#TradingPairs101 Cryptocurrency Pairs: Trading & How They Work
Understanding trading pairs is necessary primarily for buying certain cryptocurrencies and for engaging in advanced arbitrage trading strategies.
Trading pairs” or “cryptocurrency pairs” are assets that can be traded for each other on an exchange. Two specific examples of trading pairs are bitcoin/litecoin (BTC/LTC) and ether/bitcoin cash (ETH/BCH). There are two main reasons for investors to understand trading pairs: Some cryptocurrencies can only be bought with other cryptocurrencies, so knowledge of cryptocurrency pairs is necessary to expand your crypto holdings beyond the most common coins. And, knowledge of crypto trading pairs gives savvy crypto investors the chance to exploit arbitrage opportunities — i.e., to profit from differences in asset prices between markets.$BTC
How Do Crypto Trading Pairs Work?
Cryptocurrency pairs allow you to compare costs between different cryptocurrencies. These pairings help illustrate the relative worth of specific crypto assets — e.g., how much BTC equals in ETH, and how much ETH equals in BCH. Exchanges usually offer several pairing options, which gives you the chance to choose a pairing based on currencies you already possess. For example, if you own BTC, then you can trade with any pairing listed on an exchange that includes BTC.
The most versatile cryptocurrency pairs to trade are usually BTC and ETH, as they’re offered by most exchanges. Many crypto exchanges offer pairings for cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar (USD), while some do not.
What Is a Base Currency and Why Is It Important?
To take full advantage of crypto trading pairs, you need to understand base currencies. A base currency is a way to denote an agreed-upon value of different assets. Base currencies are a common tool for comparing exchange rates across fiat currencies in different countries. An American traveling to Italy will want to convert USD into the Italian currency, the Euro. In this case, the USD serves as the base currency. The same principles.
