The introduction of blockchain tech made us realize we do not need banks and other institutions to take care of our finances. Cryptocurrencies offered an alternative way. They gifted us the possibility of peer-to-peer transactions, so we could send money directly to each other bypassing greedy and controlling third-parties.

But these bigger opportunities come with bigger responsibilities. When the bank is not in charge of your assets anymore, you are the one who needs to protect your money. Luckily, modern-day HD crypto wallets – like Lumi Wallet – do the backup job for you. And even if your wallet provides an advanced level of security, you need to be cautious as long as you stay online.

On top of that, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. This means that the coins that leave an address could be impossible to track. No surprise that that acts as an invitation letter to hackers that love to target crypto exchanges. In 2019 alone they’ve stolen more than $292,000,000.

VPN services can help you protect your digital assets and must be used by everyone working with crypto.

What Does a VPN Do?

Here are the key features of a good VPN provider:

Data Encryption

Privacy Protection

Advanced Security

Now, let’s look into the key VPN functions in more detail.

VPN for Encryption

Firstly, a VPN encrypts your data which makes it harder to track. Although it became common sense for mainstream websites to use HTTPS end-to-end encryption – which is considered to be very safe – a VPN levels up your enciphering game.

VPNs route your traffic via a secure connection to an external server so you can rest assured your crypto transactions won’t be compromised.

VPN for Crypto Privacy

Secondly, VPNs protects your privacy. Although many of us grew up to believe that privacy is a basic human right, it becomes harder to protect once you go digital. And that’s why using a VPN is always a good idea, not just when you deal with crypto.

If you need to use public Wi-Fi, enabling a VPN is a must!

VPN services hide your IP address as well as your online behavior and basically make you invisible to hackers, institutions, and anyone who might have an interest. Your Bitcoin address will no longer be associated with your real IP. Additionally, by changing your IP you can get round the government’s bans on certain websites and services including crypto trading activities.

So regardless of what you want to do with crypto – whether you want to buy Bitcoin or exchange a few tokens – turning on a VPN will increase your chances of stay safe.

Misconception: VPN Does Not Fight Phishing and Malware

There is a common misconception that VPNs protect users from any misfortune that could befall them online. However, that is not true. Although VPN services do use encryption protocols, you need to use an updated anti-malware service in order to protect your devices from viruses and malware.

Moreover, free VPN services often contain viruses themselves. And that’s another reason not to use something that comes free.

Top 3 VPNs for Crypto Enthusiasts

Before we list the top VPNs for crypto transactions, which you can also pay for in Bitcoin and altcoins, here are a few more things you need to keep in mind.

Sometimes using a VPN may slow down the speed of your connection. In this case, consider adjusting your VPN to crypto transactions. While some services already have this function, in other cases you might have to do it manually.

You don’t want to use the service that stores your logs as this could compromise your anonymity. Usually, those are the free VPNs that collect your browser data in order to sell it later on. Avoid using free VPN services and don’t skimp on your security.

Also, remember that VPNs will not do you any good when the scammer gets your physical device or a piece of sensitive information. That is why strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and common sense are your best friends.

ExpressVPN

$99.95 for a year plan

$12.95 per month

30-day money-back guarantee

Pay with Bitcoin

Probably, the most secure and advanced VPN service that you can buy with cryptocurrency, ExpressVPN, works with five devices at a time whether it’s Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, or Linux. It offers 160 server locations in 94 countries and does not store your logs.

It uses Network, a so-called kill switch, which blocks internet traffic once your VPN connection interrupts. This way your data always stays protected. Also, ExpressVPN runs its own DNS (domain name system) on every server.

And it offers a pleasant bonus: if you’re not happy with the service, in the first 30 days you can get your money back.

NordVPN

$83.88 for a year plan

$11.95 per month

30-day money-back guarantee

Pay with Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple

You can use NordVPN with 6 devices and it is supported by almost any operating system you can think of. You can pick one of the 5600 servers in 58 countries, thus enjoy the fast speed. NordVPN supports both Socks5 and HTTP proxies and runs its own DNS.

And it does not store any logs of your browsing history and is equipped with a kill switch.



CyberGhost VPN

$71.88 for a year plan

$12.99 per month

79% discount on a 3-year plan ($99)

Pay with Bitcoin

If you’re looking for a service that allows you to connect the maximum amount of devices simultaneously, then CyberGhost VPN is the one for you – you’re free to connect up to 7 devices. CyberGhost has all the must-have VPN functions – a no-logs policy, DNS-leak protection, kill switch, and military-grade encryption.

The service allows you to connect to more than 7,000 VPN servers in over 90 countries and 112 VPN locations with unlimited bandwidth and no throttling or buffering.

To test the VPN, you can download its trial option. And if you feel that you are ready to commit long-term, you’ll get a massive discount on a 3-year plan.

Conclusion

Although VPNs do not protect you from all the online evil, using a good, fee-based service will help you hide your identity online, encrypt the data that you send, and in some cases overcome region-based content restrictions.

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