“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.
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.
