Does Fidelity have a crypto IRA?

Short answer and what this article covers

Quick summary answer

Short answer: Fidelity does not market a retail product that holds customers private crypto keys inside a Fidelity branded crypto IRA. This means you cannot open a standard Fidelity IRA and expect Fidelity to store your private keys for personally owned coins in that account, and the company separates its brokerage retirement offerings from its institutional custody business Fidelity learning center.

What you will learn in this article

This article explains the practical ways to get crypto exposure at Fidelity, the difference between buying funds or ETFs inside a Fidelity IRA and holding coins directly via a self directed IRA, and the tax and reporting rules that still apply when crypto sits in a retirement account. It also gives a decision checklist and step by step guidance so you can compare the options and check key documents before you act.

Throughout the article we use conditional language and primary sources so you can verify details on fund pages and custodian disclosures before making decisions.

How Fidelity lets you get crypto exposure inside an IRA

Crypto mutual funds and fund prospectuses

Fidelity offers ways for investors to add crypto exposure inside brokerage and IRA accounts by listing approved crypto mutual funds and exchange traded funds that can be purchased and held in a Fidelity retirement account, and product pages and press releases describe those launches and the available fund structures Fidelity press release.

A key practical difference is that when you buy a crypto mutual fund or ETF through a brokerage IRA you own shares of the fund, not the underlying private keys for the coins; the fund prospectus and trading platform explain the structure and the parties that custody the underlying assets if applicable.

Spot and futures crypto ETFs available for brokerage/IRA trading

Spot and futures crypto ETFs available for brokerage/IRA trading

Some ETFs are structured to track spot prices, while others use futures contracts or other derivatives to gain exposure, and each structure has different disclosures and risk factors that appear in the ETF prospectus and regulatory filings SEC investor bulletin.

To add a fund or ETF to a Fidelity IRA you generally open or use a Fidelity brokerage IRA account, fund the account, and place a trade for the approved ticker, then monitor holdings and check the fund prospectus for fees and tax details.

Fidelity Digital Assets and institutional custody: what it is and who it’s for

Services offered by Fidelity Digital Assets

Fidelity Digital Assets operates as an institutional custody and trading business that provides custody services and trading infrastructure to eligible clients, but it is separate from Fidelity retail brokerage IRA products and typically serves institutions or qualified investors rather than standard retail IRA customers Fidelity Digital Assets.

Institutional custody versus retail accounts

Institutional custody means the organization provides professional custody services for clients who meet eligibility and onboarding requirements; this service does not change the underlying IRA tax rules for any assets held in retirement accounts and is not positioned as a standard retail crypto IRA product.

If you are a retail investor with a Fidelity IRA brokerage account, institutional custody offerings are usually not the route to direct personal key custody inside that same account; different agreements and eligibility apply for institutional services.

Direct coin ownership inside an IRA: self directed IRAs and third party custodians

How a self directed IRA works

Directly holding coins inside an IRA typically requires a self directed IRA and a third party crypto custodian or trust provider; standard brokerage IRAs generally do not offer retail key custody for individually owned coins, so the self directed path is how investors usually hold actual crypto in retirement accounts CoinDesk guide.

In a self directed IRA the custodian holds assets on behalf of the IRA and follows specific transfer and reporting procedures; the custodian must be set up to accept crypto transfers and must provide the required account level documentation for the IRA custodian relationship.

Finding a custodian that supports crypto

When researching custodians, check which specific coins they support, their custody model, insurance coverage if any, fee schedule, and the transfer process required to move coins into the IRA; these details are usually in custodian disclosures and terms of service.

Because rules and offerings change, verify each custodian’s capabilities and read their disclosure documents carefully before moving funds or coins into an IRA structure.

Tax and retirement rules when crypto is in an IRA

Tax treatment by account type

IRS guidance on virtual currencies applies to crypto in retirement accounts, meaning that tax and retirement rules for IRAs still apply even when the IRA holds crypto exposure; gains inside a traditional IRA are generally tax deferred and gains inside a Roth IRA are potentially tax free, subject to the usual IRA rules and qualifications IRS virtual currency guidance.

That tax status depends on the account type, how distributions are handled, and whether any transfers or distributions trigger taxable events; consult IRS guidance and a tax professional to understand your situation.

Reporting, contributions, and RMDs

Contributions, distributions, and required minimum distributions follow standard IRA law regardless of the asset type held inside the account, so investors must follow IRA rules for timing, contribution limits, and distribution reporting; the IRA custodian will typically provide year end statements showing required information for tax reporting.

Because crypto can add operational complexity, keep careful records of transfers, contributions, and distributions and get tax advice before making moves that could have reporting consequences.

Decision checklist: funds/ETFs versus direct coin custody

Custody model and counterparty risk

Key decision factors include custody model, counterparty risk, and who legally holds the underlying asset; funds and ETFs delegate custody and management to the fund vehicle while direct coin custody places those responsibilities with a selected custodian or trust provider Fidelity press release.

Think about whether you prefer the simplicity of trading a fund inside a brokerage IRA or direct ownership that requires custody arrangements and additional compliance steps.

Fees, liquidity, and tax considerations

Compare expense ratios, trading costs, and any custody or transfer fees; funds and ETFs often charge an expense ratio while direct custody arrangements can involve flat custody fees, transaction fees, or both, and these costs appear in prospectuses and custodian fee schedules Fidelity learning center.

Also consider liquidity: ETFs trade on exchanges and can be bought or sold during market hours, while direct coin custody may involve transfer windows and settlement steps that affect how quickly you can access or reposition assets.

Common mistakes and red flags to avoid

Missing custody details in agreements

A common mistake is assuming a brokerage IRA equals control of private keys; many retail brokerage IRAs allow only listed funds or ETFs rather than direct coin custody, so check custody terms carefully before assuming you will hold your own keys Fidelity Digital Assets.

Also watch for vague language about insurance or custody if a provider does not clearly state who holds keys and what protections exist.

Overlooking fees and liquidity constraints

Investors sometimes miss the total cost of ownership, including expense ratios, trading spreads, and custody fees; review prospectuses and fee schedules so surprises are minimized when you check net costs and expected liquidity.

Another red flag is unclear transfer mechanics; if a custodian does not explain how transfers into the IRA will occur, pause and ask for written procedures and timing estimates.

Confusing institutional services with retail IRA products

Do not assume institutional custody services translate into a retail product for everyday IRA investors; institutional arrangements typically have different eligibility, agreements, and onboarding than retail IRAs, so verify which service applies to your account type Fidelity learning center.

If a provider uses imprecise language about retail support for private key custody, treat that as a red flag and ask for explicit documentation of the custody model and the account type used.

Step-by-step: buying a crypto ETF inside a Fidelity IRA

Open or use a Fidelity IRA brokerage account

If you choose the ETF route, start by opening a Fidelity brokerage IRA or using an existing Fidelity IRA and confirm it is funded and set up for trading; the account setup and funding steps are the same as for other ETFs and mutual funds at the brokerage Fidelity learning center.

Make sure your account type matches your tax goals, for example a traditional IRA for tax deferred growth or a Roth IRA for potential tax free distributions, and fund the account consistent with contribution limits and rollover rules.

Find the ETF and read the prospectus

Confirm that the ETF is eligible for IRA trading at Fidelity and check any trading restrictions or settlement rules that apply to ETFs in retirement accounts.

Place the trade and monitor holdings

Place the trade using your Fidelity brokerage IRA account like any other ETF trade, monitor the holding in your account, and review periodic statements for tax reporting and performance tracking.

Remember that owning an ETF share is different from owning the underlying coin, so if your objective is direct coin ownership you will need to follow the self directed IRA path instead.

Step-by-step: using a self directed IRA custodian to hold coins

Choose a custodian and confirm supported assets

Start by selecting a qualified custodian that explicitly supports the coins you want to hold in the IRA and verify their custody model, insurance coverage, and fee schedule before opening an account CoinDesk guide.

Ask the custodian for written confirmation of supported coins and the transfer instructions they require for IRA accounts to avoid surprises during transfers.

Fund the self directed IRA and arrange transfer

Fund the self directed IRA with cash or via a rollover, then follow the custodian’s instructions to transfer funds or coins into the account; custodians vary in whether they accept coin transfers directly or require a sale or conversion step before transfer.

Keep copies of all transfer authorizations and confirmations and verify the dates and amounts so reporting will be accurate for tax and IRA records.

Confirm custody, insurance, and reporting

Before completing a transfer, confirm how the custodian stores keys, whether there is any insurance, what events are covered, and how the custodian will provide the IRA reporting needed for annual tax and distribution rules Fidelity Digital Assets.

Make sure you understand prohibited transactions for IRAs and consult a tax advisor if you are unsure whether a planned transfer or transaction could create an adverse tax consequence.

Realistic scenarios and examples

Small allocation via an ETF inside a Fidelity IRA

Scenario: an investor wants limited crypto exposure as part of a diversified retirement portfolio. They open a Fidelity IRA, buy a small position in an approved crypto ETF, and track it alongside other holdings. This keeps trading simple and places custody responsibility with the fund vehicle.

This approach makes reporting and record keeping similar to other ETFs, and the investor uses prospectuses and platform statements to gather tax year records.

Switching to full coin custody via a self directed IRA

Scenario: an investor wants to hold actual coins inside an IRA. They research qualified custodians, open a self directed IRA, fund it or roll funds from an existing IRA, and then follow custodian transfer instructions to move coins into the custodied IRA. This path requires additional compliance and checks but enables direct coin ownership inside the IRA wrapper.

Outcomes vary by custodian, supported assets, and fees, so use each scenario only as illustration and verify current product availability and custodian terms before acting.

How to verify current product lists and recent updates

Where to check Fidelity product and press pages

Check the Fidelity learning center and fund press pages for the most current lists of approved funds and ETFs, and our crypto category for related coverage; those pages explain new product launches and eligibility for brokerage and IRA accounts and are a primary source for product availability Fidelity press release.

If you see a fund or ETF mentioned elsewhere, confirm it appears on Fidelity’s trading platform and read the fund’s official documents before assuming it is available for IRA trading.

Reading prospectuses and custodian disclosures

Always read ETF and fund prospectuses and custodian disclosures for custody models, fees, and eligibility for IRAs; these documents are where legal duties, fees, and investment methods are described in detail SEC investor bulletin.

When in doubt, contact the custodian or brokerage and ask for written confirmation about IRA eligibility, supported assets, and any special transfer steps required for crypto holdings.

Questions to ask and a short checklist before you act

Custody and insurance questions

Ask: who holds private keys, what insurance if any covers assets, and how does the custodian segregate IRA assets from other holdings; get answers in writing before you transfer funds or coins Fidelity Digital Assets.

Also confirm how the custodian handles security incidents and whether there are recovery procedures spelled out in the agreement.

Fees, tax, and transfer questions

Ask about all fees including expense ratios, custody fees, transfer fees, and any charges for reporting or account maintenance. Confirm whether transfers or distributions trigger taxable events and how reporting will be handled for the IRA.

Save documentation from every interaction and review the fund prospectus or custodian disclosure carefully before proceeding.

Conclusion: quick recap and next steps

Conclusion: quick recap and next steps

Recap answer

Recap: Fidelity does not advertise a retail crypto IRA that holds private keys. You can gain crypto exposure inside a Fidelity IRA by buying approved crypto funds or ETFs, or pursue direct coin custody by using a self directed IRA with a third party custodian, and IRS rules for IRAs still apply no matter which path you choose Fidelity learning center.

Immediate next steps checklist

Next steps: check Fidelity product pages for current funds and ETFs, read prospectuses and custodian disclosures, prepare questions for custodians and tax advisors, and document every step before moving funds, and see the Finance Police homepage.

Verify current product availability and custodian terms before acting and consult a tax advisor to confirm how contributions, transfers, and distributions apply to your situation.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.