Ready to start buying Bitcoin consistently? This guide walks you through everything you need to set up a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy in 2026.
Step 1: Decide Your Investment Amount
Ask yourself: How much can I invest regularly without affecting my daily life?
Good starting points:
- $25/week ($100/month)
- $50/week ($200/month)
- $100/week ($400/month)
Start conservative. You can always increase later. The most important factor is consistency, not the amount.
Step 2: Choose Your DCA Frequency
Weekly: Smooths out volatility the most, 52 purchases per year Bi-weekly: Aligns with paychecks, 26 purchases per year Monthly: Simplest to manage, 12 purchases per year
Most beginners choose weekly or bi-weekly to maximize the DCA effect.
Step 3: Select a Bitcoin Platform
Not all platforms support automatic recurring purchases. Here are the best options for DCA in 2026:
River (Recommended for DCA)
- Clean interface for beginners
- Low fees on recurring purchases
- Strong security and insurance
- Automatic DCA built-in
- U.S. based and regulated
Swan Bitcoin
- DCA-first platform
- Very simple interface
- Automatic purchases
- Educational resources
Coinbase (If you prefer larger platform)
- Automatic recurring buys
- Higher fees than River/Swan
- More features (altcoins, staking)
For pure Bitcoin DCA, River or Swan are optimal choices.
Step 4: Create Your Account
Using River as an example:
- Go to River.com
- Sign up with email
- Verify identity (required for U.S. customers)
- Connect bank account
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for security
The verification process usually takes 1-2 business days.
Step 5: Set Up Automatic Purchases
Once your account is verified:
- Navigate to “Recurring Buy” or “Auto-Buy” settings
- Enter your purchase amount (e.g., $50)
- Choose frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
- Select your purchase day (e.g., every Monday)
- Confirm and activate
Your first purchase will happen on the next scheduled date.
Step 6: Decide on Storage Strategy
Keep on exchange (for amounts under $1,000):
- Convenient for regular purchases
- Lower risk for small amounts
- Platforms like River have insurance
Move to hardware wallet (for larger amounts):
- Once you accumulate $1,000+ in Bitcoin
- Maximum security (you control private keys)
- Popular options: Ledger, Trezor
Most beginners start by keeping Bitcoin on the platform and move to hardware wallet once their holdings grow.
Step 7: Set It and (Mostly) Forget It
The beauty of DCA is automation. Once it’s set up:
- ✅ Purchases happen automatically
- ✅ You don’t need to watch price charts
- ✅ You’re not tempted to time the market
- ✅ You build wealth consistently
Check in monthly to:
- Verify purchases are executing
- Review your total holdings
- Adjust amount if your financial situation changes
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Stopping during dips: The best DCA buys happen when prices are down. Keep going.
Trying to optimize timing: “Maybe I’ll skip this week and buy extra next week” defeats the purpose. Stay consistent.
Over-investing: Only invest money you won’t need for 3-5 years minimum. Bitcoin is volatile short-term.
Ignoring security: Always enable 2FA and use strong, unique passwords.
Your First Month Checklist
- Decide investment amount and frequency
- Choose platform (River recommended)
- Create account and verify identity
- Connect bank account
- Enable 2FA security
- Set up automatic recurring purchases
- Make first purchase
- Set calendar reminder to review in 30 days
What to Expect
Month 1: You’ll watch the price closely. This is normal, but try to ignore it.
Month 3: You’ll start seeing your Bitcoin stack grow and feel less anxious about daily price moves.
Month 6: DCA becomes a habit, like any other bill. You rarely think about the price.
Year 1: You’ll look back and realize consistent investing beat trying to time the market.
Ready to Begin?
Bitcoin DCA isn’t glamorous, but it’s proven. Set it up once, stay consistent, and let time compound your investment.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today.
Disclaimer: This is educational content, not financial advice. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you.