CURRENTLY, what is the cheapest way to get BTC?
The factors relevant to providing the right answer to that include:
- Where are you located (country)?
- How much are you looking to buy?
- What payment methods do you have available?
- How soon do you need access to the proceeds?
- Is privacy important?
A bank transfer is going to be the cheapest method.
In the U.S. you can buy bitcoins at a 1% fee through Coinbase using a bank transfer. The problem there is that they are limiting that to $100 maximum (for now, while they test their algorithms) and that you don't get the coins until the funds transfer is complete (at least two business days). But you do get to lock in the price immediately.
-
http://www.Coinbase.comDwolla is another inexpensive method to move cash from your bank account to a Bitcoin exchange. The problem with that again is the amount of time involved. But the price is right ... $0.25 per transaction.
A cash deposit method can also be inexpensive. BitMe.com doesn't charge for cash deposits. The problem there is they don't have enough sellers at near market price, so you end up overpaying a little when buying coins. That will change hopefully as more sellers trust them but for now that's the limitation:
-
http://www.BitMe.comBitcoins Direct will accept cash, with no fee, but they have a $500 minimum order size. Also, they are temporarily offline while the part of their business which supplies their coins, FastCash4Bitcoins.com, undergoes a redesign:
-
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/bitcoins-direct-support-thread-87094 (Deposit cash at Bank of America, Wells Fargo or PNC, minimum $500)
Or you might find a local trade (paying cash):
-
http://www.localbitcoins.comOr if you are considering a bank transfer, there all kinds of options are available:
-
http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Buying_bitcoins