# Your first trade
**Step 1 - Choose an asset** \
On the trading interface at app.atomic.green, select the asset pair you want to trade from the market list at the top of the screen.
**Step 2 - Approve tokens** \
Before your first trade, you will need to approve token spending. Click **Approve tokens** and confirm in your wallet. This is a one-time step per asset.
**Step 3 - Choose direction** \
Select **Long** if you expect the price to rise, or **Short** if you expect it to fall.
**Step 4 - Enter amount** \
Enter the amount of USDC you want to use as margin.
**Step 5 - Set leverage** \
Choose your desired leverage level.
**Step 6 - Open position** \
Click **Buy** and sign the transaction in MetaMask. Your position is now live and visible in the Open Positions tab.
**Step 7 - Set TP/SL (optional)** \
To set a take profit or stop loss, click the **Edit** button on your open position and enter your target levels.
**Step 8 - Close position** \
When you are ready to close, click **Close** on your position and sign the transaction in MetaMask.
