Buying crypto under 18: what is and isn't possible

Under 18, you cannot open an account yourself at any authorised crypto exchange in the EU. Finst requires a private customer "older than 18 years"; BLOX states that "the minimum age to use BLOX is 18" and that an account for your child is "unfortunately not possible". That is not company policy but a consequence of the identification requirement: every account is tied to the ID document of an adult.

Why 18 is the line

An exchange holding a MiCA authorisation must identify and verify every customer (the know-your-customer process) before any money can land on the account. A minor cannot enter into that agreement independently, and the exchange may not run it under someone else's name. That is why every authorised provider says the same thing, each in its own words.

Finst puts it like this: you must be "a private customer older than 18 years", resident in the European Union, with a euro account at a bank in the EU. BLOX: at least 18, and opening an account for a child is not possible, not even with parental consent.

What doesn't work, and why you shouldn't try

• Using an account in a parent's name. The account, the balance and the tax return then belong to that parent. If the teenager trades on it, they are acting under someone else's identity, which is exactly what the identification requirement is meant to prevent. Once discovered, the exchange closes the account.
• A foreign provider without an EU authorisation. It falls outside the supervision of the AFM and the other European authorities; if something goes wrong there is no one to turn to. The MiCA register shows who is actually supervised.
• Entering a date of birth that isn't yours. The ID document is checked; the account is blocked and any funds stay frozen until the matter is resolved.

What you can do

Learn without buying. Prices, the fees per exchange and how a wallet works are all public. Our page for beginners explains what an exchange does, what a wallet is and where the costs sit, without needing an account. The comparison shows per provider what a purchase costs. Anyone who starts at 18 already knowing what to look for is ahead of most adult beginners.

A parent can open an account and buy and hold crypto in their own name. That is then the parent's asset, with all the consequences for their tax return. How that works out for tax differs by country and by family; this article is not tax or legal advice.

Small amounts are no exception

There is no lower limit below which the age requirement lapses. Even for €10 the account has to be in an adult's name.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy bitcoin under 18 in the EU? Not through an authorised exchange. Every provider in the MiCA register asks for an ID document and requires an age of 18 or over.

Can my parent open an account for me? No. BLOX says in so many words that this isn't possible, even with consent. A parent can buy in their own name; it is then their property.

What happens if you enter the wrong date of birth? Identification fails, the account is blocked and any money deposited is released only after a review.

From when is it allowed? From the day you turn 18, with a valid ID document and a bank account in your own name.

Sources

• Finst Help Center, "Who can open an account at Finst?", last checked 3 September 2026.
• BLOX Support, "How old do you have to be to create an account?" and "Can I open an account for my child?", last checked 3 September 2026.
• ESMA register of authorised crypto-asset service providers, as of 21 August 2026, via our MiCA page.

This article contains no offer and no affiliate link. Crypto is high-risk; you can lose your deposit. This is not financial, tax or legal advice.