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Beginner checklist: from 0 to your first buy

From having no account to making your first buy — and knowing how to withdraw — this list walks you through it step by step. Each box you tick nudges the progress bar along, and every item comes with one line on what to do plus a link to the full guide. What you tick stays only in your browser; we collect nothing.

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Tick the first item and you are off. No rush.

Pick a legit exchange

Pick a major, well-known exchangeDon't agonize over "which is best": open one with plenty of resources that won't leave you stuck. If unsure, use the comparison tool to choose based on what you need.
Get clear on what you want it forJust stacking, copy trading, or wanting lots of coins? Each need fits a different exchange; see Crypto basics: from zero to one.

Register and verify (KYC)

Create the account and enter the invite codeThe key step: in the "invite code / referral code" field, enter the code to get a long-term fee discount that almost never can be added later. Binance/OKX/Bitget/Bybit use GOD166, and Gate uses GATEOKKK. See the Binance sign-up guide.
Complete identity verification (KYC)Major exchanges require verification before you can deposit and trade. Upload your documents as prompted; approval usually takes minutes to a few hours. What KYC is and how to do it.

Set up security

Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)Link an authenticator app like Google Authenticator; it's safer than SMS. It's the first door protecting your account.
Set a strong, unique passwordDon't reuse it on other sites; ideally generate and store it with a password manager.
Bookmark the official addressVerify the official domain and from then on only enter via your bookmark. Any "new official site" or "support helps you unfreeze" that arrives by DM or in a group is almost always phishing.

Deposit: buy some USDT

Buy USDT via P2PThe most common deposit route for beginners: in the P2P area you buy USDT from a merchant with your local currency. Pick merchants with many trades and good reviews. Buying USDT via P2P, how to confirm the deposit.
Start with an amount you can afford to loseDon't move much the first time: use a small amount to learn the crediting time and the flow. Once it's clear, decide whether to scale up.

Make your first spot buy

Buy a little BTC or ETH on spotIn the "spot" area, place an order and use your USDT to buy a bit of bitcoin or ethereum. The amount can be small; the point is to run through "order — fill — hold". How to make your first bitcoin buy.
As a beginner, spot only — no futures yetLeverage can wipe out your capital in minutes; don't touch futures until you've got spot down. The difference between spot and futures.

Learn to withdraw

Test with a small amount firstOn your first withdrawal, always test with a small amount, confirm it arrived correctly, and only then withdraw more. Being able to get in and out is what gives you peace of mind. How to withdraw to your bank.
Pick the right network, don't mistype the addressChoose the wrong network or mistype the address and the coins may be unrecoverable. Before withdrawing to a wallet, check the network (e.g. TRC20 / ERC20) and the address. Withdrawing to a wallet.

Dodge the beginner traps

Only use money you can afford to loseDraw a line: if you lose this, your normal life isn't affected. Learn and experiment with money within that line.
Don't touch futures or leverage yetDon't use leverage until you've mastered spot; it's the most important rule to hold to early on.
Watch out for fake support and fake airdropsAnything promising guaranteed profit, asking you to click to "claim an airdrop", or to add a "support" to unfreeze — treat it with doubt. Common fake-airdrop tricks.
Keep your recovery phrase offline, never screenshot itYour recovery phrase is the key to your wallet: whoever has it can move your coins. Write it on paper and store it offline; don't screenshot it, don't upload it, don't send it to anyone. How to keep your recovery phrase safe.

This page has no exchange referral direct links; where another high-conversion guide contains one, if you sign up and trade through our links, we may earn a commission and any discount depends on current platform rules and account eligibility — it's our only source of income and doesn't influence the content. This site is not the official website of Binance, OKX, Bitget, Bybit or Gate. What you tick stays only in your browser; it isn't uploaded or collected. Crypto prices are highly volatile and you could lose all your capital; this page is for education only and is not investment advice.