How To Buy Polkadot (DOT)?
A common question you often see on social media from crypto beginners is “Where can I buy Polkadot?” Well, you’ll be happy to hear it is actually quite a simple and straightforward process. Thanks to its massive popularity, you can now buy Polkadot on most cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase and Binance in 3 simple steps.
Step 1: Create an account on an exchange that supports Polkadot (DOT)
First, you will need to open an account on a cryptocurrency exchange that supports Polkadot (DOT).
We recommend the following based on functionality, reputation, security, support and fees:
1
Binance
Fees (Maker/Taker) 0.075%*-0.1%*
Cryptocurrencies
Available for Trade 500+
Sign-up bonus
10% reduced trading fees*
Available in
Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa
2
MEXC
Fees (Maker/Taker) 0.2%*-0.2%*
Cryptocurrencies
Available for Trade 1500+
Sign-up bonus
10% reduced trading fees & up to $170 in USDT vouchers*
Available in
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa
3
Coinbase
Fees (Maker/Taker) 1.49%*-3.99%*
Cryptocurrencies
Available for Trade 150+
Sign-up bonus
$10 sign-up bonus*
Available in
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa
In order to sign up, you will need to enter some basic information, such as your email address, password, full name and, in some cases, you might also be asked for a phone number or address.
Note: On specific exchanges, you might need to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure in order to be able to purchase cryptocurrency. This is most commonly the case with licensed and regulated exchanges.
Step 2: Deposit funds into your account
Many cryptocurrency exchanges will allow you to purchase Polkadot (DOT) with fiat currencies, such as EUR, USD, AUD and others. Furthermore, they will also provide you with multiple deposit methods through which you can fund your fiat account, such as credit and debit cards, ewallets or direct bank transfers.
Note: Some payment methods will have higher fees than others, such as credit card payments. Before funding your fiat account on your chosen exchange, make sure to do your due diligence to find out the fees involved with each payment method to avoid unnecessary costs.
Step 3: Buy Polkadot (DOT)
This process is similar across almost every cryptocurrency exchange. All you have to do is find a navigation bar or a search bar, and search for Polkadot (DOT) or Polkadot (DOT) trading pairs. Look for the section that will allow you to buy Polkadot (DOT), and enter the amount of the cryptocurrency that you want to spend for Polkadot (DOT) or the amount of fiat currency that you want to spend towards buying Polkadot (DOT). The exchange will then calculate the equivalent amount of Polkadot (DOT) based on the current market rate.
Note: Make sure to always double-check your transaction details, such as the amount of Polkadot (DOT) you will be buying as well as the total cost of the purchase before you end up confirming the transaction. Furthermore, many cryptocurrency exchanges will offer you their own proprietary software wallet where you will be storing your cryptocurrencies; however, you can create your own individual software wallet, or purchase a hardware wallet for the highest level of protection.
How to create a Binance account
Show Detailed Instructions
Hide Detailed Instructions
Step 1: Go to the Binance website.
Step 2: On the registration page, enter your email address, and create a password for your account.
Then, read and agree to the Terms of Service and click “Create Account”.
Note: Your password must be a combination of numbers and letters.
It should contain at least 8 characters, one UPPER CASE letter, and one number.
Step 3: Complete the Security Verification.
Step 4: The system will send a verification code to your email. The verification code is valid for 30 minutes. If you can’t find the email in your inbox, check your other mail folders as well, or click “Resend Email” to resend.
How to complete KYC (ID Verification) on Binance
Step 1: Log in to your Binance account and click “User Center” and then “Identification”.
Step 2: click “Start Now” to verify your account.
Step 3: Select your country of residence.
Ensure that your country of residence is consistent with your ID documents.
Step 5: Enter your personal information and click “Continue.”
You won’t be able to change it once confirmed.
Refer to the respective options offered for your country.
Step 7: Follow the instructions to upload photos of your document. Your photos should clearly show the full ID document.
Do not wear hats, glasses, or use filters, and make sure that the lighting is sufficient.
Once your application has been verified, you will receive an email notification.
How to buy cryptocurrency on Binance
Step 1: Log in to your Binance account and click “Buy Crypto” and then “Credit/Debit Card”.
Step 2: Here you can choose to buy crypto with different fiat currencies. Enter the fiat amount you want to spend and the system will automatically display the amount of crypto you can get. When you have selected the amount you wish to spend then press “Continue”.
Note: You might not be able to purchase every cryptocurrency directly using fiat, if you’re looking to purchase something that isn’t offered in the currency list on this page, then you will want to purchase USDT. We will then show you how to exchange that on the spot-market for the cryptocurrency that you want in the next section of this guide.
Step 3: Click “Add New Card”. Then enter your credit card details and your billing address.
Step 4: Check the payment details and confirm your order within 1 minute. After 1 minute, the price and the amount of crypto you will get will be recalculated. You can click “Refresh” to see the latest market price. You will then be redirected to your bank’s OTP Transaction Page. Follow the on-screen instructions to verify the payment.
How to Conduct Spot Trading on Binance
Step 1: Log in to your Binance account.
Click on “Classic” under “Trade” on the top navigation bar.
Step 2: Search and enter the cryptocurrency you want to trade.
Step 3: Set buying/selling prices and buying/selling amount (or exchange total). Then click on “Buy”/”Sell”.
(Note: The percentages under the “Amount” box refer to percentages of the total account balance.)
Step 4: If you don’t want to set a manual price, you can place a “Market Order” to set the buying/selling price automatically.
Hide Detailed Instructions
How to create a Gate.io account
Show Detailed Instructions
Hide Detailed Instructions
Step 1: Go to the Gate.io website.
Step 2: Choose your username, your email address and your password. Then check “I certify that I am 18 years of age or older, and I agree to the Gate.io User Agreement Privacy Policy” and click “NEXT”.
Step 3: Set your fund password and click “Create account”.
Note: Your fund password must contain at least 6 characters and can not be the same as your login password.
Step 4: An activation email will be sent to your email address. Complete the rest of the registration process by following the instructions in the email to activate your account. Once this is done done, click “Email activated, please log in”.
How to complete KYC (ID Verification) on Gate.io
In order to ensure the safety of your assets, and to reduce fraud, money laundering, blackmail, and other illegal activities, Gate.io makes it mandatory that all users obtain KYC ID Verification. Only after your account has obtained KYC ID verification, can you withdraw funds or use credit cards or debit cards to buy cryptocurrencies.
Step 1: Log in to your Gate.io account.
Place your cursor on the top-right profile icon and go to “KYC (ID Verification)”
Step 2: Click “Individual (Verify now)”
Step 3: Select your country, input your full legal name (twice), fill in your ID information, upload photos of both sides of your ID card, and a photo of you holding your ID together with your User ID (UID) for Gate.io. You will see your User ID by placing the cursor on the top-right profile icon on the main page. Make sure everything is filled in correctly and then click on “Confirm and Submit”.
Step 4: After you have submitted all the requested information, you will see the pending approval.
Approval can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete.
Once the KYC is approved, you’re ready to make your first cryptocurrency purchase.
How to buy cryptocurrency on Gate.io
Step 1: Log in to your Gate.io account.
Then in the Menu Bar at the top of the page, click “Buy Crypto” and select “Credit Card”.
Step 2: Enter the amount you wish to spend in the “Buy with Fiat Currency” tab and select the cryptocurrency that you want to buy under the “Currency Purchased” field. Then select one of the “Service Providers” below and click the “Place Order” button to enter the confirmation page.
Note: You might not be able to purchase every cryptocurrency directly using fiat, if you’re looking to purchase something that isn’t offered in the currency list on this page, then you will want to purchase USDT. We will then show you how to exchange that on the spot-market for the cryptocurrency that you want in the next section of this guide.
Step 3: On the confirmation page, select “Buy Crypto” or the “Create Order” button to complete the payment.
Note: To ensure a quick and secure way of receiving the order, users might need to conduct an additional Identity Verification (KYC) with a third-party service provider. Once successfully verified, the service provider will immediately transfer the cryptocurrencies to your Gate.io account.
How to Conduct Spot Trading on Gate.io
Step 1: Log in to your Gate.io account.
Click on “Spot Trading” under “Trade” on the top navigation bar.
You can either choose “standard” or “professional” version. This tutorial uses the standard version.
Step 2: Search and enter the cryptocurrency you want to trade.
Step 3: Set buying/selling prices and buying/selling amount (or exchange total). Then click on “Buy”/”Sell”.
(Note: The percentages under the “Amount” box refer to percentages of the total account balance.)
Step 4: If you don’t want to set a manual price, you can click on the last prices on the order book to set the buying/selling price automatically.
Step 5: Confirm the price and amount. Then click on “Place Order” to place the order, followed by “Confirm Order” to confirm it.
Hide Detailed Instructions
For more in-depth instructions, our ‘Absolute Beginner’s Guide To Cryptocurrency Investing‘ will take you through the process step-by step. In addition to providing instructions for sending and receiving your cryptocurrency.
And if you’re completely new to crypto our beginner, intermediate and advanced level articles will get you up to speed with everything you need to know about the cryptocurrency space starting out.
Simplecryptoguide.com
What Is Polkadot (DOT)?
Any developer, company, or individual can spin up their custom parachain through Substrate, a framework for creating cryptocurrencies and decentralized systems. Once the custom chain is connected to the Polkadot network, it becomes interoperable with all other parachains on the network.
Building cross-chain applications, products, and services should become a lot more straightforward with this design. Cross-blockchain transfers of either data or assets have not been possible on a large scale before.
Securing and validating the data across these different parachains is done through network validators, where a small set of these validators can secure multiple parachains. These validators will also ensure transactions can be spread across multiple parachains to improve scalability.
When did Polkadot launch?
The Genesis block of the Polkadot network was launched on May 26, 2020, as a Proof of Authority (PoA) network, with governance controlled by the single Sudo (super-user) account. During this time, validators started joining the network and signaling their intention to participate in consensus.
The network evolved to become a Proof of Stake (PoS) network on June 18, 2020. With the chain secured by the decentralized community of validators, the Sudo module was removed on July 20, 2020, transitioning the governance of the chain into the hands of the token (DOT) holders. This is the point where Polkadot became decentralized.
The final step of the transition to full-functioning Polkadot was the enabling of transfer functionality, which occurred on Polkadot at block number 1,205,128 on August 18, 2020, at 16:39 UTC.
On August 21, 2020, Redenomination of DOT occurred. From this date, one DOT (old) equals 100 new DOT.
The benefits of Polkadot
There can be many reasons for developers to explore the Polkadot ecosystem. Due to the limited nature of current blockchains, it’s evident there are a few core issues to address: scaling, customization, interoperability, governance, and upgradeability.
On the scaling front, Polkadot checks a lot of boxes. It acts as a multichain network, allowing it to process transfers in parallel across different individual chains. This removes one of the biggest roadblocks associated with blockchain technology today. Parallel processing is a significant improvement and can pave the way for broader global blockchain adoption.
Those who seek out customization can tap into some other features provided by Polkadot. As of now, there is no “one blockchain infrastructure to rule them all”. Every project has its individual needs and requirements, and Polkadot allows every individual chain to have its design optimized for that specific functionality. With the help of Substrate, developers can efficiently adapt their individual chains to suit the needs of the project.
On the interoperability front, having projects and applications share data seamlessly is a big factor. While it remains to be seen what type of products and services this will create, there are many possible use cases. It can create an entirely new financial ecosystem, with every individual parachain taking care of one particular aspect at a time.
Any community associated with a specific parachain will be able to govern their network as they see fit. Moreover, all communities are crucial to the future governance of Polkadot as a whole. Gathering feedback from the community can yield valuable insights that evolve projects over time.
Also, Polkadot makes it very easy to upgrade individual parachains. There is no need for hard forks, as this can splinter communities. Instead, the native chain can be upgraded in a frictionless manner.
The DOT token explained
Similar to most other blockchain infrastructure projects, Polkadot has its own native token. Known as DOT, it serves as the network token, just like ETH is the token for Ethereum and BTC is the token of Bitcoin.
Several use cases exist for this token. First of all, it grants token holders with governance rights of the entire Polkadot platform. This includes determining network fees, voting on overall network upgrades, and the deployment or removal of parachains.
DOT is also designed to facilitate network consensus through staking. Similar to other networks that involve staking, all DOT holders are incentivized to play by the rules at all times. How come? Well, if they don’t, they could lose their stake.
The third option is to use DOT for bonding. This is required when new parachains are added to the Polkadot ecosystem. During a bonding period, the bonded DOT is locked. It’s released once the bond duration has ended and the parachain is removed from the ecosystem.
Staking and bonding on Polkadot
Polkadot’s approach to interoperability goes well beyond just the exchange of data and assets. It is also a way to introduce new concepts, such as incentivizing honest token staking and bonding tokens.
As we’ve mentioned, every new parachain is added by bonding DOT tokens. Bonding refers to committing tokens to the network for a specific period of time. Chains that aren’t useful or projects that are no longer maintained will be removed, and their bonded tokens returned.
Polkadot has four core components:
- Relay Chain: Polkadot’s “heart,” helping to create consensus, interoperability and shared security across the network of different chains;
- Parachains: independent chains that can have their own tokens and be optimized for specific use cases;
- Parathread: similar to parachains but with flexible connectivity based on an economical pay-as-you-go model;
- Bridges: allows parachains and parathreads to connect and communicate with external blockchains like Ethereum.
Polkadot is a sharded multichain network, meaning it can process many transactions on several chains in parallel (“parachains”). This parallel processing power improves scalability.
Custom blockchains are quick and easy to develop through the Substrate framework and can be connected to Polkadot’s network within minutes. The network is also highly flexible and adaptive, allowing the sharing of information and functionality between participants similar to apps on a smartphone. Polkadot can be automatically upgraded without the need for a fork in order to implement new features or remove bugs.
The network has a highly sophisticated user-driven governance system that also helps to secure it. Communities can customize their blockchain’s governance on Polkadot based on their needs and evolving conditions. Nominators, validators, collators and fishermen all fulfil various duties to help secure and maintain the network and eradicate bad behavior.
Official website: https://polkadot.network/
Best cryptocurrency wallet for Polkadot (DOT)
There are plenty of different crypto wallets available. The best one for you depends on your general trading habits and which provides the most security in your situation. There are two main types of wallets: hot storage wallets (digital) and cold storage or hardware wallets (physical). Both have their pros and cons, and there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer when it comes to figuring out which crypto wallet is best for you.
HOW DO I DECIDE WHICH cryptocurrency WALLET TO USE for Polkadot (DOT)?
Deciding which type of wallet to use depends on a variety of factors, including:
- How often you trade. In general, hot wallets are better for more active cryptocurrency traders. Quick login ability means you are only a few clicks and taps away from buying and selling crypto. Cold wallets are better suited for those looking to make less frequent trades.
- What you want to trade. As mentioned earlier, not all wallets support all types of cryptocurrencies. However, some of the best crypto wallets have the power to trade hundreds of different currencies, providing more of a one-size-fits-all experience.
- Your peace of mind. For those worried about hacking, having a physical cold wallet stored in a safe deposit box at the bank or somewhere at home, provides the safest, most secure option. Others might be confident in their ability to keep their hot wallets secure.
- How much it costs. It is important to investigate the costs associated with each wallet. Many hot wallets will be free to set up. Meanwhile, cold wallets, like any piece of hardware, will cost money to purchase.
- What it can do. While the basics of each cryptocurrency wallet are the same, additional features can help set them apart. This is especially true of hot wallets, many of which come with advanced reporting features, insights into the crypto market, the ability to convert cryptocurrencies and more. Security features can also be a good differentiator.
For a more in-depth overview of cryptocurrency wallets visit our “Cryptocurrency Wallets Explained” guide.
If you’re going to be dealing in larger volumes of crypto, investing in cold storage might prove advantageous.
Most widespead examples of this being the Ledger Nano and the Trezor.
Ledger manufactures cold storage wallets designed for users who want increased security. Their wallets are a physical device that connects to your computer. Only when the device is connected can you send your cryptocurrency from it. Ledger offers a variety of products, such as the Ledger Nano S and the Ledger Nano X (a bluetooth connected hardware wallet).
Trezor is a pioneering hardware wallet company. The combination of world-class security with an intuitive interface and compatibility with other desktop wallets, makes it ideal for beginners and experts alike. The company has gained a lot of the Bitcoin community’s respect over the years. Trezor offers two main models – The Trezor One and Trezor Model T (which has a built in touch screen).
Market Overview
Coinmarketcap.com
Coinmarketcap will be your cryptocurrency go-to for just about everything. Here you can see the following:
Market Capitalization And Daily Trading Volume
Current Market Price Of Every Cryptocurrency Relative To USD (And Some Local Currencies)
Circulating And Total Supply
Historical Charts With Prices Relative To USD, Bitcoin (BTC), And Ethereum (ETH).
