How to Invest in Cryptocurrencies for the First Time


If you are interested in how to invest in cryptocurrency and are looking for a step-by-step guide, you have landed on the right page. After you have read our guides on how to read crypto charts and how to analyze crypto for beginners, this is the next step.

This article will help you get started with your cryptocurrency investments and give you some lifesaving tips along the way.

It all starts with creating an account at a trusted site where you will be able to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies from your own wallet.

There are hundreds of different platforms to choose between and it’s important to know which crypto site you can trust.

Several crypto investment sites don’t accept blockchain transactions, and if that’s the case you want to avoid that site because it’s not crypto-friendly.

When you are investing in cryptocurrency you want to look for a pure centralized blockchain exchange that lets you invest in crypto and store the coins in a wallet.

This is the best way to invest in cryptocurrency and at the same time keep your funds in a safe place. The blockchain exchanges are connected so it’s also possible to send coins between them if you are looking to trade with different tools.

Also, read our article on how does cryptocurrency lose value.

How to Invest in Cryptocurrencies – Step by Step Guide

how to invest in cryptocurrency on changelly

As mentioned before I will show you one of the best ways how to invest in cryptocurrency with one of the most trusted sites for cryptocurrency investing.

This guide will be featuring instant exchange Changelly.

This cryptocurrency exchange is located in Malta along with other famous brokers such as Binance.

It features over 160 cryptocurrencies and you can invest in these coins using Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, or Apple Pay.

Or if you want you can exchange cryptocurrencies instantly on the exchange.

For example, if you own Ethereum and you are interested in investing in Chainlink, all you have to do is to make a crypto swap between the coins, instantly.

If Changelly is new to you it will not come as a surprise to me as this startup from 2013 started very slow.

But it has become popular in recent years and its reputation keeps growing every year in the crypto community as a very safe and robust platform to buy and trade cryptocurrencies.

Changelly is special in the way it operates, as an instant exchange it’s connected and integrated into other exchanges.

They use a trading algorithm that scans exchanges like Binance, Bittrex, and 8 other top platforms to give you the best prices on the market at the moment.

This allows you to invest in cryptocurrency from the most popular platforms without even signing up for the exchanges.

Changelly requires you to send in your KYC documents to prove your identity before you start investing.

After that this exchange is one of the easiest exchanges to use when it comes to crypto investing.

Let me show you in an example how to invest in cryptocurrency on Changelly with a credit card.

Step 1

In this example, I will show you how to invest in crypto with a credit card on Changelly.

Once you know the drill you are free to explore all the coins they have to offer and choose your pick.

On the first page, navigate to their Buy and Sell function.

Here you click Buy and then you are free to select your Fiat currency, country, and of course the cryptocurrency you want to invest in.

I’ve randomly chosen GBP, or pound as my fiat currency, VeChain as cryptocurrency, and United Kingdom, or the UK as my origin.

Changelly supports most currencies and countries so don’t worry, investing in crypto doesn’t only work from the UK.

how to invest in cryptocurrency on changelly

When you have selected everything and chosen the amount you want to invest, click Buy VET now.

This will take you to the next page.

Step 2

Now it’s time to choose which payment method you want to use.

Depending on the coin you choose to invest in you will get different payment methods.

Now, VeChain is connected to most of the popular exchanges so you will be able to invest with a credit card, bank transfer, and apple pay.

how to invest in crypto on changelly

On the right side, you will see the absolute best offer on the market at the time you are going to invest.

The algorithm on Changelly has scanned all the connected platforms to get the best offers for you.

To the left, you will see the different payment methods available for this crypto investment.

Choose the one you prefer and click Buy Now

Step 3

On the next page, you will get to enter your VeChain wallet address.

On Changelly you are only working with outside wallets which lets you keep track of all your crypto investments.

invest in crypto on changelly

Fill in your crypto wallet address and click Buy Now.

The next step is to verify your ID.

Before you can invest and buy your cryptocurrency you need to verify your identity to the payment processor.

Just keep your driver’s license ready and send it in.

After that, you proceed to checkout.

Step 4

The last step is just to fill in your credit card details and press Buy Now.

Congrats!

That’s how to invest in cryptocurrency on Changelly in 4 simple steps!

Once you have verified your identity you can go ahead and invest in any cryptocurrency you want on Changelly.

Is crypto a good investment?

physical cryptocurrencies

Before you make any kind of commitment with money you need to understand what and where you are putting your money.

Cryptocurrencies are the native tokens of blockchain technology which is almost 10 years old now.

So by investing in these coins you are essentially betting on the technology, which might be more interesting than only a token.

If you missed the internet boom that peaked around the year 2000 you might want to pay extra attention to this new technology that has yet to reach global recognition.

Far from every country and all people around the world is familiar with cryptocurrencies and blockchain so there is a lot of room to grow.

Combine this with all the companies that are already betting their capital you will start to see a bright future.

Also, remember that for you to see some fruits of the investment it might take some time.

Bitcoin boomed in late 2017 and it can take some time before the next wave of new money and inspired investors to start flooding the markets again.

But as long as you have one foot in the game you are ahead of the people coming after you.

Many said that blockchain is the internet 2.0 and if that’s the case there will be some big winners coming out of this investment.

Lastly, something to consider is that this technology is still young and all the best companies haven’t even been created yet.

I know there are a lot of good-quality blockchain startups and platforms that handle transactions.

But I’m talking about the truly great companies that arise from new technologies, these companies have yet to be started.

If you do some proper research and stay around to see the future you will know if it was worth it and if cryptocurrency was a good investment.

Are you looking to become a skilled crypto trader?

Check out our detailed crypto trading guides in our educational center.
You will learn new strategies and how to read charts in real-time.

What is Cryptocurrency?

what is cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies are digital tokens or assets of the blockchain system.

To be able to transact on the blockchain you need some kind of value or currency.

This is where cryptocurrencies came to life.

To make a transaction on the blockchain, you need to use cryptocurrency.

They only exist online and there is no physical representation of the coins.

For you to invest in crypto, you need to own a crypto wallet to store the coins or use a crypto exchange platform to transact.

The first-ever created token was Bitcoin which was launched back in 2009 to decentralize and digitalize the monetary system.

Every transaction of a cryptocurrency is stored on the ledger of the blockchain and this data is kept safe forever, as long as the coin is online.

They started as a medium of exchange and have now grown into tradeable assets on global platforms all over the world.

Keep reading to learn more about how to invest in cryptocurrency safely.

How to store Cryptocurrency?

how to store cryptocurrency

There are so many ways on how to store cryptocurrency today.

You can store cryptocurrency on a normal desktop computer using an exchange wallet, or you can use a standard crypto app as online storage.

Another way, a much more secure way of storing crypto is on a hardware offline storage unit.

This wallet is not connected to the internet and therefore is not vulnerable to online hacks or attempts of theft.

Here is a list of some of the more famous hardware offline storage for cryptocurrencies:

  1. Ledger
  2. Trezor
  3. ElliPal
  4. CoolWallet

The differences between these units are usually the number of cryptocurrencies they support.

All of them don’t support the same coins and therefore if you own a very exotic coin you might have to buy an extra storage unit to be able to keep the coins safe.

When it comes to online exchange storage there is probably only one way to store your coins safely today.

I’m of course talking about Coinbase.

This is one of the only exchanges that is considered a safe place to keep your crypto store in a hot wallet or online wallet.

Coinbase has never been hacked and its security measures beat many of the other competitors.

If you are investing in the main cryptocurrencies and you want to store them online I would only recommend you to use Coinbase for this purpose.

All other exchanges are considered somewhat risky.

It’s good to keep in mind that your crypto will never be as safe on an online exchange as in an offline unit, so if you can afford one, it might be worth the investment.

How do I start investing in Cryptocurrency?

If you are new to crypto investing and you ask yourself how to start investing in cryptocurrency I would recommend beginning with a good trading platform.

This is where it all starts, you need to find an exchange you can trust, but also one that gives you the perfect tools for your investment approach.

It all depends on what you are looking for, are you going to:

  • Invest long-term
  • Trade actively

If you know what kind of investment horizon you have it’s easier to choose a broker.

For everyone who is going to have a buy-and-hold strategy and invest in crypto long-term I would recommend these exchanges:

  1. Changelly
  2. Coinbase

These two platforms are a little bit different but they both are very good for beginners and new investors in the crypto space.

They are very safe and these are platforms you can really trust thanks to a good reputation.

Changelly is an instant crypto exchange that offers over 160 different cryptocurrencies to invest in.

Here you can invest in cryptocurrency with a credit card, debit card, bank account, or even apple pay.

Coinbase on the other hand doesn’t offer as many coins to invest in but their user interface is one of the best on the market.

Along with its high level of online security for coins, it’s one of the best platforms to start investing in crypto.


If you want to start investing in crypto but also want to be able to trade there are some very good alternatives.

For example, these exchanges are very good for a more active approach:

  1. KuCoin
  2. Skilling

KuCoin is a pure cryptocurrency exchange where you can send coins in and out through the blockchain.

It features very high security and over 260 coins to invest in.

Their trading platform is of very high standards with all of the tools you need to start investing.

Skilling on the other hand is a CFD broker which means that you can’t send blockchain transactions on the platform.

What they do have is instead a very sleek trade interface, extremely low fees, and is a regulated exchange.

Skilling has two different regulations depending on where you are trading from in the world.

This ensures you the safety of funds and the quality of the platform.

So, if you are thinking of starting to invest in cryptocurrency, these are my top 4 picks for long-term investment and shorter-term trading.

Good luck and enjoy!

Where to Invest in Cryptocurrency

If you are new to investing in bitcoin and crypto I would like to recommend some of the best crypto exchanges on the market today.

  1. KuCoin
  2. Bitpanda
  3. OKEx
  4. Binance

These are all pure crypto exchanges that let you invest in the actual coin.

Many other brokers like CFD brokers don’t give you the option to buy crypto, only trade on the price.

KuCoin

kucoin cryptocurrency exchange first page

KuCoin is a platform that almost 1 in 4 crypto investors use.

It has grown in popularity over the last few years and thousands of investors come here for good security, low fees, and plenty of cryptocurrencies to invest in.

KuCoin has over 260 coins available at the moment and you can invest with your credit or debit card as well.

This is a good reason to use KuCoin if you are looking for new cheap cryptocurrency investments.

They have a lot of new coins that have just come on the market, so start digging.

Check out our Kucoin review for more information.

Bitpanda

how to invest in cryptocurrency on bitpanda

Bitpanda is another popular crypto platform for both investors and traders.

This exchange is located in Austria, Europe, and is very famous in this region for its simple user interface, many payment options, and a decent variety of coins.

If you want to invest in cryptocurrencies with an e-wallet like Skrill or Neteller, then Bitpanda is a good choice for you.

Bitpanda has two different interfaces, the Regular and the Pro version.

The regular handles more easily buy and sell functions which are perfect for investing in coins and the Pro version has a better trading platform.

If you want to read more about Bitpanda you can head over to our Bitpanda review.

Okex

how to invest in cryptocurrency on okex

OKEx is a very good alternative for anyone who is looking for a very safe and trustworthy platform to invest in crypto.

There are currently over 60 coins available to invest in.

Payment options available on OKEx are credit cards, debit cards, bank account, and apple pay.

This covers most of the payment methods used today.

Stop by to see what kind of coins they offer.

More information about Okex can be found in the Okex review.

Binance

how to invest in cryptocurrency on binance

Binance is one of the most popular platforms to use if you are interested in blockchain tokens and investing.

Currently, they are located in Malta and they offer both trading and investing in around 190 cryptocurrencies.

They have gotten famous for their incredible user interfaces for both trading and long-term investors.

Also, they have a deep understanding of security which will assure the safety of your coins.

So these are some of the best platforms to use if you ask yourself where to invest in cryptocurrency.

Try them all out to see which one is your favorite.

If you want to find more information about this platform, kindly check out our Binance review.

Best way to Invest in Cryptocurrency

As mentioned earlier in this article, the best way to invest in cryptocurrency is through a proper broker or exchange.

You need to be able to trust your platform to keep your funds safe but also to give you the right tools for your investments.

Things to consider before you start is:

  • Investment time horizon
  • Amount of money to invest
  • Which cryptocurrency to invest in
  • Which payment method will I use

When you have all of this written down you can scroll through the list of sites at the top to find the perfect broker for you.

Some people like to use bank accounts when investments and other prefer bank cards or e-wallets.

This is completely up to each investor and there are options for every payment method.

When you have found your favorite cryptocurrency investment site, go ahead and create an account and deposit money.

Check out the platform before you start investing since it helps to know it in and out.

When you feel comfortable with your exchange, go ahead and select the cryptocurrency you have chosen and make your first investment.

This is in my own opinion the best way to invest in cryptocurrency, also the safest.

Best App to Invest in Cryptocurrency

There are many good investment apps for cryptocurrency today and in this article, I’m going to recommend 5 different options.

  1. KuCoin
  2. Binance
  3. Okex
  4. Cex.io
  5. Changelly

The apps offer great interfaces which are very easy to use and a wide range of cryptocurrencies to invest in.

You can use them for both long-term crypto investment as well as short-term crypto day trading strategies.

These are the most popular and best apps to invest in cryptocurrencies in 2023.

Let’s take a look at some screenshots of all the apps from my own phone.

KuCoin

kucoin cryptocurrency investment app
kucoin cryptocurrency investment app
kucoin cryptocurrency investment app

The KuCoin cryptocurrency investment app is very versatile and you can pretty much do anything here.

Trade, investment, stake, and much more.

Keep track of the top daily gainers’ cryptocurrencies, and daily losers.

Overall I’m very impressed with this app and the utility it brings.

For me, information about this specific platform, check our Kucoin review.

Binance

binance crypto investment app
binance crypto investment app
binance crypto investment app

The Binance crypto app is excellent for both long-term investment and short-term trading.

You have all the 190+ coins available to buy and sell right on your phone.

I really like the menu on this app since it brings ease of use to the table as well.

Binance lets you do the same kind of investing as you would on their desktop platform:

  • Cryptocurrency futures
  • Invest in crypto with margin
  • Crypto Savings
  • Crypto Loans

This and much more are available on the pretty amazing go.

This crypto app is very easy to navigate and even easier to use for buying and selling.

And of course, the same fees apply to all instruments in the app.

If you want to learn more about Binance you can check out our Binance review.

OKEx

okex crypto investment app
okex crypto investment app
okex crypto investment app

I really like this app, it’s incredibly easy to use the trade interface is amazing.

You have two large buttons for buy and sell which makes it very easy to enter the market exactly when you want.

Also in the Buy & Sell tab, you can choose to invest in cryptocurrencies with:

  • Bank Transfer
  • Mastercard
  • VISA
  • Apple Pay
  • iDEAL
  • Sofort

This is impressive for an app and the variety of coins is also very good.

Crypto Loans, savings, pools, futures, and much more are of course available on this end-to-end app.

Try it out and see if you like it as much as I did.

You can also find more information about the platform in this Okex review.

Cex.io

cex.io crypto app screenshot
cex.io crypto app screenshot
cex.io crypto app screenshot

The Cex.io crypto app is very easy to use, especially if you are a beginner.

This user interface is made for investing but also has good features for short-term trading.

It’s easy to navigate and the menu is well organized.

It doesn’t have the same utility as the other apps but this is compromised with lower fees for credit card deposits and a smoother buy and sell function.

A little bit more suited for new crypto investors but it’s definitely worth trying out if you are more experienced.

One good feature of this app is the crypto exchange function.

Here you can swap crypto to crypto if you already own some coins and you want to invest in a different cryptocurrency.

Check out our Cex.io review for more information

Changelly

changelly investing app screenshot
changelly investing app screenshot
changelly investing app screenshot

When it comes to ease of use and crypto investment apps, Changelly wins the prize.

This app is made only to invest long-term in crypto.

There is no fancy trade interface or any other utilities that have to do with active trading.

It’s perfect for anyone looking for something easy to use with a lot of coins available.

The clean interface with the option to invest in crypto with a credit card from this app makes it optimal for anyone looking to start slow.

You can keep track of the gainers and also their market cap and there is a quick way to swap between coins if you already own crypto.

Try it out, for me, it’s my personal favorite when it comes to long-term buy and hold.

Remember, with Changelly you need to have your own wallet for each coin.

We also have more information about this platform in our Changelly review.

Related: Dollar cost averaging crypto

How does Cryptocurrency investment work?

cryptocurrency invesing on laptop
Man Show Laptop Notebook Device

It’s pretty straightforward, it works the same as any other investment.

The difference is the blockchain technology where you need to use a blockchain cryptocurrency exchange to buy and sell the tokens.

You need to get familiar with how to send cryptocurrencies from wallet to wallet and then you are good to go.

When you know how the wallets work, you can send tokens anywhere you want.

From wallet to wallet or from exchange to a wallet.

The blockchain is online 24/7 which also keeps the platforms up all the time.

So, once you have learned how wallets and exchanges work you are ready to start investing.

Do so by picking one of the brokers at the top of this article.

They are all tested and proven by real traders.

Remember to keep your funds safe once you have started.

That’s how it works and it’s not more complicated than that, good luck!

How much should you invest in Cryptocurrency?

bitcoin and credit card

This is up to the individual starting, anywhere from 1$ up to a few million is the answer.

With the blockchain, you can send very small transactions that are less than a penny.

If you want to start small you are more than welcome.

All the exchanges recommended at the top of this article all handle very small investments.

You can even buy coins for around 10$ with a credit card if you want to make a small first commitment.

As a general rule of thumb, do not use more capital than you are prepared to lose.

If you are living month to month with a salary you might want to start with a smaller bet.

However, if you have experience, good savings, and the know-how to research the technology, you are free to make bigger investments.

The initial stake you put down is always up to you and don’t listen or follow other people with more experience and knowledge.

Get comfortable with your size before you increase.

Related: Buy a fraction of a Bitcoin

How do you invest in Cryptocurrency?

The easiest way to invest in cryptocurrencies is through a broker platform.

You start by choosing an exchange, create an account, and then you make your first investment.

At the top of this article, there is a list of the best cryptocurrency brokers for investors.

This is the safest place to start investing.

There are other ways of buying coins but I would not recommend them.

You need to be able to keep your funds safe and this is only done with a good quality platform.

Is investing in Cryptocurrency safe?

Nowadays it’s considered to be a very safe investment in regard to your funds.

Coin exchanges have suffered several hacks before but their security systems have been upgraded a lot to protect users’ funds.

However, it’s fair to say that you need to pick your platforms carefully because there are still some brokers that don’t have the necessary security features.

All the brokers in the list at the top have been checked for security and they all passed the test.

If you don’t trust a platform completely I would stay away from it.

Other than that, keeping your crypto investments in your own wallets is one of the safest ways to store your coins.

As long as you can keep track of the keys and your addresses it’s no problem at all.

Related: Are crypto exchanges safe to use?

My Own Experience

I’ve been in the blockchain space for a couple of years and I’ve seen many improvements to the exchanges, wallets, and investment apps.

It’s all for the better and I feel very strongly for the future of this ecosystem.

When I started, I was not 100% sure if my broker was good even where to find a proper exchange to handle my transactions and storage of funds.

Now I know exactly which platform to use for trading and investing and I also have different apps for storing some of my coins.

I’ve made a decent amount of money with my cryptocurrency investment but I definitely see a bright future and a long-term hold on many of the coins.

When I started I was more hyped to trade the tokens than to bet on the technologies and persons behind the project.

Now with more experience, I see things differently and it’s becoming a hold for the future.

The utility that many brokers bring now is incredible.

When I started it was very hard to find leverage for tokens and today you have all different kind of special exchange features that makes trading fun and interesting.

My best advice is to keep your funds safe and don’t commit more money than you can afford to lose.

Conclusion

This article goes in-depth on how to invest in cryptocurrency with everything from the tokens, to different cryptocurrency apps, and technology.

Take your time to read the text and you will learn something extra when it comes to buying coins.

Also at the top, there is a list of the best brokers for crypto investment.

Take your time to look through the brokers and pick your favorite.

When you are done reading this article you will have a lot more knowledge of how to invest in cryptocurrencies safely.

FAQs

This is a very personal question depending on how much risk you want to take on.
If you are not comfortable with a lot of risks I would stick to the top 10 coins. If you want more risk then go beyond this and look for smaller projects with a lower market cap.

If you want to take part in internet 2.0 then it might be a very good investment for the person who can afford it. Remember that when you invest in these coins you are betting on blockchain technology.

You can start with as little as 1$ and scale it up to several million if you can afford it. There are no lower limits to how small you can start.

There are three steps to start:
1. Find a broker
2. Create an account
3. Start investing
Check the top of this article to find the best platform for you.