There are a lot of reasons why you might want to use a VPN, but the main ones usually revolve around security and privacy.

However, the problem lies in the fact that you need to pay for a VPN, and paying for it is hardly anonymous, with banks and credit card companies recording every transaction with all the details firmly established in their records.

It's the same for other payment systems like Paypal.

With all that information being stored, I'm sure like me it makes you concerned, right?

So what happens if you've got a stash of Bitcoin, Ripple, Ether or one of the many other currencies known as ‘Crypto‘?

This is where (semi)anonymous payments come into play, and the easiest way to pay as anonymously as possible is, of course, with cryptocurrency. It's worth remembering that most cryptocurrencies are not 100% anonymous, but I'll cover more on that later.

Although such payment methods have become more widely accepted, many VPN providers still do not accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

However, most of the best ones do, and below you'll discover seven of the most popular VPN services you can pay for with that virtual currency you've got hanging around in your virtual pocket.

Top 7 Crypto accepting VPN Services

1. VPN.ac

In first spot, we have VPN.ac – a smaller service than others on this list, but still a highly-capable service and one of the VPNs that accept Bitcoin and other Crypto.

It features servers in over 20 countries, most of which are in Europe and America, but also in Asia and Australia. You will need to check they cover areas you're likely to connect to, to make sure they're suitable for your needs.

As for payments, there are numerous ways to pay, including cryptocurrency. VPN.ac accepts a vast number of them, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Dash, Dogecoin, Monero, Ripple, and more.

The service also offers secure 256-bit encryption and utilises a 4096-bit RSA key for handshaking, which is at the upper end of the industry. We really like the fact they support Wireguard too.

It certainly seems to be the most open to crypto payments, which is why we ranked them especially highly.

#1 Recommended Choice

7-day money back guarantee

2. VPNCity

Second, we have VPNCity, which is an outstanding service that doesn't keep logs of your activities that you may not have previously heard of.

This industry newcomer supports numerous devices and systems, and it has prices that are below the industry's average. There's a wealth of crypto payment options handled via Coingate which includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin.

However, its best feature is the fact that it allows you to use it on 12 different devices at the same time on their longer (& cheapest) subscription package.

The service works with tons of streaming services and has additional security features such as a warrant canary which is a sweet extra bonus. It also offers a money-back guarantee that lasts for 30 days.

See More: Check out our review of the VPNCity service.

3. Surfshark

Next on our list is Surfshark – a VPN that is quite new but has become increasingly popular due to its advanced security features and reliable service.

Usually recommending new services doesn't happen very often, but this is a provider that has proven themselves to offer nearly as many features as more established VPN services.

You have the choice of paying via CoinGate or CoinPayments, which includes payment options such as Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum.

It is also great for bypassing censorship and geo-restrictions, and it can help you be partly anonymous. With it, you can access 1,040 servers in over 60 countries, while using a variety of devices and systems.

Oh, and there's the standard 30-day money back guarantee available here too.

4. NordVPN

In fourth place, we have NordVPN – a top-rated and capable service. In terms of cryptocurrency payments, it offers that bit more choice than some of the other providers.

NordVPN has a significantly bigger server network than most other providers, even though its servers are available in fewer countries than some (around 60). Still, the service offers robust security features; it has a 30-day money-back guarantee also, as well as a good number of dedicated apps for various devices.

Furthermore, it also accepts several cryptocurrencies, which is another thing that makes it stand out.

You can pay for NordVPN with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP, so there's plenty of choices when it comes to paying.

NordVPN did suffer a security incident recently, which you may want to consider. If that's a deal-breaker, then check the alternative options above or below.

5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best, if not THE best VPN that you can get at the moment, and it's not just us who say that as you'll discover soon.

It is known as one of the most trustworthy and the most capable VPN providers out there – no reports of any breaches or incidents that would make you distrust them.

But down to the nitty-gritty, you can pay for this VPN with Bitcoin. Although it's disappointing not to see more crypto options, they do support the most popular.

If you've got a few Bitcoin hanging around, then you'll be able to pay for their service with it.

88% of Trustpilot user feedback rates ExpressVPN ‘Excellent' with 7% grading it ‘Good' [1].

Apart from this, ExpressVPN is known for its massive server network that spans throughout 94 countries, and it has dedicated apps for a huge number of devices.

It will also return your money if you are not satisfied with its service, as long as you request your payment back within 30 days from the moment of payment.

6. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost is our sixth pick for a variety of reasons. In terms of Cryptocurrency payments, they're limited to Bitcoin via BitPay.

Its server network offers almost the same number of servers as NordVPN, while server locations include practically the same amount of countries as ExpressVPN.

You might say that CyberGhost took the best from both of the previous entries.

On top of that, you can use it on all the most popular systems and devices. One stand out feature is they offer specific connection points for unblocking streaming services. If you're a big binge-watcher, then this will come in useful.

It also has one of the longest-lasting money return policies in the industry – a 45-day long guarantee.

7. ProtonVPN

Finally, the last on our list is ProtonVPN. This Swiss-based service is one of the best when it comes to anonymity features and respect for user privacy, which is required by Swiss laws.

ProtonVPN is a high-speed service that offers protection for numerous systems and devices. While it does offer a (limited) free version, the paid subscriptions are a little on the high side.

Payment is possible via several methods, in the crypto sense, you're able to pay using Bitcoin only.

The service claims to keeps no logs of your activity, it supports torrenting, and it allows you to protect up to five devices at once. It even has a decent server network, with 567 servers in 43 different countries.

If you don't like it, you can use their 30-day money back guarantee to get a refund.

How can cryptocurrency protect my payment?

You might be wondering how and why cryptocurrency payments are better than credit or debit card payments, or even PayPal transactions.

The fact is that all of these services care very deeply about who you are and what you do with your money.

They are all interconnected, and they share real-world details about you, making it easy for them to build a profile of your spending patterns, but not only that…

… who you are.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency do things differently.

Alex Hern of The Guardian says “But the biggest advantage, and the only one everybody agrees on, is that bitcoin is decentralised and so extremely resistant to censorship.” [2]

It is not 100% anonymous since it does have a public ledger, so don't let anyone tell you it is.

However, it can be more anonymous than traditional payment methods as long as you do not connect your Bitcoin wallet to any account where you were forced to verify your identity.

Your payments could be tracked, but as long as no one knows who you are, you're halfway there to anonymity.

I would go as far as to say that 100% anonymity is not possible, at least not for regular users like ourselves. However, by paying for your VPN with crypto, you add an extra layer of protection not available with traditional payment methods.

5 Benefits of paying with Crypto

1. Bitcoin is pseudonymous, meaning that your identity is not instantly known to everyone unless you are individually tracked.

2. Faster transactions; crypto transactions can vary in speed, but they can be near-instant, while international transactions through banks can take several (work) days to be processed.

3. Cryptos are available at any time; with cryptocurrencies, there is no such thing as borders, and it doesn't matter what time of day it might be. All transactions are swift and processed around the clock.

4. Greater security; Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology, which acts as a decentralised ledger. As such, it is also immutable, meaning that no transaction that is recorded can ever be manipulated, deleted, or changed in any way.

5. Value; Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly valuable as their adoption advances. Their prices go up and down, but overall, it is estimated that they will be much more valuable as time goes on.

5 Negatives of paying with crypto

1. They are not entirely anonymous; As much as people might try to deny it, the fact is that crypto is only pseudonymous, and total anonymity is a myth.

2. Volatility; As mentioned before, crypto prices are far from stable. While this might be a good thing for professional traders, it is not so suitable for users who just wish to use it for payments, as you can never tell how the price might behave.

3. Lack of regulation; Depending on where you live in the world, cryptocurrencies might see more or fewer rules. However, they are not 100% regulated anywhere, meaning that there is always room for changes, some of which might be negative.

4. Lack of adoption; Cryptocurrencies are practical and more advanced than traditional money. However, there are still only a handful of places where you can use them, and only the most popular ones, at that.

5. They are complicated; Since cryptos are a completely new payment method, it is hardly surprising that they bring all kinds of innovative technologies, techniques, concepts, and more. However, this can be difficult to grasp, and it requires time and a very steep learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I anonymous when paying with Crypto-currency?

No, many factors lead towards anonymity and some would say that total anonymity is impossible.

It's worth remembering that even when paying with crypto-currency, your IP address is sent to the VPN provider each time you connect.

Is using Crypto-currency illegal?

No, in most countries, cryptocurrency is not illegal and paying for services such as VPNs is a common usage.

Should I pay for a VPN with crypto?

This is entirely a decision for you to make.

Above we've listed seven VPN services that accept various forms of cryptocurrency. If you should pay using it over a more traditional method is up to you to decide.

Summary

Virtual Private Networks are one of the best technologies for achieving part-anonymity, securing your online activity, privacy, and security on the internet.

However, paying for them is far from being anonymous. All types of traditional payment methods are highly linked to your identity.

You may, therefore, consider paying with cryptocurrency.

VPN.ac is the standout VPN service for crypto payments because they offer more options than most. They do however have fewer locations than other services, so it pays to check that they're suitable for your needs.

If you need more locations, then NordVPN makes a good alternative, but you'll be limited to fewer crypto choices.

What's your favourite Crypto for making payments? I would love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment in our comments section below.

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Sources

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