Fiat on-ramp

On-ramps are the entry points between the traditional financial system and blockchains. A user pays by bank transfer, card or a local payment method and receives crypto, either in an exchange account or directly in a wallet. Off-ramps work in the opposite direction: they sell crypto and send the proceeds to a bank account or card.

Centralized exchanges are the largest ramps, but many wallets and apps embed third-party on-ramp services so users can buy without leaving them. Because they touch the banking system, ramps are where regulation applies most strictly: identity verification, anti-money laundering checks and, in the EU, licensing under MiCA.

Costs vary widely, from a fraction of a percent on bank transfers to an exchange to several percent on card purchases inside apps, often hidden in the exchange rate. Off-ramping can be slowed by withdrawal limits or source-of-funds checks, and banks sometimes block transfers to crypto services. Comparing the total cost, not just the advertised fee, is the key practical step.