# Residents of the US
## Step 1: Invest in a secure VPN đ
In lay simple terms, a Virtual Private Network (abbreviated as VPN) connects your PC to another computer (called a server) somewhere on the internet, and allows you to browse the internet using that computerâs internet connection. So if that server is in a different country, it will appear as if you are coming from that country, and you can potentially access things that you couldnât normally.
So how does this help you? Good question! You can use a VPN to:
* Bypass geographic restrictions on cryptocurrency exchange websites.
* Protect yourself from snooping by your government, telephone company, and internet service provider.
* Gain at least some anonymity online by hiding your true location.
If you decide not to use a VPN for your cryptocurrency exchange accounts, feel free to skip this section and go to the next section.
On the other hand, if you are concerned about the privacy and security of your cryptocurrency and want them to be as private as possible â then we recommend any one of the following services:
* **[Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com)**
* **[AirVPN](https://airvpn.org)**
> Citizens of China living in the US that want to use a VPN to access international cryptocurrency exchanges (to appear as though youâre coming from China) may consider the following service:
-- **[Transocks](https://www.transocks.com)**
> Citizens of India living in the US that want to use a VPN to access international cryptocurrency exchanges (to appear as though youâre coming from India) may consider the following service:
-- **[Surfshark](https://surfshark.com)**
-- **[Private Internet Access](https://www.privateinternetaccess.com)**
## Step 2: Which exchanges should I register with? đ
Owing to regulations in different jurisdictions, your residency and citizenship have a direct bearing on what cryptocurrencies youâre allowed to buy (or not.) Depending on where you live, and your country of citizenship, hereâs how this plays out:
* **Residents of US (irrespective of your citizenship status)**
* If youâre a resident of the US (irrespective of whether youâre a citizen of the US, or a citizen of another country) then you may not participate in Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).
* If youâre a resident of the US and happen to reside in one of the states listed below, then you may not be able to buy and purchase cryptocurrency on many exchanges. **We strongly recommend checking the Legal Disclaimers page of the individual exchanges to check if they restrict access in your state before registering an account with the exchange.**
* Alaska
* Nevada
* Virgin Islands
* Hawaii
* Minnesota
* New York
* Puerto Rico
* Washigton
* **Residents of US that are citizens of another country**
* If you can provide KYC documents (either with a passport, driverâs license, etc.) that belongs to your country of citizenship then, you may be able to use a VPN server outside the US to participate in an ICO, or register to trade on cryptocurrency exchanges without restrictions. Taking this approach could complicate your tax filing process. Please consult with a qualified international tax attorney that is proficient with US and your countryâs tax laws if you are considering exploring this possibility. We do not endorse this approach.
**You should create an account with ALL of the following exchanges.** Why? All the coins are not usually listed on all the exchanges at the same time. Some exchanges list certain coins much earlier than the others, and we want to make sure that we buy early before the prices go through the roof :chart_with_upwards_trend:
1. **[Binance US](https://binance.us)**
2. **[Coinbase Pro](https://pro.coinbase.com)**
3. **[Kraken](https://www.kraken.com/)**
4. **[Bittrex](https://bittrex.com)**
5. **[Huobi Global](https://www.huobi.com/en-us/)**
6. **[KuCoin](https://www.kucoin.com)**
Now that you know which exchanges to register with, it is time to create an account. After registration, it is perfectly normal for exchanges to require you to verify your identity. This is what we call âKnow Your Customerâ or KYC. The process will involve you submitting photos to prove your identity. After submission, the process may take a few hours or up to a few days to complete. Be patient!
After the KYC is complete, you will be allowed to deposit money into your account.
* We recommend that you deposit money from your bank to the crypto-exchange of your choice using ACH, or wire transfer.
* Only use credit cards for small sums of purchases as the fees add up (exchanges typically charge 3-4% in credit card fees)
đĄWire transfers are ideal when youâre moving large amounts of money. Banks usually charge a wire transfer fee for each transfer irrespective of the size of the fund youâre moving. Many banks waive this fee for customers that have had a long-standing relationship with the bank. Contact your bank to explore if this is a courtesy they will extend to you.
## Video tutorials
- [ ] [How to trade on Binance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEAcx-2STjM)
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