Beginner’s Guide To Trading Cryptocurrency

Everything You Need to Know to Start Trading Cryptocurrency

Last Updated July 23rd 2021
33 Min Read

You’re a complete beginner and you’re asking the glorious Internet; ‘What the heck is cryptocurrency’ and ‘how the heck do I trade cryptocurrency?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Trading Education are experts on cryptocurrency and trading and know exactly how to explain cryptocurrency trading in a way any novice can understand it.

In this article, we’re going to get down into the nitty-gritty of what cryptocurrency is, how it is changing the world, and how to trade cryptocurrency for beginners.

Sit tight and get ready to learn!

Beginner’s Guide To Trading Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency Defined

The first thing any beginner’s guide to trading cryptocurrency should explain is what cryptocurrency means.

The word cryptocurrency is a marriage of two words - ‘crypto’, which is short for ‘cryptography’ and ‘currency’.

The cryptography part is because cryptocurrency is encrypted which protects it from being hacked, stolen or manipulated.

Different banks, governments and institutions have all named cryptocurrency in different ways, such as digital currency, cyber currency and virtual money.

These names largely are based on how cryptocurrency works on online and doesn’t physically exist in the sense that fiat currency (government-issued money) does.

Other terms people use to refer to cryptocurrency include ‘crypto’, ‘token’, and ‘coin’.

You can find a list of other cryptocurrency-related terms here.

How Did Cryptocurrency Start?

cryptocurrency start, beginners guide

The first cryptocurrency that ever came into existence was Bitcoin in 2009, around the time of the last major recession.

Bitcoin was created by a mysterious figure (or figures) who called themselves Satoshi Nakamoto.

To this day, no one knows who they were, vanishing at some point in December 2010, Nakamoto never spoke about themselves.

It is assumed that Nakamoto had some background in the cypherpunk movement, an online community that believed in using cryptography to incite political change.

Many people have come forward claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto or have been outed by others, but there is still no concrete evidence for any of these claims.

Since the advent of Bitcoin over 2,000 different cryptocurrencies have been created. Some are clones of Bitcoin with added features or changes. 

These other cryptocurrencies that are not Bitcoin, are called ‘altcoins. It is highly likely that most of these other cryptocurrencies will not succeed.

One of the first altcoins was Litecoin which came to life in 2011.

Many of the first altcoins were created by performing what is called a ‘hard fork’. This is basically where a new blockchain is created, splitting the original into two.

The creation of Bitcoin Cash from the Bitcoin blockchain is one of the most well-known hard forks.

Some have commented that such a dramatic event can compromise the security of a blockchain, though it is usually done in an attempt to improve scalability and speed.

There is also a phenomenon called a soft fork, which is a backwards-compatible update to the blockchain.

Why Where Cryptocurrencies Invented?

A key thing to learn about cryptocurrency is the philosophy behind it.

Cryptocurrencies were largely created to become an alternative not just to currency, but also to the banking system we have in place.

They aim to get rid of the middlemen, third parties that profit from facilitating transactions.

A lot of beginners don’t realise how complicated it is for banks to facilitate these transactions. 

Let’s say you wanted to pay a friend you owe money to with a bank transfer. To make it more complicated, your friend has an account with a different bank than you.

Your money doesn’t go directly to your friend.

First, it is taken from your account to your bank. It then goes in their bank account that belongs to the bank of your friend and then, finally, it is sent to your friend’s account.

International transfers can make things even more complicated and may involve even more banks.

This is why bank transfers can take a long time.

Cryptocurrencies aim to remove this problem by being direct and cutting out all the middlemen. By using cryptocurrency, a transaction can go straight from you to your friend.

Cryptocurrencies, in most cases, do not have a central authority like a central bank. There is not usually someone in control of how the cryptocurrency is used or new coins created.

Many cryptocurrencies are created by developers through a non-profit foundation or company. They can issue or in some cases destroy cryptocurrency.

The reason cryptocurrency may be destroyed is to regulate the price. This is often referred to as a ‘token burning’.

How Do Cryptocurrencies Work?

blockchain, cryptocurrency

Almost all cryptocurrencies use what is called ‘blockchain’.

Blockchain was another concept created by Nakamoto, and in some senses is exceeding cryptocurrency in mass adoption. All beginners should know the basics of blockchain.

It can be used by a wide range of industries from logistics to finance and law to hospital records. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Blockchain is quite simple to understand. In short, information is put into a block and encrypted. 

This information within the block then needs to be decrypted by someone and only then will the block will join it to a chain of other blocks.

In the case of cryptocurrency, this ‘information’ would be transactions.

Most cryptocurrencies that use blockchain technology also have a publicly distributed ledger which is where all transactions are stored and can be viewed by anyone.

But not all cryptocurrencies work in the same way. One of the biggest differences is between proof of work (PoW) or proof of stake (PoS).

What Is Proof of Work And Proof of Stake?

Proof of work and proof of stake are the primary two algorithms used to validate transactions on a blockchain.

We’ll summarise them briefly in this article, but you can learn more about them here where we have covered the topic extensively.

Proof of Work

proof of work, cryptocurrency mining

Proof of work was the first algorithm used for cryptocurrency and works on the Bitcoin blockchain. Proof of work is often cited as the most secure algorithm.

The most significant component of proof of work is that blocks need to be ‘mined’.

Mining

Mining is the process of validating blocks by completing complicated mathematical equations.

Simply put, the first computer (node), that can complete it gets a reward, usually in the form of newly minted coins for their work.

On top of that, miners receive a fee from validating transactions as well.

Transactors can raise their fee to increase the likeliness of miners validating their transaction. 

Mining does have problems though. The primary being the amount of energy it uses to validate blocks.

Some believe that Bitcoin mining uses the same amount of power as the nation of Columbia, which has a population of 50 million people.

Not only does this making mining very expensive, but it is also very harmful to the environment.

Another issue with mining is that although it was designed to be decentralised, it has become very centralised with mining pools controlling most of the power and influence on the blockchain.

Some claim that Bitcoin is very centralised and is largely controlled by four mining pools which are mostly based in China.

Some cryptocurrencies have a maximum supply of coins that can be created. Bitcoin, for example, has a maximum supply of 21 million coins.

As Bitcoin gets closer to reaching that point, mining difficulty increases, which means it becomes harder and harder to mine blocks and the reward decreases in size.

When this point is reached, there will be no block reward for validating blocks. Miners will only collect fees for validating transactions.

Some critics believe that this may result in the end of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that have the same limitations as miners will move to cryptocurrencies with greater rewards.

Proof of Stake

proof of stake, beginners guide to cryptocurrency

Proof of stake came along after proof of work and is the second most used cryptocurrency algorithm.

The primary thing that differentiates proof of stake from proof of work is that it doesn’t use mining.

Instead, proof of stake is based on the stake that a validator has. For example, the more cryptocurrency you have the larger your stake in the network, the more you can validate.

Proof of stake is often considered to be more effective than proof of work.

Other Algorithms

Proof of work and proof of stake are not the only algorithms used in cryptocurrency. 

Over time, developers have become all too aware of the limitations of the two and devised new ways to overcome their flaws.

An interesting variation of proof of stake is delegated proof of stake (DPoS) which is used by EOS which centralises some control.

Many of these new algorithms are still being developed and are in the early stages. Until they reach full capacity, we will not know how effective they are.

Some cryptocurrencies don’t even use blockchain technology.

Different Types of Cryptocurrencies

types of cryptocurrencies

Not all cryptocurrencies are trying to do the same thing. Bitcoin’s goal is relatively simple to understand; replace fiat currency.

But some cryptocurrencies are trying to do much more complicated things on top of that.

Ethereum was the first cryptocurrency to bring more to the game. One of the most innovative things they included was smart contracts.

Smart contracts are essentially contracts written in code on the blockchain that execute certain functions when certain conditions are met.

Since then, many other cryptocurrencies are also competing in this space, which has the potential to change many industries.

Along with smart contracts, Ethereum also brought along decentralised applications (dApps). These are applications that are decentralised and use blockchain technology to work.

Utility Tokens

These are cryptocurrencies that offer something in return for their use.

A great example of a utility token is Binance Coin, a cryptocurrency that gives users a discount when they make a transaction on the Binance exchange.

Utility tokens are perhaps the best use case example of using cryptocurrency in today’s world

Typically, such cryptocurrencies do not offer advanced features such as smart contracts or dApps.

Stablecoins

A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency that is designed to be as stable as possible in an attempt to mitigate the volatility usually associated with cryptocurrency.

Volatility is often cited as one of the main reasons why people shouldn’t get involved with cryptocurrency.

They look at the huge peaks and falls of Bitcoin and don’t see it as something safe to invest in.

At the time of writing, one of the most well-known stablecoins is Tether. Tether is supposed to be tied to the value of the US dollar, with all tokens having a USD backing it.

Tether is not the only cryptocurrency tied to the USD though, several others are too.

Privacy Coins

A privacy coin is a cryptocurrency that is designed to be as anonymous as possible. Many operate with the choice to send a transaction anonymously or publicly.

There is some scepticism towards privacy coins as many people believe that people would only use such coins to perform illicit transactions. 

This isn’t completely true though. Many prefer the idea of privacy coins because they don’t want all their transactions to be made public on a distributed ledger.

Such information can be used by those with bad intentions. 

Further to that, privacy coin users may also argue that such coins are closer to using physical cash, which isn’t necessarily traceable.

Three of the most well-known privacy coins include Dash, Zcash and Monero

Of the three, Monero is perhaps the safest and most anonymous and does not have a public ledger.

Privacy coins, unfortunately, have a bit of an image problem they need to solve before becoming accepted by governments and the general public.

Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

most popular cryptocurrencies

According to CoinMarketCap, the most highly valued cryptocurrencies to trade are the following:

  1. Bitcoin
  2. Ethereum
  3. Binance Coin 
  4. Cardano
  5. Ripple
  6. Polkadot
  7. Litecoin
  8. Dogecoin
  9. Stellar

 

Every beginner should know these top ten, though they do change a lot.

You can check out the top 100 cryptocurrencies on CoinMarketCap here where we have explained them all in one quick sentence.

Where Do People Buy Cryptocurrency?

In most cases, you will get your hands on cryptocurrency by buying it from a cryptocurrency exchange.

You can also trade cryptocurrency as a CFD (Contract For Difference) through a broker. 

For many, CFD trading is preferred because they never own the underlying asset and cuts out having to store cryptocurrency, which comes with risks itself.

Though, by using a CFD broker, you will not be able to use the cryptocurrency for any kind of transactions. You will only be able to buy and sell.

Cryptocurrency faucets are places where people can get cryptocurrency for free. These were very popular at the beginning, especially for Bitcoin.

They were created to try to get people to use cryptocurrency.

Storing your Cryptocurrency

Once you have your hands on cryptocurrency, you need to find a safe place to store it. Specifically, your private keys which give you access to your coins.

The safest way to store your private keys is with a virtual wallet. Whatever you do, do not leave your cryptocurrency in a cryptocurrency exchange.

Doing so leaves you at risk of getting hacked and your cryptocurrency stolen. Cryptocurrency exchanges are notorious for getting hacked.

One of the most famous hacks took place was that of Mt. Gox.

At Mt. Gox, over a couple of years, hackers were slowly and carefully able to steal approximately 850,000 Bitcoins, worth almost $8 billion today.

Mt. Gox still has not been able to pay back all that was lost. Many people left their cryptocurrency in the exchange not realising how unsafe it was.

Many different types of virtual wallets have been created. 

The primary type of wallet used is an online wallet or mobile wallet (hot wallet), though some opt for more secure wallet solutions that store cryptocurrency offline (cold storage).

These include hardware wallets, which are devices created specifically for storing your private keys, and paper wallets which are usually just paper with your private keys printed on them.

An ideal way to keep your cryptocurrency safe is to store a small useable amount in a hot wallet for everyday use and the rest in cold storage where it cannot be accessed.

You can find out more about cryptocurrency wallets here where we have written about them extensively.

ICOs

ICO, cryptocurrencies

An ICO is something you will come across a lot in the world of cryptocurrency. It stands for ‘Initial Coin Offering’.

This is where some coins of a new cryptocurrency are offered at a pre-sale.

Usually, ICOs are undertaken as a form of fundraising, to get a cryptocurrency project moving. Those that decide to partake in an ICO need to believe that the project will take off.

Another form of ICOs are IEOs. An IEO stands for ‘Initial Exchange Offering’.

ICOs have faced a lot of legal pressure of the last few years and today many ICOs are only held in private to large scale investors.

In China, ICOs are completely banned.

Many cryptocurrency traders like to get involved in ICOs because they know that typically after one the price of a cryptocurrency will shoot up in price.

They don’t necessarily have to believe in what the cryptocurrency is trying to achieve.

Making a Transaction With Cryptocurrency

To make a transaction to someone else with cryptocurrency, typically you need to send to their public address.

Whatever you do, do not share your private address as this is how you get access to your cryptocurrency.

A key thing to remember about making transactions with cryptocurrency is that in most cases, transactions are irreversible

Once they are made, they cannot be undone, so you must get the public address you are sending to correct.

Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies are broken down into Satoshis (named after Satoshi Nakamoto), which in Bitcoin's case is eight decimal points. 

This can allow for microtransactions, something previously not possible with traditional fiat currencies.

How Legal Are Cryptocurrencies?

are cryptocurrencies legal

The legality of cryptocurrencies varies hugely around the world and beginners should be aware of their legal status in the country they are based in.

In some parts of the world, it is completely illegal. Such is the case in much of Northern Africa and parts of South America.

However, in most countries, cryptocurrency regulation is yet to catch up with how much it has progressed over the decade.

Many central banks advise that trading cryptocurrency is risky and warn their citizens not to do so.

Their concern is also usually tied to mitigating money laundering and combatting financing terrorism.

Europe and North America are the most cryptocurrency-friendly continents on the planet. That said, it doesn’t mean that the whole situation could change at any minute.

In some parts of Switzerland, government agencies allow people to pay for services and fees in cryptocurrency, which is a big step forward.

However, in general, cryptocurrencies are still not an accepted form of payment in many places.

In Asia, the picture is more mixed with cryptocurrency operating in a grey area that is neither accepted nor rejected.

Beginners can check out our article here that covers how every country in the world regulates cryptocurrency.

Taxes

Taxes are a big issue many cryptocurrency beginners need to get right. Depending on what country you are based in, they can be drastically different.

They usually depend on how cryptocurrencies are defined. In some countries, they are taxes as commodities or other financial instruments.

ICOs can also be classified in a variety of different ways which can then affect how they are taxed.

Cryptocurrency And Illegal Activity

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people that use cryptocurrency for illegal purposes.

It is estimated that as many as 25% of Bitcoin users are in some way related to criminal activity, and up to 44% of transactions are associated with illegal activity.

It is often believed that one of the biggest cases that brought Bitcoin to the public’s attention was that of Silk Road.

Silk Road was a hidden website on the dark web where people could use Bitcoin largely to buy illegal drugs.

Eventually, Silk Road was brought down and the supposed leader arrested, however, it had the effect of forever linking Bitcoin will illegal activity.

Cryptocurrency has also been used for murder for hire services and even child pornography. 

Though it is worth mentioning that fiat money is used more for such purposes and is less traceable than most cryptocurrencies making it harder for criminal investigators to track.

Beginners should not be frightened off by the illegal side of cryptocurrency as it is probably much smaller than people think.

Are Cryptocurrencies A Safe Investment?

investing in cryptocurrency

There has never been a hack on a cryptocurrency. This is a myth. 

What has happened in most cases is that people’s cryptocurrency was stolen in an attack on a cryptocurrency exchange, as we have explained above.

The riskiest part of investing in cryptocurrencies is that they are very volatile. However, this coin has two sides; without the risk, there would be no reward.

As we will repeat in this article, without any volatility, there will not be opportunities to buy at low prices and sell at higher prices.

However, beginners shouldn’t just believe that buying low and selling high are all you need to know about trading.

What makes a trader is knowing how to buy into a trend. It is not enough to buy at a low price. What beginners want to do is buy at a low price knowing for sure that the price will rise.

Cryptocurrency Scams

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of scams beginners need to be aware of. As mentioned above, cryptocurrency is not properly regulated in many parts of the world.

Even in some of the most technologically developed nations, cryptocurrency regulation is still lagging behind the pace at which it is advancing.

This means that there are still plenty of scams out there to be aware of, many of which take the form of ICOs. Some of these coins are nicknamed ‘scamcoins’.

These scamcoins usually operate a pump and dump scheme.

A pump and dump scheme, in the cryptocurrency world, is where the creators of a coin own the majority of the cryptocurrency in circulation and convince others to buy what is available.

They ‘pump’ the price by convincing others to invest.

When investors buy up what’s left, the price rises and the creators of the cryptocurrency sell their large share for a huge profit and usually disappear. 

This part of the scam is called the ‘dump’.

What happens next is the people who invested in the pump and dump scheme are left with a useless coin that has plummeted in value.

One of the biggest scams that ever took place was OneCoin. The team behind OneCoin were able to fraudulently acquire over approximately €4 billion.

They made promises of creating a cryptocurrency, but they never did. Eventually, one of the founders was arrested in the USA.

51% attacks

Perhaps the most dangerous thing cryptocurrency beginners need to be aware of is 51% attacks.

A 51% attack is where an entity controls 51% of the processing power on a blockchain. When they have this much control, they can undertake a variety of malicious activities.

One of the most well-known would be a double-spend. Simply put, this is where the attacker can spend their cryptocurrency twice.

51% attackers are also able to potentially censor other individuals on the blockchain as well by preventing their transactions from being validated.

A 51% attack is very severe and could lead to a loss of trust in a cryptocurrency and eventually its demise.

How Much Money Can I Make Trading Cryptocurrency?

how much can you make trading cryptocurrencies

If you do it well, a lot. 

There are plenty of traders and investors who have made their fortunes by jumping on the cryptocurrency bandwagon.

While cryptocurrency gets a lot of hype these days, it is mostly because it is so volatile. In reality, the cryptocurrency market is smaller than the forex and stocks markets.

That said, the cryptocurrency market has an advantage over forex and stocks market in that they are always open.

Further to that, volatility is what traders want because it means that there are more opportunities to get in the market at a low price and exit the market at a high price.

In some senses trading cryptocurrency is quite similar to trading forex in that you are trading something that can be used as a currency.

Many forex trading strategies can also be applied to cryptocurrency as well. However, cryptocurrencies also share some similarities with stocks trading too

Mostly in the sense that they are like products that develop over time which is similar to how companies change and make promises.

Will Cryptocurrencies Succeed?

This is still very debatable. 

While some believe with absolute certainty that cryptocurrencies will succeed, they have faced waves upon waves of opposition.

Some believe that cryptocurrencies are growing, others claim they are merely an investor’s toy and it doesn’t have much use case in the modern world.

Others who trade cryptocurrencies may not believe that they will succeed, but are simply trading them now because there is a lot of money to made in the meantime.

Bitcoin investors, the Winklevoss twins, believe that Bitcoin is undervalued until it reaches the same valuation as gold which is $7 trillion.

Those that oppose this argument believe that Bitcoin and perhaps the wider cryptocurrency world is in a speculative bubble that could burst at any moment.

Bitcoin has gone through a fair few dramatic peaks and falls in price, however, 10 years later, it is still around.

However, the argument that there may be a wider cryptocurrency bubble may have some grounds. Today, there are over 2,000 different cryptocurrencies.

Many are trying to compete in the same area: smart contracts; dApps; price stability; privacy; on-chain governance; etc.

Some have even compared the cryptocurrency boom to Tulip Mania which took place in the Netherlands in the 1600s or Railway Mania which took place in the UK in the 1840s.

Trading Cryptocurrency

trading cryptocurrency

While this all may sound exciting, we haven’t yet spoken about the actual trading process.

Those with knowledge of trading will have a unique advantage over those that don’t. However experienced you are, you need to create a strategy.

And before you can pick a strategy, you need to identify which trading style suits you more swing trading or day trading.

  • Swing trading: Swing traders tend to open larger positions and can keep them open for days, weeks or even months.
  • Day trading: Day traders tend to open smaller positions and close them all by the end of the day.

As you are a beginner, it may be better for you to start with swing trading because you can do it in your spare time as you will most likely have other responsibilities.

Day trading with a full-time job would be very difficult as it requires a lot of attention

However, day traders can compound their earnings much faster than swing traders, which means they can increase their trade size more often and theoretically make larger trades.

But then again, many traders claim that the ‘real money’ in trading is made swing trading. It is a good idea to try out both methods of trading to see which one suits you more.

You can check out this article here on the differences between swing trading and day trading for forex traders.

Analysing the cryptocurrency market

Beginners then need to decide what kind of analysis you will rely on - technical analysis or fundamental analysis.

Technical analysis is the process of using indicators and charts that inform you when to buy and sell.

Fundamental analysis utilises news and other events to predict market movements.

Indicators

There are many different types of indicators that signify and measure a variety of things.

Whatever you do, do not use too many indicators, stick to two or three at the max. Any more and it can get confusing.

By using at least two, traders can find ‘confluence’, which is where two indicators are advising the same thing.

If two indicators are telling you to buy or sell, you will feel more confident that it is the right decision than if only one indicator was advising a trade.

Naked trading’ is when you trade without any indicators. This can still be considered technical analysis when you are using candlestick patterns.

Trading cryptocurrency as a CFD 

trading cryptocurrency as CFD

Make sure your broker is regulated. Research them thoroughly before signing up.

Though, be careful when researching as some people may have lost money and blamed their broker when in actuality it was because of their poor knowledge of trading.

Another benefit of trading with a traditional CFD broker is that you will likely have the option to trade other market instruments on top of cryptocurrencies, such as stocks and forex.

This is useful because it allows you to diversify your portfolio and mitigate risk.

There will be times when the entire cryptocurrency market is down and you will have a difficult time trading.

Trading with a cryptocurrency exchange can be a little riskier as there isn’t much in the way of regulation yet.

Disregard incentives to trade with a CFD broker. If they need to incentivise you to trade with them, they probably are not that good. 

A good broker should impress you with their quality of service, not free money.

Trading Platforms

MT4 is the most popular trading platform for all instruments, though some brokers may offer their trading platform.

The most important thing to look for in a trading platform is a reliable service.

That said, a trading platform should also have useful tools for analysis, and as a bonus offer automated trading.

Account Types

These can vary in several ways usually in the size of the orders you can make and the kind of market access they offer.

Managed accounts can also be considered, however, you will not be a trader, but more of an investor who has handed over their money to someone else to trade it for you instead.

Copy trading and mirror trading can also be considered and are a great way to learn how to trade.

Beginners can copy the trades of others, sometimes automatically, however, this, of course, comes with risk.

Don’t follow a trader because they have made one big gain, follow a consistently successful trader. Consistency is a sign of a real trader.

Demo Accounts

Demo accounts not advised because they give traders unrealistic expectations.

Trades are fulfilled to quickly with little or no slippage. In real life, you will likely not be able to fulfil orders as perfectly as you enter them.

Further to that, they will likely give you more money to play around with than you have. Some brokers even offer demo accounts of $1 million.

This is not useful because when you have so much fake money to play around with, there is no risk if you lose any of it.

When beginners start trading cryptocurrency they need this risk as it helps them think more about the trades they are making.

Robots

Beginners should be very careful with trading robots (bots).

People use them to trade when they can’t trade all the time and they automatically make trades for them.

The problem with bots is that letting them run unmonitored can be extremely risky.

They can make massive losses because they are unable to get information from the outside world telling them what the market is doing.

For example, if Donald Trump has just tweeted something about Bitcoin regulation and traders start selling, the bot won't be able to pick up on this.

Further to that, trading bots are usually designed just to work in certain environments, which is why developers can claim such high results.

As a beginner, it is highly advised that you stay away from trading bots. While they may seem like an easy way to start earning sooner, they come with a lot of risks.

Leave them to the professionals who understand how they work and how to fine-tune them to mitigate loss.

Devising A Cryptocurrency Trading Strategy

cryptocurrency trading strategy

Coming up with a strategy can take a lot of time. Beginners need to try many different ones to see what works for them.

To do this effectively, you have a trading journal where you can log all the trades you make and see what works and what doesn't.

A key thing your cryptocurrency trading strategy needs to take into consideration is that there are different types of market.

  • Uptrend (bullish). This is where the price of a cryptocurrency is rising.
  • Downtrend (bearish). This is where the price of a cryptocurrency is decreasing.
  • Ranging (sideways). This is where the price of a cryptocurrency is not moving up or down.

Beginners need to learn how to trade with the trend. Learn when it is picking up momentum, taking a break and when it is about to change. These all represent opportunities to make money.

Typically the market moves in cycles. It could start on an uptrend, range at a high level, begin downtrend, start ranging at a low level and then an uptrend could emerge.

It should be mentioned though, that these cycles can last weeks, months or even years. Part of it comes into how zoomed you are into your charts.

Your trading cryptocurrency trading strategy should do two things: look for confluence (mentioned above in the section about indicators); be consistent.

Consistency is important because you will not make your fortune on one trade alone, in reality, you will make it on a series of trades.

Beginners need to learn to be strict on themselves and stick to your trading plan. However, it will take a long time to develop a trading plan which will need to be refined over time.

Key Points

If you remember anything from this article, make it these key points.

  • Cryptocurrency is decentralised virtual money that works without the need of central banks. Cryptocurrency works by using blockchain technology.
  • There are many different types of cryptocurrency. They aim to achieve different things and can work in very different ways.
  • Cryptocurrency still operates in a legally grey area. Regulation is still catching up with the technology.
  • Those interested in cryptocurrency trading should have a good knowledge of trading. There are many aspects to take into consideration.

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