The cryptocurrency ecosystem continues to evolve, and one of its most important cogs are trading pairs. These pairs are used to buy and sell crypto assets on exchanges. Therefore, anyone who wants to participate in operations with Bitcoin, altcoins or stablecoins must 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 most impactful pairs, whether in terms of 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. For example, if you find ETH/BTC on an exchange, it means that 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 direction BTC/ETH).
This model is inspired by traditional currency markets (Forex), where pairs like EUR/USD indicate how many dollars are worth 1 euro. With cryptocurrencies, there can be pairs between two digital currencies (BTC/ETH or DOGE/SHIB), between a crypto and a fiat currency (BTC/ARS, BTC/MXN or ETH/USD), or between a crypto and a stablecoin (BTC/USDT). Each pair reflects the supply and demand relationship between these two assets.
Why are trading pairs important?
First, they determine how you can trade assets within an exchange. If you only have Bitcoin and want to buy a little-known crypto, you need to check if there is a BTC/CRYPTO pair, or if not, first convert BTC to USDT and then use USDT to buy that other currency.
Additionally, the right pairing provides clues as to how the market values both currencies. For example, if ETH/BTC rises, it could mean that Ether is gaining relative value versus Bitcoin. Finally, pairs with higher volume tend to have higher liquidity, which makes it easier to fill large orders without much change in price.
Trading Pair Categories
To organize better:
Crypto-Crypto Pairs: Involving two cryptocurrencies, such as BTC/ETH or BNB/SOL.
Crypto-fiat pairs: Mix a crypto with a fiat currency, such as BTC/ARS, BTC/MXN, or ETH/USD.
Crypto-stablecoin pairs: Exchange a crypto for a stablecoin (token pegged to the dollar or another stable asset), such as ETH/USDT or BTC/USDC.
Major Trading Pairs in 2025
As the crypto market expands and new projects emerge, some pairs stand out or regain their leadership. Below, we highlight six pairs that combine high liquidity, high adoption, and significant volume, positioning themselves as references for traders and investors in 2025.
1. BTC/USD (or BTC/ARS or BTC/MXN depending on the region)
The pairing of Bitcoin (the first and most popular cryptocurrency) with widely used fiat currencies continues to be a thermometer of the crypto market. On global exchanges, BTC/USD usually leads the trading volumes, and many investors pay attention to the price of BTC in dollars to gauge the general mood of the sector.
In countries such as Argentina or Mexico, the BTC/ARS and BTC/MXN pairs have gained prominence, as more and more platforms allow direct transactions with local currency, reflecting the need to hedge against inflation or exchange rate volatility.
2. ETH/USDT
Ethereum continues to be the second largest cryptocurrency by market cap, while USDT remains the most widely used stablecoin. Together, they form a standard pair for most traders looking to get in and out of Ether quickly and easily.
With Ethereum 2.0 established and transaction fees more affordable than in years past, the network maintains its leadership in DeFi and NFTs. Additionally, using stablecoins makes it easier to calculate gains and losses, as they avoid fiat currency fluctuations.
3. ETH/BTC
Possibly the most symbolic crypto-crypto pair. In ETH/BTC, two giants are compared: Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price there indicates how many BTC you get by selling 1 ETH, acting as a barometer for the relative strength of Ethereum compared to BTC.
In 2025, it continues to be a reference to arbitrate, compare or understand the value dynamics between both networks, as Ether has consolidated with its applications in DeFi and NFT, while Bitcoin persists as the digital store of value par excellence.
4. BNB/FDUSD
The BNB token remains among the main assets of the Binance ecosystem, both for the discounts it offers for paying fees and for its integration into DeFi products. On the other hand, FDUSD —a stablecoin pegged to dollars— has 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 movements to buy or sell BNB.
5. SOL/USDT
Solana (SOL) has gained traction, especially in the decentralized finance and blockchain gaming sectors. Despite facing some technical issues in 2023-2024, the network has overcome many challenges and remains among the leading scalable chains.
By 2025, it already has hundreds of dApps and a very active developer community. The SOL/USDT pair is attractive due to the speed of transactions and low fees in the networks that support Solana, representing a trading alternative besides Bitcoin and Ethereum.
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 capture the interest of major crypto influencers.
Despite its volatility and lack of deep technological support, Dogecoin remains a very active token, with moments of high liquidity and speculation. For novice investors, DOGE is often the gateway to the ecosystem, due to its low price per unit and high viral component. The DOGE/USDT pair has considerable volume across multiple exchanges, offering 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, pay attention to liquidity (the higher the volume, the easier the execution), volatility (the most stable pairs tend to be crypto-fiat, while crypto-crypto offers greater earning potential, but also more risk), and the fees of each exchange, as some charge different fees depending on the pair.
Furthermore, it is worth checking the solidity of the project and its real usefulness, whether in DeFi, metaverse or payment systems.
Be careful when handling volume
Some projects or exchanges artificially inflate their volumes (wash trading). If you see a pair claiming high volume, but it is not reflected on reputable platforms, be wary.
Check specialized sites and compare volume between 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 specific stablecoins for different uses. In countries like Argentina or 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 is not just about knowing what to trade, but also about understanding the value dynamics between assets, adjusting your strategy based on market conditions, and identifying sectors with growth prospects.
