How to Buy NEO in 2026

NEO, previously known as AntShares, is an open-source Chinese project that allows the creation of decentralized apps. In this article, we’ll review exactly what NEO is, a bit about how it works, and explain the process of buying it.

If Binance doesn’t work out for you, here are some other options for buying NEO:

That’s how to buy NEO in a nutshell. Now, let’s dive straight in for more details.

What is NEO in a Nutshell?

NEO, formally known as Antshares, was founded in 2014 by a Chinese company called OnChain as a way to bring together smart contracts, a digital identity system, and the exchange of digital assets. With this novel vision, AntShares became China’s first open-source blockchain technology.

The long-term vision of NEO is focused on completely reinventing commerce by merging the traditional economy with the digital economy into something coined the “Smart Economy.”

The goal behind the new Smart Economy is to merge digital assets, a digital identity, and smart contracts into one. This economic frontier is trustless and open to all, meaning that it isn’t governed by a central authority. As such, rules, policies, and the organization of society will be transparent and fair to all.

NEO can facilitate millions of transactions every day through its decentralized distributed ledger, forcing banks and companies to rethink the way they do business. NEO also supports very popular programming languages such as C#, Java, and Python.

NEO Tokens

The NEO platform has two different tokens: NEO and GAS (formerly known as ANC or AntCoin). Both tokens are capped at 100 million, but that’s as far as the similarities go.

A total of 100 million NEO tokens were originally created. 50 million were sold to investors in an ICO, and the remaining 50 million are locked in a smart contract. The contract states that each year, no more than 15 million coins are released for uses such as funding NEO development and investing in other blockchain projects.

NEO tokens can’t be divided into smaller units. NEO holders get voting rights in the NEO ecosystem, as well as rights to dividends in the form of GAS.

The NEO network charges GAS as a service fee for using the blockchain (much like Ethereum). GAS is created each time a new NEO block is added to the NEO blockchain (currently 5 tokens per block).

GAS production is reduced by one token for every 2 million blocks generated until all tokens are generated around 2046.

Unlike NEO tokens, GAS tokens can be divided into smaller units. GAS generated from a successful block will be distributed to NEO holders, while GAS received from transaction fees is awarded to node-keepers (i.e., NEO miners that add blocks to the blockchain).

Best Wallet – Overall Best Platform for Buying and Storing NEO

Best Wallet has quickly become the top choice for anyone who wants to buy and manage crypto, including NEO. As a self-custodial wallet, it ensures you always keep control of your private keys, meaning your assets never sit in the hands of a centralized exchange.

Inside the app, you can purchase and swap leading coins like Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, and Polygon without hidden fees or KYC requirements. This makes it easy to diversify beyond NEO while keeping everything in one secure mobile app. A built-in DEX aggregator fetches the most competitive rates, so you don’t have to jump between multiple platforms.

Best Wallet also offers access to trending crypto presales and supports the $BEST token, which unlocks perks such as reduced fees and exclusive early access opportunities.

Best Wallet Key Features

Best Wallet Pros & Cons

With its seamless swaps, multi-asset support, and self-custody design, Best Wallet is the best overall platform for buying and storing NEO alongside other top cryptocurrencies. It’s built for investors who want control, speed, and zero-fee access all in one place.

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Buying NEO in 3 Simple Steps

Step 1: Get a NEO Wallet

The most logical place to get a NEO wallet is directly from the NEO website, as it features desktop, web, and mobile versions. However, other options are worth mentioning.

Ledger Nano S/X (Hardware Wallet)

If you’re looking for the most secure place to keep NEO tokens, then the Ledger hardware wallet should be your first choice.

Both the Ledger Nano X and the Ledger Nano S support NEO tokens and allow you to keep your coins offline away from hackers. The downside is that you’ll need to pay money to get the actual hardware wallet itself.

The Official NEO-GUI Wallet (Desktop – Full Node)

The NEO Project offers a GUI desktop wallet that is available for Windows and Mac. Unfortunately, anyone using Linux will have to look elsewhere or download the command-line interface (CLI) version. Additionally, this is a full node wallet, meaning you will download the complete NEO blockchain to your machine, which could take a while.

Exodus (Mobile/Desktop)

Exodus is a software NEO-compatible wallet with a beautifully designed user interface. In addition to NEO, Exodus supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 100+ other crypto assets. Other features include an in-app crypto exchange and syncing of desktop and mobile wallets. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

NEON Wallet (Desktop)

One popular option is the NEON wallet, a desktop wallet available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This wallet has all the necessary features, as it can hold NEO assets—specifically NEO and GAS—while allowing users to send and receive them.

This wallet also allows users to claim GAS if they’re holding NEO.

NEON is developed by City of Zion and not directly by NEO developers. However, many people prefer this wallet for its ease of use, functionality, and flexibility across all desktop operating systems.

In addition, a user’s private keys are never stored on the NEON servers, offering the highest level of security.

For the most part, the NEON wallet is considered a solid option by many who own and use NEO. However, City of Zion previously dealt with allegations regarding bugs in its wallets.

One user claims his NEO was redirected to an unknown address during a transfer from Bittrex. At this point, it’s hard to blame NEON, as there doesn’t appear to be any solid proof.

NEO Tracker Wallet (Web)

Users looking for a web wallet often choose the NEO Tracker wallet, which is developed by NEO Tracker. This web wallet is open source, offering both ease and functionality.

Users can send, receive, and store both NEO and GAS, without storing any data on the NEO Tracker servers (similar to Blockchain.com). It also allows users to claim GAS if they’re holding NEO.

NEO Paper Wallet

Ansy offers a paper wallet that can be used to store or send NEO and GAS. Using a paper wallet is a good option for anyone who wants to store their value offline and hang onto it for an extended period of time.

However, users won’t be able to claim GAS tokens when they are holding NEO in this paper wallet.

WARNING: Scam NEO Wallets

According to City of Zion, a developer that offers a number of NEO wallets, myneowallet(.io) is a scam, as it saves private keys right in its database.

Another wallet that many believe to be a scam is the neopaperwallet(.org). The accusation came in September of 2017 after many who used it allegedly lost their NEO. While at this point, it’s impossible to say whether or not this is definitely a scam, users should avoid it just to be safe.

Ideally, only use NEO wallets that were created by NEO developers or are displayed on the NEO.org website. Using any other wallet just isn’t worth the risk.

Locate Your NEO Address

Once you have your NEO wallet, you need to locate your NEO address. This is a 34-character string of letters and numbers that starts with an “A” (for Antshares).

Here’s an example:

AZFPgFAUyN9TGrF8zMie7f7APqKZ5WV9UG

Step 2: Find a NEO Exchange

The easiest way to trade NEO would probably be through eToro’s NEO trading platform. However, when you use eToro, you can’t actually withdraw the coins. This means you can only buy/sell NEO for fiat (i.e., dollars, euros, etc.). Also, US customers can only invest in Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Because of the above, if you plan on using eToro, you don’t actually need a NEO wallet.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Cryptocurrency is offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk.

If you’re not looking to just trade but also to buy and hold NEO, then you can purchase it from other exchanges:

• Binance (with USDT or a different cryptocurrency)
• Bitfinex (with fiat currency or cryptocurrency)
• Bittrex (with USDT or a different cryptocurrency)
• HitBTC (with USDT or a different cryptocurrency)

How Can I Buy NEO with a Credit Card?

You can buy NEO directly from CEX.IO using a credit card. Register an account on CEX.IO and link your card on the Card page. Once it’s linked, you’ll be able to make instant fiat deposits in USD, EUR, GBP, or RUB, then convert them to NEO.

Alternatively, you can also use Changelly to buy NEO directly with a credit card. However, the cheapest way would be to buy Bitcoin with a credit card and then exchange it for NEO through Atomic Wallet or Changelly.

Step 3: Withdraw Your Funds

As always, I recommend withdrawing your funds from the exchange after you’ve purchased your coins. It’s always considered best practice to have full ownership of your coins in a wallet that gives you control over your private keys.

Once the coins are safely in your wallet, you’ll have completed the process of buying NEO.

Using a Hardware Wallet for Safe Storage

Safely keeping your NEO after purchase is just as crucial as making your purchase. Using a hardware wallet to secure your tokens is a must-do. Allowing an exchange to retain your money can be dangerous, given the increase in cyber threats.

• Ledger Nano X/S are two great examples of hardware wallets that are compatible with NEO. By keeping your private keys offline, Ledger Nano X/S significantly lower danger.
• Move your NEO out of the exchange: Transfer them straight from your exchange account to the address of your hardware wallet.
• Verify and manage your money with recommended desktop or mobile wallet applications that work with the devices you own. By using these apps, you can securely send NEO and verify balances without disclosing your keys.

Your NEO will be protected even if an exchange is compromised because to secure self-custody. Before declaring an investment complete, it is an essential step that all crypto enthusiasts should take.

Conclusion: Is NEO Worth Investing in?

For most people, purchasing NEO on a reputable exchange and holding it in a secure wallet that allows them to claim GAS is a great way to take advantage of long-term price appreciation. NEO’s Smart Economy concept has the potential to revolutionize economic transactions and redefine the way the world interacts on a financial level.

On the other hand, I’ve seen many projects come and go in the past few years, and while NEO’s token remains pretty robust, no one can really say what the future holds for it.

As always, you’ll have to decide if NEO is worth investing in, but make sure to follow these guidelines:

• Educate yourself about NEO, don’t just blindly buy the token.
• Never invest more than you’re willing to lose. Why? Cryptocurrencies, in general, are an extremely risky investment.
• Always keep your NEO tokens off exchanges and in your wallet.

Ultimately, the decision to invest in NEO is yours alone to make, but now you have the information you need to make an informed decision. Do not forget to try Best Wallet as the top all-in-one crypto wallet.

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