Bybit offer
$40 total bonuses
Current direct route: 10% fee discount + $40 total bonuses ($20 signup + $20 deposit).
Last updated
Trade Shortlist
Shortlist first. Decide faster.
First-trade exchange route
Pick the best first crypto exchange route before the coin moves
Before your first crypto trade, get one workable first account, one backup, or the exact route for Bitcoin, XRP, Solana, DOGE, SHIB, and other coins without opening 20 tabs.
Real trader-built shortlist
From about $10K to $10M+ across arbitrage and futures — then distilled into one beginner rule.
- • Open one solid first exchange.
- • Keep a backup before you need it.
- • Leverage is not a shortcut.
Read the trader story →
First exchange picker
Tell us what you want to buy first.
Homepage finder
Answer 3 quick questions. Get 1 exchange pick and 1 backup — without another route page in between.
This is built for people choosing their first crypto exchange, not their 50th.
Quick progress
You’ll get: 1 main exchange pick + 1 backup
0/3 answered
1. What do you want to buy first?
2. What matters most right now?
3. What sounds more like you?
First-buy routes before the chart moves
Open the route before the coin starts moving
If the coin is already in your head, do the boring setup first: pick the exchange route, then make the trade decision.
First account
Best first crypto exchange to open
Open this first if the real job is finishing one beginner-safe signup without reopening ten tabs or pretending to be advanced on day one.
First buy
Where to buy Bitcoin
Open the Bitcoin route when the real question is simply where to make the first BTC buy with the least confusion.
Coin route
Where to buy XRP
Open the XRP route when you already know the coin and want the shortest path between mainstream trust and broader access.
Already know the exchange?
Open the official route with the fewest sensible clicks
If the exchange name is already clear, use the direct route here instead of bouncing through extra helper pages. Keep guides and comparisons as backups, not required clicks.
Current signup offers
The 6 main CEX guides include 10% fee-discount routes.
These two bonus routes deserve the quickest look.
Bitget offer
Up to $250 total bonuses
Current direct route: 10% fee discount + up to $250 total bonuses ($150 signup + $100 deposit).
Advanced perps route
Hyperliquid is now available as a separate referral route — not a beginner-first CEX pick.
Binance
Large all-round platform
OKX
Futures-focused shortlist
Bybit
Active trader choice
Gate
Broader exchange exploration
Bitget
Copy-trading interest
MEXC
Altcoin-first discovery
Know the coin already?
Search the exact coin route before you compare anything broad
Use this for common first-buy questions like where to buy Bitcoin, XRP, Solana, DOGE, or SHIB without falling into a broad exchange rabbit hole.
Coin finder
Find the coin route in one search
Search by coin name or ticker, then jump straight into the route instead of scanning the whole grid.
Search or tap a ticker above, or jump down to the full coin grid below.
See all 15 ↓Quick backup routes
Still not sure? Jump to one specific answer
Best first crypto exchange
Open first-exchange picks
Easiest crypto exchange to start with
Open easy-start picks
Best crypto app for beginners
Open beginner-app picks
Where to buy Bitcoin
Open Bitcoin route
Where to buy XRP
Open XRP route
Where to buy Solana
Open Solana route
Where to buy Dogecoin
Open Dogecoin route
Where to buy Shiba Inu
Open Shiba Inu route
Trading Guides
Use practical guides only when you need the second check
Start with fee decisions, futures mechanics, or exchange playbooks when you need more context before comparing or signing up.
Fee & Capital Optimization
Best place to startBest place to start if costs are shaping the decision. These guides cover fee discounts, transfer choices, capital efficiency, and calculator-backed examples so you can narrow the shortlist before opening exchange or signup pages.
See fee guides
Futures & Market Mechanics
Use this when funding, liquidation, slippage, and execution matter before you commit to a futures venue. The guides help you understand the mechanics first, then narrow to a cleaner shortlist.
See futures guides
Exchange-Specific Playbooks
Open these when one or two exchanges are already in mind. The guides focus on practical comparisons and signup paths so you can move from shortlist to action with less browsing.
See exchange playbooks
Need more confidence before clicking?
Need one last check? Read the review, then open the route
The direct routes above are for people ready to click. These reviews are for the final check: fit, tradeoffs, and why the exchange belongs on the shortlist.
Binance
Often shortlisted by users who want one large exchange for spot trading, futures, and a broad set of crypto tools.
Good fit if you want
- Users comparing top-tier global platforms
- Traders who want spot and futures on one large exchange
OKX
Often compared by users who want a major exchange with a stronger futures and active-trading focus.
Good fit if you want
- Active traders narrowing a shortlist of major exchanges
- Users focused on futures or trading-focused tools
Bybit
Often considered by users who want an exchange geared more toward active trading and futures-style workflows.
Good fit if you want
- Active traders comparing major platforms
- Users who care about futures-style workflows
More paths
Still deciding? Explore these next
Keep these as backup routes if you still want one more comparison or shortlist page.
Popular comparison pages
Binance vs OKX: Which Exchange Is Better for Fees and Futures?
OKX vs Bybit: Which Exchange Is Better for Lower Fees and Futures?
Bybit vs MEXC: Active Trader Workflow or Lower-Fee Altcoin Access?
MEXC vs OKX: Better for Broader Access or Lower Fees?
Binance vs Bitget: Better for Beginners or a Cleaner First Route?
Popular shortlist pages
Why beginners can trust this shortlist
Real trading scars, then cleaner first-account decisions
The goal is not to sound smart. It is to turn real exchange use, real risk lessons, and real $10M+ trading experience into a faster first-account decision for people who do not want generic comparison sludge.
Built by someone who actually traded through it
Mercy Park made $10M+ across arbitrage and futures cycles, then cut the exchange choice down for beginners instead of dressing up copied fee tables.
Easy first. Advanced later.
The first exchange should be easy to finish, fund, and use again. Max leverage, obscure menus, and feature overload can wait.
Risk rules beat app loyalty
Multiple exchange accounts, capped downside, KYC checks, and official fee verification matter more than pretending one app solves everything.