Cryptocoin mining is a process of validating cryptocurrency transactions. These transactions, called blocks, are then added to a chain of records, hence, the term blockchain. As basic as it sounds, the process takes a lot of effort and might last for a few minutes.
Trading is much more simple than mining. It’s very similar to stock trading and to most kind of online trading for that matter. To start buying coins, one must have a cryptocurrency wallet. As the name suggests, it is a kind of wallet where cryptocoins are stored. Buying coins would cost either fiat money or primary coins like Bitcoin and Ether.
Trading is performed on an online exchange site where other traders purchase coins of their interest. There are several cryptocurrency exchanges out there. The more popular ones are Binance, Kucoin, Cryptopia, and Bittrex. Signing up for an exchange would require a number of steps for the security of the trader.