Cryptocurrency is gaining steam towards global acceptance. According to a Pew Research Center article published just last November, about 86% of Americans have heard about cryptocurrencies, with 16% saying they’ve personally invested, bought, and/or traded the digital assets.

This adoption is largely driven by the notion that it is possible to generate earnings through cryptocurrencies –– in some cases via methods specific to a given token, like play-to-earn games, or earning Basic Attention Token rewards through the Brave browser. However, the strongest appeal of cryptocurrencies is the possibility of making gains through trading. In this post, we'll go over some things you should keep in mind if you're looking to get started with crypto trading. If you're interested in trading at this very moment, then you can click here to try out a trusted crypto exchange.

Study the crypto market

Almost all cryptocurrencies are decentralized and free from regulation. While this has its perks, it also contributes to the market being extremely volatile (as do supply and demand, shifting regulations, and constant headlines). To maximize your gains and avoid wasting your money in such a volatile environment, it’s crucial that you do your research and familiarize yourself with the crypto market.

Thankfully, there are plenty of short online courses that can help you to widen your crypto knowledge. Specifically, a CodeX list highlights courses on Udemy, Coursera, and Eduonix that will teach you everything you need to know about crypto trading. Any of these will serve as a strong foundation, though it's important that you continue to learn and adapt with the evolving market as well. Ultimately though, by doing your due diligence and studying up, you can get off on the right foot when it comes to crypto trading.

Diversify your crypto portfolio

One quick way to lose money with crypto trading is putting all your hopes (and money) into a single asset and waiting for its value to increase. If you really want to maximize earning potential in crypto trading, you should instead strive to distribute your risk to a number of assets, and create a diversified crypto portfolio.

Aside from having popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, you should also look into other profitable options. Trading Litecoin - a cryptocurrency that is essentially a faster version of Bitcoin - gives you a more low-cost option that you can approach with a different strategy. Buying up some Cardano or Polkadot equates to investment in cryptos that are viewed as having more long-term potential. You might even consider involving yourself in a "meme coin" like Dogecoin - which despite being something of a joke does have fluctuations in value that can make savvy traders a lot of money. Whatever the specifics, diversifying through several cryptos makes it less likely that a single investment will hurt you, and more likely that you'll generate net profits over time.

Find the right crypto exchange platform

It’s also crucial that you find a crypto exchange platform that best suits your needs. Using such a platform, you can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies with ease. And while you can find a ton of options on the internet today, not all of them offer the same features or experience.

There are a couple of factors that you should consider when looking for a crypto exchange platform. First, you should make sure that the exchange you choose is legitimate and secure; a Yahoo post notes that recent years have produce news about traders who have lost their money because they unknowingly used scam platforms. Additionally, you should ensure that the platform you choose supports various methods of purchase, has a good selection of supported coins and tokens, and has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

By choosing the right crypto exchange platform at the start of your investing journey, you can minimize your risks and mistakes, and set yourself up for success as a crypto trader.

Above all else, remember to invest responsibly, and avoid risking more than you can afford to lose. With a careful and strategic approach, you'll give yourself the best chance to profit in this exciting, emerging market.

Good luck!