Setup Guide — Start Here
From zero to your
first investment.
Everything you need to get set up properly — the right app, the right account, the right mindset. Built for complete beginners. I started in 2019 with £2–3K and no idea what I was doing — this is the setup I wish I’d had.
6
Steps to get set up
7+
Years experience behind this
$145M+
Spot & futures volume traded
0
Mindset First
1
Choose an Exchange
2
Fund Your Account
3
Set Up Charts
4
Secure Your Funds
5
Track Your Portfolio
6
Join the Community
Before You Download Anything
Read this first.
It will save you money.
Most people jump straight into crypto, download an exchange, deposit money, and lose it fast. Not because the market is unfair — because they skipped the foundation. Three rules before you touch anything else.
01
Only invest what you can afford to lose
Enough to feel the move — the real price movement that affects you, not just digits on a screen. Not enough to hurt if the market moves against you. Crypto is volatile. Start small. Build with experience.
02
This is a long game
The 4-year Bitcoin cycle is real. Bear markets feel like it’s over. So far, Bitcoin has recovered from every one — that’s history, not a guarantee. The investors who build real wealth in crypto are the ones who stay in through the bear, accumulate, and ride the next cycle. Patience is the edge.
03
Education before speculation
Don’t buy a coin because someone on social media told you to. Don’t chase pumps. Don’t panic sell dips. Learn the market first. That’s why this guide exists — and why CryptoDLY was built.
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Step 1 — Choose an exchange
Choose your exchange
An exchange is where you buy and sell crypto and see live prices for the first time. I don’t recommend or partner with any exchange — the choice is yours. What I can do is show you what to check, so you pick one that’s legitimate and protects you.
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What to check before you sign up
Five checks that rule out most bad platforms
1
Is it registered where you live? In the UK, search the firm on the FCA Financial Services Register. If it isn’t listed as a registered cryptoasset business, don’t use it.
2
Spot, not futures. To start, you only need to buy and hold. Leveraged crypto derivatives aren’t available to UK retail investors — and you don’t need them.
3
Simple deposits and withdrawals in your own currency, with fees shown clearly before you confirm.
4
Proper security: identity checks (KYC), app-based 2FA and withdrawal address whitelisting.
5
Withdraw to your own wallet. You should be able to move your crypto off the exchange whenever you want — Step 4 covers why that matters.
Once you’ve chosen
1
Sign up with your email address and a strong, unique password — write it down somewhere safe
2
Complete KYC verification — identity checks required by law. Usually a passport or driving licence and a selfie
3
Enable 2FA with an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Authy — not SMS
4
Download the exchange’s official app from the App Store or Google Play — check the developer name matches
Pro tip: Use one dedicated email just for your crypto accounts, with its own strong password and 2FA. Keep a separate, secure note with your backup codes. Losing access to a crypto account is permanent.
Security reminder: Never share your password or 2FA codes with anyone. CryptoDLY will never ask for your exchange login details or ask you to send us money to invest. Anyone who does is trying to steal your funds.
Step 1 Checklist
Checked my exchange is registered where I live
Completed KYC verification
Enabled app-based 2FA
Downloaded the official app on my phone
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Step 2 — Important
Fund your account
Your account is set up. If and when you decide to buy, the amount you start with matters more than anything else. This step is where most beginners make their first and most costly mistake.
Read this before you deposit anything. These are not digits on a screen. Every number you see in your account represents real money that took real time and effort to earn. Treat every position as if it were cash in your hand. The moment you stop treating it as real money is the moment you start making emotional decisions — and emotional decisions in crypto cost you.
How much to start with
Enough to feel the move — the real price change that affects you personally. Not enough to hurt if the market goes against you. For most people starting out that’s £50–£200. Start here. Scale up with experience and confidence.
What not to do
Never deposit money you cannot afford to lose entirely. Never borrow to invest in crypto. Never put in your rent, savings, or emergency fund. If losing this amount would genuinely hurt your life — it’s too much.
Build over time
Dollar cost averaging — adding a fixed amount every month regardless of price — is how I build positions myself. Start small. Be consistent. Let time and the cycle work for you.
How to deposit
1
Log in to your exchange and find Deposit (usually under Assets or Wallet)
2
Select your currency (GBP, USD, EUR etc)
3
Choose your payment method — bank transfer or card. Card is instant, bank transfer takes 1–2 days but has lower fees
4
Enter your amount and complete the payment — your funds appear in your account shortly after
5
Your balance is now ready to buy crypto, either directly in your currency or via a stablecoin such as USDT
What is USDT? USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin — designed to stay at $1. It’s the standard trading currency on crypto exchanges. You’ll convert USDT into Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other assets when you’re ready to buy.
Decided on a starting amount I’m comfortable losing entirely
Successfully deposited my starting amount
Can see my balance in my account
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Step 3 — Essential
Set up your charts
Charts are how you read the market. Before you buy anything, you need to understand what price is doing — is it going up? Down? Consolidating? Charts tell you this. TradingView is the industry standard and what every serious crypto investor uses.
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TradingView
The world’s most used charting platform — free to start
Why TradingView? Every chart you’ll see in the CryptoDLY journal, every analysis, every trade breakdown — it’s all done on TradingView. It shows you live price data, candlestick charts, volume, indicators, and everything you need to read the market properly. The free version is more than enough to get started.
How to get started
1
Go to tradingview.com or search “TradingView” in the App Store / Google Play
2
Create a free account — sign up with your email
3
Search BTCUSDT in the search bar — this is Bitcoin’s live price chart
4
Switch the chart to candlestick view and set the timeframe to 1D (daily) to start
5
Follow @Investorsacademy on TradingView to see the exact charts and analysis from CryptoDLY
What you’re looking at: Each candle on the chart represents a period of time — green means price went up in that period, red means it went down. The body shows open and close price, the wicks show the high and low. Vol 2 of the CryptoDLY series covers everything about reading charts in full detail.
Created TradingView account
Found and viewed the BTCUSDT chart
Following @Investorsacademy on TradingView
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Step 4 — Security
Secure your funds — cold storage
Once you start building up holdings you need to understand the difference between keeping crypto on an exchange and keeping it in your own wallet. This is one of the most important lessons in all of crypto — and most people learn it the hard way.
“Not your keys, not your coins.” When your crypto is on an exchange, the exchange holds it — not you. Exchanges can be hacked, frozen, or go bankrupt (FTX is the most famous example — billions lost overnight). A cold storage wallet puts you in full control. Nobody can access it but you.
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Ledger
The world’s most trusted hardware wallet — your crypto in your hands
Why Ledger? A Ledger is a physical device — like a USB stick — that stores your private keys completely offline. Even if your computer is hacked, your crypto is safe. It’s the industry standard for securing holdings and used by everyone from retail investors to institutions. The Ledger Nano X is the recommended model for most investors.
How to get started with Ledger
1
Order a Ledger Nano X from ledger.com — only ever buy directly from Ledger, never second hand
2
When it arrives set it up following the instructions — you’ll create a PIN code and receive a 24-word seed phrase
3
Write down your 24 seed words on paper — in order, exactly as shown. This is the only way to recover your wallet if the device is lost or broken
4
Store the seed phrase somewhere physically safe — not digitally. Not a photo on your phone. Not in an email. Written on paper in a secure location
5
Download Ledger Live on your phone or computer — this is how you manage your Ledger and see your balances
6
Transfer crypto from your exchange to your Ledger wallet address — always send a small test amount first before moving large holdings
Never share your 24 seed words with anyone. Not CryptoDLY. Not Ledger support. Not anyone. Anyone who asks for your seed phrase is attempting to steal your funds. If you lose your seed phrase and your device breaks — your crypto is gone permanently. There is no recovery.
When to get a Ledger: You don’t need one on day one — but once you’re holding more than £500 in crypto it’s worth the investment. A Ledger costs £79–£149. It pays for itself the first time an exchange has issues.
Ordered Ledger directly from ledger.com
Set up Ledger and created PIN
Written down 24 seed words and stored safely offline
Downloaded Ledger Live app
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Step 5 — Optional
Track your portfolio
Once you’re holding assets across exchanges and a hardware wallet you need one place to see your total portfolio value, performance, and allocation. A free tracker is all you need to start.
Simplest option: CoinGecko (coingecko.com) is a free, reliable way to track crypto prices and basic portfolio performance. No account needed — just bookmark it.
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Step 6 — Final Step
Join the community
You’ve got the account. You’ve got the tools. Now you need the education and the community around you to make sense of it all. Crypto is easier when you’re not doing it alone.
Your setup is complete.
Now build the knowledge.
The free Investors Foundation community is where to start. Live market updates, crypto news, and a community of investors at every level. Free forever.
Joined the Investors Foundation free Telegram community
Started reading Vol 1 — From First Investment to Financial Freedom
Added CryptoDLY to my phone home screen