compatible Crypto IRA. A properly completed direct rollover can generally move the funds without creating a current taxable distribution. Eligibility and procedures depend on the employer plan and custodian, so confirm the rollover instructions before requesting a distribution.

Learn how a 401(k) to Crypto IRA rollover works →

Choose the Account Type That Fits

Coin IRA supports retirement and taxable account paths.

Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, and Inherited IRAs

Use an IRA when you want cryptocurrency and alternative assets inside a retirement account structure.

Capital Freedom Account

Use an individual taxable account when you want no IRA contribution limits and flexible access outside retirement distribution rules.

Supported Assets

Trade supported cryptocurrency and Flex Fractional Metals after the account is approved and funded.

Funding Your Individual Taxable Account

Individual non-IRA accounts offer flexible funding options with no IRA contribution limits.

After account approval, Coin IRA provides funding instructions based on the method you choose.

✓ Wire transfer
✓ ACH transfer
✓ Check
✓ Connect your bank securely through Plaid

Start Trading

Once your account receives funds, you can place trades through the Coin IRA platform.

Select an Asset

Choose from supported cryptocurrencies or Flex Fractional Metals, including gold, silver, and platinum.

Choose Order Size

Trade by dollar amount, whole or fractional quantity, or Buy Max when you want to use all available funds for the selected asset.

Submit Your Order

Review the transparent order details. Click "Submit", and your price is locked in. Your trade settles in 1 business day for crypto, 2 business days for metals.

Cryptocurrency settlement → Metals settlement → Fees & pricing → Security & custody → Account FAQs →