In this article, I'll be showing you what are the best platforms to buy crypto on when it comes to security, diversity and low fees. But most importantly, I'm going to teach you what you need to know and what you need to do before buying cryptocurrency. You see, it is not only about where to get it, but also how to get it.

So, Get start!

Alright, guys. Let's start by talking about things you need to do before buying crypto.

It is not just a matter of throwing money around in this or that coin or on this or that platform.

The first and most important thing you need to do is choose a wallet. Just as with regular money, your crypto will be stored somewhere at any given time.

And I use quotes here because, as you should know by now, crypto is not stored in a location much as it is information being in multiple nodes at any given time. So how is it that crypto can be stored if it is everywhere?

While your cryptos are entirely digital, with the balance and history of transactions being available in the distributed ledger, the key to operate with them is not available to anyone. To initiate a transfer, or any kind of operation with it, you will need what is called a cryptographic key.

(An important thing to remember:) the person with the key owns the cryptocurrency.

If someone gains access to your keys, they own your crypto. Period. No any explanation about it even if yours so be careful anytime.

There's no helpdesk you will be able to call, no cyber police that will ensure the safe return of your crypto, but sadly, there will be trolls, and they will laugh at you. (Sad but true)

So make sure to keep your computer and phone clean, keep information secure, and always keep your privacy and security at the top of mind. Use strong passwords at all times. You might want to stop using sticky notes on your screen to store your passwords. Not safe at all. I'm not saying I do that. Also, don't use password as your password.

And also don't use 80085. I took it back to 6th grade for some of you guys there. Think about it.

There are two main types of wallets, and it comes down to what you really want. Do you like it soft? Or do you like the hard stuff?I'm talking about hardware and software wallets of course, you nerds.

Hardware wallets are what is called cold storage, as they don't need access to the internet since they are physical devices resembling a pen drive that you need to physically connect to interact with your crypto.This gives you the added security of physically requiring the wallet to access your crypto, meaning you don't have to trust an exchange or app to store your crypto.

If the hardware wallet gets stolen, there's no problem if the person who stole it doesn't know your password.

This is the most secure type of wallet but is less convenient and a little more expensive.

Software wallets on the other hand are more convenient but less secure.

There are programs that you can download and install on your computer, which keeps your keys by encrypting them. To access your crypto, you need to authenticate using your password and any other method of security the wallet provides. So just two factor authentication.

This means that you can access your crypto from any device at any time without the need for a physical device,depending on the wallet support, of course. Now, this type of wallet is less secure than a hardware wallet as a result of being connected to the internet.

Anything that is on the internet can be attacked.

It is just a matter of if the attacker will succeed or not. So this is something you should consider when using these services. This applies to both software and hardware wallets.

Make sure you check what type of coins they can store, as some of them will only be able to store BTC or ERC-20 tokens, or only little CryptoKitties.

So make sure to keep an eye on that when buying crypto. And, as always, avoid storing your hard earned crypto on exchanges. This is risky and should be avoided at all times, as hackers are always looking forward to breaching exchanges in order to get all the coins stored on them. So make sure to make it hard for anyone to steal your coins.

When it comes to hardware wallets, Ledger and Trezor are the biggest names in the industry.

When it comes to software wallets, it is harder to make a recommendation, as there is much more variety. There's Exodus, Electrum, Trust Wallet, Copay and ZenGo.

Any of these would be a good option for a beginner. Make sure to check out the features for each of them depending on which coins you're planning on investing and how you want to access your crypto, features you like, and much more.

Okay, so now you have your wallet, you have to make sure that it suits your needs and ensures the security of your future crypto.

Now, we can talk about where to buy crypto

Just like physical stores, the platform you choose to buy your crypto on will depend on what you are looking for. Are you looking for a new project that nobody's even heard of and you can make massive gains within the future? I know a lot of you guys do.

What was that?

You probably will want to go with Uniswap though. Are you looking for an exchange that has trading competitions, support, giveaways? Go with Binance, KuCoin, or Coinbase. It all comes down to what you want and are looking for, as well as where you're located.

While crypto is decentralized and global, there might be limitations in your country that limit which services you can access and the payment method you can use. This is why platforms like Binance have a specific US version that offers different coins depending on the legal status in the country. Just like with wallets, you will need to make a choice.

There are two different types of exchanges, centralized and decentralized.

Centralized exchanges are run by companies like Binance, Crypto.com, Coinbase, and KuCoin,and they are widely the most used type of exchanges in the crypto world. Although, this is changing rapidly. I barely even use those anymore. These companies operate as an intermediary in exchange for fees that can vary, in a way similar to how banks work. While trading money using one of these exchanges, your crypto assets are part of the company's ecosystem to ensure the existence of funds where the transactions taking place. You can add or remove money from the exchanges at any point obviously, but it will need to be in your exchange wallet for you to be able to trade. Using these exchanges requires trust in the company that is offering its services, as they are in charge of the security and the successful completion of transactions. These exchanges will also provide you with a layer of security when it comes to losing your keys, as they will be able to help you regain access to the funds if you have the necessary information. They also allow you to invest in crypto by using fiat currency, which is an added bonus, with the added risk of being pretty attractive to hackers.

As I already mentioned Binance, Crypto.com, Coinbase and KuCoin are some of the most popular options out there. Each of them offers different benefits and features.

The other type of exchange is a decentralized exchange, or a DEX, ruled by their current king unicorn, Uniswap DEXs allow users to trade cryptocurrencies only. They eliminate the middleman by using liquidity pools, a term we won't discuss right now but is involved in yield farming. They connect traders and automate all of the trading processes, charging little to no fees that reward liquidity providers. DEXs are trustless and a great place for new projects to find investors. Uniswap is currently the most popular exchange in this category and is competing with the big centralized guys. If you're looking for new projects that are just launching, this is a good place to look for them.

But be careful to avoid scams.

Decentralization puts the burden of responsibility on your shoulders. To learn more about DEX alternatives, make sure to read this article.

Or don't. But just make sure to do your own research. Now its your turn.

What type of crypto wallet and exchange are you most interested in? What projects are you thinking about investing in?

Let me know what you think in the comments section down below. @TheRandomRewarder