First Trade
You have everything you need — here is how to put it all together
Before you trade: 3 questions
Answer these three questions before placing any order:
1. What am I buying? Start with BTC or ETH. They have the highest liquidity, tightest spreads, and most predictable behavior. Avoid unknown coins for your first trades.
2. How much? Only an amount you are comfortable losing entirely. Remember the main rule from step 9.
3. Where do I exit? Set both stop-loss and take-profit levels before you enter. Know your exit before your entry.
Placing the order
Step by step on any major exchange:
1. Choose trading pair: BTC/USDT
2. Select order type: Limit (cheaper fees)
3. Enter your buy price — slightly below the current price
4. Enter the amount you want to buy
5. Click Buy
6. Your order appears in Open Orders — it waits until the price drops to your level
After your order fills
As soon as your order fills and you own BTC, do two things immediately:
Set your stop-loss — typically 3–5% below your entry price. This protects against a big loss.
Set your take-profit — typically 6–10% above your entry. This locks in profit automatically.
Then step away. Do not watch the chart every 5 minutes. Let the orders do their job. Constant watching leads to emotional decisions.
You are ready
You now know how to read the order book, understand candlestick charts, choose the right order type, calculate fees, manage risk with stop-loss and position sizing, and place a real trade.
That is more than most people who start trading ever learn before risking real money. Start small. Take it seriously. Good luck.