iTrustCapital is a US software platform that lets you buy and hold crypto, precious metals and, more recently, stocks inside a self-directed Traditional, Roth or SEP IRA. As of October 2026 its fee page lists no monthly, setup or exit fees and a 1% fee on each crypto buy and sell. That pricing favours people who buy and hold; frequent traders pay much more over time. iTrustCapital is not itself a custodian: it names separate custody partners. This review compares the platform with simply holding a bitcoin ETF in an ordinary IRA, based on published terms, not account testing.
Key takeaways
- Cost is driven by trading activity, not time: 1% per crypto trade, with no account fees.
- The site describes iTrustCapital (ITC2.0, Inc.) as a software platform; IRA custody is provided by iTrust Custodial Services and/or Fortis Bank, and customers cannot choose the custodian.
- In August 2026 an on-chain investigator alleged an undisclosed customer data breach; iTrustCapital publicly denied it.
- For a buy-and-hold bitcoin position, a low-cost spot ETF in a regular brokerage IRA is the main alternative worth pricing.
iTrustCapital in brief (October 2026)
| Item | What iTrustCapital publishes (or reviews report) |
|---|---|
| Operator | ITC2.0, Inc., describing itself as a fintech software platform, not an exchange, custodian, broker-dealer or adviser |
| Account types | Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs; non-IRA “Premium Custody” and business accounts |
| Crypto fee | 1% per buy and per sell |
| Account fees | $0 monthly, annual, startup, exit, storage or transfer fees |
| Metals | Gold, silver and platinum at a fixed dollar amount over spot per ounce (amount shown in-platform) |
| Stocks and ETFs | Zero-commission trades via a brokerage account at Apex Clearing Corporation |
| Crypto selection | “100+ cryptocurrencies,” according to its crypto page |
| Opening minimum | $1,000 per multiple reviews; $500 for later contributions per several reviews (not stated on the public fee page) |
| IRA custody | iTrust Custodial Services and/or Fortis Bank |
| Support | Phone, Monday to Friday 7am–5pm PT, plus help centre |
iTrustCapital also markets “Q,” a set of opt-in algorithmic trading strategies with a 0.10% per-trade fee and monthly subscription tiers ($49 or $99 a month above certain position sizes) that it says are waived through December 31, 2026. Its marketing shows backtested performance; hypothetical results are not actual client returns, and an automated strategy still trades your retirement money.
How the 1% iTrustCapital fee adds up over time
A per-trade fee and an annual expense ratio behave very differently, so compare them over the period you plan to hold. Take a $20,000 rollover held for ten years. To isolate fees, assume the portfolio’s value stays flat (an illustrative simplification, not a prediction).
| Profile | Activity | Approximate 10-year fees |
|---|---|---|
| Buy-and-hold saver on iTrustCapital | One buy now, one sell at the end | $200 + about $198 = about $400 |
| Active rebalancer on iTrustCapital | Trades half the portfolio each quarter | $10,000 × 1% × 4 × 10 = $4,000, plus entry and exit: about $4,400 |
| Spot bitcoin ETF in a brokerage IRA | Zero-commission buy, illustrative 0.20% annual expense ratio | $40 a year × 10 = about $400 |
The pattern: paying 1% on the way in and 1% on the way out costs roughly the same as ten years of a 0.20% expense ratio. Hold longer and the ETF’s cost keeps growing while the iTrustCapital buy-and-hold cost does not; trade often and iTrustCapital becomes the expensive option very quickly. Also note that “1%” is built into the execution price iTrustCapital shows you, so compare the final quoted price with a market reference before confirming. Its fee page adds that additional asset pricing fees may apply.
Coins, metals and staking on iTrustCapital
The crypto list covers major assets and a long tail of smaller tokens (the in-app marketplace is the authoritative iTrustCapital crypto list). A wide menu matters less than it seems inside a retirement account: small-cap tokens can be illiquid and fall sharply, and there is no way to replace losses in an IRA beyond the annual contribution limit.
Metals are physical gold, silver and platinum stored by a depository partner, priced at a fixed premium per ounce over spot. That premium is charged on the way in and a smaller amount on the way out, according to reviews; the current figures are shown on the platform.
Staking is offered on eligible assets. iTrustCapital’s staking page says it typically takes 2 to 14 business days for staked tokens to begin earning, and rewards accrue and are returned when you unstake, subject to each network’s unbonding period. iTrustCapital keeps a share of rewards as its fee; check the staking FAQ for the current rate and which assets qualify. Staking rewards inside an IRA are not taxed in the year earned, but they are not guaranteed and can be reduced by network penalties.
Opening an account and rolling over a 401(k)
iTrustCapital’s help centre lists three funding routes: transfers from another IRA, rollovers from employer plans such as a 401(k), and new cash contributions. Crypto can only be moved in-kind from another crypto IRA.
- Open the IRA online and verify identity. Choose Traditional, Roth or SEP to match the money you are moving: pre-tax 401(k) money normally goes to a Traditional IRA, Roth 401(k) money to a Roth IRA.
- Request a direct rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer. Ask your old plan to send funds directly to the new custodian. Direct transfers avoid the mandatory 20% withholding that applies when a 401(k) cheque is paid to you, and they do not count toward the once-a-year limit on indirect IRA-to-IRA rollovers.
- Wait for the funds, which depends on how fast the old provider processes paperwork.
- Buy assets once cash arrives, remembering each crypto purchase carries the 1% fee.
New contributions follow IRS limits: for 2026, IRS Notice 2025-67 sets the IRA limit at $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up for people 50 and older. Roth eligibility phases out at higher incomes. Our crypto Roth IRA guide explains Roth rules and conversions, and our crypto for retirement page covers allocation questions. Not tax or financial advice; confirm rollover rules with your plan administrator or a tax professional.
Custody, security and is iTrustCapital legit?
iTrustCapital is an established business with a large customer base; in a December 2025 press release it said it had passed $16 billion in total crypto transactions. Legitimacy and safety are different questions, though, and three points deserve attention.
- Layered custody. iTrustCapital’s disclosures name iTrust Custodial Services and Fortis Bank as IRA custodians and say client assets are held in custodial accounts with a regulated chartered trust entity, off iTrustCapital’s balance sheet. Digital assets sit with institutional storage providers and are not FDIC insured; FDIC coverage applies only to USD cash balances at partner banks, within limits. You cannot pick the custodian.
- Data breach allegation. On August 24, 2026, on-chain investigator ZachXBT alleged that iTrustCapital and BitcoinIRA had suffered undisclosed customer data breaches earlier in the year, as reported by Protos and other outlets. iTrustCapital publicly denied it, saying it was not aware of any recent third-party vendor data breach affecting its platform. The allegation was unconfirmed when reported. Either way, the practical risk is targeted phishing: treat unexpected “support” calls or emails with suspicion.
- Not an exchange or adviser. Trades are routed through liquidity partners, and the company does not give investment advice.
Protect your login: use a unique password and an authenticator app, type itrustcapital.com yourself or use the official app, and never share codes with anyone who calls you. iTrustCapital’s published support number is (562) 600-8399; verify any number against the official site before calling.
iTrustCapital vs an ETF in a regular IRA
Since January 2024, US investors have been able to buy spot bitcoin ETFs (and later spot ether ETFs) in ordinary brokerage IRAs, often commission-free. That changes the comparison for anyone who only wants BTC or ETH exposure.
| Factor | iTrustCapital crypto IRA | Spot ETF in a brokerage IRA |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | The coins, held by custodians in your IRA | ETF shares; the fund holds the coins |
| Cost structure | 1% per trade, no annual fee | Annual expense ratio; commissions often $0 |
| Asset choice | 100+ coins, metals, staking | Only assets with listed ETFs |
| Trading hours | 24/7 | Stock market hours |
| Consolidation | Separate account and custodian | Sits alongside your other investments |
For alternatives with similar models, see our best crypto IRA comparison; for the ETF route, our bitcoin ETF guide lists fees. More retirement and ETF explainers are in our bitcoin guides hub.
FAQ
What are iTrustCapital’s fees?
As of October 2026, the fee page lists 1% per cryptocurrency buy and sell, $0 monthly, annual, setup, exit, storage and transfer fees, zero-commission stock and ETF trades, and a fixed dollar premium over spot for gold, silver and platinum. Optional Q strategies carry a 0.10% trade fee and subscription tiers that iTrustCapital says are waived through December 31, 2026.
Can I open an iTrustCapital Roth IRA?
Yes. iTrustCapital offers Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs. Roth contributions follow IRS income limits and the 2026 contribution cap of $7,500 ($8,600 if you are 50 or older). You can also move existing Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) money through a direct transfer or rollover, which keeps the tax treatment intact.
Who holds my crypto at iTrustCapital?
iTrustCapital says IRA custodial services are provided by one or more of iTrust Custodial Services and Fortis Bank, with digital assets kept by institutional storage providers and held off its own balance sheet. Customers cannot choose a custody partner. Digital assets are not FDIC insured; only USD cash balances at partner banks may be, within limits.
Does iTrustCapital offer staking?
Yes, on eligible assets. Its staking page says rewards typically begin 2 to 14 business days after staking and are returned when you unstake, subject to network unbonding times. iTrustCapital keeps a portion of rewards as its fee, which is listed in its staking FAQ. Reward rates vary and are not guaranteed.
Not tax, legal or financial advice. Sources: iTrustCapital fee, staking and disclosure pages and IRS Notice 2025-67, as of October 2026.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
