Selling crypto on Robinhood in three steps
To sell crypto on Robinhood, open the app, tap the cryptocurrency you own, tap the sell button, enter how much you want to sell, review the price, and confirm the sale. The cash from the sale lands in your Robinhood account when ready, though the actual transfer to your bank account follows Robinhood's standard withdrawal timeline — usually one to three business days depending on your bank.
The process is the same whether you are selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, or any other coin Robinhood offers. You do not need to move your crypto to an external wallet or exchange. Everything happens inside the app.
Key Takeaways
- Selling crypto on Robinhood takes less than a minute: find the coin, tap sell, enter the amount, and confirm.
- Your sale price is locked in at the moment you confirm, so the price you see on screen is the price you get.
- Cash from the sale appears in your Robinhood account right away, but moving it to your bank account takes one to three business days.
- Robinhood charges no commission on crypto sales, but the price you receive includes a small spread — the difference between what buyers and sellers are willing to pay.
- If you sell at a loss, you may be able to use that loss to offset other investment gains on your taxes.
Step-by-step: selling your crypto
Open the Robinhood app and tap the Investing tab at the bottom. Scroll down to your crypto holdings or search for the specific coin you want to sell. Tap the coin name to open its detail page.
On the coin's page, tap the sell button — it is usually at the bottom of the screen and appears as a red or orange button labeled "Sell". A selling screen will open showing the current price of the coin.
Enter the amount you want to sell. You can enter a dollar amount or a number of coins — the app will convert between the two. Robinhood will show you how much cash you will receive after the sale. Tap Review Order to see the final details, then tap Confirm to complete the sale.
Your cash appears in your Robinhood account balance when ready. You can use it to buy other investments right away, or you can withdraw it to your bank account.
Understanding the price you receive
The price shown on Robinhood's crypto detail page is not always the exact price you will receive when you sell. Robinhood includes a small spread in the price — the difference between what the market is willing to pay for the coin and what Robinhood charges you to buy or sell it. This spread is how Robinhood makes money on crypto trades without charging a commission.
The spread varies depending on market conditions and the specific coin. Bitcoin and Ethereum typically have smaller spreads because they trade in higher volume. Less common coins may have larger spreads. When you tap the sell button and enter your amount, the app shows you the exact price and total cash you will receive before you confirm — so you always know what you are getting.
The price is locked in the moment you confirm the sale. If the market price moves while you are entering your amount, Robinhood will ask you to confirm again at the new price before the sale goes through.
Moving your cash to your bank account
After you sell, the cash sits in your Robinhood account and you can use it when ready to buy stocks, ETFs, or other crypto. If you want to move it to your bank account, tap the Account tab, then tap Transfers, then tap Withdraw. Select the bank account you have linked to Robinhood and enter the amount.
Robinhood processes withdrawals when ready, but your bank controls how long the money takes to appear. Most banks show the deposit within one to three business days. Some banks are faster — some show deposits the same day. Weekends and bank holidays can add time.
You can withdraw any amount, but Robinhood may limit how often you can withdraw if you have a new account or if you are moving large sums. If you hit a limit, you can try again the next day or contact Robinhood support for details on your specific account.
Taxes and selling at a loss
When you sell crypto on Robinhood, you trigger a taxable event. If you sold for more than you paid, you owe tax on the gain. If you sold for less, you have a loss. The IRS treats crypto as property, not currency, so the rules are the same as selling stocks.
Robinhood does not automatically report your crypto sales to the IRS, but you are required to report them yourself on your tax return. Robinhood provides a tax report in your account that shows all your buys and sells — you can read this and use it when you file.
If you sell at a loss, you can use that loss to offset other investment gains. If your losses exceed your gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 of the net loss against other income in that year, and carry forward any remaining loss to future years. A tax professional can help you understand how your specific sales affect your tax bill.
What happens if you sell during market hours versus after hours
Robinhood's crypto market is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can sell any time. The price you receive depends on what the market is willing to pay at that exact moment. Crypto does not have traditional market hours like stocks do — it trades continuously around the world.
If you sell during times when fewer people are trading (late night or early morning in the US), the spread may be slightly wider because there are fewer buyers and sellers. During peak trading hours, spreads are usually tighter. But the difference is usually small for major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Selling crypto you bought with unsettled cash
If you bought crypto using cash from a recent deposit or stock sale that has not yet settled, you may not be able to sell it when ready. Robinhood requires certain cash to settle before you can sell the crypto it purchased. Settlement usually takes one to two business days.
If you try to sell and see an error message, check your Account tab under Transfers to see if you have unsettled cash. The app will tell you when the cash settles and you can sell. You can also contact Robinhood support if you are unsure why a sale is blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Robinhood charge a fee to sell crypto?
Robinhood does not charge a commission on crypto sales. The only cost is the spread — the difference between the price you see and the price you receive. This spread is built into the price Robinhood quotes you.
Can I sell a fraction of a coin?
Yes. Robinhood lets you buy and sell any amount of crypto, down to very small fractions. You can sell $10 worth of Bitcoin even if that is only a tiny piece of a whole coin.
What if I want to sell but the price is dropping fast?
You can sell when ready at the current market price. Robinhood does not offer limit orders for crypto — you cannot set a price and wait for the market to reach it. You can only sell at the market price right now. If you want to wait for a better price, you have to check back later and sell manually.
Can I undo a sale after I confirm it?
No. Once you confirm a sale, it is final. The crypto is sold and the cash is in your account. You cannot reverse it. If you want to buy the crypto back, you have to place a new buy order at the current market price.
What if my bank rejects the withdrawal?
If your bank rejects a withdrawal, the cash returns to your Robinhood account within a few business days. Common reasons for rejection include a closed account, a name mismatch, or a frozen account. Contact your bank to find out why the transfer was rejected, then try again with corrected information or a different bank account.