How to Buy Polkadot Coin (DOT) in the UK- Invest with Low Fees Today

As of mid-May 2021, Polkadot (DOT) is the 8th largest cryptocurrency in the world with a market cap of $38 billion. This coin has generated an YTD return of around 465% and is considered by many analysts and crypto enthusiasts as one of the most important projects for the development of the cryptocurrency market and DeFi applications.

So, if you have landed on this page, you are likely to be interested in buying the Polkadot coin. In this article, we show you how to buy Polkadot (DOT) in the UK and where best to buy Polkadot. We also analyze the coin’s features and strengths, historical price performance, and Polkadot price predictions.

How to Buy Polkadot Coin in the UK – Quick Guide

Below is a quick step-by-step process that will help you buy Polkadot immediately without going into details.

• Go to the eToro exchange
• Create your account and verify your identity by completing the KYC process.
• Deposit funds into your account through bank transfer or debit card
• Search ‘Polkadot’ in the drop-down menu
• Tap on the ‘Trade’ icon, select an amount of DOT you want to buy and then open the trade

How to Buy Polkadot Coin in the UK?

If you are ready to buy Polkadot coin, in this section of our guide we’ll walk you through the steps using eToro.

Step 1: Create your account on the eToro platform

Go to the eToro platform’s official website and select “Join Now.” Fill in the necessary information, such as your name, address, user name, phone number, and email address, and then generate your login credentials. You can also use your Google or Facebook account to sign up.

Step 2: Complete the KYC (know-your-customer) process

You have to complete the KYC process by getting your identity verified after you have opened your account on the eToro platform. You can provide a copy of your passport or driver’s license to have your identity verified. Include a utility bill or bank statement as proof of address as well.

Step 3: Deposit money in your account

Once you have completed KYC process on the eToro platform, the next step is to fund it. You can fund your eToro account using a variety of methods. To fund your account, you can use a debit card – which is instant – or a bank account, which takes up to 48 hours to process.

GBP deposits come with a 0.5% fee.

Step 4: Search for “Polkadot” and place trades

After you’ve deposited funds into your account, go to the search bar and type in the name of the cryptocurrency (Polkadot) you want to purchase. Once you’ve entered the name of the cryptocurrency in which you want to invest, select “Trade.”

Enter the amount you want to invest in that cryptocurrency, and then click the “Open Trade” button to finish the transaction – all crypto trades attract a 1% fee.

Cryptoassets are highly volatile and past performance isn’t an indicator of future success. Invest at your own risk.

Where to Buy Polkadot Coin in November 2024

Wondering where to buy Polkadot coin? We’ll highlight 3 of the top crypto brokers where you can buy this popular altcoin.

1. eToro – Overall Best Crypto Exchange to Buy Polkadot

eToro is our top choice to buy Polkadot in the UK. The broker, which has more than 25 million customers globally, also offers over 70 cryptos including the most popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Dash, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic,, IOTA, Stellar, EOS, NEO, Tron, Zcash, Binance Coin, Tezos, Chainlink, Uniswap, and Dogecoin.

eToro also has features and tools including a Copy Trading tool that enables users to copy the trades of others, meaning they can become a passive trader. Also, users can invest directly in eToro’s managed copy portfolios. These allow them to copy multiple markets based on a predetermined strategy.

The platform also offers free crypto storage.

67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. No EU investor protection.

2. OKX – Crypto Exchange With User-Friendly Interface

OKX is a reputable cryptocurrency exchange that offers a reliable platform for buying and trading Polkadot (DOT) cryptocurrency. While OKX supports a wide range of digital assets, including popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, Polkadot investors particularly prefer the exchange for its affordable fees. 

As one of the leading exchanges in the industry, OKX ensures high liquidity and security for its users. The platform is known for its advanced trading features, including spot trading, futures trading, and margin trading, allowing traders to explore various strategies to maximize their investment potential.

OKX also stands out for its commitment to regulatory compliance. The exchange adheres to strict security measures and is regulated under Malta Financial Services, providing users with peace of mind regarding the safety of their funds and personal information.

Additionally, OKX offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced traders. The platform provides comprehensive charting tools, real-time market data, and a variety of order types to suit different trading preferences.

Your capital is at risk.

3. Bybit – Buy Polkadot Easily With Cryptocurrencies

Bybit is an excellent choice for investors looking to buy Polkadot (DOT) cryptocurrency. While Bybit primarily focuses on derivatives trading, it also offers spot trading options for a growing selection of digital assets, including popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and now Polkadot.

With its user-friendly interface and robust trading features, Bybit provides a seamless trading experience for both beginners and experienced traders. The platform is known for its advanced trading tools, including customizable charting options, order types, and risk management features, allowing users to execute their trading strategies effectively.

One of the key advantages of Bybit is its strong commitment to security. The platform implements industry-leading security measures, such as multi-signature cold wallet storage, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits, to ensure the safety of user funds.

Additionally, Bybit offers competitive trading fees and supports multiple fiat and cryptocurrency deposit options, making it convenient for users to onboard and trade Polkadot. 

Your capital is at risk.

4. Binance – Best Crypto Exchange to Buy Polkadot

If you still prefer to buy Polkadot crypto directly from an exchange and not via CFDs, then the first crypto exchange to take into consideration is Binance. This is simply the largest and most advanced cryptocurrency exchange in terms of daily volume and the selection of coins and features it offers.

Though Binance is in the process of applying for a UK license, however, it is clearly one of the most balanced exchanges in the industry. On this exchange, users get access to lots of features and tools as well as to make a one-time cryptocurrency purchase with a credit and debit card or getting access to a professional trading platform for active day traders.

Take note, however, that if you want to make a quick purchase of DOT coin, you can directly purchase DOT with a credit card on Binance.

Buy Polkadot (DOT) with Tether (USDT)

Another option is to first buy Bitcoin with a credit and debit card, and then exchange your Bitcoins (or any other coin you can buy with a credit and debit card) to Polkadot. Also, on Binance you can trade DOT versus different crypto coins including DOT/BNB, DOT, BTC, DOT/USDT, DOT/EUR, DOT/GBP, DOT/TRY, etc.

To sum up, if you plan on becoming an all-around crypto trader that explores all the benefits of the crypto market – Binance is the best platform. You can stake coins and get rewards, trade futures, vanilla options, and utilize margin trading.

Your capital is at risk.

AvaTrade – Legacy Crypto Trading Platform for Investors

AvaTrade is a forex and CFD broker. The service has been operating since 2006, and it is part of the Australia-based financial conglomerate Ava Group. AvaTrade is incorporated in the Republic of Ireland. But, it also has outlets in Japan, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands.

While it isn’t the most popular for crypto, AvaTrade offers several benefits. You get a broad collection of cousins, as well as outstanding education and research tools. The platform offers a quick and fully digital account opening process that shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes. Plus, you get a top-notch user experience and compatibility with different platforms.

Then, there is AvaOptions – a proprietary platform for retail forex and CFD options trading. Options are getting more popular in the crypto market, and AvaTrade offers a simple way to get into these instruments.

But, it’s not all good. AvaTrade offers a minimum deposit of $100, which is quite high. The platform’s fee structure is also quite complex, especially if you’d like to trade cryptocurrency CFDs. The platform also charges a pretty high inactivity fee of $50 quarterly after your first three months of no usage. After a year of non-use, AvaTrade will charge an annual administration fee of $100.

Your capital is at risk.

Polkadot Coin Payment Methods

Although crypto exchanges once made it difficult to buy altcoins like Polkadot, today it’s extremely simple to buy this token. Let’s take a look at some of the payment methods you can use to buy Polkadot coin.

Buy Polkadot Coin with PayPal

A popular way to buy Polkadot coin is with PayPal. The simplest way to buy Polkadot with PayPal is to find a broker that accepts PayPal as a method for funding your account.

You can also buy Bitcoin with PayPal directly. Once you have Bitcoin, you can transfer it to any cryptocurrency exchange and use Bitcoin to buy Polkadot coin.

Buy Polkadot Coin with Credit Card or Debit Card

Another simple way to buy Polkadot coin is with a credit card or debit card. Most top crypto trading platforms accept Visa and Mastercard payments. Funds appear instantly, so this is a good option if you want to buy Polkadot coin as quickly as possible.

Buy Polkadot Coin with Bank Transfer

Finally, you can buy Polkadot coin using a bank transfer. All of the top crypto trading platforms we reviewed accept bank transfers to buy Polkadot. Just keep in mind that these transfers can take a few days to complete, so you won’t be able to buy Polkadot instantly using this method.

What is Polkadot Coin?

In 2016, Polkadot was founded by Gavin Wood, a former Co-Founder of Ethereum, along with Robert Habermeier and Peter Czaban. The three have created the Web3 Foundation that was founded primarily to facilitate a fully functional and user-friendly decentralized web.

Polkadot, which is the flagship product of Web3 Foundation, is a platform that integrates diverse blockchain networks into one network, allowing these networks to transfer messages and data in a safe and secure way.

This is done by using parachains, which are independent blockchains operating in parallel within the Polkadot and Kusama networks. In other words, Polkadot is a heterogeneous, multi-blockchain technology.

The Polkadot (DOT) crypto is the main token of the Polkadot network. Essentially, it has three main purposes: the governance over the Polkadot network, staking, and bonding. It is not an ERC-20 token and is completely native to the Polkadot platform. And, the DOT does not have a maximum supply, meaning it is an inflationary currency.

Presently, there are over 1 billion coins in total supply and 687 million DOT coins that have already staked.

Why Buy Polkadot Coin? Polkadot Coin Analysis

Known as the ‘Ethereum killer’, Polkadot could be a major project in the future that will have a long-term and lasting impact in any industry where blockchain technology could work.

Simply put, Polkadot has the potential to create a network that is often regarded as ‘the blockchain of blockchains’, meaning it can solve one of the biggest problems of the cryptocurrency market and the blockchain technology in general, that is interoperability.

Thus, Polkadot software has the ability to connect various blockchains, including private to public networks and vice versa.

In general, most of Polkadot’s users are developers. So, in case you are excited about the Polkadot network and wish to become part of the community, buying Polkadot will give you the right to participate in the decision-making process in relation to global upgrades and/or changes to Polkadot, participate in the governance of Polkadot, the ability to act as a validator, collator, nominator or fisherman, and the ability to be a collator.

Otherwise, if you have no interest in becoming a member of the Polkadot community and you simply want to make a profit by investing in DOT coins, then there are other factors to take into consideration.

First of all, Polkadot has a competition with Ethereum and Cardano. If Polkadot can grab a small market share from Ethereum (and Cardano) – then, there’s a huge upside potential here.

Then, over the last year, there’s a huge hype around the Polkadot application. Some say that it is the missing link to making fully decentralized global trade and other networks online.

And, though there are other networks like Cosmos trying to do a very similar thing, Polkadot has the most advanced and promising technology. As such, many investors believe Polkadot could be the next Ethereum.

Polkadot Coin Price

In terms of Polkadot price performance, this coin is not different than any other leading crypto coin in the market. Since its second ICO in August 2020, the Polkadot price was trading at a fairly steady rate of around $3-$5 per one DOT coin.

In November, the coin has reached its all-time high level of $55.13 or £40.71.

Polkadot Coin Price Prediction

Due to the uncertainty that still floats above the cryptocurrency market, predicting the future price of Polkadot is quite a challenge. Currently, the cryptocurrency market is very volatile and cryptocurrency prices can change very quickly.

For example, at the time of this writing, the Polkadot price has dropped nearly 15%, largely due to Elon Musk’s announcement and the Bitcoin sell-off that started during the previous week. But then, it gained around 13% and is currently trading at $41.07 per one Polkadot crypto.

In general, predicting price movements in the cryptocurrency market is a tricky task. Thus, these Polkadot price predictions can be used as a price target if DOT’s price keeps rising rather than an incentive to enter into a position.

Nonetheless, many analysts in the crypto market predict that Polkadot could hit $100 by the end of the year, and around $500 in 2025.

Polkadot vs Dogecoin

Polkadot is certainly one of the most attractive digital assets in the market right now. And, it seems like DOT is an excellent long term investment due to the value of its technology and what it might bring to the development of the crypto market and particularly, the blockchain technology.

So, if you are looking for a coin that might rise in value in the long term, then Polkadot is a smart choice.

That said, Polkadot is not as attractive to investors as other coins like Dogecoin. And, as long as it’s not becoming a mainstream coin, it would be a challenge to predict the next move.

Dogecoin, on the other hand, is not the best long-term investment as it is not really clear what its usage and key points. However, if you are looking for a short-term speculative asset, then Dogecoin is, in fact, one of the best assets in the financial market these days.

Investing in Polkadot vs Trading Polkadot Coin

Like any other financial instrument, you can make a long-term investment in a DOT coin or use this coin for short-term speculation. For that matter, you need to make sure you choose an asset with enough liquidity so you can make profits from small price fluctuations and that you’ll always find other market participants in the chosen market.

DOT crypto coin has a daily average volume of $2-$5 billion, which makes it a good asset for day trading and scalping strategy.

With that in mind, unlike other altcoins in the crypto market, Polkadot seems to be one of the best long-term cryptocurrency investments, largely due to the sophisticated technology that can make blockchain networks much more efficient and useful.

Best Polkadot Wallets

If you have decided to buy Polkadot coin directly from a crypto exchange and not in the form of derivatives (futures, CFDs, options, etc), then you need a crypto wallet to safely store your coins.

Fortunately, most crypto exchanges offer you to store your coins on a built-in wallet that is part of the platform.

Your digital coins are, therefore, stored on the exchange’s corporate wallet and as such, you need to ensure you use all the protection measures you can take in order to prevent any hacking or other cyber attacks.

Binance is also offering an excellent crypto wallet, known as the Binance Trust Wallet. This wallet has never had a major hacking and is considered among the safest hot wallets in the market.

It also comes with lots of features and does not require another installation – it is a built wallet inside the Binance DEX application.

Finally, another option that is much safer (but is not very convenient) is to store your crypto coins on a hardware wallet, also known as a cold wallet. This is simply an external device that connects to your computer (like USB), and therefore, is not connected to any internet network.

UK Taxation on Polkadot Earnings

In the UK, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued guidelines defining taxable and non-taxable events. The taxes levied on Polkadot are the same as those levied on regular income. Losses incurred while holding this crypto-asset can be deducted from the total taxable income generated by your DOT coins, and such losses can be carried forward to the following year.

Polkadot are subject to capital gains tax if they are sold, received as a form of payment for work or mining, exchanged for another cryptocurrency, or used to purchase goods and services. The HMRC rules also allow taxpayers to determine how much capital gain is taxable. When calculating capital gains tax, you must deduct certain allowable expenses from your gains.

The allowable expenses could include transaction fees, which has to be incurred before the transaction is uploaded to the blockchain, valuations used to calculate gains for a specific transaction, costs associated with contract drafting for a transaction, buyer or seller advertising fees, and so on.

To arrive at an actual taxable total, capital losses can be offset against gains; however, these losses must first be declared to HMRC. The two main types of capital profits are short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. Profits earned from selling a cryptocurrency held for less than a year are classified as short-term capital gains, whereas profits earned from selling a cryptocurrency held for more than a year are classified as long-term capital gains.

Short-term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than long-term capital gains. As a result, it’s always a good idea to hold onto your crypto assets for a longer period of time in order to avoid paying capital gains taxes on them.

Responsible Investing

Always do your own research (DYOR), consult several sources of information and don’t go ‘all in’ on one cryptocurrency, especially an altcoin – diversify your portfolio by holding some Bitcoin as well and also keep some of your capital in cash so you can buy the dip to get a better average entry if the crypto market corrects (as it did in January 2022, alongside the stock market). Read our guide to responsible investing in crypto.

eToro – Best Way to Buy Polkadot

In summary, Polkadot is, without a doubt, one of the most promising projects in the crypto sphere. When we look ahead – if the Web3 Foundation succeeds to achieve its future goals, the Polkadot price is expected to continue rising over the long term.

After reading this guide, you now have the necessary information on how and where to buy Polkadot crypto. Platforms like eToro and Binance offer you the best-trading experience and most importantly, the safest way to buy DOT coin.

FAQs