What’s Happening—and Does It Affect Your Goal of Making Money?
Recently, there’s been online discussion about a technical proposal called ‘EIP-8361’, suggesting that Ethereum’s (ETH) annualized yield could gradually decline toward zero in the future. Sounds highly technical? In reality, for someone just getting started with buying ETH—it has virtually no impact.
Why? Because you’re not a miner, not a large-scale staker, and you’re certainly not calculating daily returns to make ends meet. You simply want to spend a few hundred yuan to buy some ETH, sell it later when the price rises slightly, and pocket enough for a bubble tea, a ride-hailing fare, or hold it long-term hoping for multi-fold gains. That’s perfectly sufficient.
What actually matters to you is this: ETH remains one of the most mainstream, liquid, and beginner-friendly cryptocurrencies available. It’s tradable instantly on Binance, OKX, and Gate.io—you can place orders starting from ¥10, ¥50, or ¥200, with low fees, fast settlement, and intuitive interfaces. That’s what you should focus on.
How to Buy Ethereum: A Beginner’s Guide (2026 Tested & Verified)
Don’t let terms like ‘blockchain’, ‘consensus layer’, or ‘burn mechanism’ intimidate you. Buying ETH is as simple as topping up your mobile phone via Alipay: register → verify → deposit → buy. Below is a three-step walkthrough—written entirely from the perspective of a real beginner (not a technical manual):
① Choose the Right Exchange for You (3 Recommended Options, Each With Distinct Strengths)
- Binance: Highest liquidity, most beginner tutorials, and the most reliable ETH buying experience. Ideal for users who prioritize safety and simplicity over experimentation;
- OKX: Supports futures trading, Web3 wallets, and a wide range of altcoins. Best for those planning to explore leverage or NFTs later—but starting with ETH;
- Gate.io: Fastest listing of new tokens and frequent promotions. Suited for users who hear ETH is undervalued and want to ‘buy the dip’, while also exploring other promising altcoins.
② Account Setup & Identity Verification (Done on Mobile in 5 Minutes)
- Search for ‘Binance’ / ‘OKX’ / ‘Gate.io’ in your smartphone’s official app store and download the verified app (look for the blue checkmark badge);
- Tap ‘Register’ → enter your phone number + SMS verification code + set a strong password (use a new, unique password—not one shared with WeChat or other accounts);
- Navigate to ‘Identity Verification’ → take clear photos of both sides of your ID card + complete facial recognition (automatically reviewed; typically approved within 1–3 minutes);
- Enable Google Authenticator (one-tap setup inside the app; takes ~2 minutes to learn and significantly enhances account security).
③ Deposit Funds and Buy Your First ETH (Starting from ¥100—Fully Practical)
- On the homepage, tap ‘Fiat Trading’ → select ‘CNY’ → choose ‘Bank Transfer’ or ‘Alipay’ (some platforms also support WeChat Pay);
- Enter your desired deposit amount (e.g., ¥100) and follow the prompts to complete payment (note: your bank may display a ‘cross-border payment alert’—simply tap ‘Confirm’);
- Once funds arrive, return to the homepage → tap ‘Trade’ → search for ‘ETH’ → select the ‘ETH/USDT’ or ‘ETH/CNY’ trading pair;
- Choose ‘Market Order’ → input your purchase amount (e.g., ‘¥50’) → tap ‘Buy ETH’ → confirm execution (completed in seconds).
✅ Upon execution, ETH appears instantly in your spot wallet. You may hold it, transfer it, or sell it the next day—no coding knowledge or economic modeling required.
4 Most Common Questions From Beginners
What’s the minimum amount needed for my first ETH purchase?
As low as ¥10. Binance and OKX support purchases as small as 0.001 ETH (approx. ¥25–¥35 in 2026), while Gate.io even offers ‘fractional buying’. We recommend beginners start with ¥50–¥200 to get comfortable with the process—familiarity matters more than immediate returns.
Which exchange should I choose among the three?
It depends on how you plan to begin: choose Binance if you only want to buy and hold safely; choose OKX if you intend to learn futures or connect Web3 wallets later; choose Gate.io if you enjoy researching new projects and participating in token airdrops. There’s no need to open accounts on all three—just pick one to get started.
What’s the biggest risk when buying ETH for the first time?
It’s not technical vulnerabilities—it’s human error: forgetting passwords, sharing screenshots in group chats, trusting unverified ‘gurus’ offering trading signals, chasing price surges impulsively, or panic-selling during dips. Protect your account, practice with small amounts, and avoid leverage entirely—these are the three ironclad rules for preserving your capital as a beginner.
Should I convert my entire savings into ETH at once?
No. The crypto market remains in its early stage in 2026. While ETH is a solid asset, ‘dollar-cost averaging’ is far safer and more suitable for beginners than ‘all-in’ bets. For example, allocate ¥100 from each month’s salary surplus toward regular ETH purchases—this builds confidence while smoothing out entry costs.
One Final Reminder (Please Read Carefully)
Cryptocurrency is not a financial product with principal protection or guaranteed returns. ETH has risen in the past—but may also experience short-term declines in the future. This article teaches you how to securely open an account, execute small-value purchases, and operate independently—it does not constitute any investment advice. Every yuan you invest carries risk of loss. Please participate solely with discretionary funds—money whose loss would not affect your daily life or financial stability. The Coin12345 editorial team adheres to one principle: teach you how to walk first, then walk alongside you as you navigate the path—not decide your direction for you.
