BitIRA Review 2023: Features, Pros, and Cons

BitIRA is a retirement account platform that lets you save for your golden years and invest in crypto, all at the same time.

But, is it the best crypto retirement account for your investment style?

In this BitIRA review, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about the platform. We’ll take a look at how BitIRA works and what separates it from the competition. That way, you can decide if it’s the right investment platform for your retirement savings needs.

What Is BitIRA?

BitIRA is a financial services provider that lets US residents invest in cryptocurrencies within an individual retirement account (IRA). The firm was founded in 2017 by investors from the Birch Gold Group, a precious metals-focused IRA provider.

Technically, BitIRA is not a retirement plan administrator. Rather, it’s a platform where individuals can establish self-directed IRAs for investing in cryptocurrencies. 

BitIRA makes it easy for you to invest in multiple cryptocurrencies. The firm also provides crypto custodial services through the Preferred Trust Company and the Equity Trust Company.

How Does BitIRA Work?

To invest with BitIRA, investors need to open and fund an account. Here’s an overview of how the process works:

Getting Started

Opening a crypto IRA with BitIRA is a fairly involved process. Accounts are available to people who are normally eligible for an IRA, which includes US residents with earned income.

The company doesn’t offer information about what you’ll need to open an account. However, you can expect to provide the basic information that you’d normally provide when opening an IRA. This includes: 

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Physical address
• Phone number and email address
• Social Security number

To fund your account with an IRA rollover, you will also likely need to provide information about your current IRA, such as your most recent account statement.

Opening an Account

BitIRA does not currently allow you to open an account online. Rather, you need to call and speak to a digital currency specialist to establish an account. 

A digital currency specialist will then help you fill out any required paperwork. Note that this account application process usually takes a few weeks to complete.

Funding Options

The primary way to fund a BitIRA account is through an IRA or 401(k) rollover. For example, if you already have an IRA at a brokerage that doesn’t let you invest in crypto, you can roll over your existing funds into a BitIRA. 

BitIRA supports rollovers from all Traditional, Roth, SIMPLE, or SEP IRAs. The company also supports most 401(k), 403(b), TSP, and 457 plan rollovers.

Besides that, BitIRA doesn’t offer much information about your other funding options. These funding options likely include ACH bank transfers and wire transfers, but consult a digital currency specialist for more information.

Cryptocurrencies Supported

While many other crypto IRAs only support Bitcoin, BitIRA lets account holders invest in the following coins:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
• Chainlink (LINK)
• Ethereum Classic (ETC)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Stellar Lumens (XLM)
• Zcash (ZEC)
• Bitcoin SV (BSV)

BitIRA Features

With BitIRA, investors get access to several useful features. Here’s what you can expect if you open an account:

Crypto Trading

BitIRA partners with Genesis to offer crypto trading and exchange services. Genesis is an SEC- and FINRA-registered securities broker that was founded in 2013.

However, BitIRA doesn’t let you trade crypto using a digital trading terminal. Rather, to place trades, you need to contact a digital currency specialist. Your digital currency specialist will execute your orders on your behalf during business days.

Multiple Crypto Assets Supported

One of BitIRA’s best features is its multiple crypto asset support. While some other crypto IRAs only let you buy Bitcoin, BitIRA gives you access to a variety of other top cryptocurrencies.

However, note that BitIRA doesn’t support precious metals, which you can find at places like iTrustCapital. It also doesn’t have any supported stablecoins. 

This could change at any time as the firm adds new assets to its platform. But it’s something to keep in mind before opening an account.

Tax-Free Growth

BitIRA’s retirement accounts let you earn tax-free or tax-deferred capital gains on your digital assets. Since all BitIRA accounts are IRS-compliant, you can get the same tax benefits that come with a traditional IRA while investing in crypto.

For example, contributions to a Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA from BitIRA usually qualify for a tax deduction.

Meanwhile, retirement distributions from a Roth IRA with BitIRA are usually tax-free. That means that any growth in your crypto assets can be realized completely tax-free, potentially saving you thousands of dollars in the process.

Robust Security Features

To protect your assets, BitIRA employs advanced security features including multi-encryption systems and multi-factor authentication.

Additionally, BitIRA partners with two custodians—Preferred Trust Company and Equity Trust Company. These are two regulated trust companies that use industry-leading security features to protect customer assets.

Insured Cold Storage

With BitIRA, the bulk of customer assets are held in cold storage units. These cold storage units are held in grade-five nuclear bunkers that are guarded 27/4 by trained staff members.

BitIRA also has a $100 million insurance policy on your assets. Plus, any US dollars held in your account are eligible for up to $250,000 in FDIC coverage. US dollar funds in your account are additionally insured by the Equity Trust Company up to $3.75 million.

Multiple Retirement Accounts Available

BitIRA lets eligible account holders open several different kinds of retirement accounts. Your primary BitIRA account options include Traditional and Roth IRAs. Small business owners can also open a SEP or SIMPLE IRA.

Note that BitIRA, like most other crypto retirement account providers, does not offer 401(k)s or other similar employer-sponsored plans.

IRS and U.S. Law Compliant

To ensure that your crypto IRA is compliant with US law, BitIRA works with qualified custodians that know the ins and outs of IRS regulations. 

In particular, Preferred Trust Company, one of BitIRA’s partners, is a licensed self-directed IRA custodian. The company has more than 14 years of experience helping investors with self-directed IRAs comply with IRS requirements.

BitIRA Pricing & Fees

Like pretty much all financial institutions, BitIRA charges fees. However, BitIRA isn’t very transparent about which fees they charge.

BitIRA states that fees for accounts vary based on their unique situation. While it’s likely that the company charges some sort of annual and custodial fee, it’s impossible to know what you’ll be charged until you call the company directly. At the moment, these are the fees changed by BitIRA:

• Account setup fee: $50
• Annual maintenance fee: $195
• Offline storage fees: 0.05%/month

BitIRA Security & Insurance

BitIRA markets itself as one of the most secure crypto IRA services on the market. The company states that they operate within Level 2 Cryptocurrency Security Standards (CCSS).

The firm’s primary form of security is its cold storage system for client assets. These funds are kept in secure storage units that are guarded 24/7.

Furthermore, BitIRA offers $100 million in insurance to protect your assets. The company advertises this coverage as being “end-to-end,” so your assets are theoretically insured as soon as they are transferred into your account.

BitIRA Customer Support

The primary way to contact BitIRA is through the firm’s customer service phone number. Many crypto companies don’t have phone-based support, so this is a benefit for many investors.

Additionally, BitIRA has an email address and a fax number for customer support. However, the company doesn’t have any sort of online chat system.

BitIRA Pros

• Multiple IRA account types available
• Fully-IRS-compliant accounts
• $100 million in custodial insurance
• Phone-based customer support team
• Assets held in cold storage for security
• Multiple cryptocurrencies available for trading
• Partners with reputable custodians

BitIRA Cons

• Slow account application process
• No way to open account online
• Can’t place trades alone
• No fee transparency

BitIRA Alternatives

Not sure that BitIRA is right for you? Here are some top alternatives to consider:

Bitcoin IRA

Bitcoin IRA is the oldest self-directed crypto retirement account platform. The company got its start in 2015 and it’s now one of the major players in the industry.

Like BitIRA, Bitcoin IRA lets you invest in crypto within an IRA. With Bitcoin IRA, you can invest in multiple cryptocurrencies, plus digital gold. The firm also offers interest-bearing accounts and a sleek mobile app.

Nevertheless, Bitcoin IRA charges hefty fees and it only offers Traditional and Roth IRAs. But if you want additional features in your account and the ability to place trades by yourself, it’s worth considering. Read our full Bitcoin IRA review to learn more.

iTrustCapital

iTrustCapital is a relatively new platform that provides a streamlined way to invest in crypto within your Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA.

The company supports 20+ cryptocurrencies, plus gold and silver. When compared to most other platforms, iTrustCapital also has some of the lowest fees.

But, iTrustCapital has high account minimums and it doesn’t offer interest. Despite this, it has a much more user-friendly interface than BitIRA.

Who Is BitIRA For?

BitIRA is a good choice for retirement investors that are looking to invest in crypto through a Traditional, Roth, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA. 

The firm’s security features, well-known custodial partners, and free insurance are nice benefits for security-focused traders. Additionally, BitIRA’s experienced team of digital currency specialists makes it a solid option for investors that want access to direct customer support.

However, BitIRA’s minimal fee transparency and its lack of a self-managed trading terminal mean that it’s not ideal for the enthusiastic crypto investor. Furthermore, BitIRA only supports cryptocurrencies, so it’s not great if you also want to invest in precious metals or other securities.

BitIRA FAQ

Here are our answers to some of your most commonly asked questions about BitIRA:

Final Thoughts

BitIRA is a simplified, IRS-compliant way to invest your retirement savings in crypto. It’s a no-frills platform that’s ideal for investors that want lots of support from digital assets specialists. That being said, BitIRA isn’t transparent about its pricing structure and its user interface leaves a bit to be desired.

Ultimately, what’s important is that you find the best platform for your crypto retirement investment needs. Whether that’s BitIRA or another firm, we hope this article helped you determine the right company to trust with your retirement savings.