Bitcoin, explained from zero.

Welcome to Bitcoin Basics, a plain-English guide to bitcoin and how to get some. It is written for people starting from zero, so nothing here assumes you already know the jargon.

Bitcoin is money you can send over the internet without a bank in the middle. That one idea has grown into a global network, a new kind of savings asset, and a lot of confusing headlines. This site walks through it in order, one short page at a time.

Every term is defined the first time it appears. Facts that change, such as prices, laws, and adoption numbers, are checked and dated so you know how current they are.

Start here

Read these six pages in order and you will understand more about bitcoin than most people who own it.

1. What Is Bitcoin? The one-sentence answer, then the pieces: the blockchain, the 21 million limit, keys and wallets, and the honest risks.
2. A Short History of Bitcoin From the cypherpunks and a 2008 whitepaper to pizza, Mt. Gox, the halvings, ETFs, and what has happened through 2026.
3. How Bitcoin Is Used Today Saving, sending money across borders, Lightning payments, corporate and government holdings, and what bitcoin is still bad at.
4. What Is Ethereum? The second-biggest network, how it differs from Bitcoin, and why people confuse the two.
5. Other Coins Stablecoins, altcoins, and meme coins, and how to tell a real project from a scam.
6. How to Buy Bitcoin A step-by-step walkthrough of opening an account, verifying your identity, and making a first purchase.

Where to buy

Most Americans buy their first bitcoin on an exchange, a company that lets you trade dollars for bitcoin and holds it for you until you move it. We reviewed seven that serve US customers and compared their fees, security, and who each one suits best.

• Kraken Veteran exchange, US and Canada, with pro tools and reserves proof Sign up
• Coinbase Biggest US exchange, also in Canada: easy on-ramp, pricey buys Sign up
• Gemini New York-chartered custodian; use ActiveTrader to avoid the markup Sign up
• Strike Bitcoin-only app: free withdrawals, fee-free recurring buys, Lightning Sign up
• River Bitcoin-only: zero-fee recurring buys, monthly proof of reserves Sign up
• Swan Bitcoin Bitcoin-only savings plans with free withdrawals, IRAs and vaults Sign up
• Crypto.com All-in-one app: 400+ coins, Visa card, stocks; fees shown at checkout Sign up
• Local Coin Swap Peer-to-peer marketplace: coins sit in escrow, not a company wallet Sign up
• CoinZoom US exchange app with a CoinZoom Visa card for spending crypto Sign up
• Uphold Trade between crypto, precious metals and currencies in one account Sign up
• Bitcoin Well Non-custodial: bitcoin sent straight to your own wallet Sign up
• Shakepay Canadian bitcoin app: one buy screen, free withdrawals Sign up
• Bull Bitcoin Bitcoin only and non-custodial: every buy goes to your wallet Sign up
• Newton Canadian app that prints its bitcoin fee as a number Sign up
• NDAX Calgary exchange: a flat 0.20% on every buy and sell Sign up

New to this? Read How to Buy Bitcoin first. Then answer three questions to find an exchange that fits you, or see the full exchange comparison.

Go deeper

Once you own some bitcoin, the next questions are about holding it well. These pages cover the parts that beginners most often get wrong.

• Wallets and Self-Custody What a wallet really is, and when it makes sense to hold your own keys.
• Keeping Your Bitcoin Safe Phishing, two-factor login, SIM swaps, and the habits that protect an account.
• Avoiding Bitcoin Scams The warning signs, the common cons one by one, and how to keep your recovery phrase safe.
• The Lightning Network How bitcoin payments become instant and nearly free.
• Bitcoin and Taxes What the IRS expects when you sell, spend, or trade.
• Glossary Every term on this site, explained in a sentence or two.

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