Set these up in sequence, not all at once
Opening six accounts on day one is how people end up confused and holding nothing. Do them in this order and each step makes the next one obvious.
Open one regulated exchange account
Start with Coinbase if you want the simplest possible experience, or Binance.US if you care most about fees. You only need one to begin.
Switch to the advanced trading interface
On Coinbase this means Coinbase Advanced. Same account, same login, dramatically lower fees. This single step is worth more than most trading advice.
Install a wallet you control
A self custody wallet is where crypto stops being a brokerage balance. Write the recovery words on paper before you send anything to it.
Get a browser that is not working against you
Brave blocks trackers and malicious scripts by default, which matters more in crypto than almost anywhere else on the web.
Add charting when you are ready
TradingView is what almost everyone learns to read charts on. The free tier is genuinely enough for a long time.
Go onchain
Base App for Ethereum layer 2 apps on your phone, or Jupiter if you are on Solana.
All US regulated
Every exchange here is registered and operating legally for US customers. That is not true of every platform you will see advertised.
About 20 minutes each
Identity verification is the slow part, and it is usually approved within minutes.
Two factor, always
Turn it on before you deposit anything, and use an app or hardware key rather than SMS.
Eight tools, each doing one thing well
We use all of these. Where one is weak, we say so on its page.
Coinbase
The most straightforward place for a first purchase in the United States.
Read the full review
Coinbase Advanced
The same account, with real order types and much lower fees.
Read the full review
Base App
Onchain apps, payments and social in one mobile app.
Read the full review
Binance.US
Deep order books and some of the lowest taker fees available to US customers.
Read the full review
Uphold
Crypto, precious metals and equities inside a single balance.
Read the full review
Jupiter
The best route swap aggregator on Solana, in a mobile wallet.
Read the full review
TradingView
The charting platform almost every trader learns on.
Read the full review
Brave Browser
A browser that blocks trackers by default and ships a crypto wallet.
Read the full reviewWhich one should you actually open?
| If you want | Use this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The simplest possible first purchase | Coinbase | Cleanest interface in crypto, and the fastest path from dollars to your first coin |
| The lowest fees on the same account | Coinbase Advanced | Real order types and roughly a tenth of the simple interface cost |
| Deep books and the tightest spreads | Binance.US | Very low taker fees and strong liquidity on major pairs |
| Crypto, metals and stocks together | Uphold | One balance across asset classes, with transparent reserves |
| Onchain apps on your phone | Base App | Payments, social and apps on Base without wrestling a browser wallet |
| The best swaps on Solana | Jupiter | Routes across every Solana venue for the best available price |
| To learn how to read charts | TradingView | The industry standard, with a free tier that lasts a long time |
| A browser that protects you | Brave | Blocks trackers and malicious scripts by default, with a wallet built in |
We can do this with you on a call
One session covers account setup, two factor authentication, your first purchase, a self custody wallet and a test transfer. You will have done every step once, with someone watching who has done it a thousand times.