Purchase Bitcoin Cash (BCH) with Pound sterling (GBP) easily at Switchere and benefit from fast, secure transactions.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a decentralized cryptocurrency that emerged as a fork from Bitcoin in 2017 to address Bitcoin’s scalability issues, aiming to support faster transactions and lower fees. Designed to be more efficient for day-to-day transactions, BCH increased block size limits from Bitcoin's 1MB to 8MB initially, later expanding further to 32MB, allowing the network to handle a higher volume of transactions at a lower cost. Its ecosystem includes wallet support, merchant adoption, and cross-border payments, making BCH a practical alternative for peer-to-peer digital transactions. Bitcoin Cash has also fostered a community focused on preserving the original vision of Bitcoin as "peer-to-peer electronic cash," prioritizing usability in payments over the store-of-value narrative that Bitcoin has adopted. Its robust development team continues to innovate with features such as Schnorr signatures and new smart contract capabilities, making BCH a unique asset in the cryptocurrency landscape.
To purchase Bitcoin Cash (BCH) with GBP, the most popular fiat on-ramp methods include using a regulated cryptocurrency exchange that supports Pounds Sterling deposits. Typically, you can fund your account via UK Faster Payments Service (FPS) for near-instant transfers, standard bank transfers (BACS/CHAPS), or by using a debit card. Once your GBP is on the exchange, you can place an order on the GBP/BCH trading pair to acquire your digital asset.
Any reputable cryptocurrency exchange operating in the UK and dealing with fiat like GBP is required to adhere to strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, often overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means you will need to verify your identity, typically by providing a government-issued ID and proof of address, before you can deposit Pounds Sterling and execute a trade for Bitcoin Cash.
For secure storage after buying BCH with GBP, it is highly recommended to transfer your digital asset from the exchange to a personal digital wallet where you control the private keys. Options include hardware wallets (the most secure), which keep your keys offline, or reputable non-custodial software wallets. This practice of self-custody is a core principle for securing your assets on the blockchain and protecting them from exchange-related risks.
The primary distinction lies in their intended use case. Bitcoin Cash was created as a Bitcoin fork to function as a 'peer-to-peer electronic cash' system, prioritizing low transaction fees and fast confirmations through a larger block size. When you convert GBP to BCH, you're acquiring a digital asset designed for frequent, affordable blockchain transactions, whereas BTC is more commonly viewed as a store of value with higher on-chain fees.
When converting GBP to BCH, you'll typically encounter several fees. First, the exchange will charge a trading fee (maker or taker fee) on the order book. Second, there might be deposit fees for adding GBP via card or withdrawal fees for sending GBP back to your bank. Finally, when you move your BCH off the exchange to a private digital wallet, you will pay a small, intrinsic Bitcoin Cash network fee, which is known for being significantly lower than Bitcoin's.
When withdrawing your BCH from an exchange after a GBP purchase, it's crucial to use the correct receiving address. Bitcoin Cash introduced the 'CashAddr' format (starting with `bitcoincash:q...` or `q...`) to prevent confusion with legacy Bitcoin (BTC) addresses. Using CashAddr ensures your blockchain transaction is routed correctly on the BCH network, preventing the accidental and often irreversible loss of funds that could occur if sent to a BTC wallet.