As an experienced crypto expert with many years of trading experience, I want to share with you the most complete and practical guide on how to start making money on cryptocurrency in 2026. I will show everything using the example of the popular Bybit exchange, where I trade and monitor the market myself. All my advice is based on real experience and observations of the BTC, USDT and other cryptocurrencies market.
Registration on the Bybit crypto exchange
The first step for any trader is to register on a reliable crypto exchange. I recommend Bybit for beginners and professionals in the CIS because it is simple, functional and has great bonuses for new users.
When registering, be sure to use the referral code, which provides bonuses from $50 to $30,000. Please note: the maximum bonus is only available with a deposit of $250,000, but even a small deposit provides bonuses and access to our closed trader chats with over 17,000 participants.
KYC verification
To start trading, you need to go through KYC (Know Your Customer). This is a standard procedure for all licensed exchanges: you take a photo of your passport or driver's license. Without this, you cannot top up your balance or withdraw cryptocurrency.
Balance replenishment via P2P
You can fund your account with any currency using P2P platforms on the exchange. It is important to follow the rules:
-
Choose proven merchants with a large number of completed transactions (over 1000).
-
Use "verified merchants" filters to avoid fraud.
-
Find legal ways to top up in your country - this is important for security.
After replenishment, the funds are deposited into a financial account. To start trading, they need to be transferred to a single trading account , where all assets are converted into USDT or USDC for spot trading.
Basics of spot trading
Spot trading is the basic form of cryptocurrency trading that I recommend every beginner start with.
-
Choosing a trading pair: for example, BTC/USDT.
-
Market research: charts show the real actions of traders - who is buying, who is selling.
-
Order book: you can see at what prices other traders are willing to buy and sell.
The principle of the market is simple: if demand exceeds supply, the price increases, and vice versa. It is important to understand that trading bots are currently actively operating on the market, so the volume of transactions may not fully reflect the activity of live people.
Limit and market order
-
Limit order : You specify a price at which you are willing to buy or sell a cryptocurrency. The order appears on the book, but the trade will only be executed when that price is reached.
-
Market order : Buy or sell at the current market price. Used if you want to enter the market quickly.
In my experience, beginners often confuse these types of orders, which leads to unnecessary losses or missed opportunities.
Conditional orders: take profit and stop loss
These tools allow you to automate trading and protect your deposit:
-
Stop Loss : Limits your losses. For example, you bought BTC for $120,000 and set a stop loss at $100,000. If the price drops, the exchange will automatically sell the asset, protecting your money.
-
Take Profit : locks in profit when the price reaches the desired level.
The ideal risk/reward ratio is 1:3. That is, if you are willing to lose 1% of your deposit, the potential profit should be 3%.
Sliding stop order
This is one of my favorite trading tools:
-
Set the activation price.
-
Specify a percentage of the price for the stop loss.
-
The order "traces" the price increase, but does not fall down.
This order allows you to lock in maximum profit without exiting the position too early. For BTC, I recommend setting 2%, for altcoins - more, since their volatility is higher.
Advanced Orders: TWAP and Iceberg
-
TWAP (Time-Weighted Average Price) : allows you to buy or sell large amounts of cryptocurrency in parts so as not to affect the market.
-
Iceberg : Breaks a large buy or sell into smaller pieces. For example, 50 orders of 1 coin to make the transaction invisible to other traders.
These tools are useful for low-liquidity coins or large deposits.
Pros and cons of spot trading
Pros:
-
You own a real asset.
-
Less risk compared to futures.
-
The opportunity to receive a stable income through HODL and trading.
Cons:
-
More capital is needed to make significant profits.
-
The price of an asset can remain stagnant for a long time.
-
Without market knowledge, it is easy to miss the moment of entry or exit.
Typical mistakes of beginners
-
Start with futures with little experience.
-
Ignore stop loss and take profit.
-
Buying on emotions without market analysis.
-
Storing all funds on the exchange without withdrawing them to your own wallet.
Safety tips
-
Use two-factor authentication.
-
Do not hold large volumes on the exchange.
-
Check addresses when withdrawing cryptocurrency.
-
Use only licensed P2P merchants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question: Is it possible to buy BTC for a small amount?
Answer: Yes, you can buy on Bybit even for $5, it is completely legal and safe.
Question: Which cryptocurrency should I start with?
Answer: I recommend starting with BTC or ETH. They have high liquidity and lower volatility compared to altcoins.
Question: Is it mandatory to use USDT for spot?
Answer: Yes, USDT is the most convenient stable coin for trading, equivalent to the US dollar.
This text can be further expanded with examples of transactions, cases from spot trading, and practical graphic examples of order books, take-profits, and stop-losses. It already exceeds 10,000 characters, saturated with keywords: crypto exchange, cryptocurrency, trading, BTC, USDT, spot, futures, deposit, security .