Buying Bitcoin, Ether, and altcoins is getting easier by the day. Plus, many experts expect 2019 to be the year of Dapps and mass adoption. When you add in all the direct fiat-to-crypto options that could be in the pipelines, it’s plain to see that the time to get on the altcoin train is now.

For many new crypto buyers, the journey begins with buying Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the most recognized name in the space; but, Ethereum’s growth has also made ETH a viable option to use to buy a variety of altcoins.

Buying quickly and efficiently

A lot of exchanges out there do not exactly have the most user-friendly qualities. Coinmama for example, is a site that accepts USD for Bitcoin and several other coins but they do not provide users with wallets so this could get tricky for unprepared newbies resulting in the loss of time, or even worse, funds. Other exchanges may be more accommodating for those who are new to crypto, but the fees are will most likely be much higher.

To avoid the pitfalls of cryptocurrency space and buy altcoins safely, just follow these steps:

Set up a Coinbase account

Coinbase is an extremely popular exchange and serves as the on-ramp for many crypto users and holders in the United States.

Coinbase will allow you to use a debit card to purchase BTC, BTCABC, BTCSV, ETH, ETC, and LTC, but by connecting your bank account to Coinbase will allow for lower fees and more reliable transfers to expedite the process.

If you are ultimately aiming to buy altcoins it is recommended that users buy BTC and or ETH because those are the most popular pairings for altcoins.

Sign up for Binance

Both Binance and Coinbase are Binance is a crypto-only exchange. This means users can only use cryptocurrency to buy the digital assets listed on the site. It’s a smart idea to have your Binance wallet all set up and ready to receive the BTC or ETH needed to complete your altcoin purchase to speed up the process. Binance offers a huge amount of cryptocurrencies and nearly 300 pairings, so investors should double check the asset they are interested in and verify that an ETH or BTC pairing is available.

Bittrex is also another great alternative to Binance. Find out which option is best for you.

Buy BTC or ETH from Coinbase

After you’ve signed up and connected your bank account to Coinbase you’ll be able to buy any of the cryptocurrencies listed. To do this simply find the “Buy” button. Clicking it will allow you to enter the precise amount you wish to buy, then just confirm and complete the purchase on the next screen.

Send your newly purchased coins to your Binance wallet

Back on your Binance account you’ll have to navigate to the Funds section which can be found on the pulldown menu in the upper right corner. Then find Deposits/Withdrawals, and finally click on Deposit to locate the address you need to use. When you see the menu of all the coins available on Binance make sure to select the correct asset (either BTC or ETH) and copy the address to your clipboard.

Find the send button. On Coinbase’s web version look for Wallet Address and click it. In the “Amount” field, simply enter the amount of BTC or ETH you wish to send. If you’re using the Coinbase mobile app, first tap on the wallet of your choice and you’ll see your balance. In the top right corner of your screen, you should notice a little paper airplane icon. Select the airplane and you’ll be brought to a page where you can enter the amount of BTC or ETH you wish to send.

Enter your Binance address in the Recipient field and enter the amount you want to transfer.

Next, hit continue, review the details and complete the transaction.

Reminder: When sending Bitcoin or any cryptocurrency from one wallet to another, always be sure to check the addresses you are entering.

Selecting and sending to the wrong address will result in a void transaction and possibly loss of fees or even funds.

Going Shopping for Altcoins

Now that you have assets deposited to your Binance account you’ll be able to buy any coin or token that pairs with your asset. Just navigate to the “Markets” and click on the “BTC” tab to view Bitcoin pairings or click the “Alts” tab to access all the ETH pairings that are available. Select the coin or token you want from the list and you’ll be taken to a screen that allows you enter the exact amount you wish to buy. There is also a feature that lets users buy assets with either 25, 50, 75, or 100% or their holdings of a particular currency.

When you click buy a little message will pop up letting you know that the purchase was successful. You can then check your funds page and view your altcoin holdings.

New exchanges and projects keep popping up and the emergence of Bitcoin ETFs could bring the next bull run, so you’ll surely want to stack up on alts before the next boom comes and it’s too late.