Bitcoin vs Gold: Which Is Truly Easier to Buy in 2025?

Bitcoin vs Gold: Which Is Truly Easier to Buy in 2025?

Crypto Experts Say Buying Bitcoin Is Simpler — But TradFi Says Otherwise

As gold prices hit new all-time highs, many investors are revisiting the age-old debate: Is it easier to buy Bitcoin or gold? The answer isn’t so clear — and depends largely on who you ask and what world you live in.

For crypto-native investors, buying Bitcoin is seamless, instant, and accessible 24/7. But for those in traditional finance (TradFi), the process remains steeped in complexity, especially when it comes to self-custody and private keys.

On the other side, while gold feels familiar and physically reassuring, its liquidity, purity assurance, and storage issues still pose real hurdles — even for experienced investors.

Bitcoin Offers Simplicity, Speed, and Global Access

“Buying Bitcoin is significantly easier and faster than buying physical gold,” said Ross Shemeliak, co-founder of tokenization platform Stobox, in a recent interview.

Bitcoin can be bought with a smartphone in minutes, has no physical transportation needs, and doesn’t require secure vaults. In contrast, physical gold demands verification, storage, and resale logistics — not to mention trust in the dealer’s reputation.

Adam Lowe, chief of product at Arculus, echoed the sentiment: “Maintaining quality and verifying purity is always a challenge with gold. And if you’re reselling, expect to take a hit below market price.”

“Self-custodied Bitcoin has none of these issues,” Lowe added.

Gold Is “Easy” — But Only at a Surface Level

Rafi Farber, publisher of End Game Investor and a vocal Bitcoin skeptic, sees things differently. He argues that while Bitcoin is “easy” in theory, setting up wallets, securing private keys, and navigating seed phrases make it daunting for first-time buyers.

“If you lose your codes or the power goes out, you’re screwed,” Farber warned.

His view reflects the broader concern among traditional investors, who find self-custody wallets intimidating. For them, buying a gold coin from a local shop is simpler — though potentially less sound from an investment perspective.

Still, even Farber’s critique isn’t lost on the crypto world. Trezor, a leading self-custody wallet provider, openly acknowledges that usability remains a key challenge, offering onboarding sessions at $99/hour to bridge the knowledge gap.

Not All Gold Is Created Equal

Shemeliak counters that while buying a gold coin may seem easy, it doesn’t guarantee investment-grade value.

“Without verified origin, proper assay, secure storage, and a liquid resale market, you’ve likely bought a souvenir, not a serious store of value,” he said.

Instead, Shemeliak promotes Bitcoin and tokenized gold for their transparency, verifiability, and global liquidity, arguing they provide a better fit for modern investors.

Bitcoin vs Gold: Complementary, Not Competitive

Despite the comparisons, experts say Bitcoin and gold serve different roles.

“Gold will always have historical value, but Bitcoin is building financial infrastructure for the next 100 years,” Shemeliak concluded.

At the time of reporting, gold was trading at $3,327, up 27% year-to-date. In contrast, Bitcoin is down 10% YTD, currently priced at $84,525 after hitting a high of $110,000 in December 2024.