An estimated 7% of the global population owns cryptocurrency and in some countries, such as the US, the percentage of crypto owners is even higher at around 30%. If you are considering investing in crypto but are unsure where to get started, this guide will help you to decide your next steps.

Understanding the Basics

Before you think about investing, you should do a bit of research to understand how it works. There are over 20,000 different types of cryptocurrencies to choose from and each one has different uses and risks attached. A good place to start building more knowledge about buying crypto is by reading this crypto guide for beginners.

The most common type of cryptocurrency for beginners to buy is Bitcoin or Ethereum. However, in the second half of 2025, both of these cryptocurrencies have dipped in value, with the general crypto market slumping in recent months. Some finance experts are predicting that the market will bounce back, which could mean it is a good time to invest while prices are lower but you have to be comfortable taking on the risk of your cryptocurrency losing value.

Choosing Your Crypto Exchange

The next step is to choose which cryptocurrency exchange to use. This is the platform where you will buy and sell crypto. They all have different fees and some are easier to use for beginners, such as Coinbase and Binance. You will need to create an account and verify your identity, and set up the payment details that you want to use to buy your crypto with.

Once you have set up on your preferred exchange, you will also need to set up your crypto wallet, where you will store your digital assets. Frequent traders tend to choose hot wallets, which are online wallets as these are more convenient but cold wallets (hardware) provide greater security.

Purchase Your Crypto

Once you have your exchange and wallet set up, you’re ready to buy your crypto. It is recommended that beginners start off with smaller amounts while they build up their understanding of how the processes and markets work. It is a good strategy to only invest around 1% to 5% of your available investment portfolio in crypto, so that you spread the risk across different types of investments. This way, you won’t be as heavily impacted by poor market performance, as other investment performance can balance out any unexpected slumps.

Ways to Boost Your Crypto

As well as using your own finances to fund your crypto, you can also earn rewards that are paid in crypto by taking on some tasks. For example, you can earn crypto by completing surveys and receive your rewards as coins.

Many investors have made good returns through crypto, particularly over longer periods of time. As well as the potential to make money from crypto investing, using cryptocurrencies has several other benefits, such as faster payment transactions, greater privacy and lower fees compared to traditional banking.