Most people already know about Bitcoin, but most are only just finding out about all the other cryptocurrencies (i.e. "altcoins") such as Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM). This guide will help get you into the altcoin markets right away.

Step 1: Open an account at KuCoin and Binance right away. These are the leading altcoin exchanges that are still open to new users. Many exchanges are closing their doors to new users due to unprecedented demand. If you want some of the more obscure altcoins, open an account at Cryptopia as well.

Step 2: Open an account at Coinbase. You can purchase Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin right away using a debit or credit card. You can also link your bank account and transfer funds.

Step 3: Buy Ethereum at Coinbase and transfer it to the exchanges. It's recommended to use Ethereum instead of Bitcoin because Ethereum is much faster and has lower fees. When transferring Ethereum to the exchanges, be sure to use the correct wallet type and address, otherwise it could be lost!

Step 4: Start trading altcoins using Bitcoin or Ethereum pairs! Once your Ethereum is at the exchange, you can trade it into Bitcoin and/or into the many different altcoins. Trading is often done using Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) pairs, such as XRP/BTC or XRP/ETH.

Security: Be sure to enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA) at the exchanges and Coinbase, at a minimum. Make sure to get the backup security key for each 2FA and keep it in a safe place.