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How the Stock Exchange works, explained simply

How does the stock market work?

NYSE, Nasdaq, LSE – what do these names mean? They refer to some of the world’s leading stock exchanges. But what exactly is a stock exchange, and how does it work?

The stock exchange, more commonly known as the stock market, is a financial marketplace where shares, bonds, and other securities are bought and sold. Once considered the domain of financial insiders, the stock market has now entered popular culture, thanks in part to numerous cult films that have graced cinema screens since the 1970s.

But what is the history of the stock exchange? What are its key components? And who are the leading players involved? Let’s take a closer look.

How and when was the stock exchange created?

The earliest recorded evidence of trading, lending, and deposit activities dates back to the second millennium BC, inscribed in the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi. Similar financial practices were also found among the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans.

However, these early forms of financial exchange cannot truly be considered a ‘stock market’ as we understand it today. The first genuine stock exchange was established in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, around the 17th century.

The Middle Ages

In the late Middle Ages, the world of finance began to take on a more structured form with the emergence of the first banking institutions. Italy – particularly the cities of Genoa, Venice, and Siena – was, for many years, the central financial hub of Europe.

Around the 14th century, a new trading centre emerged that attracted merchants from across the continent, helping to shape a financial system that was still quite rudimentary. This was in Bruges, Belgium, specifically in the Ter Buerse Palace, built by the aristocratic Van der Bourse family. It was here, where merchants gathered to exchange goods and currencies, that the name ‘Borsa’ (stock exchange) originated.

Later, essential exchanges were established in Antwerp, Lyon, and Frankfurt, marking a shift from private to public management, with increasingly clear and stricter regulations.

The Modern Age

In the 17th century, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange became the most important in Europe – and likely in the world. This period also saw the creation of the first joint-stock companies, which significantly boosted the trading of securities, including government bonds and commodities.

The 18th century witnessed the rise of international trade, as well as the emergence of speculative bubbles. The most famous was the South Sea Bubble in England (1710–1720), when share prices soared before collapsing, causing heavy losses. It led to the Bubble Act, a law aimed at curbing speculation by limiting the formation of new companies.

Meanwhile, in New York, a group of merchants began meeting under a plane tree on Wall Street to trade securities – a humble beginning for what would become a future global financial centre.

The Industrial Revolution and the modern stock market

During this period, the stock market became crucial not only for company growth but also for the economic development of entire nations. London and Paris became key financial markets, funding industrial projects, infrastructure, and even colonial and military ventures.

In 1817, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was officially established. Over time, it would grow to become the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalisation.

The 20th century: successes and severe financial crises 

By 1900, the stock market had become the beating heart of the capitalist system. Economics and finance were now deeply interconnected. It was a century marked by sharp contrasts, alternating between periods of remarkable economic growth – such as the Roaring Twenties and the post-World War II boom – and severe financial crises, including the Great Depression of 1929 and Black Monday in 1987.

This volatility highlighted the need for regulation. Supervisory authorities such as the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) in the United States and Consob (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange) in Italy were established to oversee financial markets, which were now dealing with enormous capital flows.

In 1971, the Nasdaq was founded, marking the beginning of the stock market’s transition from a physical trading floor, filled with shouting and hand signals, to an electronic system driven by computers and algorithms.

The digital age

Fast forward to today: the rise of the Internet has transformed how the stock market functions. It has brought greater accessibility, instantaneous transactions, unprecedented capital mobility, and the emergence of entirely new markets.

Now that we’ve explored its history, let’s take a closer look at how the stock market works today.

How does the stock market work?

To understand how the stock market works, it’s first essential to understand what it is. The stock market can be described as the financial engine that links the world of businesses with that of savers and investors. On one side, companies seek capital to fund their growth – whether by opening new branches, developing new products, or hiring staff. On the other hand, individuals look for opportunities to grow their savings. This is where the concepts of primary and secondary markets come into play.

The primary market is where shares are created. When a company lists on the stock exchange for the first time, it sells its shares directly to investors – a process known as an IPO (Initial Public Offering). Investors, by purchasing these shares, provide the company with the necessary funds to grow.

The secondary market, on the other hand, is the market in which existing shares are bought and sold between investors on a daily basis. Companies do not earn money from these transactions, but the market allows investors to profit from rising prices.

But shares are not the only financial instruments traded on the market. A large portion of investments also involves bonds. Understanding the difference between the two is fundamental.

What are shares?

As mentioned earlier, shares represent small units of ownership in a company. Investors buy them with the hope of selling them later at a higher price. Even by purchasing a single share, an investor becomes a partial owner of the company.

This ownership grants specific rights, such as receiving dividends (a portion of the company’s profits, although not always guaranteed) and participating in shareholder meetings.

However, buying shares comes with risks. Share prices are closely tied to the company’s performance. If the business thrives, the price typically increases. If it struggles, the cost can fall – sometimes dramatically. In extreme cases, shares can become worthless.

This is because share prices are determined by the balance of supply and demand. The more people want to buy a share – perhaps because the company has released a revolutionary product or reported record profits – the more its price rises. If demand drops, the price falls.

A helpful analogy: how much would you pay for a bottle of water in a city? Probably not much – it’s easy to find. But how much would you pay for that same bottle in the middle of the desert?

What are bonds?

Bonds differ fundamentally from shares. When an investor buys a bond, they do not become a shareholder; instead, they become a creditor. What does that mean in practice?

Put simply, a company issues bonds to raise capital, just as it does when issuing shares, but the mechanism is different. Buying a bond is similar to lending money to the company. The investor agrees to lend a specific amount, understanding that it will be repaid after a set period (e.g., five or ten years). In return, the company pays the investor regular interest payments, commonly referred to as coupons.

These coupons function like an interest rate, and the amount paid often reflects the company’s financial stability and trustworthiness. A well-established, transparent, and profitable company will typically offer a lower interest rate than a riskier, less stable one.

The same principle applies to government bonds, which a national government issues to finance public spending. For example, Italian government bonds tend to offer lower interest rates than Moldovan bonds, because Italy is generally considered more creditworthy and therefore less risky for investors.

Compared to shares, bonds are considered safer and more stable. However, this usually means they offer lower potential returns. As always, the general rule applies: higher risk, higher reward – lower risk, lower return.

What are indices?

This bonus section ties together both shares and bonds. So, what exactly is an index?

An index is simply a group or “basket” of listed companies (in the case of shares) or debt instruments (in the case of bonds), grouped according to specific criteria.

What kind of criteria? For example:

  • The S&P 500 includes the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States.
  • The NASDAQ-100 tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ.
  • The S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index includes 100 companies worldwide that are involved in the clean energy sector.

For bonds, indices might group securities by maturity date, such as all government bonds with a 10-year or 30-year term.

These indices are useful benchmarks. They help investors assess overall market performance, track sectors, and compare their portfolios against broader trends.

Who operates on the market? The main players

Now that we’ve explored the tools and rules of the stock market, it’s time to understand who actually takes part.

Listed Companies

First of all, there are the listed companies themselves – without them, the stock market wouldn’t exist. As we’ve seen, these companies launch themselves into the financial markets to raise capital for expansion, innovation, or operations.

Investors: institutional and retail

Next, we have the investors, who buy shares and bonds in the hope of growing their capital. Investors can be categorised into two main groups: institutional investors and retail investors.

  • Institutional investors are the heavyweights of the financial system. They manage enormous sums of money and can influence the price trends of individual companies. This group includes mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance companies, which invest their clients’ money to generate returns and earn management fees in the process.
  • Retail investors, on the other hand, are individual savers who invest their own capital in the hope of earning a return on investment. If you’re reading this, chances are you already are – or soon will be – a retail investor. If so, we recommend checking out our blog for helpful content on avoiding common mistakes, understanding diversification, and overcoming cognitive biases in finance.

Financial intermediaries

Let’s now turn to the players who make investing possible: the financial intermediaries.

These operators form the essential bridge between those who issue shares and bonds and those who buy them. For various technical, legal, and security reasons, it’s not possible to trade directly on the stock exchange without going through these entities. In practical terms, we’re talking about banks and online brokers, which provide access to financial markets in exchange for commissions.

You might wonder, perhaps with mild irritation, “Why am I forced to go through an intermediary just to buy a share in Coca-Cola?” The answer is simple: for the same reason you need a driving licence to operate a car. You can’t just jump behind the wheel and press the pedals at random.

You might rightly argue that once you’ve got your licence, you can drive yourself. True – but can you build the car?

That’s the point. Building the “car” in this case means having ultra-secure IT systems, legal authorisations, direct exchange connections, and regulatory compliance. It’s a complex, expensive, and highly regulated activity – which is why supervisory authorities require only authorised intermediaries to operate in this space.

Supervisory authorities

Speaking of oversight, let’s talk about the supervisory authorities – the referees of the financial world. If the stock market were a football match, these are the officials ensuring that the game is played fairly and in accordance with the rules.

These authorities may be national, such as the SEC in the United States, CONSOB in Italy, or the FCA in the UK, or supranational, like ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) in the EU.

Their key responsibilities include:

  • Investor protection – ensuring that intermediaries act reasonably and responsibly towards consumers;
  • Market transparency – requiring listed companies to publish relevant information such as financial reports, quarterly results, and even executive changes;
  • Fair trading – monitoring markets to detect and sanction unfair practices like insider trading, where individuals trade using confidential or privileged information.

But you never stop learning.

In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the stock market, outlining its key components and how it operates. That said, what you’ve just read is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Suppose you’ve landed here fresh from watching The Wolf of Wall Street, dreaming of sipping Martinis on a sun lounger in a luxury resort in the middle of the Pacific within a year, just like the next self-proclaimed guru. In that case, our advice is this: stay grounded and start learning seriously.

In the meantime, why not subscribe to our Telegram channel or even sign up directly to the Young Platform by clicking below? We regularly share guides, tips, and financial updates to help you stay informed and avoid being caught off guard.

See you next time!

Posted on

How the Stock Exchange works, explained simply

How does the stock market work?

NYSE, Nasdaq, LSE – what do these names mean? They refer to some of the world’s leading stock exchanges. But what exactly is a stock exchange, and how does it work?

The stock exchange, more commonly known as the stock market, is a financial marketplace where shares, bonds, and other securities are bought and sold. Once considered the domain of financial insiders, the stock market has now entered popular culture, thanks in part to numerous cult films that have graced cinema screens since the 1970s.

But what is the history of the stock exchange? What are its key components? And who are the leading players involved? Let’s take a closer look.

How and when was the stock exchange created?

The earliest recorded evidence of trading, lending, and deposit activities dates back to the second millennium BC, inscribed in the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi. Similar financial practices were also found among the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans.

However, these early forms of financial exchange cannot truly be considered a ‘stock market’ as we understand it today. The first genuine stock exchange was established in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, around the 17th century.

The Middle Ages

In the late Middle Ages, the world of finance began to take on a more structured form with the emergence of the first banking institutions. Italy – particularly the cities of Genoa, Venice, and Siena – was, for many years, the central financial hub of Europe.

Around the 14th century, a new trading centre emerged that attracted merchants from across the continent, helping to shape a financial system that was still quite rudimentary. This was in Bruges, Belgium, specifically in the Ter Buerse Palace, built by the aristocratic Van der Bourse family. It was here, where merchants gathered to exchange goods and currencies, that the name ‘Borsa’ (stock exchange) originated.

Later, essential exchanges were established in Antwerp, Lyon, and Frankfurt, marking a shift from private to public management, with increasingly clear and stricter regulations.

The Modern Age

In the 17th century, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange became the most important in Europe – and likely in the world. This period also saw the creation of the first joint-stock companies, which significantly boosted the trading of securities, including government bonds and commodities.

The 18th century witnessed the rise of international trade, as well as the emergence of speculative bubbles. The most famous was the South Sea Bubble in England (1710–1720), when share prices soared before collapsing, causing heavy losses. It led to the Bubble Act, a law aimed at curbing speculation by limiting the formation of new companies.

Meanwhile, in New York, a group of merchants began meeting under a plane tree on Wall Street to trade securities – a humble beginning for what would become a future global financial centre.

The Industrial Revolution and the modern stock market

During this period, the stock market became crucial not only for company growth but also for the economic development of entire nations. London and Paris became key financial markets, funding industrial projects, infrastructure, and even colonial and military ventures.

In 1817, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was officially established. Over time, it would grow to become the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalisation.

The 20th century: successes and severe financial crises 

By 1900, the stock market had become the beating heart of the capitalist system. Economics and finance were now deeply interconnected. It was a century marked by sharp contrasts, alternating between periods of remarkable economic growth – such as the Roaring Twenties and the post-World War II boom – and severe financial crises, including the Great Depression of 1929 and Black Monday in 1987.

This volatility highlighted the need for regulation. Supervisory authorities such as the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) in the United States and Consob (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange) in Italy were established to oversee financial markets, which were now dealing with enormous capital flows.

In 1971, the Nasdaq was founded, marking the beginning of the stock market’s transition from a physical trading floor, filled with shouting and hand signals, to an electronic system driven by computers and algorithms.

The digital age

Fast forward to today: the rise of the Internet has transformed how the stock market functions. It has brought greater accessibility, instantaneous transactions, unprecedented capital mobility, and the emergence of entirely new markets.

Now that we’ve explored its history, let’s take a closer look at how the stock market works today.

How does the stock market work?

To understand how the stock market works, it’s first essential to understand what it is. The stock market can be described as the financial engine that links the world of businesses with that of savers and investors. On one side, companies seek capital to fund their growth – whether by opening new branches, developing new products, or hiring staff. On the other hand, individuals look for opportunities to grow their savings. This is where the concepts of primary and secondary markets come into play.

The primary market is where shares are created. When a company lists on the stock exchange for the first time, it sells its shares directly to investors – a process known as an IPO (Initial Public Offering). Investors, by purchasing these shares, provide the company with the necessary funds to grow.

The secondary market, on the other hand, is the market in which existing shares are bought and sold between investors on a daily basis. Companies do not earn money from these transactions, but the market allows investors to profit from rising prices.

But shares are not the only financial instruments traded on the market. A large portion of investments also involves bonds. Understanding the difference between the two is fundamental.

What are shares?

As mentioned earlier, shares represent small units of ownership in a company. Investors buy them with the hope of selling them later at a higher price. Even by purchasing a single share, an investor becomes a partial owner of the company.

This ownership grants specific rights, such as receiving dividends (a portion of the company’s profits, although not always guaranteed) and participating in shareholder meetings.

However, buying shares comes with risks. Share prices are closely tied to the company’s performance. If the business thrives, the price typically increases. If it struggles, the cost can fall – sometimes dramatically. In extreme cases, shares can become worthless.

This is because share prices are determined by the balance of supply and demand. The more people want to buy a share – perhaps because the company has released a revolutionary product or reported record profits – the more its price rises. If demand drops, the price falls.

A helpful analogy: how much would you pay for a bottle of water in a city? Probably not much – it’s easy to find. But how much would you pay for that same bottle in the middle of the desert?

What are bonds?

Bonds differ fundamentally from shares. When an investor buys a bond, they do not become a shareholder; instead, they become a creditor. What does that mean in practice?

Put simply, a company issues bonds to raise capital, just as it does when issuing shares, but the mechanism is different. Buying a bond is similar to lending money to the company. The investor agrees to lend a specific amount, understanding that it will be repaid after a set period (e.g., five or ten years). In return, the company pays the investor regular interest payments, commonly referred to as coupons.

These coupons function like an interest rate, and the amount paid often reflects the company’s financial stability and trustworthiness. A well-established, transparent, and profitable company will typically offer a lower interest rate than a riskier, less stable one.

The same principle applies to government bonds, which a national government issues to finance public spending. For example, Italian government bonds tend to offer lower interest rates than Moldovan bonds, because Italy is generally considered more creditworthy and therefore less risky for investors.

Compared to shares, bonds are considered safer and more stable. However, this usually means they offer lower potential returns. As always, the general rule applies: higher risk, higher reward – lower risk, lower return.

What are indices?

This bonus section ties together both shares and bonds. So, what exactly is an index?

An index is simply a group or “basket” of listed companies (in the case of shares) or debt instruments (in the case of bonds), grouped according to specific criteria.

What kind of criteria? For example:

  • The S&P 500 includes the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States.
  • The NASDAQ-100 tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ.
  • The S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index includes 100 companies worldwide that are involved in the clean energy sector.

For bonds, indices might group securities by maturity date, such as all government bonds with a 10-year or 30-year term.

These indices are useful benchmarks. They help investors assess overall market performance, track sectors, and compare their portfolios against broader trends.

Who operates on the market? The main players

Now that we’ve explored the tools and rules of the stock market, it’s time to understand who actually takes part.

Listed Companies

First of all, there are the listed companies themselves – without them, the stock market wouldn’t exist. As we’ve seen, these companies launch themselves into the financial markets to raise capital for expansion, innovation, or operations.

Investors: institutional and retail

Next, we have the investors, who buy shares and bonds in the hope of growing their capital. Investors can be categorised into two main groups: institutional investors and retail investors.

  • Institutional investors are the heavyweights of the financial system. They manage enormous sums of money and can influence the price trends of individual companies. This group includes mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance companies, which invest their clients’ money to generate returns and earn management fees in the process.
  • Retail investors, on the other hand, are individual savers who invest their own capital in the hope of earning a return on investment. If you’re reading this, chances are you already are – or soon will be – a retail investor. If so, we recommend checking out our blog for helpful content on avoiding common mistakes, understanding diversification, and overcoming cognitive biases in finance.

Financial intermediaries

Let’s now turn to the players who make investing possible: the financial intermediaries.

These operators form the essential bridge between those who issue shares and bonds and those who buy them. For various technical, legal, and security reasons, it’s not possible to trade directly on the stock exchange without going through these entities. In practical terms, we’re talking about banks and online brokers, which provide access to financial markets in exchange for commissions.

You might wonder, perhaps with mild irritation, “Why am I forced to go through an intermediary just to buy a share in Coca-Cola?” The answer is simple: for the same reason you need a driving licence to operate a car. You can’t just jump behind the wheel and press the pedals at random.

You might rightly argue that once you’ve got your licence, you can drive yourself. True – but can you build the car?

That’s the point. Building the “car” in this case means having ultra-secure IT systems, legal authorisations, direct exchange connections, and regulatory compliance. It’s a complex, expensive, and highly regulated activity – which is why supervisory authorities require only authorised intermediaries to operate in this space.

Supervisory authorities

Speaking of oversight, let’s talk about the supervisory authorities – the referees of the financial world. If the stock market were a football match, these are the officials ensuring that the game is played fairly and in accordance with the rules.

These authorities may be national, such as the SEC in the United States, CONSOB in Italy, or the FCA in the UK, or supranational, like ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) in the EU.

Their key responsibilities include:

  • Investor protection – ensuring that intermediaries act reasonably and responsibly towards consumers;
  • Market transparency – requiring listed companies to publish relevant information such as financial reports, quarterly results, and even executive changes;
  • Fair trading – monitoring markets to detect and sanction unfair practices like insider trading, where individuals trade using confidential or privileged information.

But you never stop learning.

In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the stock market, outlining its key components and how it operates. That said, what you’ve just read is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Suppose you’ve landed here fresh from watching The Wolf of Wall Street, dreaming of sipping Martinis on a sun lounger in a luxury resort in the middle of the Pacific within a year, just like the next self-proclaimed guru. In that case, our advice is this: stay grounded and start learning seriously.

In the meantime, why not subscribe to our Telegram channel or even sign up directly to the Young Platform by clicking below? We regularly share guides, tips, and financial updates to help you stay informed and avoid being caught off guard.

See you next time!

Posted on

Multinetwork: transfer your crypto in the most convenient way

multinetwork

Transfer your cryptocurrencies via your preferred blockchain, to and from Young Platform, with Multinetwork.

Many in our community have been asking for the option to deposit and withdraw crypto through different networks, such as Layer-2 solutions. Here’s what that means and the advantages of Multinetwork.

What are networks?

While navigating the crypto market, you might use a wallet or a DeFi application.

To add cryptocurrencies to these wallets and use such applications, you’ll often need to go through an exchange to convert Euros into crypto.

At some point, you may also want to transfer the tokens you’ve obtained from these applications to the Young Platform—either to convert them or to store them in a simpler way for your tax declaration.

To move crypto from Young Platform to other crypto applications (and vice versa), you’ll need to use a blockchain network.

Here’s the key question: which blockchain should you use?

Every cryptocurrency is supported by specific blockchains (and networks). For example, BTC is mainly transferred via the Bitcoin network, ETH via Ethereum, and so on.

Over time, however, new blockchains have emerged—faster and cheaper ones—especially for moving Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies. Layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon have made it possible for ETH and all ERC-20 tokens to circulate more efficiently and at lower costs.

That’s why many crypto applications now offer the option to use different blockchain networks. And now, you can do the same on Young Platform!

Which networks are supported?

Currently, Multinetwork supports ETH, USDC, and USDT—the most widely used cryptocurrencies in DeFi. More networks and assets will be added in the future.

You can always find the complete list of supported networks on the Fees and Prices page. For step-by-step instructions, visit our Support portal to learn how to deposit and withdraw.

Take advantage of Multinetwork to transfer your crypto in the fastest and most cost-effective way!

Warning: cryptocurrency transfers sent on the wrong network, or to the wrong wallet, or without a memo/tag may not be recoverable.

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How to buy cryptocurrencies on Young Platform: 4 ways to deposit euros

Buying cryptocurrencies on Young Platform: how to deposit euros

Want to buy cryptocurrencies on Young Platform? The first step is simple: top up your euro wallet. Only after making a deposit can you exchange your euros for any crypto available on the exchange.

Before getting started, make sure you’ve completed identity verification. On Young Platform, you have several options to add funds to your account: you can deposit via bank transfer, debit or credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay, or redeem a Gift Card.

Choose your preferred method, top up your account, and start your journey in the crypto world!

1. Deposit via bank transfer

Bank transfer is one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to deposit euros into your Young Platform account and start buying cryptocurrencies.
You can make a transfer from an Italian account or an account in the EEA, with some differences in timing and steps.

All bank transfers are free of charge, except for any fees applied by your bank.

How to deposit via bank transfer:

  1. Open the Young Platform app and go to Home or Euro Wallet.
  2. Select Deposit and choose EUR as the currency.
  3. Select Bank Transfer.
  4. Specify whether your account is:
    • Italian
    • Foreign (EEA)
    • Intesa Sanpaolo
  5. Copy the Young Platform’s bank details shown on the screen.
  6. Open your banking app or online banking service and paste the details to complete the transfer.
    • If you have a foreign or Intesa Sanpaolo account, also enter the required amount and payment reference before confirming.
  7. Send the transfer. Once completed, the amount will appear in your Euro Wallet on the Young Platform.

Processing times:

  • Instant transfer (Italy only): credited in 15–45 minutes.
  • Standard transfer: credited in 2–5 business days.

Deposit limits:

  • Minimum amount: €20
  • Maximum amount: depends on your verification level (KYC):
    • Level 1 – max €4,000 per transaction / €25,000 per year
    • Level 2 – max €8,000 per transaction / €50,000 per year
    • Level 3 – max €30,000 per transaction / €200,000 per year
    • Level 4 – max €60,000 per transaction / €200,000 per year
    • For higher limits, contact: [email protected]

Important note:

  • The bank account must be in your name (or jointly held by you) and match the name registered on Young Platform.
  • For foreign accounts and Intesa Sanpaolo, a payment reference is mandatory.
  • For the latest fees and limits, check: exchange.youngplatform.com/fees

2. Deposit with debit, credit or prepaid card

You can quickly deposit euros into Young Platform using Visa and Mastercard debit, credit or prepaid cards.

How to deposit:

  1. From Home or Euro Wallet, select Deposit.
  2. Choose EUR.
  3. Select Credit, debit or prepaid card.
  4. Add a new card or select a saved card.
  5. Enter the amount (minimum €20).
  6. Review the transaction summary and confirm.

Your bank may require authentication via app or SMS (SCA – PSD2).

Note: The first time you use a card, a small temporary charge will be made to verify it. This amount will be refunded automatically after verification.

Advantages: Instant deposit.
Fees: 2.2% + €0.25 (Visa/Mastercard fees).
Name requirement: The card must be in your name.

For updated fees: exchange.youngplatform.com/fees

3. Deposit with Google Pay or Apple Pay

You can also quickly top up your Young Platform account using Google Pay or Apple Pay.

To use this method:
You must have Google Pay or Apple Pay enabled on your device and linked to at least one payment card.

How to deposit:

  1. From Home or Euro Wallet, select Deposit.
  2. Choose EUR.
  3. Select Google Pay or Apple Pay.
  4. Enter the amount (minimum €20).
  5. Confirm the transaction.

Credit time: Immediate.
Fees: 2.2% + €0.25 (same as card deposits).

For updated fees: exchange.youngplatform.com/fees

4. Redeem a Gift Card

Young Platform Gift Cards are digital vouchers worth between €20 and €250, redeemable for cryptocurrencies.

How to redeem:

  1. Go to the Profile or Wallet section from the app or web platform.
  2. Select Redeem Gift Card.
  3. Enter the code you received by email or SMS.
  4. The amount will be credited to your Euro Wallet and ready to use.

FAQs about euro deposits

  1. What does “topping up my account to buy cryptocurrencies” mean?
    It’s the process of transferring euros into your Young Platform wallet, so you can then convert them into cryptocurrencies.
  2. Do I need a subscription to use my account?
    No, your account is free. You can deposit any amount, anytime—no fixed costs.
  3. How do I check if my deposit has arrived?
    Check your Euro Wallet balance. If the funds have been credited, you’ll see them instantly.
  4. What if my deposit is delayed?
    Check the expected processing times for your deposit method. If it’s taking longer than expected, open a support ticket:
    support.youngplatform.com/hc/en/requests/new
  5. Is it safe to link my card to the Young Platform?
    Yes, it’s safe. Just beware of scams: always make sure the URL is exchange.youngplatform.com/ or use the official app.
  6. How many cards can I link?
    You can add up to 5 cards per month and 40 in total.
  7. How can I withdraw my funds?
    Withdrawals are only possible via bank transfer or the payment card used for your deposits. Full instructions are available here:
    support.youngplatform.com/hc/en-us/sections/4559848673426-Deposits-Withdrawals
  8. Why do I see multiple wallets in my account?
    On Young Platform, each currency (fiat or crypto) has a dedicated wallet: one for euros and one for each cryptocurrency.
  9. Can I remove my card whenever I want?
    Yes! Go to Profile → Payments and click Remove card to delete any saved card.
Posted on

“Buy the dip”: the siren song or the Oracle of Delphi?

buy the dip

“Buy the dip” is a phrase often heard in the world of investment and trading, and it’s particularly popular among those active in the crypto market. Let’s take yesterday, Monday, 5 July, as an example: a sort of “Black Monday”. Anyone who didn’t feel queasy witnessing a BTC drop of over 18% must have heard the siren’s call. Dear Odysseus, shall we admit it? Buy the dip, Buy the dip, Buy the dip. This melody has echoed in the ears of those accustomed to the market’s slaps or who have nerves of steel.

Check the BTC price on Young Platform

The last time we saw such a drop was two years ago. And in every crash, there are two faces: one of catastrophe and one of great opportunity. But, of course, not all dynamics can be under our control. Solid risk management is needed, as well as building diversified strategies over time to avoid being too exposed to the market. No one wants to be caught in a snowstorm in their underwear, even if we feel like superheroes (and no, don’t do it; it’s a mistake).

After all this preamble, the question is: what exactly is “Buy the dip”? Is it always worth following this “mantra“, or is it better sometimes to be more cautious? In this article, we will try to answer these questions, hoping to give you an extra sword and shield for the next battle. Our wish is that you may emerge victorious.

What does “Buy the Dip” mean?

The literal translation of “Buy the dip” is “buy the drop”. This trading practice involves purchasing an asset after its price has decreased, hoping this dip is temporary and the price will rise again soon. The idea is that the drop represents a buying opportunity at a discounted price, waiting for the market to rebound.

Advantages

  • Profit opportunities: Buying during a dip can be very profitable if the market rebounds and prices rise.
  • Average cost reduction: By adding positions during dips, an investor can lower the average purchase cost of an asset, improving the potential return.
  • Access to discounted prices: Buying assets during a dip offers the chance to acquire them at prices that could be considered discounted relative to their long-term value.

Limitations and Risks

Despite the potential advantages, Buy the Dip also presents significant risks:

  • No guarantee of rebound: An asset could continue to fall for various reasons, such as changes in economic fundamentals or company management. For example, a crypto that falls from $100 to $60 might seem a bargain, but if the project’s growth prospects are negative, it could drop even further.
  • Difficulty assessing intrinsic value: It’s often hard to tell if a dip is temporary or a sign of further declines. Buying just because the price has fallen isn’t always a good idea if the reasons for the drop aren’t understood. One must ask: Is the drop due to internal issues or external factors? Is it a temporary situation? Is the project resilient? How long will the price correction last?
  • Averaging down: If an investor already holds the asset and continues to buy during dips, they are adopting an “averaging down” strategy, which can be risky if the asset continues to lose value. This strategy, if not managed correctly, can lead to significant losses.

Risk management

When adopting Buy the Dip, we need a plan B—an escape route—something to avoid a fatal hemorrhage. What is it? Having a risk management plan. For example, setting a loss limit to avoid being trapped in a prolonged losing position. Some traders set an exit price to control losses. Suppose a crypto falls from $100 to $60, and the trader decides to sell if the price reaches $75 to limit losses.

Context

Buy the dip is often used in different contexts and can have varying probabilities of success depending on the situation.

  • During an uptrend: Some traders use this strategy when the market is generally rising. Imagine a crypto increasing in value but experiencing a slight drop at some point. Traders who believe in the strength of this uptrend see this dip as an opportunity to buy at a lower price, expecting the price to rise again soon. It’s like taking advantage of sales during a period of high demand.
  • Without a clear trend: Other traders use Buy the Dip even when there’s no evident uptrend. Here, the bet is that the asset’s current decline will increase. This can happen because they believe in the asset’s fundamentals or the project’s potential behind the crypto. It’s like buying a product at a flea market, hoping its value will increase over time, perhaps due to an improvement, a forthcoming novelty, or because the asset is currently undervalued.

“Buy the Dip” in the crypto market

Buy the Dip is a popular mantra in the crypto market, often promoted by influential traders and investors. However, it is important to remember that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and dips can be significant and prolonged. Nevertheless, this strategy has proven successful when buying the most solid assets in the crypto market, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum. For this reason, every time these cryptocurrencies drop, the mantra “buy the f****** dip” (BTFD) echoes across social media platforms used by enthusiasts in the sector.

It’s no coincidence that from 4 July, as BTC fell below $60,000 for the second time in four months, posts, tweets, and quotes on “Buy the dip” mushroomed on Reddit, X, 4chan, and Bitcoin Talk.

Check the ETH price on Young Platform

Examples of “Buy the Dip”

A well-known example is the 2007-08 financial crisis, where many investors bought shares in companies like Bear Stearns and New Century Mortgage, expecting a recovery that never came. Both companies left the business after losing a significant share of their value. In contrast, those who bought Apple shares after the 2020 crash saw a significant increase in value, making the strategy highly profitable.

The opposite: “Sell the Rally”

The opposite approach to “Buy the Dip” is “Sell the rally”, which involves selling an asset whose price has increased, anticipating an imminent dip. Again, the goal is to maximise profits, but it carries similar risks, such as the possibility of selling too early or too late.

To conclude

“Buy the dip” can be a winning strategy in volatile markets and during long-term uptrends. However, it requires good market knowledge and well-thought-out risk management. It is not a foolproof technique and should not be adopted without a critical assessment of the circumstances and one’s risk profile.

Homework: To avoid being overwhelmed by FOMO, it is useful to remember the opposite mantra. Try repeating: “Time in the market beats timing the market”. This can help you keep a cool head and make more rational decisions.

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What is Young Platform Step and how does it work? The complete guide

What is Young Platform Step and how does it work? Discover the app that lets you learn all about the crypto world by playing!

With Young Platform Step you can discover what the crypto world is and how it works in the easiest and most fun way: collect experience points and level up to get the YNG token! 

But what is it? It’s the token of the Young Platform ecosystem, with real value in the market. On Step you can set aside your first YNG tokens and get lots of free resources to learn the basics of the crypto world, step by step!

How does a blockchain work? What is Bitcoin for? What are NFTs? Step gets down to business and answers all your questions, simply and clearly. But it doesn’t end there! Once you’ve got your first YNGs, you can transfer them to the Young Platform exchange where you can take advantage of the crypto industry’s leading services with an extra edge. So find out what Young Platform Step is and how it works and all the games available!

What games are there on Step?

There are several features on the app to gain experience points (XP) and level up. Let’s see what each Young Platform Step game is and how it works:

1. Quests

In the Step Home, you can find Quests related to each feature, each with a different colour. Quests allow you to earn experience points every day: check the deadline, and use the features to complete them and redeem XP.

2. Claim

Young Platform Step counts all your steps (if connected to Google Fit or Health). In the ‘Step’ section, with the ‘Claim’ button, you can redeem and accumulate them to participate in the step quests in the Home (you recognise them because they are the ones in yellow). The fuchsia quests, on the other hand, do not count steps but all the times you redeem them. Remember to redeem the steps every time you accumulate 4,000 steps, otherwise the count will stop.

3. Rankings 

In the ‘Steps’ section of the app you will find step rankings! The challenge is to beat other users in the community at who can accumulate the most steps in an interval of time. You can join an existing ranking or create one: each one has a limited duration and number of places. To participate, you have to pay a small share of your YNG and the sum of the shares of all participants will be distributed to the winners. Furthermore, the more rankings you win, the more you progress in the blue quests.

4. Quizzes

On Young Platform Step, in the Education section, you can learn everything about the crypto world, from the basics to the more advanced aspects thanks to specific Young Platform Academy articles divided into 6 categories:

  • Blockchain to learn what the underlying cryptocurrency technology is and how it works;
  • Cryptoeconomics to discover the specific features and characteristics of the crypto economy;
  • Cryptocurrencies to delve into which are the main ones on the market, from their tokenomics to their uses; 
  • Crypto Heroes to get up close and personal with the protagonists of the crypto world, from Vitalik Buterin to the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto;
  • Easy Economics to explore basic economic concepts;
  • Trading to learn about the theory and practice of this activity.

But how does it work and what is Education on Young Platform Step? Simple: each article is associated with a quiz that allows you to gain XP if you guess the correct answers. NB: To take the quiz, you have to spend one life and are given 5 lives by default. 

When you run out of lives, you can recover them by waiting for the indicated time, or by watching one of the advertising videos, or even with the Unlimited lives boost (explained below).

Step is also your one-stop shop for the latest news and updates from the crypto world, selected for you day by day directly from the Young Platform Blog.

4. Up&Down

In the Up&Down section you can try to guess whether the price of a crypto will go down (down) or up (up) by choosing a time interval between 3, 6 or 12 hours. 

Every time you place a forecast you consume a life, like for Quizzes.

For each right forecast you gain XP, the wider the time interval you choose, the greater the number of XP. 

Step counts all your correct forecasts advancing in the green quests. Put your market knowledge to the test!

What is Unlimited Lives and how does it work?

On Young Platform Step the Unlimited Lives is the life boost that allows you not to lose any lives for 1 hour. You can then use it to do more than 5 Quizzes or more than 5 Forecasts in a row. 

To get it, just go to the top bar where the lives icon is, click on it and select ‘Get unlimited lives’ to buy it for 1YNG.

Alternatively, you can obtain it upon reaching certain Levels: check when you’ll receive Unlimited lives by selecting the Level icon in the top bar and clicking on ‘Show Levels’.

Once you have the boost, you have to redeem it to activate it and use it.

The Marketplace

On Young Platform Step you can also find the Marketplace, which allows you to receive cashback in YNG of up to 20% on purchases from selected shops such as Nike, Guess or Decathlon. 

The Profile

Your progress is easily visible in the top bar of the app, but if you enter your Profile it’s a whole different story. Your Level, Available Lives, YNG received and XP accumulated are easily viewable, and over time your personal section will become more and more detailed and full of victories. Choose from the Avatars available to customise your profile!

How to transfer YNG to Young Platform

Here’s what Step is and how it works: by playing and levelling up you get your first YNGs, which will accompany you into the real crypto market.

So, once you’ve completed your levels and obtained the minimum amount of YNG, you can transfer them to the Young Platform app and get benefits by joining Clubs or use them for buying and selling. Young Platform is in fact an exchange where you can buy and sell major cryptocurrencies. To transfer YNG from Step to the exchange you need to link the two accounts, complete a minimum deposit of 20 Euro and a minimum crypto trade of 20 Euro. The next day you can create a gift card from Step and send the tokens to Young Platform. You can find the process explained in detail here.

To learn more about what Young Platform Step is and how it works, check out all the dedicated Support Guides.

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Transfer YNG from Step to Young Platform

transfer yng

YNG token transfer is instant and free with Gift Cards!

To transfer the YNGs obtained with Step to Young Platform, simply create a Gift Card to be redeemed on the exchange.

Gift Card creation and redemption are immediate, so you will have your tokens immediately available in your wallet balance, with no waiting time.

How to transfer YNG?

First of all, consider the amounts allowed:

  • The minimum amount for each transfer is 5 YNG
  • The maximum amount per transfer is YNG 125 in 30 days.

If it is your first transfer, follow these steps on Young Platform, otherwise skip to the operations to do on Step.

Start with Young Platform:

  • Create an account and verify your identity;
  • Go to the Profile, under ‘Connections’ link your Step account;
  • Make a minimum deposit of €20 (in Euros);
  • Make a first cryptocurrency purchase, for a minimum amount of €20; 
  • After completing these mandatory steps, it will be possible to request the first transfer of YNGs.

Now back to Step:

  • Log in to Step and click on your YNG balance visible in the top bar;
  • Select ‘Transfer’;
  • Continue with the procedure;
  • Choose the amount of YNG to be transferred;
  • Confirm sending;
  • Select ‘Open Young Platform’ to redeem the Gift Card automatically;
  • You will immediately receive the tokens on the Exchange Wallet

If you do not click on ‘Open Young Platform’ or do not redeem the gift card immediately, you can do so later manually:

  • Log in to Step and click on your YNG balance visible in the top bar;
  • Select ‘Transfer’;
  • Under ‘Your Gift Cards’ click on the last one created
  • Press ‘Redeem on Young Platform’.

Finally, remember that it is only possible to transfer YNG from one Step account and only to a linked Young Platform account.

Any doubts? Read the complete guide!

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Young Platform Step: invite friends and get rewards

refer friends step

The guide to inviting your friends on Young Platform Step and getting rewards

Did you know that Young Platform Step has a referral program? Invite friends and acquaintances to the app and receive rewards for helping to expand the beautiful Step community. Here’s everything you need to know!

How to invite friends to Step?

Start on the Step Home:

  • From the menu, on the top right, got to the Profile section
  • Tap on the ‘Invite your friends’ banner:
  • Press the ‘Invite’ button;
  • An explanation page will open, where you will then find the ongoing and completed invitations;
  • Press the ‘Invite your friends’ button to proceed;
  • Choose how to send the invitation message and to whom;
  • Once you have sent the link to download Step, you can check the status of the invitation on the invitation page, as indicated above;
  • The invited friend will have to download Step, sign up and complete the Welcome Tutorial;
  • After that the Invitation will be completed and you will receive 1YNG.

Invite friends: how to get the rewards

On Young Platform Step, the invite friends feature requires some extra care in order to secure the rewards. Indeed, you can only receive YNG if the invitee successfully completes the obligatory actions, but some details are also up to you.

Here are two important points:

  1. Before you start, make sure you have updated Step to the latest version available on the Store
  2. Tell your friend to click on the invitation link both to download Step from the store and after installing it, before signing up.

Important: If the invitee does not click on the invitation link again after the installation of Step, the invitation will not be detected and consequently you will not receive the reward!

How to ensure that the link was used for signup? 

If the invitee has signed up via the link, the invitation will appear pending. If, on the other hand, it does not appear in the list within the app, it means that they did not use the link correctly.

What to do if the invitee has signed up, but the invitation does not appear in your history?

If you can, stop your friend so that they do not accumulate unnecessary experience on the app. In any case, send them the link again, tell them to follow it and sign up with a different email. 

When the invitation appears as pending, the invitee can complete the welcome tutorial and consequently the Invitation will be marked as completed and you will get your YNG.

How come the invitee signs up correctly but the invitation is not tracked anyway? 

If these indications do not work, the only explanation is the following: some devices do not support invitation tracking, e.g. Android devices that do not support Play Services or have a custom ROM. 

That’s all for this guide: log in to Young Platform Step now and invite your friends to share your successes!

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Step Quests: how do they work?

Step Quests are a series of objectives to challenge yourself and earn experience points (XP) so you can level up

You can find the Quests in the Hub section, under “Goals”.

They all generally have the same basic mechanism: progress is tracked automatically based on the actions you take on the app, and they all have a deadline after which progress is reset.

Once 100% complete, tap on the button to redeem XPs.

Let’s now go over the different types of Quests!

Collect XP by walking

The Steps, Claims and Rankings quests allow you to gain XPs by walking. The great thing is that the same steps that move you up the Rankings help you progress through the quests and vice versa. Actions are in fact cumulative between quests: you can manage the claims you make to complete as many quests as possible in combination!

Steps

To complete this type of quest, you must make the claim of the indicated amount of steps.

Example: To complete the first 5000 step quest, you can either make claims of 4000 steps+1000 steps or you can make 4 claims of 1500 steps and so on. It is recommended to always make claims after 1500 steps in order to avoid recalculations that could prevent redemption.

20,000 steps in less than a day is not for everyone. Will you make it?

Claims

To complete this type of quest, you must tap the claim button as many times as indicated.

Can you really make 10 claims in 7 hours? We’ll see!

Rankings

The colour of the sky is associated with quests on the Rankings: the more you win, the more XP you gain.

What can we say, if you win five in four days you will be our Hero!

Collect XP with Up&Down

Walking is so exhausting! Let’s take a break and check the markets.

With the Forecast quests you can really put your predictive skills to good use: if you are lucky or an expert in technical analysis, you will climb the levels in no time.

It doesn’t matter what currency, it doesn’t matter how you get your forecasts right, as long as you win, Step gives you more XP!

These are all the quests on Step: start now and challenge your limits!

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Up&Down: what it is and how it works

Up&Down on Step

With the ‘Up&Down’ game on Young Platform Step you can make forecasts on the cryptocurrency market without spending a penny

With Young Platform Step you learn so much more than theory! You also have the opportunity to test your skills on the market without actually having to buy every time. 

So choose a cryptocurrency and examine its trend: will the price go up or down? Make your choice, wait for it and if you are right, you receive experience points (XP) to level up. 

Discover the 3 steps to play Up&Down on Step!

Choose a cryptocurrency

You have at your disposal some of the most interesting coins on the market:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Cardano (ADA)
  • Polkadot (DOT)
  • Ripple (XRP)
  • Solana (SOL)

Choose between UP and DOWN

Once you have chosen a currency, you can consult its market data in detail: the current price and the percentage change in price over 24h are previewed. 

Then there is the linear or candlestick chart, over no less than 5 periods: 6 hours, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 1 year.

As you scroll down you will see the Stats, which will show your wins on that coin, and how the rest of the community is currently forecasting, i.e. the percentage of UP or DOWN predictions currently being made.

You can use this information in two ways: you can either blindly follow your mates hoping that their predictions are accurate (beware of the herding effect) or you can consider it just one of several confirmations needed to decide the trend.

In any case, you have nothing to lose: you can try as many times as you want to hone your instincts, and if the going gets tough, start studying!

Academy is packed with material on technical analysis used by traders. It doesn’t hurt to keep up with the news either: our Blog is perfect for staying on the pulse every day about the events that move the cryptocurrency market.

Make the forecast

Have you decided whether the crypto will go UP or DOWN?

Press one of the two buttons, then choose the duration. The duration indicates after how long the prediction will expire, which is the same time you will see whether the coin went UP or DOWN.

Example: It is 9 a.m. and BTC is at 20,000. I choose UP and select 3 hours. If at 12 noon BTC is worth more than €20,000, I win!

By tapping the ‘Forecast’ button and confirming, you will lose a life and the prediction will begin.

If you run out of lives you can wait for them to recharge, or watch a video advertisement if available, or purchase Unlimited Lives. With unlimited lives you can play both Quizzes and Up&Down freely without using up lives for 1 hour.

Time’s up! A notification will tell you the outcome of the prediction: if you have won, you will receive a number of experience points that varies according to the selected Duration. If the price did not change instead or if it went against your expectations, you will not receive XP.

Before you run off to play, remember: you can only make 2 predictions at the same time.

All clear, it’s time to discover Up&Down on Step!