NEM is a blockchain protocol launched in Singapore back in 2015 that aimed to create a fast, scalable, and user-friendly payment solution. While development on its successor, Symbol (XYM), has since taken the spotlight, XEM still remains an active cryptocurrency with a niche following. In this article, we’ll explain what NEM is, review its differences from other cryptocurrencies, and explain how you can buy its currency, XEM, online.

How to Buy NEM: Summary

NEM uses XEM tokens as its peer-to-peer currency. To buy XEM tokens, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Get a NEM wallet (e.g., Best Wallet, Coinomi, Exodus)

2. Locate your NEM address

3. Find an XEM exchange (for instance, Binance, Bittrex)

4. Deposit BTC to the exchange and trade it for XEM

5. Withdraw the XEM coins to your wallet

That’s how to buy NEM in a nutshell. If you want a more detailed explanation about NEM and how to buy it, stay with me.

NEM in a Nutshell

NEM, which stands for New Economy Movement, is a decentralized, peer-to-peer cryptocurrency and blockchain platform that launched in March 2015 in Singapore.

There are 9 billion XEM coins in circulation, all of which were created and distributed to 1,500 individuals before the launch.

NEM is written in Java, and it was built from the ground up to address issues that are faced by many cryptocurrencies today (such as ease of use, speed, and scalability).

NEM can process 3,000 transactions per second. Since all XEM coins have already been distributed, there’s no way to earn new XEM aside from buying it or earning it by becoming a harvester or supernode (explained below). 

Proof of Importance

NEM introduced a new consensus algorithm called Proof of Importance (POI). It is somewhat similar to Proof of Stake, but it includes more variables.

With NEM’s POI, the more coins a user has and the more transactions they make, the more importance they’re given. This impact encourages actively using XEM coins, rather than simply holding them.  

Harvesting

Instead of mining, NEM has a feature called harvesting. It doesn’t require any special hardware, but you do need to have at least 10,000 vested XEM coins to start harvesting.

The advantage of harvesting is that it uses a lot less electricity than the Bitcoin mining algorithm (aka Proof of Work). As such, NEM is a much more energy-efficient cryptocurrency than Bitcoin (BTC).  

Supernode Program

The Supernode program rewards people who are running active nodes. High-performance nodes help secure the network. Those meeting high-performance node requirements, i.e., sufficient bandwidth, chain height, ping, and responsiveness, are randomly given awards.

However, to participate in the Supernode program, you must have more than 3 million XEM.

Symbol vs. NEM: What’s the Difference?

In 2021, the NEM team launched a new blockchain called Symbol (XYM) as the next evolution of the NEM project. While NEM (NIS1) was designed for payments and general-purpose transactions, Symbol was built with enterprise-grade features like hybrid on-chain/off-chain logic, advanced account control, and asset tokenization.

Here’s how they compare:

While XEM is still usable, most community and developer efforts have shifted toward Symbol.

How to Buy NEM in 3 Easy Steps

How to buy NEM coin?

Step 1: Get an NEM wallet

If you’ve decided that NEM is the right investment for you, you’ll almost certainly want an NEM wallet to keep your XEM coins safe. The alternative is keeping your coins on exchanges. Unless you’re planning on day trading, I strongly advise against storing your coins on exchanges for security reasons.

Best Wallet is our Top Pick for Managing NEM

Best Wallet is the best choice for users wanting to buy crypto directly from within their wallet and not give up custody of their funds to third parties. Thanks to the in-wallet Decentralized Exchange, Best Wallet is quickly becoming one of the most popular crypto wallets on the market. 

Visit Best Wallet

Apart from this, when it comes to NEM wallets, you don’t have a great deal of options. The only official option is the NEM official wallet, a desktop wallet that’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

There is an official NEM wallet available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as a mobile version for Android and iOS.

A few alternatives also exist, including:

Raccoon Wallet – A community-developed NEM wallet available for iOS, available in English and Japanese.

Exodus – A great desktop and mobile wallet for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Exodus is super simple to use and also allows you to store other types of cryptocurrencies aside from NEM. You can read our complete Exodus review.

Coinomi – A popular mobile wallet for Android and iOS that can hold over 1770 different crypto assets. Coinomi has also launched a desktop version of its wallet, making it available for Windows, Mac, and Linux as well. Don’t skip our Coinomi review.

TREZOR – A popular hardware wallet that supports over 1000 crypto assets, including NEM. You can read our full TREZOR Model T review.

Locating Your NEM Address

XEM addresses are very long strings of letters and numbers starting with an “N”.

Here’s an example:

NAMOAV-HFVPJ6-FP32YP-2GCM64-WSRMKX-A5KKYW-WHPY  

Step 2: Find an XEM Exchange

Now that your NEM Wallet is all set up, it’s time to purchase your XEM coins. How to buy XEM? There aren’t many ways to purchase NEM directly with fiat currencies (i.e., Dollars, Euros, etc.). However, there are still a few options available for buying NEM:  

Purchase XEM with fiat currency on Indacoin/Changelly

You can purchase XEM directly with fiat currency on Indacoin, which is also available via Changelly. Simply visit Indacoin or Changelly and select XEM in the “I want to buy” dropdown menu.

Purchase BTC and exchange it for XEM on the same platform

You can purchase Bitcoin on exchanges such as Binance, Bittrex, or HitBTC. Afterward, you can exchange that BTC for XEM on the same exchange. In the case of Bittrex, you can also exchange Ethereum (ETH) for XEM. It’s a solid option available at the moment.  

Purchase BTC, then exchange it for XEM via your wallet or Changelly

One of the more creative options is buying BTC on an exchange that does not have XEM (such as Coinbase, CEX.IO, or Coinmama). Then transfer the BTC to your Exodus wallet and change it for XEM via the built-in exchange.

Finally, you have the option to purchase BTC at an exchange of your choice, then swap it for XEM on an exchange called Changelly. This exchange is unique in the sense that almost no verification is required.

Just sign up with your email, and you can swap Bitcoin or any other crypto for NEM within 30 minutes. Be sure to check out our Changelly review, and directly compare the rates you get on Changelly with other cryptocurrency exchanges.  

Buy Crypto Through Best Wallet

Best Wallet is our top pick for users looking for the easiest way to buy cryptocurrency directly within a wallet, as mentioned earlier. Best Wallet allows users to buy, sell, and swap crypto directly within the wallet using the built-in DEX aggregator.

The reason we recommend Best Wallet for new users and those looking for the most friction-free way to buy crypto is that by purchasing crypto from directly within a wallet, users lower their risk of exposing themselves to exchange hacks, third-party risks, and the possibility of sending to incorrect addresses when withdrawing from a traditional crypto exchange.

The Best Wallet DEX aggregator sources the best rates for users’ swaps, supporting 50+ chains, connecting to over 200 decentralized exchanges, and using up to 20 cross-chain bridges. Users can make both same-chain and cross-chain swaps.

Visit Best Wallet

Buying NEM (XEM) with Fiat

If you want to buy XEM with fiat (EUR, USD, etc.), here are the key options to consider:

1. Credit/Debit Card Onramps: With a Visa or Mastercard, you can buy XEM directly from several third-party providers, including Indacoin, Changelly, Bitrue, KuCoin, and Bitget, that frequently provide instant transfers. However, you may encounter increased costs (ranging from 2% to 5%). Provider-specific eligibility and verification may differ.

2. Bank Transfers/SEPA: Platforms that facilitate SEPA or ACH transfers include Coinbase, Bitrue, KuCoin, and Gate.io. These often cost less but take longer to process (1–3 days).

3. Peer-to-Peer Exchanges (P2P): If you prefer local payment options like Zelle, P2P marketplaces let you find merchants who are willing to trade your preferred fiat currency for XEM. To be on the safe side, always check seller reviews and escrow terms.

4. Fiat-Enabled Crypto Wallets: Fiat on-ramps are integrated by certain wallets (e.g., Coinomi and Exodus) through third-party suppliers. Here, you may easily purchase XEM within the app. If you decide to choose this option, be aware of convenience costs.

Step 3: Withdraw Your XEM

Once you’ve bought your XEM, don’t forget to withdraw them from the exchange into your wallet. This is important so that you have full control over your coins. 

While this is a very simple step, many people tend to forget about it. The time it takes to receive a confirmation on NEM is pretty short, around a minute. So the whole process of moving the coins off the exchange shouldn’t take that long.

After the XEM coins show up in your wallet, you’ve completed the process of buying XEM.

Is NEM Still Active in 2025?

While XEM is still traded and supported by a few wallets and exchanges, active development on the original NEM blockchain (NIS1) has significantly slowed. Most of the core team and ecosystem support have moved to Symbol (XYM), which builds upon NEM’s foundations with upgraded technology and enterprise tools.

That said, the XEM token maintains a small, loyal community. It may still hold value for speculative traders or those interested in legacy blockchain networks. But for users or developers looking for innovation and ongoing support, Symbol is the logical next step.

Conclusion: Is NEM a Good Investment?

NEM was one of the early innovators in the crypto space, introducing unique concepts like Proof of Importance and energy-efficient harvesting. But in 2025, it’s clear that the project is more of a legacy chain than a leader. With development attention shifted to Symbol (XYM), NEM has faded from the spotlight.

That doesn’t mean it’s worthless—XEM still has speculative value and may appeal to collectors or tech historians. But if you’re looking for a forward-looking investment or active ecosystem, consider newer projects or Symbol itself.