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How to trade Ethereum online

Q: ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using my PayPal account?

You can’t directly from your PayPal account, but you can use PayPal as a payment method to fund your account. What happens is that the brokerage or exchange you use will allow you to use your PayPal account to make deposits into your trading account, assuming that platform does indeed accept PayPal deposits. Check out our PayPal guide to see which brokers and exchanges do allow you to buy Ethereum using PayPal.

Q: ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using my credit or debit card?

Some brokerages and exchanges will allow you to use credit and debit cards to make deposits into your trading account, but you can’t trade directly with a credit card or debit card as they cannot store cryptocurrencies. Our credit card trading guide will go over which Ethereum trading platforms allow credit card and debit card deposits for Ethereum trades.

Q: ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using bank transfers?

Unfortunately you can’t simply buy Ethereum directly using your bank account because normal bank accounts cannot hold cryptocurrencies. You would use your bank account to make deposits into the trading account that you have with a brokerage or exchange. There will often be a waiting period of a few days before you’re approved to start making deposits using bank transfers. Our bank transfer trading guide has all the details.

Q: ℹ Will I lose money trading Ethereum?

As with all assets, trading Ethereum is not guaranteed to make you money and you can make losses. This is why it is important to study the ins and outs of Ethereum trading to improve your chances of success. We recommend to use stop-loss orders to limit the size of your loss on those occasions when you guess wrong.

Q: ℹ Is Ethereum a safe commodity to trade?

Ethereum is safe to trade in the sense that it is a legitimate asset, but as with any trading activity there are risks to consider when buying and selling Ether. Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies have also been extremely volatile during the first quarter of 2022, in keeping with the volatility of stocks and other financial markets. Of course, volatility can also equal opportunity, when an asset acts in a fast-moving, volatile way during an uptrend.

Q: ℹ What are the trading hours of the Ethereum market?

24/7. You can trade on your own schedule, whether you’re a morning person or a night owl.

Q: ℹ Can I trade Ethereum on my mobile phone?

Yes, you can. Choose a crypto broker that offers a reliable, easy-to-use mobile app. That way, you can make moves in a matter of minutes, if not seconds, on the go.

Q: ℹ Is it easy to withdraw my profits?

It depends on the platform you use, but in general withdrawals are pretty simple. It can take a couple days or more before you can access your funds, though. Also note that you’ll sometimes have to pay a fee to make a withdrawal; you can screen for fast withdrawal times and low fees when deciding which Ethereum trading platform to use.

Q: ℹ What is a cryptocurrency wallet?

A crypto wallet functions like a bank account for cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum. A crypto wallet consists of two ‘keys’: a public key (more or less your account number), and a private key (which is like your PIN number, but more secure). People can send you Ether using your public key, and you can access your wallet and transfer cryptos to others using your private key. There are four types of cryptocurrency wallets to store Ethereum that are not related to a crypto exchange: A hardware wallet. The safest form of cryptocurrency wallet, a hardware wallet stores your private keys away from danger by not being connected to the Internet. These come in the form of physical objects that can be connected to a computer, such as a USB stick. A paper wallet. Paper wallets enable you to store private keys and public addresses on paper. You can then use that piece of paper to store Ethereum coins. Hardware wallets and paper wallets are called “cold wallets.” They are not accessible on the Internet, and thus not at risk of being hacked. A desktop wallet. A desktop wallet is a piece of software that works with all desktop operating systems. You can store and access your Ethereum coins with a desktop app. A mobile wallet. This type of wallet is accessible through an app on your phone. A mobile wallet enables you to store and access Ethereum coins through your mobile device, no matter what kind of operating system it runs. Mobile and desktop wallets, because they are stored on internet-connected devices, are less secure than hardware and paper wallets – but they are much safer than leaving your Ether on an exchange.

Q: ℹ Should I trade Ethereum with leverage?

Trading with leverage means you only need to put down a small percentage of the capital needed for the trade, and your broker puts in the rest. The advantage of trading with leverage is that if you guess right, you nab a much bigger gain. On the other hand, if you guess wrong, you lose a lot more too. So, should you do it? The greater your experience and your tolerance for risk, the more leveraged trading will make sense, but we strongly advise against leveraged trading of cryptocurrencies for beginner investors.

Thinking about trying your hand at cryptocurrency trading? We’ll help you get started.

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Updated: May 10, 2023

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Ethereum could be the crypto for you. Our educational guides will teach you everything you need to know about Ethereum and how to get started trading the cryptocurrency.

What’s the best Ethereum trading platform?

If you think you’re ready to get started with the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world by market cap, check out the table below. If you need more time to study first, keep reading.

What do I need in order to trade Ethereum?

First and foremost, knowledge! Get to know the key terms and principles that go with online crypto trading, as a basic grasp of both cryptocurrencies and crypto trading is essential when trading Ethereum. Learn about Ethereum’s trading history all the way from the foundation of the company and its cryptocurrency, Ether, in 2015 – all the way up to the present day to see if it’s the right investment for you.

Here are three of the most important pieces of the Ethereum trading puzzle:

Exchange – A cryptocurrency exchange allows you to swap Ethereum with a fiat currency (such as U.S. dollars or British pounds) or other cryptocurrencies. Exchanges are recommended for more advanced traders, as they’re typically more challenging to navigate than other trading methods.
Broker account – A broker account is any account you can open which allows you to facilitate investments, be that holding shares or making lots of moves every day. There are many variations with minor differences. However, the most important thing to know is: A CFD (contract for difference) that lets you speculate on the price of Ethereum without actually owning any. This means that you wouldn’t be able to withdraw and spend the ether. Rather, you’d withdraw profits in your local currency.
Wallet – A wallet stores the keys used to receive, spend, and track ownership of cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum. A crypto wallet can take the form of a digital device, program, or service. If you’re trading a significant amount of Ethereum, a wallet offers an extra level of security.

Should I trade Ethereum?

That depends on your own investment goals and the knowledge you have. Ethereum trading can prove to be a big money-maker or money loser depending on the performance of the market. Check out the educational Ethereum articles & guides on our site as a study guide to nudge you one step closer to reaching the winner’s circle.

If you don’t want to risk your capital before understanding the process, many Ethereum trading platforms will let you trade with a demo account, a useful practice technique that will help you get acclimated to Ethereum trading in real-time.

What is the best way to trade Ethereum for a beginner?

As a beginner, you’re probably best off starting with a CFD broker, as this won’t involve having to buy and hold Ethereum. CFD brokers offer the ability for investors to buy and own a contract representing Ethereum ownership, without owning actual Ethereum coins. So you won’t have to worry about both the cost and hassle of finding a place to securely store your coins.

When trading Ethereum through a CFD broker, you can trade with leverage. Trading with leverage means that you only put down a small percentage of the overall trade amount, with the CFD broker covering the rest. Leveraged positions can be relatively small (such as 2x or 5x the size of your stake) or much larger (up to 100x the size of your own stake, or more).

If you guess correctly on the direction of your leveraged Ethereum trade, you can make big gains. On the flip side, you’ll lose lots of money when you guess wrong – particularly in volatile crypto markets such as Ethereum. We strongly recommend that beginner investors avoid trading with leverage, because of that big level of risk.

How to use a broker

To trade CFDs, you’ll need to sign up to an online broker. We have reviewed all the best Ethereum brokers elsewhere on our site, and here we’ll take you through how the process works.

1. Open an account with your broker

When shopping for a good crypto broker, choose one that offers a simple and secure platform, and narrow price spreads. Fill in your contact and security information to confirm your account, as you would when you open an online banking account. You’ve taken the first step toward trading Ethereum.

2. Deposit funds into your account

There are several different methods you can use to deposit funds into your brokerage account. Depending on your broker’s guidelines and limitations, you may be able to make deposits with a debit card, credit card, or PayPal, or by linking to your bank account to enable bank transfers.

3. Plan your trading strategy

When trading any asset, it’s good to have a well-thought-out investment strategy, and Ethereum is no exception. Here are the main options you have, to help you decide which one suits your plans best:

Day trading. This is when you open and close a Ethereum position on the same day (or even within a matter of minutes), with the goal of banking a quick profit. To day trade successfully, you’ll want to study up on how to read charts, also known as technical analysis.
Swing trading. Swing trading is also a short-term trading strategy, but with a slightly longer timeframe than day trading. When swing trading Ethereum, you’re holding for a stretch lasting anywhere from one day to several days. The goal is to profit from the price swings that can occur during that period. CFD platforms typically charge overnight fees when leaving positions open over multiple days, so you will have to factor these in when swing trading. Learn more in this course.
Scalping. Scalping aims to capitalise on market inefficiencies to produce profits. Two common approaches to scalping are arbitrage and spread scalping. In arbitrage you’re searching for a discrepancy between the bid and ask spread of two different brokers, then taking advantage of that discrepancy. Spread scalping is the same idea, but with the same broker. Scalping is designed to produce fast gains but also small ones, so you’ll need to repeatedly succeed before your gains start to add up.
Automated trading. Automated trading depends on computer-generated algorithms, rather than human actions, to execute trades. Technical indicators and statistical arbitrage drive automated ETH trading, with software trying to process information and make trades before the market moves. Be careful when using automated Ethereum trading platforms, as there have been scams associated with them in the past.

Each of these trading strategies offers different advantages. If you’d rather buy and hold Ethereum for the long term, that’s better defined as crypto investing. By investing in coins like this you can earn big gains if the coin’s value rises over time.

4. Place your first trade

You’ve done your research, picked your trading platform that fits your needs, deposited money into your account in the manner of your choosing, and selected your preferred method for trading. It’s showtime…make your first trade!

That was easy, what should I do next?

When it comes to crypto investing, you can never know too much. Not only can you discover value by reading more into how the underlying technology of different coins works, but also news moves fast in the crypto space and you’ll want to keep on top of all developments.

Additional hints and tips

One last tip: Trading Ethereum can also be done on an exchange. This can be more challenging to navigate and harder to make deposits, while also entailing a steeper learning curve. However, if you’d like to give exchange trading a shot, keep reading and we’ll take you through the process.

How to use an exchange

If you’re looking to buy and trade Ethereum, your options aren’t limited to brokerages; you can do so on a crypto exchange. Here’s what you need to know when planning on trading Ethereum through an exchange: Decide which exchange you want to use. You’ll want to consider the exchange’s reputation, the size of its trading fees, and the choices/crypto pairs available to traders. Some exchanges allow you to buy just a few cryptocurrencies using fiat currency. Others offer more trading options, including trading a wide variety of crypto pairs that include Ethereum.

1. Set up an account

To open a trading account you’ll need to provide contact information, verify your identity, and link to an accepted method of deposit. We discuss the different deposit methods you can use to set up an ETH trading account below.

2. Select which cryptos you want to hold and trade

There are lots of different cryptocurrencies available and most exchanges offer the vast majority of them. You can swap between these coins by searching for their ticker symbols, such as Ripple (ETH/XRP), Bitcoin (ETH/BTC), and fiat currencies like the British pound (ETH/GBP) – among many others.

3. Place your trade

Here are some of your trading options when it comes to using an exchange:

Buy order. This is simply when you buy some number of crypto units, such as buying one unit of Ethereum (the currency itself is technically called Ether) – either at the price at which it is trading or at a specified price set by you. With the latter, when Ether is being sold at that price, the exchange will process the trade.
Sell order. This is when you sell your Ethereum, in the process either banking a profit or cutting your losses.
Put/call. When trading Ethereum options, you can bet on Ethereum’s price either going up (which is known as a call) or down (this is known as a put). You’re purchasing a contract which gives you the option to buy or sell Ethereum at a specified strike price, by a specified date.
Market order. This is when you want to buy Ethereum immediately, at the current market rate determined by the trading activity on the exchange.
Limit order. This is when you want to buy Ethereum, but only up to a certain price, so you instruct the exchange you want to buy Ether as long as the price is below a certain amount.
Stop-loss order. This is when you buy a cryptocurrency, then put in an order to limit the size of your loss. If you buy Ethereum at $170 and put in a stop-loss order at $153, your goal is to limit the size of your loss to no more than 10%, as the exchange will automatically sell your Ether if the price falls to $153.

4. Receive your coins

Your coins will be credited to your exchange account, which functions as an online “hot” wallet for your coins, so you can easily access them and trade them on the exchange.

5. Transfer your coins to a separate wallet

For extra security, you can then transfer your coins from the exchange’s wallet to your own cryptocurrency wallet. This is recommended for security if you’re not planning on trading the coins in the near future.

Which exchange should I use?

Check out the table below, which features all the best exchanges currently for trading Ethereum.

FAQs

ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using my PayPal account?

ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using my credit or debit card?

ℹ Can I trade Ethereum using bank transfers?

ℹ Will I lose money trading Ethereum?

ℹ Is Ethereum a safe commodity to trade?

ℹ What are the trading hours of the Ethereum market?

ℹ Can I trade Ethereum on my mobile phone?

ℹ Is it easy to withdraw my profits?

ℹ What is a cryptocurrency wallet?

ℹ Should I trade Ethereum with leverage?

ℹ Where can I go if I want more information on crypto trading?

Sources & references

Risk disclaimer

Harry Atkins

Financial Writer

Harry was a Financial Writer for Invezz, drawing on more than a decade writing, editing and managing high-profile content for blue chip companies, Harry’s considerable experience... read more.