Robinhood Crypto buying power is the cash you can use to place a cryptocurrency order. If your balance is zero or lower than expected, your deposit may still be pending, your instant access may be limited, or your account may have a restriction. Robinhood says Instant accounts typically receive up to $1,000 of instant buying power for crypto. Gold customers may receive instant access up to their applicable Gold tier amount. You cannot use margin buying power to buy cryptocurrency.
Robinhood Crypto Buying Power at a Glance
| Situation | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Bank deposit is pending | The funds may not be available for crypto purchases |
| Instant Deposit access is limited | Only the amount Robinhood makes instantly available can be used |
| Stocks, ETFs, or options were recently sold | The proceeds can take up to 3 business days to become available for crypto |
| Crypto was sold | The proceeds are generally available immediately for another crypto purchase |
| You are checking margin buying power | Margin buying power cannot be used to purchase crypto |
| Your account is restricted | Crypto trading may be blocked until the issue is resolved |
Why Is My Robinhood Crypto Buying Power Zero?
A zero balance usually means Robinhood has not made the cash available for crypto purchases yet, or that another account condition is limiting your access.
Your Bank Deposit Is Still Pending
A pending bank transfer does not always create immediate crypto buying power. Robinhood may provide instant access to part of a deposit, but the amount depends on your account and deposit eligibility.
Robinhood says Instant accounts typically receive up to $1,000 of instant buying power for crypto. Gold customers may receive instant access up to their applicable Gold tier amount. Robinhood can limit Instant Deposit access at any time.
To check the transfer status:
- Open Account.
- Select History.
- Find the pending deposit and its estimated availability date.
A deposit can appear in your account before Robinhood makes it available for cryptocurrency purchases.
You Recently Sold Stocks, ETFs, or Options
Money from a recent stock, ETF, or options sale may still be unsettled. Robinhood says proceeds from those sales can take up to 3 business days to become available for crypto purchases.
Crypto sales follow a different rule. Robinhood says proceeds from selling crypto are generally available immediately for buying more crypto. Moving those proceeds to a bank account follows a separate transfer timeline.
You Are Viewing Margin Buying Power
Robinhood does not allow margin borrowing for cryptocurrency purchases. Crypto is non-marginable and must be paid for with available cash.
As a result, your account can show buying power for stocks while showing little or no buying power for crypto.
Your Robinhood Account Has a Restriction
An investing account restriction can affect your Robinhood Crypto account. Robinhood lists account restrictions as a reason you may be unable to place a crypto buy order.
Possible causes include:
- A transfer reversal
- A fraud or security review
- Incorrect or outdated account information
- An account levy
- A deficit or margin call in another Robinhood account
- A restriction that prevents purchases
Robinhood says buying power can be limited while one of these issues is being reviewed or corrected.
An Open Order Is Holding Your Cash
A pending crypto order can reserve the funds needed for that order. Those funds may not appear as available buying power for another purchase.
Review your open crypto orders and cancel any order you no longer want. A crypto limit order can remain open until the requested price becomes available. A market order can also remain pending or be canceled if Robinhood's price collar or market conditions prevent execution.
Your Available Cash Does Not Cover the Order
Robinhood requires enough available funds to cover a crypto purchase. The estimated purchase price can change as the cryptocurrency's price moves, so an order close to your balance may not go through.
Try entering a smaller dollar amount. Robinhood supports crypto purchases starting at $1, but the order must still fit within your available buying power.
How to Fix Missing Robinhood Crypto Buying Power
Check these items in order:
- Open Account → Buying power and confirm the amount listed for available purchases.
- Open Account → History and look for pending deposits, reversals, or transfer holds.
- Check whether the money came from a recent stock, ETF, or options sale. Those proceeds may not be available for crypto yet.
- Confirm that you are using cash or available deposit buying power, not margin buying power.
- Review your open crypto orders and cancel any order holding funds that you no longer need.
- Look for a restriction notice in the Robinhood app.
- Try a smaller order if the purchase amount is close to your available balance.
- Contact Robinhood Support if the estimated availability date has passed or the app shows an unexplained restriction.
Why Can I Sell Crypto but Not Buy It?
You can sell crypto but be unable to buy it when your purchase funds come from a different source. Crypto sale proceeds are generally available immediately for another purchase, while a new bank deposit may still be pending or limited by Robinhood's Instant Deposit rules. Stock margin buying power also cannot be used to buy cryptocurrency.
Bottom Line
Start with Account → Buying power and Account → History. If the transfer's estimated availability date has passed but your crypto buying power is still zero, check for an account restriction and contact Robinhood Support.