This trading FAQ for beginners collects the questions that come up again and again when people start learning about crypto, currencies and shares. The answers are deliberately short. Each one points to a fuller lesson in the library, and the glossary explains any unfamiliar terms.
The questions run roughly in the order people ask them: first what this site is, then crypto and stablecoins, then currencies and shares, and finally the practical matters of leverage, scams and practice accounts. If you are completely new, reading the answers from top to bottom works as a short overview of the whole library.
Two reminders apply to every answer below. First, nothing here is personal advice: the right choice for you depends on circumstances we cannot see. Second, rules differ between countries and change over time, so where an answer quotes a limit or date, check the current position with the regulator where you live before relying on it.
If your question is not here, the contact page explains how to send it. We cannot give personal advice, but questions help us decide which lessons to write next.
Quick answers
Is IonyxHub an exchange or a broker?
No. IonyxHub is an independent information library. It does not offer accounts, deposits, trading, wallets, signals or managed investments, and it does not recommend particular exchanges, brokers or coins. Anyone offering investment services in our name is not connected to us, and the approach should be treated as a probable scam.
What is the safest way to start learning about crypto?
Read about how it works before buying any. Understand keys and wallets first, then stablecoins, then every fee between your bank and a wallet, and finally the common scams. The reading order on our home page follows that sequence. Buying a small amount before you understand custody is how many beginners run into trouble.
What is USDT and is it the same as a dollar?
USDT is a stablecoin issued by the company Tether that aims to stay worth one US dollar. It is backed by reserves the company reports holding, such as short-term government debt. It is not a bank deposit, has no deposit insurance and can trade slightly below a dollar in stressed markets.
Why does the network matter when sending USDT?
USDT exists on several blockchains, such as Tron (TRC20, addresses starting with T) and Ethereum (ERC20, addresses starting with 0x). The sender and receiver must use the same network. Sending on the wrong one can mean the funds do not arrive and may not be recoverable, so check the network on both sides and send a small test first.
Why is Bitcoin limited to 21 million coins?
The limit is written into Bitcoin's software, and changing it would need almost everyone running the network to agree. New coins are released to miners as block rewards that halve roughly every four years; the most recent halving, in April 2024, cut the reward to 3.125 BTC. A fixed supply does not mean a fixed or rising price.
How does forex trading differ from crypto trading?
Currencies trade from Sunday evening to Friday evening New York time rather than nonstop, usually move less in a day, and are mostly traded through brokers using leverage. Retail leverage is capped in many countries, for example at 30:1 on major pairs in the UK and EU. Profit and loss are counted in pips and lots rather than coin amounts.
Do I need a lot of money to buy shares?
Not necessarily. Many brokers allow small purchases and some sell fractions of a share. Fixed fees weigh much more heavily on small amounts, so check the full cost, including any currency conversion, before buying. Spreading money across many companies, for example through an index fund, reduces the damage any one failure can do.
What is leverage and why is it risky?
Leverage lets you control a position larger than your deposit. It magnifies losses exactly as much as gains, so a small price move can remove a large part of an account. Regulators require brokers in the UK and EU to warn that most retail accounts trading leveraged CFDs lose money, and they cap the leverage offered to retail clients.
How can I tell if a trading platform is a scam?
Warning signs include contact you did not start, promised steady returns, pressure to act quickly or secretly, platforms you were guided to by a stranger and fees demanded before a withdrawal. Check any firm on your own regulator's register, using the website and phone number listed there, before sending money.
Can a demo account teach me to trade?
A demo account lets you learn a platform and practise placing orders and sizing positions with virtual money, which is genuinely useful. It cannot reproduce the emotions of real losses, and real trading may carry costs or fills that differ from the demo. Treat good demo results as proof you understand the tools, not proof that a method works.