LLTS 13 — What Are Crypto Exchanges, And How Do They Work?

Let's Learn Together Series by Zignaly
Zignaly
Published in
4 min readSep 22, 2022

--

This article will walk you through the concept of exchanges, how crypto exchanges work, the idea of swapping, centralized and decentralized exchanges, market making, and selecting an exchange for yourself!

On cryptocurrency exchanges, it is possible to trade coins for other goods like digital and conventional money. Bitcoin exchanges act as a go-between, bringing in money through commissions and additional fees.

Users can swap a bitcoin of $100 for another cryptocurrency worth $100 on a standard crypto exchange. Users can exchange either $100 worth of cryptos in the same way. Depending on the exchange’s offerings, the same concept might be used for various assets.

How A Crypto Exchange Works

It is possible to purchase and sell a wide range of digital currencies by signing up for an account with one of the many crypto exchanges. You can buy cryptocurrency with a paper currency such as the U.S. dollar or exchange one cryptocurrency for another based on the marketplace.

The more prominent and well-known an organization is, the further likely it is to provide a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Even so, it’s a good idea to double-check that the cryptocurrency you want is available before creating an account.

On cryptocurrency exchanges, you can trade crypto using fiat currency. Cryptocurrency can be converted into ordinary currency, held in your projections of future trades, or withdrawn in cash.

Various options are available to you, depending on whatever exchange or software you prefer. Some services do not enable you to transfer your crypto outside the site. Cryptocurrency exchanges are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, excluding traditional exchanges, which have trading hours.

Centralized Vs. Decentralized Exchanges

In contrast to typical marketplaces, cryptocurrency traders have exposure to decentralized exchanges, which provide significant advantages over their central equivalents. Decentralized exchanges can complete transactions without the need for an intermediary on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), which are exchanges built on digital currencies.

Ethereum and other prominent blockchains are used to build DEXs, which allow users to retain control over their assets while benefiting from the trustlessness and anonymity of blockchain technology.

The key differences between these two types of transactions are as follows:

Trading Options

There are several advantages to using a centralized exchange (CEX) over a decentralized exchange (DEX), such as a more excellent range of alternatives and more liquidity. Still, there are also disadvantages, such as smart contracts or credit risk.

List of Coins

If you want to trade all digital currencies on a DEX, you don’t have to go through the rigorous process of being listed on a CEX because no authentication is required.

Choosing a Crypto Exchange

For this reason, you must do your homework before deciding on a centralized and decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (Bitcoin Market, launched on March 17, 2010, was the initial crypto exchange). The volatile nature of cryptocurrencies necessitates careful consideration of a wide range of variables while picking a business, such as but not excluding the following:

· Limits on deposits and withdrawals

· Fees

· Credit card and debit card options

· Restrictions imposed by local authorities

· Reputation

· Requirements for verification.

What are makers and takers?

Market depth is a concept used to describe how many users an exchange has. The volume of exchange order books measures the market’s depth. Market makers are those who place purchase and sell orders on exchanges. People can purchase and sell more significant amounts of bitcoin at a rate closer to the worldwide market rate when there are more orders on the book.

Applicants in the market are those who take orders that have already been placed. You are a taker when you submit a market order, and you can also be a taker if you submit a limit order that matches another order already placed.

The Bottom Line

Depending on your tastes, you can consider additional elements such as customer support, the platform’s mobile app, and how easy it is to utilize the exchange. But, as we’ve heard from experts repeatedly, one of the most important things you can do before investing money in crypto is to study more than you can.

The fees and security procedures you are satisfied with, the additional steps you will take to secure your coins, and your aims should all be considered. Traders can do all the trading of cryptocurrencies through these exchanges. So, always be careful while selecting one.

Disclaimer: The “Let’s Learn Together Series” by “Zignaly” is part of Zignaly’s commitment to giving back to the community. Through its directives, team Zignaly strives hard to help benefit society, helping them learn and remain on par. These articles are shared for informational and educational purposes only and do not create any directive for trade.

Please share with your friends and help them learn too! If we helped you learn, clap for us!

--

--