Alto IRA Review: A Top Choice for Crypto IRAs (2026)
If alto ira review choice is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.
Key Takeaways
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- 4.5/5Alto IRA provides a cost-effective way to invest in alternative assets , such as cryptocurrency, real estate, and startups , through a...
Alto IRA provides a cost-effective way to invest in alternative assets , such as cryptocurrency, real estate, and startups , through a self-directed retirement account.
Alto offers multiple account types, each with its own fee structure. The standard Alto IRA allows you to invest in a wide range of alternative assets, while the Alto CryptoIRA is explicitly dedicated to cryptocurrency. Each account type has its own set of fees.
Alto IRA fees: The standard Alto IRA charges a quarterly account fee of $37.50 for balances between $0.01 and $29,999.99, and $100 for balances over $30,000, based on total invested capital. There is also a $10 partner investment fee per transaction and a $75 private investment fee for the Pro Plan. The Alto CryptoIRA charges a 1% trade fee on all cryptocurrency transactions with no monthly account fee. Fees are charged separately via credit card and are not deducted from your IRA balance.
Alternatives: Our top choice in the Crypto IRA space is iTrustCapital, which has no monthly fees but requires a minimum investment of $1,000.
Verdict: With low investment minimums starting at just $10 for crypto, Alto IRA is accessible to both beginners and advanced investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets.
Pros:- Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs are available.
- A (mostly) flat fee structure benefits larger investors.
- Low fees compared to competitors.
- You do not hold your own private crypto keys.
- No solo 401(k).
- No stocks or ETFs.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Is Alto IRA?
Alto IRA is a self directed IRA custodian that gives you the ability to invest in a wider range of assets within your IRA compared to most brokers.
While self-directed IRAs, frequently referred to as a crypto IRA, have been around since the 1970s (mainly as a vehicle for real estate investors), companies like Alto IRA have recently launched to meet the demand from individuals who want to invest in cryptocurrency (as well as startups and other alternative assets) within their retirement accounts.
Alto IRA itself does not offer investment vehicles. Instead, it provides access to investment options offered by third parties.
How Alto IRA Works
Alto IRA offers three different types of accounts:
- The Alto IRA. This type of account gives you access to Alto IRA’s list of partners, which includes managed crypto funds, private equity, venture capital funds, crowdfunded real estate platforms and more.
- Alto CryptoIRA. This type of account is needed if you plan on investing in cryptocurrency outside of a fund. With this plan, crypto is bought, sold and held at Coinbase.
- Bring your own deal. Allows you to invest your retirement funds in a private deal, such as a startup or private real estate deal, using retirement funds.
You can invest in one, two, or all three account types , Alto IRA, Alto CryptoIRA, and the Bring Your Own Deal option , though each account requires a separate fee.
You can transfer your existing IRA, roll over 401(k) funds, or contribute cash to fund your account, keeping in mind that you’re subject to the annual contribution limit.
Alto CryptoIRA
The Alto CryptoIRA account allows you to invest in the cryptocurrencies offered on Coinbase through Alto’s platform. You’re not opening a Coinbase account yourself, but instead investing via Coinbase through your Alto IRA.
This allows you to invest in anything from blue-chip crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum to small-cap coins just launching on Coinbase’s platform. If it’s available on Coinbase (which now has over 200 different currencies) you can purchase it within your Alto IRA.
The minimum you need to open an account is $10 and there are no monthly account fees.
The cryptocurrency you purchase is held in a digital wallet at Coinbase. You do not have direct access to the funds, which means you cannot stake or transfer the cryptocurrency to a separate private wallet, nor can you earn interest.
Fees for maintaining an Alto CryptoIRA are:
Account fee:$0Custody fee:$0Trade fee:1%Account closure:$50Outbound wire transfer fee:$25In late 2022, Alto IRA launched a staking pilot program that provided select users with the option of staking SOL (Solana). Users who joined the beta program got a 4% yield on their SOL holdings with a six-month lockup. There was a 25 SOL minimum needed to participate.
Currently, the waitlist to join the pilot staking program is closed. Alto says that it hopes to provide staking opportunities for additional currencies in the future, and we’ll update this article when such opportunities become available.
The Alto IRA
The Alto IRA allows you to invest IRA funds with a wide range of partners. The Alto IRA Pro plan expands your options by letting you request investments that are not already listed on Alto’s partner platform. For example, you could use it to access a private real estate fund or a friend’s startup, but Alto still acts as custodian and must process the transaction.
Investment minimums vary from partner to partner, and in numerous cases you need accredited investor status.
Some of the partner types the Alto Alternative IRA gives you access to include:
- Art
- Farmland
- Private companies
- Real estate
- Startups
Popular names on the list include:
R.J. Weiss
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