Key concepts and terminology in spot trading

If you are new to crypto trading, spot trading is an excellent place to start. Spot trading is the simplest way to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. When you want to buy or sell crypto, you can place an order on the spot market, and the OKX exchange will match your order with a buyer or seller.

Here are some of the key concepts and terminology to get you started.

Trading pairs

In spot trading, digital assets are traded in pairs, such as BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, or ADA/BTC. Using BTC/USDT as an example, BTC is the base currency and USDT is the quote currency. You can use USDT to buy BTC (also known as a buy order in spot trading), or sell BTC for USDT (also known as a sell order in spot trading).

Charts

As a crypto trader, understanding how to read charts is an essential skill. A chart is a graphical representation of price movements over time, and it can provide valuable insights into market trends and potential price movements. If you would like to learn the basics on candlesticks, support and resistance, trend lines, moving averages (MA), and more, refer to our detailed guide on chart reading and technical analysis.

OKX trading account

There are several types of accounts (funding, trading and grow account) to store digital assets on OKX. To start spot trading, you'll need to make sure there are assets in your trading account. The digital assets you deposit or purchase will be located in the funding account. So, you'll need to transfer your assets from the funding account to the trading account to start trading.

Order types

There are several types of orders in spot trading, such as market orders and limit orders. A market order is an order to buy or sell at the current market price, while a limit order is an order to buy or sell at a specific price. Please refer to our guide on market and limit orders for examples and a step by step tutorial.

In conclusion, spot trading is a great way to start crypto trading. Understanding the key concepts and terminologies outlined above will help you navigate the market and make informed trading decisions. If you would like to learn more, you can check out the OKX Glossary.

Disclaimer:

THIS ARTICLE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT, TAX, OR LEGAL ADVICE, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSIDERED AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SELL OR HOLD DIGITAL ASSETS. DIGITAL ASSET HOLDINGS, INCLUDING STABLECOINS, INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, CAN FLUCTUATE GREATLY, AND CAN EVEN BECOME WORTHLESS. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER TRADING OR HOLDING DIGITAL ASSETS IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR LEGAL/TAX/INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.