If you're looking to buy Hedera (HBAR), you've come to the right place. Hedera is one of the more technically distinctive projects in the crypto space — a public network built on a directed acyclic...
Buy Hedera (HBAR) — A simple guide
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Layer 1
A Layer 1 is a base blockchain with its own rules for recording transactions and deciding which version of the ledger is valid. Bitcoin and Ethereum are familiar examples, but base networks can make very different choices about consensus, programmability and who can run a validator.
Browse the buying guides
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If you're looking to buy Monero (XMR), you've come to the right place. Monero is one of the most well-known privacy-focused cryptocurrencies in the world, built for people who want genuinely...
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If you're looking to buy Canton (CC), you've landed in the right place. Canton is a Layer 1 privacy-focused smart contract platform built around rewarding genuine network participation rather than...
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If you're looking to buy Hyperliquid (HYPE), you've come to the right place. HYPE is the native token of one of the most talked-about Layer 1 blockchains built specifically for decentralized finance...
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If you're looking to buy Cardano (ADA), you've come to the right place. Cardano has built a reputation as one of the most thoughtfully designed blockchain platforms in the crypto space, attracting...
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If you're looking to buy Solana (SOL), you've come to the right place. Solana is one of the most talked-about blockchains in crypto, known for its blazing-fast transaction speeds and near-zero fees....
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What are Layer 1 cryptocurrencies?
Browse the buying guidesTheir native coins belong to the network itself; application tokens issued on top of a chain are a different kind of asset.
How it works
Native coins may pay transaction fees, reward miners or validators, and secure proof-of-stake networks through staking. A busy blockchain does not automatically make every associated token valuable: issuance, fee design and token ownership also matter. Compare actual network use with token supply, validator concentration and the costs of running the network. Layer 2 networks build on a base chain, while bridges introduce a separate mechanism for moving assets between networks.
Explore the foundations
Blockchain Explained: Follow a Transaction from Wallet to Confirmation↗
Bitcoin Explained: Send, Verify and Understand a BTC Transaction↗
Blockchain explorers: trace a transfer step by step↗
Sources and further reading
A little groundwork goes a long way
Before your next purchase or transfer, understand who controls access, where your crypto is going and what the trade will actually cost.
Protect access to your crypto
An exchange account and a self-custody wallet need different safeguards. Protect exchange logins with a unique password and strong two-factor authentication. For self-custody, your recovery backup is what lets you restore access.
Keep recovery words offline and private. A support agent or website asking for them is a reason to stop.
See a recovery example
Your phone breaks. An exchange may help you recover your account after identity checks. A self-custody wallet cannot reset your recovery phrase. Check your wallet’s official backup instructions before relying on it.
Choose the right transfer network
The asset, token version and network must be supported at the destination. A familiar ticker or a matching address format is not enough. Read the receiving platform’s deposit instructions before selecting a withdrawal network.
Check the address, any required memo or tag, fees and minimums. Consider a small test transfer first.
See a network example
Your destination accepts USDC on Ethereum. Selecting a cheaper network at the sending exchange does not make it an Ethereum transfer. Use a network both ends support; an ordinary withdrawal does not bridge tokens.
Understand the price you pay
Trading fees are only part of the cost. The spread, available liquidity and withdrawal charges also matter. A market order prioritizes execution; a limit order controls the price but may remain unfilled or fill only partly.
Check the order preview and the amount you will receive, then compare the full cost of your intended purchase and withdrawal.
Work through a cost example
Hypothetical example: a $200 trade with a 0.1% trading fee costs $0.20 in trading fees. A separate $5 withdrawal fee brings those charges to $5.20. Spread or slippage may add more; these are not quoted exchange rates.
