#TradingPairs101 Trading pairs consist of two assets: a base and a quote currency. The pair shows how much of the quote is needed to buy one unit of the base. For example, in BTC/USDT, BTC is the base, and USDT (a stablecoin) is the quote—you're buying BTC using USDT.
I mostly trade in stablecoin pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDC. They’re easier to track in dollar value, offer high liquidity, and are ideal for risk management. Crypto-denominated pairs (like ETH/BTC) can be useful when aiming to grow crypto holdings, but they’re more volatile and harder to benchmark.
When choosing a pair, I consider:
Trading volume and liquidity
My goal (e.g., growing USD value vs increasing BTC/ETH)
Market conditions—in high volatility, stablecoin pairs offer clearer risk control
Stablecoin pairs help me stay grounded in real-world value and make profit-taking decisions more straightforward.