The cryptocurrency ecosystem is constantly evolving, and one of its most important components is trading pairs. These pairs are used to buy and sell crypto assets on exchanges. Therefore, anyone who wants to participate in trading Bitcoin, altcoins, or stablecoins needs to understand what these pairs are, how they work, and why some are more relevant than others.
In 2025, with a more mature market and the emergence of new projects, it is worth revisiting the topic and learning about the pairs with the greatest impact, whether due to their volume, liquidity, or volatility.
What are cryptocurrency trading pairs?
A trading pair shows the exchange rate between two currencies. Each asset in the pair can be exchanged for the other. If, for example, you find ETH/BTC on an exchange, it means you can exchange Ether (ETH) directly for Bitcoin (BTC) and vice versa. The current price of the pair reflects how many BTC you get by selling 1 ETH (or how many ETH you could buy by selling 1 BTC, in the reverse BTC/ETH direction).
This model is inspired by traditional foreign exchange (Forex) markets, where pairs like EUR/USD indicate how many dollars are equal to 1 euro. With cryptocurrencies, pairs can exist between two digital currencies (BTC/ETH or DOGE/SHIB), between a cryptocurrency and a fiat currency (BTC/ARS, BTC/MXN, or ETH/USD), or between a cryptocurrency and a stablecoin (BTC/USDT). Each pair reflects the supply and demand relationship between those two assets.
Why are trading pairs important?
First, they determine how you can exchange assets within an exchange. If you only own Bitcoin and want to buy a lesser-known cryptocurrency, you need to see if there's a BTC/CRYPTO pair, or if you can first convert BTC to USDT and then use USDT to purchase that other currency.
Additionally, the right pair offers clues as to how the market values both currencies. For example, if ETH/BTC rises, it could mean that Ether is gaining relative value against Bitcoin. Finally, pairs with higher volume tend to have more liquidity, making it easier to execute large orders without significantly changing the price.
Trading pair categories
To organize better:
Crypto-crypto pairs: These involve two cryptocurrencies, such as BTC/ETH or BNB/SOL.
Crypto-fiat pairs: They mix a crypto with a fiat currency, for example BTC/ARS, BTC/MXN or ETH/USD.
Crypto-stablecoin pairs: Exchange a cryptocurrency for a stablecoin (a token pegged to the dollar or other stable asset), such as ETH/USDT or BTC/USDC.
Major trading pairs in 2025
With the expansion of the crypto market and the emergence of new projects, some pairs are emerging or regaining their leadership. Below, we highlight six pairs that combine high liquidity, widespread adoption, and significant volume, positioning themselves as benchmarks for traders and investors in 2025.
1. BTC/USD (or BTC/ARS or BTC/MXN depending on the region)
The pair linking Bitcoin (the first and most popular cryptocurrency) to widely used fiat currencies remains a benchmark for the crypto market. On global exchanges, BTC/USD routinely leads trading volumes, and many investors focus on the price of BTC in dollars to gauge overall sentiment in the sector.
In countries like Argentina and Mexico, BTC/ARS and BTC/MXN pairs have gained prominence, as more and more platforms allow direct transactions in local currency, reflecting the need to hedge against inflation and exchange rate volatility.
2. ETH/USDT
Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, while USDT remains the most widely used stablecoin. Together, they form a standard pair for many traders looking to move in and out of Ether quickly and easily.
With Ethereum 2.0 consolidated and transaction fees more affordable than in previous years, the network maintains its leadership in DeFi and NFTs. Furthermore, using stablecoins simplifies the calculation of profits and losses, as fluctuations in fiat currencies are avoided.
3. ETH/BTC
Possibly the most symbolic crypto-crypto pair. ETH/BTC pits two giants against each other: Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price there indicates how many BTC are obtained by selling 1 ETH, serving as a barometer of Ethereum's relative strength against BTC.
In 2025, it remains a benchmark for arbitraging, comparing, or understanding the value dynamics between the two networks, as Ether has established itself with its applications in DeFi and NFTs, while Bitcoin persists as the quintessential digital store of value.
4. BNB/FDUSD
The BNB token remains among the top assets in the Binance ecosystem, both for the discounts it offers on commission payments and for its integration into DeFi products. Meanwhile, FDUSD—a dollar-backed stablecoin—emerged to gradually replace BUSD, becoming practical for those seeking stability.
The BNB/FDUSD pair stands out for its high liquidity and relevance on popular exchanges, allowing users to keep part of their capital in a stablecoin and make quick moves to buy or sell BNB.
5. SOL/USDT
Solana (SOL) has gained traction, particularly in the areas of decentralized finance and blockchain gaming. Despite experiencing some technical challenges in 2023-2024, the network overcame many challenges and remains among the top scalable chains.
By 2025, it already has hundreds of dApps and a very active developer community. The SOL/USDT pair is attractive due to its transaction speed and low fees on networks that support Solana, making it a trading alternative beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
6. DOGE/USDT (o DOGE/BTC)
To mention relevant pairs without including Dogecoin would be to overlook the most famous of the meme coins. DOGE retains a loyal following and continues to attract interest from major crypto influencers.
Despite its volatility and lack of deep technological support, Dogecoin remains a highly active token, with periods of high liquidity and speculation. For novice investors, DOGE often represents the gateway to the ecosystem, due to its low unit price and high virality. The DOGE/USDT pair has considerable volume on multiple exchanges, providing arbitrage or swing trading opportunities for those who accept risk and are attentive to social media trends.
How to choose cryptocurrency pairs in 2025
To find good trading pairs, look at liquidity (higher volume means easier execution), volatility (more stable pairs tend to be crypto-fiat, while crypto-crypto offers more profit potential but also more risk), and the fees of each exchange, as some charge different rates for different pairs.
Additionally, it's worth checking the project's robustness and real-world utility, whether in DeFi, the metaverse, or payment systems.
Be careful with volume manipulation
Some projects or exchanges artificially inflate their volumes (wash trading). If you see a pair claiming high volume, but it's not reflected on reputable platforms, be wary.
Check specialized sites and compare volumes across different exchanges to find possible discrepancies.
Trends and reflections for 2025
The crypto market has become more diverse, with the consolidation of Layer 2 blockchains and the emergence of stablecoins specific to different uses. In countries like Argentina and Mexico, local currency pairs are gaining importance in response to the strong demand for currency hedging.
Opportunities arise when emerging tokens demonstrate valuable use cases or engaged communities. Understanding trading pairs isn't just about knowing what to trade, but also about capturing the value dynamics between assets, adjusting your strategy according to market conditions, and identifying sectors with growth prospects.
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Image by DC Studio, available on Freepik
