#TradingPairs101

In $ETH the BTC/USDT pair, you're buying or selling Bitcoin priced in Tether (USDT). Understanding this dynamic is important because the quote asset determines how your profits and losses are measured. I personally trade more in **stablecoin-denominated pairs** (like USDT or USDC) because it helps me lock in gains in dollar terms and reduces the added volatility of tracking trades against another crypto, especially in a choppy market.

🧭 When choosing a pair, I look at several things: **liquidity, volatility, market sentiment**, and how I plan to manage risk. If I'm looking for stability and clearer profit tracking, I stick to USD pairs. But when I’m feeling more bullish and want to build exposure to a specific coin like ETH or BTC, I might trade crypto-denominated pairs like ETH/BTC. I once made the mistake of trading a smaller altcoin in a BTC pair during a Bitcoin rally — the coin’s price stayed flat, but since BTC surged, I ended up with less dollar value than I expected. That taught me how much the quote asset matters, even if your base asset behaves as expected. Always zoom out and consider what your gains will actually be *measured in*.