There are a variety of ways in which you can engage in cryptocurrency investing. The mediums through which tokens are sold and distributed include securities offerings, such as those hosted by the Republic ecosystem, centralized exchanges in the form of an initial exchange offering (IEO), decentralized exchanges in the form of an initial DEX offering (IDO), and more. Once tokens are acquired post-sale, you may be able to buy and sell crypto on secondary marketplaces, such as decentralized or centralized exchanges. Some cryptos can also be obtained as a reward for interacting with blockchain protocols and decentralized apps (dApps). The regulatory status of token sales remains unclear and could vary based on the facts, but in many cases securities laws may apply.
Cryptos can be held and stored in various ways, but typically cryptos are kept in a blockchain wallet. Wallets are often hosted by exchanges, web plug-ins, and physical wallets.