Recently, friends often ask how Taiwanese beginners can safely purchase their first cryptocurrency. My personal experience is that starting with a local exchange feels more reliable, since the regulations provide better protection.

The most commonly used platforms here in Taiwan are local ones like Maicoin and BitoPro. They all support direct deposit in New Taiwan Dollars, and connect directly to bank accounts, so there's no need to go through complicated steps. Compared to immediately using international large exchanges, the advantage of local platforms is that they comply with the Financial Supervisory Commission's regulations, which makes beginners feel much more secure.

The process is actually not complicated. First, register an account on the platform, complete KYC verification (upload ID card and a selfie), then link your bank account—make sure it’s an account in your own name. After that, you can transfer NT dollars via bank transfer, and then exchange TWD for mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins.

Once you’ve bought the coins, the next step is deciding where to store them. If you want to transfer to an international large exchange, find the deposit address for the corresponding coin there, confirm the chain type (ERC-20, TRC-20, etc.), then input the address and amount on the local platform to complete the transfer. But I personally recommend transferring directly to a cold wallet, like Ledger, Trezor, or MetaMask.

The biggest advantage of a cold wallet is that your assets are entirely in your own control, with no exchange risk. Before transferring, be sure to double-check the chain type—if you choose the wrong one, your coins could be lost forever. I’ve seen people suffer losses because of this, so be very careful.

Another important point is that Taiwan currently does not support buying cryptocurrencies directly with a credit card. The Financial Supervisory Commission strictly regulates anti-money laundering measures, and since credit cards are credit transactions, it’s difficult to verify the source of funds instantly, so this method is prohibited. That’s also why most Taiwanese exchanges only support bank transfers.

In summary, for beginners wanting a safe entry, the process is: deposit via local exchange → buy coins → transfer to a cold wallet. Although operating a cold wallet is a bit more complex, in the long run, it’s much safer than keeping assets on any exchange.