How to buy Polkadot Coin (DOT)

Polkadot (DOT) is the native token powering one of the most ambitious projects in blockchain: a Layer-0 protocol designed to unify a world of siloed blockchains. While Ethereum paved the way for decentralized applications, Polkadot takes it a step further by enabling different blockchains—each with its own rules, use cases, and tokens—to seamlessly connect and share data.

Instead of forcing everything onto one chain, Polkadot supports an ecosystem of purpose-built blockchains known as parachains. These parachains run in parallel, reducing congestion and increasing scalability across the network. Developers aren’t restricted to a single programming language or fee model—they can design a blockchain tailored to their needs and plug it into Polkadot’s relay chain for security and interoperability.

This innovative approach has attracted developers, investors, and crypto enthusiasts who see Polkadot as the infrastructure backbone of Web3. Whether you’re looking to stake DOT, participate in parachain auctions, or simply hold it as a long-term investment, learning how to buy Polkadot is the first step into one of crypto’s most technically advanced ecosystems.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to get started—from choosing the right wallet and exchange to buying DOT securely and withdrawing it to your own wallet.

How to Buy Polkadot Summary

• Get a Polkadot-compatible wallet (Best Wallet, Ledger, Crypto.com), and locate your DOT address.
• Use Best Wallet to Purchase DOT directly or sign up to Binance or CEX.IO
• Buy DOT with deposited fiat, crypto, or a bank card.
• Withdraw your DOT tokens to your wallet

That’s the basics of how to buy Polkadot! For a more detailed review and a step-by-step guide, keep on reading below.

1. How to buy Polkadot

Step 1: Get a Polkadot-compatible wallet

Best Wallet

Wallet type:

Software Wallet

Visit Site

Ledger

Wallet type:

Hardware wallet

Visit Site

Exodus

Wallet type:

Software wallet

Visit Site

Crypto.com wallet

Wallet type:

Software Wallet

Visit Site

Assuming you’re looking to buy and hold DOT long-term, it’s important that you have a compatible wallet to keep it in. 

Many major wallets are still yet to integrate Polkadot, but it’s likely that we’ll see many more DOT-compatible wallets in the near future.

Polkadot Software Wallets

Best Wallet– A great option not only for storing Polkadot but also for purchasing it. The Best Wallet comes with a built-in Decentralized Exchange that allows users to buy and swap cryptocurrencies without giving up custody of their assets to a third party. You can learn more in their dedicated article on How to Buy DOT with Best Wallet.

Exodus – A multi-blockchain wallet with a great user interface. It supports over 100 cryptocurrencies and tokens including Polkadot, and has been downloaded more than 4 million times. Exodus also has a built-in exchange, for users to swap between supported assets.

Guarda – A non-custodial wallet which supports DOT and more than 45 other blockchains. Guarda is available on mobile and desktop, with the extra option of a web wallet accessible via internet browser. The wallet has a handy customizable-fee feature, as well as a built-in exchange.

Polkadot-JS – The official Polkadot web wallet, which works from within your internet browser. The wallet allows you to send, receive and store DOT, as well as participate in the Polkadot ecosystem by staking, voting and more. Polkadot-JS also lets you connect to your Ledger hardware wallet, if you have the Polkadot Ledger app.

Talisman Wallet – Talisman is a browser extension and mobile wallet purpose-built for the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems. It supports staking, governance, NFTs, crowdloans, and dApp connections across DOT’s parachains. Talisman offers a slick UI, in-wallet token swaps, and Ledger support.

SubWallet–  SubWallet is another top-tier Polkadot-native wallet designed for seamless interaction with Polkadot’s relay chain and parachains. It supports staking, crowdloan participation, XCM transfers, NFTs, and hardware wallet integration. SubWallet is available as a browser extension and mobile app with advanced multi-chain portfolio tracking.

Polkadot Hardware Wallets

As with any other cryptocurrency asset, the safest way to store DOT is by using a hardware wallet. Hardware wallets are physical devices which keep your private keys stored safely offline. As long as you’re holding your hardware wallet, nobody will be able to access your funds remotely via an internet connection.

Ledger hardware wallets – These support a huge variety of cryptocurrency assets, including DOT. There are two main models you can choose from – the Nano X and its predecessor, the Nano S. The main difference between the two models is that Nano X allows you to control your wallet using your mobile phone, as well as your laptop.

Currently, if you want to store DOT on your Ledger device you’ll need to install the Polkadot Ledger app, which is used in conjunction with the official Polkadot-JS web wallet mentioned below.

You can read our Ledger Nano X review here.

Locate Your DOT Address

Once you have prepared your DOT wallet, you’ll need to locate your new DOT address. This will be a random string of numbers and letters, which begins with “1”.

Here is an example of what it should look like: 1FRMM8PEiWXYax7rpS6X4XZX1aAAxSWx1CrKTyrVYhV24fg

Step 2: Find a DOT Exchange

Best Wallet

5 /5

Read Review

Visit Site

Margex

5 /5

Read Review

Visit Site

MEXC

4.5 /5

Read Review

Visit Site

OKX

4.5 /5

Read Review

Visit Site

Buy Polkadot with Best Wallet with Card or Apple Pay

After years of testing multiple different wallets and purchase providers, we have found the easiest and most convenient way to buy Polkadot is by using Best Wallet. Best Wallet stands above the competition thanks to its wide asset support, ease of use, the ability to buy, sell, and swap crypto from directly within the wallet, and support for airdrops.

This app offers a slick and secure wallet for both Android and iOS, making it easy to send and receive funds on the go. Security’s top-notch too, with biometric logins and multi-factor authentication to keep your coins locked down tight. Plus, there’s a custom backup passphrase for wallet recovery, so you’re covered if things go sideways.

Best Wallet also gives you a clear view of market trends, helping you keep up with price moves. You’ll find intuitive tools to track and manage your portfolios across major blockchains like Polygon and Binance Smart Chain—all in one place.

Best Wallet also has a native token called $BEST, which gives holders exclusive benefits like early access to the best crypto presales, reduced transaction fees, and governance voting rights within the ecosystem.

Check out our separate Best Wallet Review for an extensive explanation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Buy Polkadot (DOT) Using Best Wallet

Step 1 – Download the App
Search for “Best Wallet” on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Download and install it, then follow the setup instructions to create your wallet. Make sure to secure your recovery phrase during setup.

Step 2 – Activate Security
Enable biometric authentication and set a strong PIN. Best Wallet also uses multi-factor authentication and decentralized key management to keep your funds secure.

Step 3 – Buy Crypto
On the home screen, tap “Buy.” Select Polkadot (DOT) token on the chain among the list of supported assets. Since DOT isn’t directly available, purchase any blue-chip crypto and swap it for DOT on exchanges that support it.

Step 4 – Choose Payment Method
Enter your preferred fiat currency and the amount of crypto you want to purchase. You’ll see a list of on-ramp providers, some supporting credit/debit card purchases without KYC. Pick one, fill in your payment details, and confirm the order.

Your DOT will be delivered directly into your Best Wallet within minutes.

Visit Best Wallet

Buy Polkadot on Binance with a Credit Card

Binance is one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. You can buy DOT by depositing any one of Binance’s supported cryptocurrencies and trading it for DOT, or buy it instantly using a credic card. Alternatively, you can deposit supported fiat currencies via bank transfer, and buy DOT with your cash balance. Purchases made with credit and debit cards are subject to higher fees, which is worth keeping in mind before buying.

Read our full Binance review for more information.

Buy Polkadot on CEX.IO

CEX.IO was founded in London in 2013. CEX.io has plenty of fiat currency deposit methods including bank card, bank transfers and ACH. You can purchase DOT after making a deposit with one of the above methods, or simply make an instant purchase using a credit card.

Read our full CEX.IO review for the full story.

Buy Polkadot on Kraken

Kraken is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges still around today, being founded in 2011. You can buy DOT on Kraken after depositing fiat currency with SWIFT, SEPA, or other bank wire methods. Alternatively, you can deposit any supported cryptocurrency.

Make sure to check out our full Kraken review for more info.

How to Buy DOT with PayPal

While you cannot buy Polkadot (DOT) directly on PayPal, there are exchanges that let users use PayPal as a payment method for buying crypto.

Here’s how you can buy DOT with PayPal:

1. Find a Supported Exchange: Choose an exchange that supports the purchase of DOT via PayPal, such as Paybis or Changelly.
2. Create Your Account: Log in or create and verify your account on the exchange.
3. Select Your Cryptocurrency: Choose the crypto you want to buy, which is DOT in this case.
4. Choose Your Payment Method: Select PayPal as your payment method for the transaction.
5. Buy DOT: Buy DOT and complete your transaction.

Step 3: Withdrawing your DOT Tokens

After you’ve purchased your DOT tokens, you’ll want to keep them safe by withdrawing them to your own wallet.

Navigate to your DOT account balance page on the exchange, and select “withdraw”. Copy and paste your new wallet address (from Step 1 above) into the withdrawal address field.

Once this is complete, you’ll have full control over your DOT tokens. They’ll be out of the hands of the exchange, and well away from any online hackers.

DOT Tokenomics Overview

DOT’s supply model is inflationary, meaning it doesn’t have a hard cap like Bitcoin. As of 2025, there are around 1.4 billion DOT in circulation. The network targets an annual inflation rate of about 10%, but that can be reduced depending on how much DOT is actively staked. Staking rewards typically hover around 13% but can vary based on validator choice and network participation. DOT also serves multiple purposes: it’s used to secure the network via staking, to vote on governance proposals, to bid in parachain slot auctions, and to facilitate cross-chain activity within Polkadot’s ecosystem.

Polkadot Use Cases

The Polkadot network is home to a diverse range of projects that go beyond basic smart contracts. Acala focuses on DeFi services, including stablecoin issuance and liquid staking. Moonbeam brings Ethereum compatibility to the Polkadot ecosystem, while Astar supports both EVM and WASM smart contracts, giving developers broad flexibility. Centrifuge aims to bridge traditional finance and DeFi by tokenizing real-world assets like invoices. Phala focuses on privacy-preserving cloud computing for sensitive data. These projects showcase how Polkadot’s unique design enables specialized chains to flourish within a shared security model.

Polkadot vs Ethereum 

The biggest difference between Polkadot and Ethereum lies in their architecture. Ethereum is a monolithic Layer-1 blockchain where all activity competes for space on the same network. In contrast, Polkadot is modular. It serves as a Layer-0 hub connecting many Layer-1 parachains, each optimized for specific purposes. Ethereum relies heavily on rollups and bridges for scalability and interoperability, which introduces complexity and risks. Polkadot uses a native messaging format called XCM to facilitate seamless, secure communication between chains. While Ethereum has the larger ecosystem today, Polkadot’s design offers a more sustainable model for scaling Web3 applications over time.

Conclusion

Polkadot has grown from an ambitious concept into a cornerstone of the multi-chain movement. Its architecture, based on customizable parachains and seamless interoperability, provides a practical solution to the scalability and fragmentation challenges facing modern blockchains. As more developers adopt Polkadot’s framework and parachains become increasingly specialized, DOT becomes more than a speculative asset—it becomes a ticket to participate in the ecosystem’s evolution.

From staking, voting, supporting parachain launches, or just holding for the long haul, DOT gives you direct influence over how Polkadot develops. With Ethereum continuing to face congestion and scaling challenges, Polkadot offers a fundamentally different path. It’s not just a competitor—it’s an alternative architecture for the future of decentralized systems.

Presenting itself as a worthy competitor, Polkadot has reached as high as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap – and it may not stop there.

Interested in Polkadot’s Potential? Feel free to check out our Polkadot Price Prediction

FAQs

Why you can trust 99Bitcoins

10+ Years

Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.

90hr+

Weekly Research

100k+

Monthly readers

50+

Expert contributors

2000+

Crypto Projects Reviewed

Read more

Alexander Reed

Editor

Having delved into futures trading in the past, my intrigue in financial, economic, and political affairs eventually led me to a striking realization: the current debt-based fiat system is fundamentally flawed. This revelation prompted me to explore alternative avenues, including... Read More

Read Alexander Reed Articles