Fidelity Crypto is a digital-asset service from Fidelity that allows eligible U.S. customers to buy, sell, hold, and transfer selected cryptocurrencies. The service is available through Fidelity.com and the Fidelity Investments mobile app, so customers can manage their crypto holdings alongside other accounts on the platform.
The service is provided by Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association, rather than Fidelity Brokerage Services. That distinction is important because direct cryptocurrency custody and trading operate under a different structure from Fidelity’s traditional brokerage services.
For anyone researching the platform, the main questions usually involve fees, available cryptocurrencies, account requirements, security, transfers, and retirement accounts. Understanding those details gives a much clearer picture than simply looking at the list of available coins.
Quick Information Table
| Feature | Current Details |
| Service | Fidelity Crypto |
| Provider | Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association |
| Access | Fidelity.com and Fidelity Investments app |
| Eligibility | U.S. citizens age 18+ in supported states |
| Minimum to open | No minimum initial investment |
| Minimum crypto purchase | $1 |
| Trading fee | 1% on crypto buy and sell transactions |
| Holding fee | No custody fee |
| Available assets | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Fidelity Digital Dollar, Litecoin, Solana |
| Crypto IRA | Traditional, Roth, and rollover IRA |
| IRA assets | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Solana |
| Trading order types | Market and limit |
| Staking | Not currently offered |
| FDIC insurance for crypto | No |
| SIPC protection for crypto | No |
| Trading access | Web and mobile |
| Crypto risk | Highly volatile asset class |
What Is Fidelity Crypto?
At its core, the service gives eligible customers a way to buy and sell actual supported cryptocurrencies through Fidelity’s platform.
It is not a cryptocurrency itself and it is not a new blockchain. Instead, it is an account and custody service that provides access to selected digital assets.
Fidelity currently lists Bitcoin, Ethereum, Fidelity Digital Dollar, Litecoin, and Solana as available assets for standard accounts, although availability can depend on the customer’s state. The company says it continues to evaluate additional cryptocurrencies for future availability.
This makes the service different from a traditional brokerage account. A normal Fidelity brokerage account can provide access to stocks, ETFs, and other securities, but Fidelity says its brokerage business does not provide direct custody or trading of cryptocurrencies.
Who Provides the Service?
The cryptocurrency side of Fidelity’s business is handled by Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association.
Fidelity describes this organization as a national trust bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC. It provides custody and trading services for digital assets. This structure helps explain why a customer may see crypto and traditional investments within the same broader Fidelity ecosystem while the underlying services remain separate.
The distinction is also important when discussing protections. Cryptocurrency does not receive the same regulatory treatment as securities held through Fidelity Brokerage Services.
Supported Cryptocurrencies
The current selection includes five assets for standard accounts:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Solana (SOL)
The list is smaller than what some dedicated cryptocurrency exchanges offer. That can matter to investors who want access to smaller or newer tokens.
On the other hand, the limited selection makes the platform relatively straightforward for someone primarily interested in established assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Availability can vary by location, so customers should check their account before assuming that every listed cryptocurrency can be traded in their state.
Fidelity Digital Dollar
One asset on the list stands out from the others: Fidelity Digital Dollar, or FIDD.
FIDD is designed as a digital dollar rather than a traditional cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. Fidelity says purchases and sales of FIDD with U.S. dollars are not subject to the standard 1% crypto trading fee.
This product is part of Fidelity’s broader work in digital assets and blockchain-based financial products.
It should not, however, automatically be treated as identical to money held in a conventional bank deposit. Customers should read the relevant product disclosures before using it.
How Much Does It Cost?
The current trading charge is one of the most important details for anyone considering the service.
Fidelity Digital Assets charges a 1% fee on cryptocurrency buy and sell transactions. This applies to standard accounts as well as Fidelity Crypto IRAs.
There is currently no separate Fidelity custody fee for simply holding supported cryptocurrency.
That creates an important difference between trading costs and holding costs. A customer can keep crypto in the account without a custody charge, but buying or selling it generates the applicable trading fee.
Fees can change over time, so the current Fidelity fee information should be checked before placing a transaction.
Is There a Minimum Investment?
There is no minimum initial investment required to open a standard account.
The minimum order size for purchasing cryptocurrency is currently $1.
This means customers do not need enough money to purchase a complete Bitcoin or another full unit of cryptocurrency. They can purchase a dollar-denominated amount instead. The low minimum can make the service accessible to people who want to start with a small amount, although the minimum itself says nothing about the risk of the asset being purchased.
How Trading Works
Customers can access their account through Fidelity.com or the Fidelity Investments mobile app.
The platform currently supports market and limit orders.
A market order is designed to execute at the next available price. A limit order allows the customer to specify the price at which they are willing to buy or sell. A limit order does not guarantee execution. If the market does not reach the specified price during the applicable order period, the transaction may not take place. This distinction is important for beginners because cryptocurrency prices can move quickly, meaning the displayed market price can change between the time an order is entered and the time it is executed.
Trading Hours
Cryptocurrency markets operate differently from traditional stock markets.
The service currently provides crypto trading for 23 hours each day, from 1 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time. Fidelity also schedules maintenance periods that can temporarily interrupt access.
This gives customers substantially more trading availability than the standard U.S. stock-market session.
However, the additional hours also mean cryptocurrency prices can move significantly outside normal stock-market hours. Investors should therefore understand that digital assets can experience price changes at almost any time.
Opening an Account
Eligible U.S. customers can open an account through Fidelity’s website or mobile application.
Fidelity currently requires customers to be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and residents of a state where Fidelity Digital Assets provides service.
The service is not available outside the United States. Fidelity also lists certain U.S. territories where its crypto services are unavailable. State availability can change as regulations and product offerings develop, so customers should verify eligibility directly with Fidelity rather than relying on an older article or third-party comparison.
Who Can Use It?
The service is aimed at eligible individual investors who want direct exposure to supported cryptocurrencies through Fidelity’s ecosystem.
An existing Fidelity customer may find the setup familiar because the crypto account can appear alongside other Fidelity accounts. However, having a Fidelity brokerage account does not automatically mean that a person can purchase every cryptocurrency available elsewhere.
The account has its own eligibility requirements, supported assets, fees, and transfer rules.
Crypto and Retirement Accounts
One of the more distinctive parts of the offering is the ability to hold selected cryptocurrencies through a Crypto IRA.
Fidelity currently offers Traditional, Roth, and rollover IRA registrations for its crypto-focused retirement accounts.
The structure uses two connected accounts. A brokerage IRA acts as the funding account, while the dedicated crypto IRA is used for the cryptocurrency investment. This arrangement is different from simply purchasing a crypto-related exchange-traded product inside a normal brokerage IRA.
How the Crypto IRA Works
The process begins with an eligible brokerage IRA.
Money is contributed to that brokerage IRA according to the applicable retirement-account rules. The funds can then be moved into the connected crypto IRA for cryptocurrency purchases.
The crypto IRA itself is designed specifically for supported cryptocurrencies.
Fidelity explains that actual cryptocurrency cannot be placed directly inside a regular brokerage IRA. Investors wanting direct spot crypto exposure within an IRA use the dedicated crypto IRA structure instead.
This two-account arrangement is an important detail that is often missed in short explanations of the product.
Which Coins Are Available in the IRA?
The selection inside the retirement account is narrower than the standard account.
Current supported assets include:
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Solana
Fidelity’s current IRA documentation does not list Fidelity Digital Dollar among the cryptocurrencies available in its crypto IRAs.
State restrictions can also affect availability.
Crypto IRA Fees
There is currently no fee to open or maintain a Fidelity Crypto IRA, and Fidelity says there is no custody fee for crypto held in the account.
The 1% trading fee still applies to cryptocurrency purchases and sales.
This distinction is useful when comparing retirement accounts because an account can have no maintenance charge while still generating costs when investments are traded.
Investors should also consider the normal rules and potential tax consequences associated with their particular IRA type.
Traditional vs Roth Crypto IRA
A Traditional IRA and Roth IRA do not have identical tax treatment.
A Traditional IRA generally provides tax-deferred treatment under applicable rules, while qualified Roth IRA distributions can be tax-free when the relevant requirements are satisfied.
The investment itself does not remove the normal rules governing retirement accounts.
Fidelity states that its information is general and does not constitute individualized tax advice. Investors with questions about contributions, withdrawals, conversions, or distributions should consider speaking with a qualified tax professional.
Can You Transfer Crypto Into the IRA?
This is one of the most important limitations.
Cryptocurrency cannot currently be transferred directly into or out of a Fidelity Crypto IRA.
Instead, contributions are made in U.S. dollars through the linked brokerage IRA, and the money can then be moved into the crypto IRA.
That means someone holding Bitcoin in another wallet cannot simply send those coins directly into the Fidelity crypto retirement account.
This restriction is different from a regular crypto account, where eligible cryptocurrency transfers are supported.
Moving Crypto Into a Regular Account
Standard accounts do support cryptocurrency deposits.
Fidelity says it does not charge a fee for depositing crypto into a regular account, although the platform or wallet sending the cryptocurrency may charge its own fee.
The customer must use the correct wallet address and blockchain network.
Fidelity recommends making a small test deposit before sending a larger amount. This can help confirm that the address and network are correct.
That is particularly important because cryptocurrency transactions generally cannot simply be reversed after they are confirmed.
Security and Custody
Security is an important part of the service because customers are not simply buying a number on a screen.
Fidelity says it uses cold-vaulted storage, secure monitored facilities, and multiple security protocols to protect digital assets.
The company also says the majority of crypto is stored in cold storage, meaning the wallets are not continuously connected to the internet.
Keeping most assets offline can reduce exposure to certain online threats while still allowing the company to maintain systems for transactions and transfers.
What Is Cold Storage?
Cold storage means keeping cryptocurrency in a wallet that is not connected to the internet.
This approach is widely used in institutional cryptocurrency custody because online wallets can have greater exposure to internet-based attacks.
Fidelity says the majority of crypto held through its service is stored using cold-storage arrangements.
That does not make cryptocurrency risk-free. Account security, market risk, operational risks, and other factors still matter.
Is the Cryptocurrency FDIC Insured?
No.
This is an important point because Fidelity is a well-established financial-services company.
Cryptocurrency held through the service is not FDIC insured and is not protected by SIPC.
Fidelity also states that crypto is not an obligation of a bank and does not receive the same regulatory protections that apply to registered securities.
Therefore, investors should not assume that buying cryptocurrency through a major financial company gives the investment the same protections as a bank deposit or traditional security.
Cryptocurrency Investment Risk
Fidelity itself describes cryptocurrency as a highly volatile asset class.
The company warns that crypto can become illiquid, may be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities, and can result in the loss of an investor’s entire investment.
These risks exist regardless of which platform is used.
The reputation or security infrastructure of the service does not control the market price of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Litecoin, or other digital assets.
Investors therefore need to separate platform security from investment performance. A secure account can still contain an asset whose market value falls sharply.
Fidelity Crypto vs a Regular Brokerage Account
The two services are often confused.
A traditional Fidelity brokerage account provides access to investments such as stocks, ETFs, and other securities.
The dedicated crypto service provides direct access to supported cryptocurrencies.
A customer can therefore use Fidelity for both types of investing, but the accounts and services are not identical.
For example, Fidelity states that its regular brokerage IRAs cannot directly hold spot Bitcoin or spot Ethereum. They can instead provide access to eligible crypto-related exchange-traded products.
The dedicated crypto IRA is different because it is designed specifically for direct ownership of supported cryptocurrencies.
Does It Offer Staking?
Staking is not currently offered through the direct crypto service.
This may matter to investors who compare different platforms based on their ability to earn rewards from proof-of-stake assets.
The service is primarily focused on buying, selling, holding, custody, and transferring supported cryptocurrencies.
Customers should not assume that holding Solana or another eligible asset automatically produces staking rewards through the account.
Does It Support Crypto Futures?
The direct account is focused on spot cryptocurrency trading.
Customers buy or sell the actual supported digital asset rather than using the account primarily for cryptocurrency futures contracts.
That makes the product different from platforms or brokerage services that provide access to derivatives.
Anyone comparing services should look carefully at whether they want direct ownership, exchange-traded exposure, or derivatives because those products have different structures and risks.
Fidelity’s Background in Crypto
Fidelity’s involvement with digital assets predates the launch of its retail crypto service.
According to Fidelity, the company began mining Bitcoin in 2014 and established Fidelity Digital Assets in 2018.
That history helps explain why the company has developed dedicated custody infrastructure rather than simply adding a cryptocurrency button to its traditional brokerage platform.
The current service is therefore part of a longer digital-asset strategy rather than an entirely new experiment.
Tax Information
Cryptocurrency transactions can have tax consequences.
Fidelity provides tax-related information and records for transactions, including cost-basis information.
For standard accounts, the tax treatment can depend on factors such as the purchase price, sale price, holding period, and type of transaction.
Fidelity’s documentation explains that cost basis generally represents the amount paid for an asset plus applicable costs, and its crypto positions use a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis for recorded cost basis.
Tax rules can be complicated, so individual investors should not rely on a general online article for personalized tax advice.
Who Might Consider the Service?
The platform may be relevant to someone who already uses Fidelity and wants direct access to a limited selection of cryptocurrencies without opening an account with a separate crypto exchange.
It can also be relevant to investors specifically researching a crypto IRA.
The low $1 minimum may appeal to people who want to make small purchases.
However, the 1% trading fee, limited asset selection, lack of staking, and lack of FDIC or SIPC protection are all details that should be considered before making a decision.
What to Check Before Buying
Before purchasing cryptocurrency through the platform, an investor can review several basic points:
Check eligibility: Make sure the service is available in your state.
Review the fee: The current standard trading fee is 1% for eligible crypto transactions.
Check the asset: Confirm that the cryptocurrency you want is supported.
Understand the risk: Cryptocurrency prices can be highly volatile.
Review transfers: Understand the difference between regular accounts and crypto IRAs.
Consider taxes: Cryptocurrency transactions may have tax consequences.
Understand protection: Crypto itself is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected..
Final Thoughts
Fidelity Crypto provides eligible U.S. customers with a way to access selected cryptocurrencies through the broader Fidelity platform. Its current offering includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Fidelity Digital Dollar, Litecoin, and Solana, while the dedicated retirement version supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana.
The service has a straightforward cost structure: there is no minimum initial investment, the minimum crypto purchase is $1, there is no custody fee, and the standard trading fee is currently 1% on cryptocurrency purchases and sales.
Its retirement offering is also worth understanding because it uses a connected brokerage IRA and crypto IRA structure. Traditional, Roth, and rollover options are available, but cryptocurrency cannot currently be transferred directly into or out of those crypto IRAs.
Security is another significant part of the service. Fidelity says most crypto assets are held in cold storage and protected through monitored facilities and multiple security measures. However, this should not be confused with investment protection. Cryptocurrency itself is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected, and Fidelity describes the asset class as highly volatile.
For readers researching the platform, the most useful approach is to look beyond the brand name and examine the specific details: fees, supported assets, account type, transfer rules, security, tax considerations, and risk. Those factors provide a much more complete understanding of how the service works.
FAQs
What is Fidelity Crypto?
It is Fidelity’s service for buying, selling, holding, and transferring selected cryptocurrencies. The service is provided by Fidelity Digital Assets rather than Fidelity Brokerage Services.
How much does it cost to trade crypto?
The current standard trading fee is 1% on cryptocurrency buy and sell transactions. Fidelity does not currently charge a custody fee for simply holding supported crypto.
What cryptocurrencies are available?
The standard account currently supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Fidelity Digital Dollar, Litecoin, and Solana, subject to state availability.
Can I hold cryptocurrency in an IRA?
Yes. Fidelity offers Traditional, Roth, and rollover crypto IRAs for eligible customers. The IRA currently supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana.
Is crypto insured by the FDIC?
No. Cryptocurrency held through the service is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. Fidelity also warns that crypto is highly volatile and investors could lose their entire investment.
Can I send Bitcoin into a crypto IRA?
No. Fidelity currently does not allow cryptocurrency to be transferred directly into or out of its crypto IRAs. Contributions are made in U.S. dollars through the linked brokerage IRA.
Does the service charge a fee for holding crypto?
Fidelity currently states that it does not charge a custody fee for holding cryptocurrency in standard accounts or crypto IRAs.
Does Fidelity offer staking?
No. Staking is not currently offered through the direct crypto service.
