The Best 11 Gateways to Get a Headstart in Crypto Trading

July 13, 2019

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It’s the middle of 2019 and crypto is the word again: Facebook and Telegram are working on their own cryptocurrencies, governments are arranging regulations, and every startup wants to have “blockchain” in their description. Guess these things are here to stay for good and you should give it a try if you still haven’t, or get your friends and parents into it. But how do you learn the basics of handling your crypto assets and how to make a profit? And how can it be done without any risk?

Crypto is a specific space that has its own terminology and trading market specifics. It’s ok to start feeling dizzy after just looking at the vast number of cryptocurrencies for the first time.

To wrap your head around it, to adapt to the environment, and to get a taste of trading in crypto without any investment, there are a lot of crypto trading simulators to help you. These are made specifically for beginners, have useful tips, are gamified, and some even offer real rewards for the brightest players.

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Here’s a list of the best 11 gateways to crypto trading.

(Android/Web)

One of the simplest trading simulators, just to get a basic understanding of how to bet and claim your reward while real prices fluctuate. The upside is that you don’t have to install anything. However, if you create an account, you can track your progress from all previous sessions.

Pros

  • 4 available cryptocurrencies to trade

  • no registration required

Cons

  • no educational materials

  • not much to do, really

(IOS/Android/Web)

A level-up from Bitcoin Hero, Bitcoin Flip has its own mobile applications and extra 20 cryptocurrencies for registered players. Otherwise, it still looks like a tool to pass time on a subway rather than a platform to get into trading.

Pros

  • 4  cryptocurrencies for everyone (+20 for registered players)

  • possible to play without registration

  • has an app

Con

  • a bit simplistic

(Web only)

The People’s Choice Award of our editorial office goes to their tutorial video. This catchy song became our anthem one boring Wednesday. Speaking about the simulator itself: games are played in long-distance sessions that last for a month. The best players get in the ratings. It only has five cryptocurrencies, but give it a shot. It is one of the oldest simulators we found, made in 2011.

Pro

  • monthly competitions

Con

  • interface is stuck in the 2000s

(Web and mobile web versions)

Bitsgap Simulator is just a bonus feature on a multi-exchange platform, but it checks all the same boxes as the standalone projects mentioned above, plus one more: while playing, you can switch between the five most popular crypto exchanges. The downside is you have only five cryptocurrencies to trade with. It has a substantive design and is the first program on this list that is suitable for serious training.

Pros

  • adapted to mobile

  • arbitrage, signals, and trading bots

  • option to switch exchanges

Con

  • promotional side-project

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(Web only)

While we are continuing to examine more and more complex systems, the Coinmarketgame deserves a mention right here: it’s not so complex to consider it as a fully-autonomous theory and practice platform, but it has all the instruments and features to get a feel for real trading. Here you are introduced to additional stats like market cap and available/total supply. It doesn’t have any deep tutorials included, which is expected from a simulator of this level, but if you trade well you can win the Best Trader of the Week title.

Pros

  • detailed statistics

  • all popular cryptocurrencies included

Con

  • no educational materials

(Web only)

The Hispanic market delights us with a well-assembled product that is flawless in design (even with the night mode feature included). Pleasant sliders, harmonious colors, three languages to choose from – English, Spanish, and French. From that strength comes its weakness – the product is oriented towards Spanish-speaking users, so the language barrier might be an issue. But there are 79 cryptocurrencies, instant transactions, buy limit orders, and around 3-4k players in one game session.

Pros

  • wide variety of currencies

  • flawless design

  • detailed transaction options

Con

  • oriented towards the Spanish-speaking market

(IOS/Android/Web)

Available on all platforms, Spark Profit takes a different spin on trading. Here you have to make predictions about market fluctuations and earn points for doing so. It goes like this: you make a market price prediction in the form of a range, then you can leave the game and return later to check the accuracy of your educated guess. If you make accurate predictions, Spark Profit will even pay you some money for that.

Pros

  • rewards in real money

  • original gameplay

Cons

  • somewhat bulky design

  • you can make only six predictions (and then you have to sit and wait)

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(Web only)

Coins2Learn is another example of a fully operational simulator game. It has an intuitive and nice-looking interface, though some might consider there to be too much bright red. There is a wide variety of coins and overall it looks close to a real trading platform. The chart has a design that is customary to traders, you can place orders, put stop-limits on them, and access trade history. They even have a chat. And top-tier players earn rewards in real crypto.

Pros

  • detailed tutorial

  • most important tokens available

  • rewards in real crypto

Con

  • questionable system of trading for a game

(Web only)

cDuel is focused on the game aspect of a trading simulator and that feels like the right choice. Gamification makes studying effortless. In this game, you have to manage a portfolio with cryptocurrencies during a long-lasting match in which the player with the highest ROI wins. But with game benefits come disadvantages. You have to buy additional features in-game. But, to be fair, they are not necessary for full trading experience.

Pros

  • soon-to-come sponsored matches (with real prices)

  • private games with friends

  • convenient portfolio management

Cons

  • some free-to-play mechanics

  • matches are very long (take months or longer)

(IOS/Android/Web)

The Trading Game takes a broader approach than all the other games listed here. It teaches how to trade stocks and fiat in general, focusing on investment strategies that can be applied to any type of asset. It has a structured lesson plan and a lot of helpful articles to get started. The simulator itself has all standard features, a neat design, and the option to play with friends in duel mode.

Pros

  • comprehensive guidelines

  • quizzes

  • option to predict trends

Cons

  • not focused on crypto

  • has only seven cryptocurrencies

(IOS/Android/Web)

Altcoin Fantasy is a solid piece of work. It has 1400+ coins to trade and 14-day trading contests, providing you with the opportunity to compete with other people for real prizes from sponsors – from collectibles to tokens. Sometimes you have to register in a wallet or do something else to claim the prize, but it is worth it. If you trade well in the simulation, you can earn something that you can invest in real life. And trading in Altcoin Fantasy is very realistic. Even transactions are not instantaneous, like in other simulators.

Pros

  • half a million dollars in prizes already paid

  • well-thought-out competition model

  • hands down one of the best UIs out there

  • widest list of coins out there

  • understandable guidelines

Con

  • no shortcuts – takes time to learn all the features in-game

Learn and Earn

All these platforms are suitable for beginners, depending on the seriousness with which they are ready to dive into this endeavor. 

This review is prepared by Diana Furman and the Lumi Wallet team. Diana has a traditional corporate finance background and in 2017 got deeply involved with the crypto industry. She is CEO of Lumi Wallet and Lumi Collect from the end of 2017. Also, Diana has broad expertise on such topics as EOS, DApps, and UX/UI for fintech products.

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any loses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.