Many retirees still see crypto as a young person’s game, but they’re increasingly wondering whether carefully chosen platforms could safely open the door.

Gallup surveys show that about one in four American adults owns some form of cryptocurrency, yet adoption among people over 50 significantly lags younger investors. That gap suggests older Americans are less afraid of crypto itself and more wary of confusing exchanges, opaque fees and headline-grabbing hacks.​

Those concerns put platforms center stage, because the wrong app can quietly magnify volatility through high spreads, hidden charges and poor safeguards on every transaction. The New York Times notes that interface design, security standards and fee structures now vary widely across exchanges, making platform choice almost as important as investment choice.

For retirees, the real question becomes not just “Should I own crypto?” but “Which platforms are actually engineered to minimize risk and fees over time?”​

Fidelity stands out as one of the most retiree-friendly platforms, leveraging its experience with retirement accounts and focus on compliance.

According to The New York Times, Fidelity now allows certain 401(k) participants to allocate a portion of their assets to Bitcoin, with digital asset account fees typically ranging from 0.75% to 0.90% and additional competitive trading fees. These fees are noticeably lower than many established crypto-only platforms, making Fidelity one of the few mainstream firms offering direct crypto options to retirees.

Fidelity also emphasizes custodial security, robust insurance and educational resources tailored for cautious, long-term investors. In addition to transparent pricing, the platform restricts overly risky investments by limiting Bitcoin allocation to a certain percentage of a portfolio, helping manage overall retirement risk exposure.

Learn More: Coinbase Fees — Full Breakdown of How To Minimize Costs

Consider This: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K per Month From Home

Coinbase remains a leading U.S.-based crypto exchange and is routinely cited by The New York Times as a “trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy”. It offers a simple interface, strong insurance coverage and regulatory compliance, all priorities for retirees concerned about scams and account safety.

The standard Coinbase platform charges roughly 1.49% per trade for most simple transactions, which is competitive among American exchanges for retail customers, according to Forbes. For retirees preferring a “set and forget” approach, Coinbase’s staking options and simple buy-and-hold features help minimize trading frequency and reduce overall fee exposure.