You use crypto by putting it to work: spending it, sending it to people, swapping it for other assets, earning rewards with it, or collecting digital items. All you need to start is a wallet with some crypto in it. This guide, part of our crypto learning guides, is a map of what you can do with crypto and where to learn each one, rather than a deep dive into any single use.
What you need to use crypto
Two things: a crypto wallet and some crypto in it. A self-custody, multichain wallet like the Bitcoin.com Wallet app holds many different assets and lets you spend, send, and swap them from one place. If you don't have any crypto yet, start with how to buy crypto.
The main ways to use crypto
Here's the quick map. Each is a different thing you can do, explained below with a link to the full how-to:
The sections below explain when you'd reach for each, without repeating the full guides.
Spend it
The most everyday use is paying for things. You can pay merchants that accept crypto directly, spend through a crypto debit card almost anywhere cards work, or buy gift cards for brands that don't take it yet. Because Bitcoin is the most widely accepted, our guide on how to use and spend Bitcoin covers the mechanics, and the same ideas apply to other assets a merchant supports.
Send it to people
Crypto moves person to person without a bank in the middle, which makes it useful for paying friends, settling debts, or sending money across borders. The how-to is the same as any transfer: get the recipient's address and send the crypto on the matching network.
Swap it for another asset
If you hold one crypto and want another, you can swap between them without cashing out to your bank first. This is how many people move between assets, for example into a stablecoin to sit out volatility, or into the asset a particular app needs. See how to swap crypto for the ways to do it and what to watch for.
Earn with it
Some people earn rewards on crypto they already hold through activities such as staking or lending, generally grouped under decentralized finance (DeFi). These can pay returns, but they carry real risks including the loss of funds, and no return is ever guaranteed. Treat them as advanced, and understand how a service works before committing anything. This is educational, not investment advice.
Collect digital items
Crypto is also used to buy and own digital items, most visibly NFTs, which can represent art, collectibles, or access to a community. Values can be highly volatile, so the same caution applies as with any speculative purchase.
Hold it
Not using crypto right away is a valid choice too. Some people hold assets like Bitcoin as a long-term store of value, while others keep funds in a stablecoin to avoid price swings while staying in crypto. Whatever you hold, keeping it in a wallet you control matters most.
Matching the asset to the use
Part of using crypto well is that different assets suit different jobs. As a rough guide:
- Bitcoin is most often held as a long-term store of value and used for payments.
- Ethereum powers a large ecosystem of apps and is commonly used to interact with them, with its own coin covering the network fees.
- Stablecoins aim to hold a steady value, which makes them popular for payments and for parking funds without volatility.
- Other tokens typically give access to a specific app, game, or project.
You don't have to hold all of these. Many people keep one or two assets that match how they actually plan to use crypto.
Using crypto safely and wisely
A few things apply no matter how you use it:
- Transactions are irreversible. Always check the address, asset, and network before you confirm, and keep a wallet backup so you never lose access, in line with Bitcoin.org's security guidance.
- You pay network fees to move most crypto, and you need a little of a network's own coin to cover them, for example some ETH to move a token on Ethereum.
- Prices move. The value of what you spend, swap, or hold can change quickly, which is one reason some people use stablecoins for day-to-day spending.
- Watch for scams. Fake apps, "connect your wallet" traps, and promises of guaranteed returns are common. Learn to spot and avoid crypto scams, and never share your recovery phrase.
- Keep records for tax. In many countries, spending or swapping crypto counts as disposing of it, which can be taxable. Check your local rules or a professional.
Using crypto with confidence
Using crypto starts with a wallet and a little of it, then choosing what to do: spend, send, swap, earn, collect, or simply hold. Start small, match the asset to the job, and double-check every transaction. When you need to top up or cash out, our guides on buying, selling, and receiving crypto cover the rest across our crypto learning guides.
