Free · No jargon · Beginner-friendly

Understand Bitcoin.
From zero.

No technical background needed. A curated collection of the best resources to learn what Bitcoin is, why it exists, and how to use it.

2009
Year created
21M
Maximum supply
24/7
Always running

What is Bitcoin?

Digital Money

Money for the internet age

Bitcoin is digital money that works without banks. You can send it to anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time — just like sending an email, but with value attached.

It was created in 2009 by someone using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Unlike dollars or euros, no government or company controls Bitcoin. It runs on a network of computers around the world that anyone can participate in.

  • It's digital — it exists only on the internet, like your bank balance
  • It's limited — only 21 million will ever exist (like digital gold)
  • It's open — anyone can use it, no permission needed
  • It's global — works the same in every country

See it for yourself

Start with these videos and foundational readings — hand-picked to give you the clearest picture of what Bitcoin is and why it was created.

Wences Casares Explains Bitcoin

Wences Casares
Beginner

What is the Problem?

Joe Bryan
Beginner

Introduction to Bitcoin

Andreas Antonopoulos
Beginner

A Swiss Bank Account for Everyone's Pocket

Andreas Antonopoulos
Beginner

The Saylor Series

Robert Breedlove & Michael Saylor
Intermediate
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Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System

Satoshi Nakamoto — The White Paper
Essential
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Gradually, Then Suddenly Series

Parker Lewis
Essential
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The Road to De-Civilization

Michael Matulef — Mises Institute
📄

21 Lessons

Der Gigi
Essential

Why do people use Bitcoin?

There are many reasons people choose Bitcoin. Here are the most common ones.

You own it — truly

No bank can freeze your account or tell you what to do with your own money. Bitcoin gives you direct control.

Send money anywhere

Send value to anyone in the world in minutes, not days. No forms, no intermediaries, no business hours.

Limited supply

Only 21 million will ever exist. Many see this scarcity as protection against inflation.

Transparent system

Every transaction is recorded on a public ledger. The rules are clear and can't be changed by any single entity.

Low-cost transfers

Much cheaper than wire transfers, especially internationally. Layer 2 makes small payments nearly free.

Financial access

Billions lack banking access. Bitcoin only requires an internet connection.

Go deeper

For those ready to explore the ideas and history behind Bitcoin.

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Everyone's a Scammer

Michael Goldstein
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Speculative Attack

Pierre Rochard
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What Sets Bitcoin Apart From Other Cryptos

Craig Deutsch — Bitcoin Magazine
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Dear Family & Friends

Der Gigi
Great starting point
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Shelling Out: The Origins of Money

Nick Szabo
Essential
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The Right to Read

Richard Stallman
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Why I Wrote PGP

Philip Zimmermann
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B-money

Wei Dai
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The Case for Privacy

David Friedman
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Bitcoin and Me

Hal Finney
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The Satoshi Nakamoto Institute Library

Full collection of foundational texts
Essential

How to get started

From choosing a wallet to buying your first sats — practical steps to take control of your financial future.

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Blue Wallet

Mobile — Great for beginners
Beginner
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Blockstream Green

Mobile & Desktop
Beginner
🔐

Bitkey (by Block)

Hardware wallet — Simple setup
Beginner
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Coldcard

Hardware wallet — Air-gapped
Advanced
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Blockstream Jade

Hardware wallet
Intermediate
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SeedSigner

DIY signing device
Advanced
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Bitcoin Knots

Full node software
Advanced

What is a Private Key?

Andreas Antonopoulos
Beginner

Key Storage and Best Practices

Andreas Antonopoulos

How do I Secure my Bitcoin?

Andreas Antonopoulos

How to Buy and Store Bitcoin

Matt Kratter
Beginner
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Bitcoin Wallets for Beginners

Econoalchemist
Beginner

Optional Passphrases and Seed Storage

Andreas Antonopoulos
Intermediate

BTC Sessions (Full Tutorial Library)

Step-by-step wallet & Bitcoin tutorials
Essential

Blockstream Green Wallet Setup

BTC Sessions
Beginner

Bitkey Review

The Atlas Rising Podcast

Coldcard Tutorials

Advanced hardware wallet setup
Advanced

Coldcard + Sparrow Setup

Advanced multisig tutorial
Advanced

Southern Bitcoiner

YouTube Channel
📄

Arman the Parman

In-depth guides & tutorials
Intermediate

Strike

Low fees — Lightning network support
Recommended
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River

Bitcoin-only exchange — Auto DCA
Recommended
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Cash App

Easy to use — Withdraw to your own wallet
Beginner

Keep learning

An ever-growing library of books, tools, channels, and communities curated for your Bitcoin journey.

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The Bitcoin Standard

Saifedean Ammous
Essential
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The Internet of Money

Andreas Antonopoulos
Essential
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The Fiat Standard

Saifedean Ammous
📚

Inventing Bitcoin

Yan Pritzker — Free!
Beginner
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21 Lessons

Der Gigi
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The Price of Tomorrow

Jeff Booth
Essential
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The Sovereign Individual

Davidson & Rees-Mogg
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Broken Money

Lyn Alden
Essential
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Layered Money

Nik Bhatia
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Soft War

Jason Lowery
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The Blocksize War

Jonathan Bier
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Thank God for Bitcoin

Bitcoin and Bible Group
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The Big Print

Lawrence Lepard
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Bitcoin and the American Dream

Bitcoin Policy Group
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Grokking Bitcoin

Kalle Rosenbaum
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Bitcoin is Venice

Allen Farrington & Sacha Meyers
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Principles of Economics

Saifedean Ammous
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The Dictator's Handbook

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
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The Mandibles

Lionel Shriver — Fiction
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Anatomy of the State

Murray Rothbard — Free
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Deflation and Liberty

Jörg Guido Hülsmann — Free PDF
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Bitcoiner Books

Complete book directory

Bitcoin University

Matt Kratter
Highly Recommended

Andreas Antonopoulos

YouTube Channel
Highly Recommended

BTC Sessions

Tutorials & how-to's
🎧

Citadel Dispatch

Podcast & community discussions
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Der Gigi

Essays & philosophy
Highly Recommended
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Gradually Then Suddenly

Parker Lewis — Unchained
Highly Recommended
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Arman the Parman

Guides & tutorials
🌐

Bitcoin-Only.com

Curated Bitcoin resources
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We Run BTC

Matt Odell
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Stacker News

Community news aggregator
📰

No BS Bitcoin

News & reviews
📊

Clark Moody Dashboard

Key Bitcoin metrics at a glance
Essential
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Mempool.space

Blockchain explorer & fee estimator
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Blockstream.info

Blockchain explorer
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Bitfeed.live

Live transaction visualizer
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Bitcoin Treasuries

Corporate & state Bitcoin reserves
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Saylor Tracker

Strategy's Bitcoin holdings
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U.S. National Debt Clock

Real-time debt counter
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Sats vs Fiat

Bitcoin purchasing power
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WTF Happened in 1971?

Visualizing the end of the gold standard
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Bitcoin Stimulus

Your stimulus check in Bitcoin
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Timechain Calendar

Block height & time tracking
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Verify Bitcoin Message

Signature verification tool
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SHA-256 Calculator

See hashing in action
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Brute Force Calculator

Understand key security
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How Many Confirmations?

Confirmation comparisons
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Store of Time

Inflation calculator
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Reacher

Create a paywall with Bitcoin
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Hey Apollo

Trusted Bitcoin product reviews
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Bitcoin for Everyone — Saylor Academy

Free course with certificate
Essential
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Mi Primer Bitcoin

Bitcoin education in Spanish
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The Complete Satoshi

All of Satoshi's writings
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Hope.com

Bitcoin education platform
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Mises Institute

Austrian economics library

Common questions

Honest answers to the things beginners ask most.

The Bitcoin network itself has never been hacked and is secured by enormous computing power. However, like cash, you need to keep it safe. Use reputable wallets, enable security features, and never share your private keys. The most common risks come from user mistakes or scams, not from the technology itself.

People have asked this at every price point since Bitcoin was worth $1. Whether it's "too late" depends on your goals and time horizon. Many believe Bitcoin adoption is still early. Remember, you don't need to buy a whole Bitcoin — you can start with any amount, even a few dollars.

No! Bitcoin is divisible to eight decimal places. The smallest unit is called a "satoshi" (or "sat"), and one Bitcoin equals 100 million sats. You can buy as little as a few dollars' worth. Most people own fractions of a Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is legal in most countries, including the United States, Canada, the EU, Japan, and many others. Some countries have restrictions. El Salvador even made it legal tender. Check the regulations in your specific country, as rules vary and can change.

Bitcoin mining does use electricity, and this is a legitimate concern. However, the industry is increasingly powered by renewable energy, and some miners use energy that would otherwise be wasted. The debate is ongoing, and it's worth looking at the nuances rather than just headlines.

Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency and remains the largest by far. It has the longest track record, the most security, and the most decentralized network. Other cryptocurrencies ("altcoins") often have different goals or trade-offs. Many Bitcoin advocates focus exclusively on Bitcoin for its proven reliability.

If you lose access to your private keys (or seed phrase) and have no backup, your Bitcoin becomes inaccessible. This is why proper backup is essential. Write down your recovery phrase, store it safely offline, and consider using a hardware wallet for larger amounts.

Start your Bitcoin journey

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