Bitcoin in an IRA

Updated October 2, 2026

Understand first: Do I owe taxes on sats?

There are three main routes: buy bitcoin through a crypto IRA platform, buy shares of a bitcoin fund in a brokerage IRA, or use a specialist IRA arrangement that lets you control keys.

The important differences are what you own, who controls it, and what you pay.

At a bitcoin price of $84,784, $7,500 equals 8,845,988 sats before fees. That is a conversion example, not a suggested contribution.

Compare the three routes

Route	What you own	Who holds keys	Main costs
Crypto IRA platform	Actual bitcoin in the IRA	Platform custodian	Trade fees; possible account or custody charges
Bitcoin ETF in a brokerage IRA	Shares of a fund holding bitcoin	Fund custodian	Annual fund expenses; possible trading charges
Specialist IRA with key control	Actual bitcoin in an IRA custody arrangement	You and any required cosigners	Account and trade fees; hardware and optional services

A crypto IRA platform

The platform arranges custody and lets you buy bitcoin inside the IRA. Examples include iTrustCapital and Bitcoin IRA.

iTrustCapital lists a 1% fee on crypto trades. Ask each provider for its full fee schedule, minimum funding, custody terms, and whether it permits distributions in bitcoin. Custody insurance has limits and does not insure you against a falling price.

A bitcoin fund in a brokerage IRA

Spot bitcoin ETFs, such as IBIT, FBTC, and BITB, give you exposure to bitcoin through fund shares. Check that your brokerage offers the fund inside your IRA.

You own shares, rather than bitcoin you can send to a wallet. Compare each fund's annual expense ratio and any brokerage fees. This may be the simplest route if you already use a brokerage IRA.

An IRA with control of keys

Specialist arrangements, such as Unchained's collaborative custody IRA, give you control of keys within an IRA structure. Multiple keys are used to approve transactions.

Unchained lists $250 per IRA per year, a 1.5% trading fee, and a $2,000 trading minimum for each cash transfer, rollover, or annual contribution. Optional services and hardware can add costs.

More control means more responsibilities. Follow the provider's IRA custody rules. Keep retirement assets separate from personal funds and have a qualified tax professional review the arrangement.

Know the IRA rules

For 2026, the combined Traditional and Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. Your taxable compensation may limit it further. Roth income limits and Traditional IRA deduction rules also apply.
Ordinary contributions must be cash. Transfers and rollovers follow separate rules. You cannot simply contribute personal bitcoin to an IRA.
Traditional IRA withdrawals are generally taxed as income, with different treatment for any nondeductible contributions. Qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free.
Early withdrawals can trigger tax and penalties. Prohibited transactions, such as using IRA assets for personal benefit, can cause much larger problems.

Compare the full cost

Multiply the dollars you expect to trade by the trading fee. Add annual or monthly charges, hardware costs, and any fund expenses. Compare the same amount and time period for every route.

Then ask what matters most to you: simpler administration, actual bitcoin, or control of keys.