Tutorial-ready guide shell
This page now reflects the approved Binance tutorial pack structure. The walkthrough is approved, but screenshots still stay as planned slots until the founder captures the real Binance screens.
Funnel progress
Step 3: Buy USDC on a crypto exchange
Next in the public funnel: Step 4: Set up your wallet
Current MVP choice set
Crypto exchange picks for the current MVP path
Binance is the primary guided path for this tutorial. Bybit stays visible only as a secondary alternative.
Primary recommendation
Binance
Binance is the main walkthrough path because it gives us a stable, widely recognized exchange flow for registration, KYC, fiat deposit, and buying USDC.
Secondary alternative
Bybit
Bybit remains a solid fallback if Binance is unavailable in your region or you prefer its interface, but this tutorial stays on Binance so the path remains simple and consistent.
Section 1
Why you need this step
Prediction markets settle trades in USDC - a digital dollar that lives on the blockchain. You cannot fund your prediction market account with a bank transfer or credit card directly, so you need one step that converts your regular money into USDC first.
What the exchange is for
Think of the exchange as a currency conversion step, not a trading platform. You arrive here, deposit fiat money, buy USDC, and move on. You do not need to learn charts, trading tools, or anything beyond that narrow path.
Section 2
What is USDC and why not Bitcoin?
USDC is a stablecoin designed to stay worth exactly 1 US dollar. It is the practical funding layer for prediction markets because it is stable, fast to transfer, and works natively on the blockchain networks these platforms use.
Keep this step boring
This is not speculative crypto. The goal is simple: put in regular money, receive USDC, and carry that balance into the wallet step. Boring is exactly what you want here.
Section 3
Create your Binance account
Start from the official Binance flow, create your account, and secure it properly before any money enters the platform.
Walkthrough step
Go to Binance and start registration
Instruction
Open your regular browser, not AdsPower. Navigate to Binance through our partner link. Click 'Register' or 'Sign Up' and choose email registration.
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Binance homepage signup entry
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Binance homepage showing the Sign Up button in the top navigation
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Use your regular browser for this step because the exchange account is tied to your real identity through KYC.
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Later, insert the homepage screenshot and highlight the exact signup entry used in the clean beginner flow.
Walkthrough step
Enter your email and create a password
Instruction
Enter your email address. Open 1Password, generate a strong password, and save a new entry called 'Binance' before pasting the password into the form. Complete the email verification with the code Binance sends you.
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Binance registration form
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Binance account registration form showing email and password input fields
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Generate the password in 1Password first, save the entry, then paste it into Binance.
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Later, insert the registration form screenshot and point out where the user enters the email and password.
Walkthrough step
Enable two-factor authentication immediately
Instruction
After email verification, Binance will prompt you to set up security. Enable 2FA with an authenticator app, scan the QR code, and enter the 6-digit code before you deposit any money.
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Binance 2FA setup
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Binance two-factor authentication setup screen showing QR code for authenticator app
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Enable 2FA before you deposit anything. This is non-negotiable for any account that will hold money.
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Later, insert the 2FA setup screenshot and show the QR code flow the user should complete.
Section 4
Verify your identity
KYC, or Know Your Customer, is a standard identity check required by financial regulations in almost every country. It works much like opening a normal bank or brokerage account: verify who you are, then continue.
Walkthrough step
Start the verification process
Instruction
Navigate to the verification section. On Binance, look for 'Verify' or 'Identification' in the account dashboard, or follow the prompt that appears after registration. Select your country of residence to see which documents are accepted.
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Verification entry point
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Binance verification page showing country selection and accepted document types
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Select your country first because it determines which ID documents Binance accepts.
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Later, insert the verification landing screenshot and point out the country selector and the accepted document list.
Walkthrough step
Upload your ID document
Instruction
Choose the document type Binance accepts for your country. Passport is the most universally accepted, followed by national ID card or driver's license. Take clear, well-lit photos with every edge visible.
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ID document upload
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Binance ID document upload screen showing camera framing guide
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Good lighting, all corners visible, and no blur. Bad photo quality is the most common reason for rejection.
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Later, insert the document upload screenshot and show the framing or photo-quality guidance Binance provides.
Walkthrough step
Complete the selfie or liveness check
Instruction
Follow the on-screen instructions for the selfie or short liveness video. Look at the camera and move as requested. The process is automated and usually takes under 30 seconds.
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Liveness verification
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Binance facial verification screen showing camera frame for liveness check
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Look directly at the camera and follow the prompts. The liveness check is automated and usually quick.
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Later, insert the liveness-check screenshot and show how the camera framing should look.
Walkthrough step
Wait for approval
Instruction
Verification is usually completed within minutes, but high-demand periods can slow it down. Watch for the approval email and keep an eye on your verification status inside Binance.
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Verification status
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Binance account verification status screen showing pending or approved status
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Most approvals are fast, but delays happen. Check your email for extra document requests if the status stalls.
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Later, insert the status screen screenshot and show what pending versus approved looks like.
Section 5
Deposit fiat money
With your identity verified, you can now deposit regular money into Binance. This is the point where your bank account touches the crypto world, and after that you are almost done with the exchange.
Walkthrough step
Navigate to the deposit section
Instruction
In the Binance dashboard, click 'Deposit' or navigate to Wallet -> Fiat and Spot -> Deposit. Select 'Fiat' as the deposit type, then choose your local currency.
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Fiat deposit page
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Binance deposit page showing fiat currency selection and available payment methods
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Select your local currency to reveal the cheapest and fastest deposit methods available in your country.
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Later, insert the fiat deposit screenshot and highlight where the currency and deposit type are selected.
Walkthrough step
Choose a deposit method
Instruction
Pick the deposit method Binance offers for your region. Bank transfer is usually the cheapest option, while card deposits are faster but add a meaningful fee.
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Deposit method selection
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Binance deposit method list showing bank transfer and card options with associated fees
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Bank transfer is usually the cheapest choice. Card payments are faster, but the convenience fee adds up quickly.
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Later, insert the deposit method screenshot and show where the fees or method differences are visible.
Walkthrough step
Complete the deposit
Instruction
Follow the on-screen instructions for your chosen method. For bank transfer, Binance will show bank details and a reference code. Include that reference exactly or the transfer may be delayed. For card deposits, enter the card details and confirm.
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Deposit completion details
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Binance deposit instructions showing bank details and mandatory reference code for bank transfer
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Always include the reference code in your transfer. Without it, Binance may take much longer to match the deposit to your account.
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Later, insert the deposit instruction screenshot and highlight the bank details plus the mandatory reference code.
Section 6
Buy USDC
Once the money reaches Binance, convert it into USDC. This should feel like a simple currency swap, not like entering a trading interface.
Walkthrough step
Go to the Convert page
Instruction
Use the simple Convert feature, not the full trading interface. Navigate to Trade -> Convert, or search for 'Convert' in the Binance menu if the navigation changes.
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Convert page entry
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Binance Convert feature showing a simple currency swap interface with From and To fields
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Convert is the easiest way to buy USDC. No charts, no order books, and no extra complexity.
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Later, insert the Convert interface screenshot and show clearly that this is the simplified swap flow.
Walkthrough step
Set up the conversion
Instruction
In the From field, select the currency you deposited and enter the amount. In the To field, select USDC. Binance will show the current conversion rate and the estimated amount of USDC you will receive.
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Conversion setup
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Binance Convert page showing fiat to USDC conversion with exchange rate and estimated output
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For USD, the conversion is close to 1:1. Other currencies show the current forex rate before Binance converts into USDC.
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Later, insert the filled Convert screen and show how the From and To fields should look before confirmation.
Walkthrough step
Confirm and receive USDC
Instruction
Review the conversion details, confirm the swap, and then verify the resulting balance in Wallet -> Fiat and Spot. Search for USDC to confirm it arrived.
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USDC balance in wallet
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Binance Fiat and Spot wallet showing the newly converted USDC balance
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This USDC balance is what you will move into your wallet in the next step.
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Later, insert the wallet screenshot and show where the user can confirm that the USDC is now visible.
Section 7
Common mistakes to avoid
A few small mistakes create most of the friction at this stage. Avoid them and the exchange step stays simple.
Do not skip 2FA
An exchange account with money and no two-factor authentication is a real security risk. Turn it on before you deposit anything.
Do not explore trading features
Binance offers many extra products, but you do not need any of them here. You came to buy USDC, not to learn the whole exchange.
Do not leave large amounts on the exchange
The exchange is a conversion tool, not a long-term storage vault. In the next step, you move the USDC into your own wallet.
Do not panic about KYC
Identity verification is standard financial compliance, not a red flag. Banks and brokerages use the same logic.
Section 8
Alternative: Bybit
Bybit is another major exchange and a solid alternative to Binance. The account creation, KYC, fiat deposit, and USDC conversion flow are very similar, and some users may prefer Bybit's cleaner interface.
Secondary alternative
If Binance is not available in your country or you prefer a different interface, Bybit follows the same broad logic. For this tutorial, though, we stay on Binance so the walkthrough remains single-path and easy to follow.
Checklist
Before you continue
Before you continue
Finish the exchange step cleanly before wallet setup
Next step handoff
You have USDC. Now you need your own wallet.
Your USDC is sitting in the Binance account for now, but prediction markets work best when you move that balance into a self-custody wallet. Next, you will install MetaMask, secure the recovery phrase, and get ready to receive the USDC from Binance.
Next step in the funnel: Step 4: Set up your wallet