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Step 4: Buy USDT

Fiat can't buy most coins directly. Convert it into USDT — the "crypto dollar" — first, and every market opens up. This step covers the P2P flow and the traps around it.

1
Meet Bitcoin
What it is and why it has value
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2
Pick an Exchange
Compare fees and safety first
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3
Sign Up
Visual steps, pass KYC first try
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4
Buy USDT
The right way to fund your account
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5
Buy Your First Coin
Spot order + safe storage

Why USDT first

USDT (Tether) is a "stablecoin" designed to hold 1 USDT ≈ 1 USD. Almost every coin trades against USDT pairs (like BTC/USDT), so the standard funding route is: fiat → USDT → your target coin. Buying USDT first has a second benefit: once the money is in, there's no rush — you can watch the market and pick your moment.

Option 1: P2P buying (most common)

P2P means trading one-to-one with verified merchants on the platform. The platform escrows the coins and releases them only after payment is confirmed:

  1. Open the app's "Buy / P2P" section and select USDT plus your fiat currency.
  2. Choose the merchant: prefer high order counts, 98%+ positive ratings, and long registration history. Prices noticeably below market are a red flag, not a bargain.
  3. Enter the amount and place the order, then pay the merchant's account. Write nothing in the payment note — especially not "crypto" or "USDT".
  4. After paying, tap "Paid" on the platform and wait for the merchant to release the coins.
  5. Check the amount arrived, then complete the order.

Option 2: Express buy and on-chain deposits

  • Express buy: pay by card or third-party payment directly — the simplest flow, but rates usually run a few percent worse than P2P. Good for a small first test.
  • On-chain deposit: if you already hold USDT on another platform or in a wallet, withdraw it over. Match the network exactly (TRC20 is cheap, but sending to the wrong network is usually unrecoverable).

Three risks at the funding stage

  • Frozen-card risk. If a P2P counterparty's funds turn out to be illicit, your receiving card can be temporarily frozen. Reduce the risk: use established high-credit merchants, keep amounts moderate, use a dedicated card, and keep your trade records.
  • Fake payment screenshots. When selling, only trust money that has actually landed in your account — never a screenshot the other side sends. No arrival, no release.
  • Off-platform deals. Anyone suggesting you move to a chat app for a "better price" is removing the escrow that protects you. It's the most common funding scam there is.
Make your first deposit a small test: run the whole flow once with a small amount (say $20–$70 worth) to confirm arrival and your own understanding, then size up. Fluency with the flow is worth far more than a slightly better rate.

USDT in hand, you hold the entry ticket. Final step: turning it into your first Bitcoin.

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