: Many apps now require a quick biometric "liveness" check using your phone's camera. 4. Funding with USD

Due to federal anti-money laundering (AML) laws, all legal U.S. platforms require verification.

Coinbase : The gold standard for beginners, offering an intuitive interface and FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000.

: Generally discouraged. Most issuers flag these as "cash advances," triggering immediate high-interest rates (3%–5%) and extra fees. 5. Executing the Trade

: Allows you to set a specific price at which you are willing to buy.