Cryptocurrency: A Beginners’ Guide

This page is as a beginner-friendly guide for investors who are totally new to cryptocurrency. There are links to in-depth guides on the latest trending coins, explanations on how to buy altcoins, and current market analysis.
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Updated on Sep 5, 2024
Reading time 17 minutes

A beginners’ guide to cryptocurrency investing, along with up-to-date price data and the latest news.

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Ways to invest in cryptocurrencies

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There are a lot of different options, but in general your first step will be to sign up to a broker or exchange. These platforms act as middlemen to help you buy, sell, and trade different coins, with multiple features available depending on which one you choose. 

While these platforms allow you to invest, there are others available which provide alternative services. Some offer wallets to store your crypto securely, while others allow you to trade using investment products such as ETFs. The links below take you to guides, reviews, and tutorials on everything you need to know before making your first investment.

Ways to buy cryptocurrency

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How to buy Avalanche with PayPal 2025 How to buy Bitcoin anonymously 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with 2Checkout 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with a check (cheque) 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with Afterpay 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with Airtm 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with Alipay 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with Amazon Pay 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with American Express 2025 How to buy Bitcoin with Apple Pay 2025

How to buy altcoins

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How to buy 0x 2025 How to buy 1inch 2025 How to buy Aave 2025 How to buy Aeternity 2025 How to buy Aion 2025 How to buy Airswap 2025 How to buy Akash Network 2025 How to buy Algorand 2025 How to buy Altura 2025 How to buy AMP 2025

Crypto price predictions

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Crypto broker reviews

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101Investing review 2025 Admirals review 2025 Ally Invest review 2025 ATFX review 2025 AvaTrade review 2025 BC Bitcoin review 2025 Bitfinex review 2025 BlackBull Markets review 2025 Capital.com review 2025 Capitality review 2024

A beginners’ guide to cryptocurrency

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What are cryptocurrencies?

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Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that do not require a centralised institution such as a bank to verify transactions. Instead, they use blockchain technology to create an indisputable, decentralised record of the movement of coins and tokens that can be accessed by anyone.

The first ever cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was launched in 2008 by an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakomoto. The identity of the person(s) behind the project has never been revealed, but it appears that the purpose of the project was to provide an alternative form of finance in the wake of the 2008 crash that shook the banking world.

Since the emergence of Bitcoin, thousands of other cryptocurrencies have been created. Some of the biggest names are Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether – all of which are available to trade 24/7 and have achieved particular success as crypto has become ever-more mainstream.

How do I make an investment?

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You can invest in several ways, and most beginner users usually opt to get a few of the most well-known coins. When you’re starting out, it’s important to be aware that investing and trading are not the same thing. These are two different practices and understanding the distinction between them will help you choose how you want to make your first investment.

How to buy altcoins

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Latest cryptocurrency news >

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Stay firmly in touch with this ever-changing market. Find the latest news about Bitcoin, Cardano, Binance Coin, Bitcoin Cash and all other top digital currencies so you’re never out of the loop.

Bitcoin tops $87K amid political jitters, STX, MANA, FARTCOIN jump over 10%
Bitcoin breaks above key resistance level, STX leads altcoins with double digit gains.
PepeX price to go up soon as crypto market stages a rebound
Bitcoin crossed $87,000 for the first time in weeks, even as concerns over US tariffs persist. The cryptocurrency is up over 3% in the past 24 hours, trading at $87,430 — its highest since April 2. It has gained 16% from its 2025 low of just under $75,000 on April 9, narrowing the gap from […
Nearly 28% of crypto stolen in $1.4B Bybit hack have “gone dark”
Roughly 500,000 in ETH was drained in the February attack.
Stablecoins seen hitting $2 trillion: is that a positive for Bitcoin Pepe?
Cryptocurrencies may have failed to do particularly well amidst the tariffs-driven sell-off in financial markets, but Standard Chartered remains bullish as ever on what the future holds for stablecoins.  Geoffrey Kendrick, a London-based analyst at the financial services giant, expects stablecoin as
Crypto prices today: BTC climbs over $87K, XRP surges close to 3%
The cryptocurrency market staged a solid recovery over the last 24 hours, with the total market capitalization rising 2.86% to $2.76 trillion. Trading volumes also surged, climbing 47.89% to $66.63 billion, indicating renewed investor activity after a subdued stretch. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP exte
Top coins to buy in this volatile market: SOL, Pi Coin and PepeX
In a market where sentiment often swings faster than prices, some coins continue to capture the attention of opportunistic traders looking to ride the next wave. While the broader crypto space grapples with volatility and shifting narratives, certain tokens have emerged as major opportunities to cas
Should you invest in PepeX as AI tokens surge?
AI-related tokens saw sharp gains, with AI Companions surging over 40% to $0.2120, its highest level since March 30 and 70% above this month’s low. Artificial Superintelligence Alliance extended its rally for a fourth straight week, climbing to $0.5730. Render (RNDR) rose to $4.32, while Worldcoin a
Why Bitcoin Pepe could be best crypto to buy as BTC shows resilience
Bitcoin’s price has held firm despite market turbulence, signalling resilience that’s catching the eye of investors. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP), a meme coin, is drawing significant attention in its presale. As macro uncertainty, fueled by US policies like Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, drives

How to buy altcoins

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Market analysis >

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Our experts are constantly analysing the latest trends in the cryptocurrency markets. Read the latest features from our team here to help devise the perfect trading strategy.

Crypto price predictions: Stellar (XLM), Decentraland (MANA), Stacks (STX)
Crypto prices have started the year on a strong note, with Bitcoin surging to over $87,500 and Ethereum rising to $1,340. The total market cap of all cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap jumped to $2.76 trillion. This article provides a forecast for top tokens like Stellar Lumens (XLM), Decentr
XRP price prediction: Is Ripple preparing for a 60% surge?
The XRP price has formed a rare falling wedge chart pattern, pointing to a strong bullish breakout in the coming weeks. Ripple was trading at $2.1335, up by over 30% from its lowest level this month. This article examines the potential for a 60% surge in the Ripple price from its current level. XRP
Enjin, Loom, Bittensor, Boba Network, Aurora surges as Bitcoin price hits $87k
Cryptocurrency prices started the week well as traders and investors started to move back into the industry, pushing the total market cap of all coins to over $2.84 trillion. Bitcoin price jumped to $87,000 for the first time in over a week. That rally led to more gains in the altcoin market. Loom N
Ethereum price prediction: why ETH crashed, and its outlook
Ethereum price has held steady in the past few weeks. ETH was trading at $1,615 on Sunday, a point it has remained for about two weeks. Its performance has been worse against other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Solana. The ETH/BTC pair moved to 0.018, its lowest level since 2019, while ETH/SOL h

Sources & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...