iTrustCapital is a self-directed IRA platform that lets US investors hold cryptocurrency and physical gold and silver inside a tax-advantaged retirement account, charging a flat 1% transaction fee with no monthly or account maintenance costs. Founded in 2018, it’s one of the longer-running crypto IRA providers, holding an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (though not BBB-accredited) and roughly 8,600 Trustpilot reviews averaging 5.0 stars. This review breaks down how iTrustCapital actually works, what it costs, how it secures assets, and how it compares to other crypto IRA options — including a direct look at the “scam or not” skepticism that shows up prominently in search results.
Key Takeaways
- iTrustCapital charges a flat 1% fee per crypto transaction with no monthly, annual, or account setup fees — the minimum initial investment is $1,000, with a $500 minimum on subsequent contributions.
- The platform supports 70+ cryptocurrencies plus physical gold and silver, inside both Traditional/Roth IRAs and a non-IRA Premium Custody Account.
- iTrustCapital holds an A+ Better Business Bureau rating but is not BBB-accredited — accreditation is optional and requires a fee, so this isn’t itself a red flag.
- Assets are held through a closed-loop custody system involving Coinbase Custody, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Fireblocks, with Fortis Bank serving as the IRA custodian.
- Founded in 2018, iTrustCapital raised a $125 million Series A in 2021 led by Left Lane Capital at a $1.3 billion valuation, giving it more scale and operating history than many newer crypto IRA entrants.
- iTrustCapital offers built-in staking on select assets (SOL and ETH as of 2026), letting investors earn passive rewards directly within their IRA or Premium Custody Account — the platform keeps roughly 22% of staking rewards as a fee, with the rest paid to the investor.
What Is iTrustCapital?
iTrustCapital is a fintech platform for alternative-asset retirement investing, letting US investors buy and sell cryptocurrencies and precious metals inside a self-directed Traditional or Roth IRA. For investors who don’t want the IRA structure, the platform also offers a Premium Custody Account (PCA) — a non-retirement account that works more like a standard crypto exchange with the same underlying custody setup.
How iTrustCapital Works
Accounts can typically be opened and funded within about a business day, with 24/7 trading access once set up. iTrustCapital’s team is non-commissioned, meaning support staff aren’t incentivized to upsell products — a detail several independent reviewers have flagged as a meaningful difference from higher-pressure competitors in the crypto IRA space.
Fees and Minimums
- Minimum initial investment: $1,000
- Minimum subsequent contribution: $500
- Crypto transaction fee: 1%, charged on each buy or sell
- Monthly, annual, or account setup fees: None
- Precious metals: Priced at a markup over spot — roughly $125 per ounce over spot for gold, and $3.95/$1.95 per ounce over spot for silver buys/sells respectively, based on rates reported in mid-2026. Metal markups shift over time, so confirm the current rate on iTrustCapital’s fee page before trading.
Staking
iTrustCapital offers built-in staking on select proof-of-stake assets, currently Solana and Ethereum. Clients can stake and unstake directly from their account dashboard with no external wallet required, and rewards are paid in the staked asset. iTrustCapital and its staking provider keep roughly 22% of rewards as a fee, so a displayed SOL reward rate of 6.39%, for example, already reflects that deduction. Unstaked funds and any accrued rewards typically become available within 2 to 45 business days, depending on the asset’s network.
Compared to competitors, iTrustCapital’s 1% fee is roughly in line with the category, but its lack of any recurring monthly or annual account fee is a genuine differentiator — rivals like Alto IRA charge the same 1% but add a $10/month or $100/year account fee, and Bitcoin IRA charges percentage-based setup and maintenance fees on top of a higher $3,000 minimum.
Coin and Asset Selection
iTrustCapital supports more than 70 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, alongside physical gold and silver — a combination that sets it apart from crypto-only platforms like Swan Bitcoin. Investors who want a much broader altcoin selection should note that Alto IRA offers over 200 coins through its Coinbase integration, though without precious metals or a non-IRA account option.
Security and Custody
iTrustCapital uses a closed-loop custody system built with third-party US custodians: Coinbase Custody (the institutional arm of the exchange covered in our Coinbase review), Fidelity Digital Assets, and Fireblocks hold client crypto assets, while Fortis Bank serves as the custodian for the self-directed IRA structure itself. Assets are secured through offline cold storage, regular audits, and commercial crime insurance — the same institutional-grade infrastructure used by several larger custodial platforms.
Is iTrustCapital Legit?
The top-ranking Google result for “itrustcapital reviews” is a Reddit thread titled “Scam or not: Itrustcapital,” which is worth addressing directly rather than ignoring. The short answer: iTrustCapital is a legitimate, operating company — it’s held an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, processed billions of dollars in transactions since 2018, and raised institutional funding from Left Lane Capital at a $1.3 billion valuation in 2021. It is not BBB-accredited, but accreditation is a paid, optional program rather than a legitimacy requirement, and plenty of legitimate companies skip it. Complaints that do surface on BBB and Trustpilot mostly involve transfer delays and account-opening rejections rather than fund security, and iTrustCapital has a track record of responding to and resolving disputes.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Flat 1% crypto fee with no recurring monthly or annual costs
- Gold, silver, and crypto available in one account
- Built-in staking on SOL and ETH, earning passive rewards inside the IRA
- Non-commissioned support team with fast account setup
- Institutional-grade custody through Coinbase Custody, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Fireblocks
Cons:
- $1,000 minimum is higher than low-barrier competitors like Alto IRA ($10 minimum)
- 70+ coin selection is narrower than Alto IRA’s 200+ via Coinbase
- Not BBB-accredited (though it holds an A+ rating)
- Not built for active or short-term trading strategies
iTrustCapital vs. Alternatives
| iTrustCapital | Bitcoin IRA | Alto IRA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $1,000 | ~$3,000 | $10 |
| Crypto transaction fee | 1% | 1%+ setup/maintenance fees | 1% + $10/mo or $100/yr |
| Coins supported | 70+ | 60+ | 200+ (via Coinbase) |
| Precious metals | Yes | No | No |
| Non-IRA account option | Yes (PCA) | No | No |
Who Should Use iTrustCapital?
iTrustCapital fits buy-and-hold investors who want tax-advantaged exposure to crypto and precious metals without complexity or recurring fees. It’s a weaker fit for active traders who want the widest possible altcoin selection, or investors specifically looking for the lowest possible minimum to get started, where Alto IRA’s $10 threshold is more accessible.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct independent research before making investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iTrustCapital legit?
Yes. iTrustCapital is a legitimate, operating crypto IRA provider founded in 2018, holding an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and having raised institutional funding at a $1.3 billion valuation in 2021. It processes billions of dollars in transactions, maintains roughly 8,600 Trustpilot reviews averaging 5.0 stars, and uses institutional-grade custody through Coinbase Custody, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Fireblocks to secure client assets.
What are iTrustCapital's fees?
iTrustCapital charges a flat 1% fee on each crypto buy or sell transaction, with no monthly, annual, or account setup fees to worry about. Precious metals carry a markup over spot price that varies by metal and shifts over time, so it's worth checking the current rate on iTrustCapital's fee page directly before trading rather than relying on a fixed number.
What is the minimum investment for iTrustCapital?
The minimum initial investment is $1,000, with a lower $500 minimum required for any subsequent contributions after that. This is higher than some newer competitors like Alto IRA, which only requires $10 to open an account, but remains broadly in line with most established crypto IRA providers in the category.
Is iTrustCapital BBB accredited?
No. iTrustCapital holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau but has chosen not to pursue formal accreditation, which is an optional program that requires paying a fee and agreeing to additional BBB standards. This is a common choice among otherwise legitimate companies and isn't itself a sign of a problem with the platform.
How does iTrustCapital compare to Bitcoin IRA?
iTrustCapital has a lower $1,000 minimum versus Bitcoin IRA's roughly $3,000, and charges only a flat 1% transaction fee with no ongoing costs, while Bitcoin IRA adds percentage-based setup and maintenance fees on top. iTrustCapital also supports physical gold and silver alongside crypto in the same account, which Bitcoin IRA does not offer its customers.
Does iTrustCapital offer staking?
Yes. iTrustCapital lets clients stake Solana and Ethereum directly from their account dashboard, earning passive rewards paid in the staked asset without needing an external wallet. The platform and its staking provider keep roughly 22% of rewards as a fee, and unstaked funds typically become available within 2 to 45 business days depending on the asset.
