Bitcoin basics
What is Bitcoin in one sentence?
Bitcoin is a global ledger maintained by a network of computers running compatible software, plus the unit those computers keep track of. See bitcoin basics for the longer version that actually answers this properly.
Who runs Bitcoin?
Nobody runs Bitcoin in the way a company runs a product. Rules are enforced by every node independently. Software changes are proposed in the open and only adopted when enough people choose to run them. There is no CEO, no support number, and no central server.
Is Bitcoin a company?
No. Many companies use Bitcoin, build on top of it, or sell related services, but Bitcoin itself is not a company. That is a feature of the design, not an oversight.
How is new Bitcoin created?
New Bitcoin is issued to miners when they produce a valid block. The amount issued per block halves on a fixed schedule, which is why the total supply has a known upper bound.
Is Bitcoin the same as blockchain?
Not exactly. Bitcoin uses a chain of blocks as its data structure, but "blockchain" became a marketing word for many unrelated systems. When someone says "blockchain", ask which one and what it actually does.
Wallets and private keys
What is a Bitcoin wallet?
A wallet is software that manages the keys used to authorise spending. It does not store Bitcoin the way a leather wallet stores notes. The full explanation, including the dangerous ways this metaphor breaks, lives on wallet safety.
What is a private key?
A private key is a secret number that proves you are allowed to move a particular piece of Bitcoin. Anyone with the key can spend the funds. Anyone without it cannot. This single fact is why key handling matters so much.
What is a recovery phrase?
A recovery phrase, sometimes called a seed phrase, is usually twelve or twenty-four ordinary words that encode the keys for a wallet. Whoever has the phrase can recreate the wallet on any compatible software. Treat the phrase like cash plus a master password rolled into one.
What is the difference between custodial and self-custodial?
In a custodial setup, a company holds the keys on your behalf. In a self-custodial setup, you hold the keys directly. Each comes with a very different risk profile. We discuss both on wallet safety without recommending a specific provider.
I lost my recovery phrase. Can support reset it?
Not for a self-custodial wallet. The phrase is the only way to recreate the keys. There is no support line that can restore funds if it is gone. This is the single most important rule to absorb.
Course questions
Is the course free?
Yes. There is no signup, no paywall, no certificate, and no email capture. The courses page is the full curriculum.
How long does it take?
About six to ten hours, spread over as many sessions as suits you. The slow version is better than the fast version. Rushing modules tends to leave gaps that show up later as bad decisions.
Do you offer a certificate?
No. Bitcoin understanding is not a credentialing exercise. A certificate from a small education site would not mean anything useful, so we do not pretend otherwise.
Book and resource questions
Where do I start reading?
The books page lays out layered reading. Layer one is beginner books. Most readers do best alternating a beginner book with a layer two technical book.
Do you sell or recommend specific books?
We do not list affiliate links, retail links, or vendor URLs. The reading shelf is meant to outlast the bookstores. Many titles are easy to find at a public library or directly from the author.
Workshop questions
Do you run public workshops?
We do not maintain a public events calendar. The workshops page is a set of formats that any organiser can adapt and run under their own name. Treat it as a playbook, not a schedule.
Can I host a workshop using these formats?
Yes. The formats are written to be borrowed. The single rule we ask organisers to keep is the one repeated throughout this site: do not have attendees install wallet software or handle real keys during a single session.
Safety and scams
What is the most common Bitcoin scam?
Impersonation. Someone pretends to be customer support, a wallet vendor, a project lead, or a friend, and asks for your recovery phrase or a small "verification" transaction. There is no scenario where a real support team needs your recovery phrase. None.
Someone messaged me about a guaranteed Bitcoin return. Is it real?
No. There are no guaranteed Bitcoin returns. Anyone promising one is selling something else, almost always at your expense.
Where can I learn to spot crypto scams?
Consumer-protection agencies publish accessible guidance on cryptocurrency scams that is worth reading before any first transaction. The United States Federal Trade Commission's consumer page on cryptocurrency is a good starting point.
Source: FTC consumer guidance on cryptocurrency and scams.
Is Bitcoin anonymous?
Not really. The ledger is public. Addresses are not directly tied to names, but patterns of use can be analysed. Treat Bitcoin as more like a numbered bank account printed in a newspaper than as untraceable cash.
Open-source contribution
I want to contribute to Bitcoin. Where do I start?
Reading first, then small documentation fixes, then code review, and only after a long time, code changes. The open source page lays out a calmer route in.
Do I need to be a senior developer?
No, but you should be willing to read carefully and to write less than you read. Mature open-source projects move slowly on purpose, and the etiquette around that is part of why they have stayed safe.
What to read next
For deeper background see courses, books, wallet safety, the glossary, or the support page if your question is not on this list.