Crypto Exchange Guides, Step by Step

Pick the right crypto exchange

We cover six major crypto exchanges: Binance, OKX, Bybit, Bitget, KuCoin and MEXC. They all do the same basics: account, identity verification, deposits, buying and selling USDT, withdrawals. What really sets them apart comes down to three questions: Is it available in your country? Does its P2P market support your local currency? Which documents does it accept for verification?

New to this and not sure where to start? Binance has the widest coverage: it's open to residents of every Arab country and offers P2P in almost every Arab currency. If you live abroad, watch out: some exchanges block users based on their nationality, not where they live.

Quick comparison: which exchange fits your situation?

Your situation	Best pick	Why
New to crypto, in any Arab country	Binance	Available in every Arab country, with P2P in almost all their currencies
Living in Iraq	OKX or Binance	OKX has more than 200 P2P ads in Iraqi dinar
Living in Egypt, the UAE or Morocco	Binance, then Bybit	Bybit is the second-largest P2P market in these countries
Syrian or Sudanese living abroad	KuCoin or Binance	Eligibility depends on where you live, and KuCoin accepts a residence permit
You want zero-fee P2P	Bitget	No P2P fees (if it's available in your country)
Living in Palestine	Bybit or OKX	Binance P2P doesn't support the shekel

Three key differences that rarely get mentioned:

• OKX needs both your email and your phone number to sign up. Binance is happy with either one.
• Bybit goes by nationality, not residence: Syrian and Sudanese nationals can't use it, even if they live in Europe or the Gulf.
• Since February 2026, MEXC requires verification for deposits and withdrawals, even though plenty of pages still say it doesn't.

The full comparison, with tables: Best crypto exchange for Arab users.

How to buy USDT with your local currency

The easiest way to buy USDT in Arab countries is P2P (peer-to-peer). You buy from another user on the exchange and pay them directly, by bank transfer or with whatever e-wallet people use in your country. Meanwhile, the exchange holds the seller's crypto in escrow until both sides confirm the trade. Here's the short version:

1. Sign up and verify your account with your ID.
2. Open P2P and pick USDT and your local currency.
3. Find a seller who accepts a payment method you have, tap Buy and place the order.
4. Pay the seller from an account in your own name, then tap "Transferred, notify seller".
5. Once the seller releases the crypto, it shows up in your Funding wallet.

Step-by-step guide with screenshots: How to buy USDT on Binance P2P.

Payment methods vary by country. Here are the ones that show up most often in real P2P ads in each Arab country:

A few country-specific tips:

• In Tunisia, the D17 card is listed among the payment methods as "Postepay", so search for that name.
• In Syria, download the Binance app straight from the official Binance website, since app stores aren't supported there.
• In Bahrain, you need two documents to get verified: your passport plus either your ID card or your driver's license.
• In Kuwait, Lebanon and Tunisia, Binance recommends a driver's license as your first verification document. In Libya, it's your passport.

A detailed guide for each country: Buy and sell USDT in Arab countries.

How to choose a P2P seller

Before you tap "Buy" on an ad, check five things you'll see right in the listing:

1. Price: compare the top three or four ads. A small difference in price adds up on a large amount.
2. Order limits (min/max): some sellers won't take small orders, and some don't have enough balance to cover a large one.
3. Payment method: pick a seller who accepts your exact wallet or bank, not "something similar".
4. Trade count and completion rate: a seller with hundreds of completed trades and a high completion rate is safer than a brand-new account.
5. The seller's terms: some sellers ask you not to write anything in the transfer reference, or set a payment deadline. Read them before you order.

For your first trade, start with a small amount until you're comfortable with the steps.

Funding vs. Spot wallet: where did my balance go?

It's the question beginners ask most. On most exchanges, your account is split into two wallets:

• Funding: P2P purchases land here, and this is where you sell from on P2P.
• Spot (called "Trading" on some exchanges): card purchases usually land here, and this is where you trade from.

Bought crypto and can't find it? Want to sell, but your balance doesn't show up in P2P? It's most likely sitting in the other wallet. Just transfer it across from inside your account.

How to cash out USDT to your bank account or wallet

When most people say "withdraw", they mean turning USDT into local currency in their bank account or e-wallet. That also happens on P2P, just the other way round: you sell, and the buyer pays you.

Three rules you never bend:

• Move your USDT to your Funding wallet first, since P2P sales come out of it.
• Get paid into an account in your own name. Exchanges require the payment method to match the name on your verified account.
• Don't release the crypto until you've seen the money in your account with your own eyes. Not a screenshot of a receipt, not a message, not the buyer's word.

The full guide: How to withdraw from Binance.

Sending money home to your family with USDT

If you live in the Gulf, Europe or Turkey and want to send money to your family, this is how a lot of expats do it:

1. Buy USDT in the country you live in, by card or on P2P in your local currency.
2. Send the USDT to your family's account on the same exchange. On Binance, you can send to another Binance user by email, phone number or Binance ID, with no network to choose.
3. Your family sells the USDT on P2P for their local currency and gets paid into their bank account or wallet.

Before you start, make sure the exchange is available in both countries: where you live and where your family lives. Binance, for example, is open to Syrians, while Bybit blocks Syrian and Sudanese nationals even if they live abroad.

Your family's country	Best exchange to receive and sell USDT	Why
Syria	Binance	Practically the only Syrian pound market, with payouts to Sham Cash
Sudan	Binance	The biggest Sudanese pound market; Bybit, Bitget and MEXC aren't available
Yemen	Binance	OKX P2P doesn't support the Yemeni rial
Libya	Binance	The only exchange with a Libyan dinar market
Palestine	Bybit or OKX	Binance P2P doesn't support the shekel
Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq	Binance, OKX or Bybit	Big P2P markets on several exchanges

The simplest way to send is an internal transfer between two accounts on the same exchange (on Binance: by email, phone number or Binance ID). There's no network to pick, so there's no risk of picking the wrong one.

Sending USDT between exchanges: pick the right network

Whenever you send USDT from one exchange to another, or to a wallet, you have to choose a network. The most common USDT networks are TRC20, BEP20 and ERC20. There's really only one rule: the network you withdraw on must match the network you deposit on. Pick the wrong one and your funds can be lost for good.

Some coins also need a memo (Memo/Tag) with the address. Forget it, and the deposit may never reach your account. Sending to a new address for the first time? Send a small test amount first.

The full guide: USDT networks: TRC20, BEP20 and ERC20.

How to avoid P2P scams

Most P2P scams aren't the exchange's fault. They happen when people step outside the normal order flow:

• "Confirm the payment and I'll send it": never tap "Transferred, notify seller" before you've actually paid, and never release the crypto before the money arrives.
• Fake receipts and messages: check your bank account yourself, not a screenshot.
• "Message me on WhatsApp": the moment you talk or pay outside the order, you lose the exchange's protection.
• Paying from someone else's account: this can later be used to reverse the transfer or get your account frozen.
• "Rent out your identity or your account": if you verify an account for someone else in exchange for money, that account and every problem that comes with it are in your name.

More: The most common P2P scams and how to avoid them.

Secure your exchange account from day one

Every exchange we cover recommends roughly the same steps. Do them before your first deposit:

1. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) with an app like Google Authenticator, or use a passkey. A password alone isn't enough.
2. Use a password just for the exchange, one you don't use anywhere else, especially not for your email.
3. Set up an anti-phishing code if the exchange offers one, so you can tell its real messages from fakes.
4. Turn on the withdrawal address whitelist, so withdrawals can only go to addresses you've saved yourself.
5. Only download the app from the official app store or the exchange's website. Never install apps from links sent to you on Telegram or WhatsApp.
6. Never share your verification codes with anyone. No exchange employee will ever ask for them by phone or message.

Common beginner mistakes

1. Withdrawing on a different network from the one you deposit on.
2. Forgetting the memo on coins that need one.
3. Tapping "Transferred, notify seller" before you've paid, or canceling the order after paying.
4. Releasing the crypto before checking that the money has arrived.
5. Signing up as a business account by mistake; you can't change the account type after signup.
6. Entering the wrong details during verification; you can't edit them once you've confirmed.
7. Using a VPN or a fake country of residence; this can get your account and funds frozen.

All tutorials, from signup to withdrawal

Frequently asked questions

Which crypto exchange is best for beginners in Arab countries? Binance has the widest reach: it's open to residents of every Arab country and offers P2P in almost every Arab currency. That said, the best choice for you depends on your country and the payment method you use.

How do I buy USDT with my local currency? Through P2P. You pick a seller who accepts your local payment method and pay them directly, while the exchange holds their crypto in escrow until the payment is confirmed.

Do I need to verify my account? Yes. Without verification, you can't deposit, withdraw or trade on any of the exchanges we cover.

How do I cash out USDT to my bank account? Sell it on P2P to a buyer who pays you in your local currency, into an account in your name. Once you've confirmed the money has arrived, release the crypto to them.

I live outside my home country. Can I still sign up? Yes, on most exchanges: just select the country you currently live in. But some exchanges block certain nationalities even abroad. Bybit, for example, blocks Syrians and Sudanese.

What's the best network for sending USDT? No network is always "the best". What matters is that both exchanges support it and that you choose the same one for the withdrawal and the deposit.

Is P2P safe? The exchange holds the seller's crypto in escrow for the whole trade. The risk comes from stepping outside the order flow: paying outside the app, or releasing the crypto before you've confirmed the money arrived.

Where do I find my crypto after buying on P2P? Usually in your Funding wallet. You can move it to your Spot wallet to trade.

How long does account verification take? It depends on the exchange: OKX and MEXC within 24 hours, Binance usually within 48 hours, and Bybit anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours.

Can I use a VPN to sign up from a country where the exchange isn't available? No. It breaks every exchange's terms and can get your account and funds frozen. Choose an exchange that's available where you live.

What should I do if the seller doesn't release the crypto after I've paid? Don't cancel the order. Message the seller in the order chat, then ask for help or tap "Appeal" right from the order.

Is this site owned by an exchange? No. We're an independent tutorial site. We check every step against each exchange's official help pages and show the last-reviewed date on every page.