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Trading Mechanics: Pairs, Spot vs Futures.

Before you can trade, you need to understand what’s actually happening behind every order.

In this lesson, we’ll break down how crypto trading works—from to the difference between and —so you know what you’re buying, how it’s priced, and what risks are involved.

What you’ll learn:

  • What a trading pair is (like BTC/USDT) and how to read it
    • How spot trading works: buying actual crypto you can hold, sell, or withdraw
      • What futures trading is: trading contracts based on price, not the asset
        • The risks of leverage and liquidation in futures trading
          • Why spot trading is safer and better for beginners

            By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand the mechanics of crypto trading—and why starting with spot trading helps you build a stronger, safer foundation.

            Before you start

            You'll need your exchange API key

            Altrady connects directly to your exchange. Here's what to have ready before creating your account.

            An account on a supported exchange Binance, Bybit, Kraken, OKX, Coinbase and 15+ others. You'll connect it in under 2 minutes.
            A live exchange account to connect via API Key or Fast Connect Generate a read + trade only API key — no withdrawal permissions needed. Takes about 2 minutes.
            Trade-only permissions — Altrady can never withdraw or move your funds.

            Not sure which exchange? See all supported exchanges →