You have €100. You want to buy crypto. You don't want to get scammed, pay too much in fees, or make the same mistakes everyone makes in their first week.
This guide gets you from zero to a real crypto position in 15 minutes — using an exchange with 0% maker fees, a sensible allocation, and basic security you can set up in 5 minutes.
€100 is the right amount to start with for two reasons:
The goal with €100 is not to get rich. The goal is to learn the mechanics — how buying works, how wallets work, how the market moves — while the stakes are low enough that you're learning, not panicking.
Once you understand the basics, add more. Most people who've held BTC for 4+ years are up significantly from any entry point. The first €100 is the education fee.
The exchange you choose determines your fees for as long as you use it. Most beginners default to Coinbase because it has the biggest marketing presence. This is a mistake.
| Exchange | Fee on €100 buy | Fee on €1,000/year |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase (simple) | €1.49-3.99 | €14.90-39.90 |
| Binance | €0.10 | €10.00 |
| MEXC (recommended) | €0.00 (maker) | €0.00-5.00 |
Use MEXC. Zero maker fees, 1,500+ coins, SEPA deposits free, clean interface for beginners. Here's the link — fee discount applied automatically for NovaCrypto readers:
Zero maker fees. Set up in 5 minutes. SEPA bank deposits free.
Open MEXC Account →Go to mexc.com → "Sign Up" → use your email. Choose a strong password (16+ characters, don't reuse it). Confirm email. Takes 2 minutes.
EU regulations require identity verification to buy crypto. MEXC's KYC takes 3-5 minutes: upload a photo of your ID (passport or national ID card) + a selfie. Usually verified within minutes during business hours. You cannot deposit or trade until this is complete.
This is non-negotiable. Go to: Account → Security → Google Authenticator → Scan the QR code with the Google Authenticator app on your phone. Screenshot your backup codes and store them offline. If you skip 2FA and your account is accessed by someone else, your funds are gone. No exceptions, no recovery. 2FA takes 3 minutes to set up.
SEPA bank transfer (recommended): Go to Wallet → Fiat → EUR → Deposit → SEPA. You'll get a bank account number. Transfer €100 from your bank app. Arrives in 1-2 business days. Zero fee.
Card (instant): 1.8% fee = €1.80 on €100. Use if you want to start today. Go to Buy Crypto → Credit/Debit Card.
Once your deposit shows in your MEXC balance, navigate to: Trade → Spot → Search "BTC/USDT".
Set the order type to Limit (not Market) — this makes you the maker and pays 0% fee instead of 0.05%.
Set your limit price slightly below the current price (e.g., current price is €61,000 → set €60,800). Your order fills when the price touches your level. For a first order, the difference is small — this is the habit that matters long-term.
Repeat for ETH/USDT with your remaining budget.
Account → Security → Withdrawal Whitelist → Enable → Add your personal wallet address (if you have one) or leave empty for now. This means withdrawals can only go to pre-approved addresses — if someone gets your password, they still can't withdraw your funds to an unknown address.
For a first €100 purchase, keep it simple:
Why this allocation:
What about altcoins? Not yet. Altcoins can 10x — they can also go to zero. Learn the market with BTC and ETH first. Once you understand why prices move, you can start researching specific altcoins. Your first €100 is not the time to gamble on a coin you heard about on Reddit.
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) means buying a fixed amount on a regular schedule regardless of price. It's the single most effective strategy for most people who aren't professional traders.
Why it works:
The setup: Set a recurring calendar reminder for the 1st of every month. Buy €100 worth of BTC (70%) and ETH (30%) using a limit order on MEXC. Take 5 minutes. Done. Check back next month.
The price will move — up or down — within hours of your purchase. This is normal. Crypto is volatile by nature. What matters is what you do when it moves.
If it goes up 10% on day 1: Good. Don't sell. You bought because you believe in the long-term case. A 10% move in week 1 is noise.
If it drops 15% in week 1: Also normal. Don't sell. If anything, this is the DCA opportunity — week 2 is a chance to buy at a better price. The traders who made the most money in crypto are the ones who bought more when the price was scary, not less.
Check it weekly, not daily. Daily price watching increases anxiety without providing useful information for long-term investors.
Zero maker fees · 1,500+ trading pairs · SEPA deposits free · Takes 10 minutes to set up
Open Free MEXC Account →Yes. MEXC minimum order is approximately €5-10 depending on the pair. There's no rule requiring you to start with €100 — it's just a round number that covers meaningful learning without significant risk.
Tax rules vary by EU country. Most EU countries tax crypto gains as capital gains above certain thresholds. Germany has a notable exception: crypto held for 1+ year is tax-free. Check your specific country's rules or consult a tax advisor. Keep records of your purchases and sales from day one.
MEXC has an insurance fund similar to Binance's SAFU. No exchange is 100% immune to hacks. For amounts under €5,000, the convenience of keeping funds on an exchange is reasonable. For amounts above €10,000, use a hardware wallet for the majority of your holdings.
Both at once, using the 70/30 split above. Don't overthink the timing — you can't perfectly time the market, and trying to costs more (in stress and missed opportunities) than it saves.
100 questions covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, wallets, EU regulations and taxes.
Takes 10 minutes. No signup. No email. Completely free.
Most people score 60%. Can you beat that?
Affiliate disclosure: NovaCrypto earns a commission when you open an MEXC account via our links. This doesn't change our recommendation — MEXC genuinely has the best fee structure for European beginners.
Not financial advice. Crypto is volatile. Only invest what you can afford to lose completely.