Do you need to learn Bitcoin?

You Know Bitcoin is the Money of the Future... So Why Does Using It Feel Intimidating?

You've heard about bitcoin, and maybe read some articles or books. You know that Bitcoin is changing finance. Maybe you've even bought some on an exchange.But when it comes to actually using Bitcoin—holding it yourself, sending and receiving it without asking permission—something stops you.
What if it's too complicated? What if you mess up?

Here's the problem...

There's no shortage of explanations about why Bitcoin matters. Podcasts, videos, and books will tell you:

  • How inflation is stealing your savings

  • Why Bitcoin can be a liferaft, saving you from broken currency

  • How the Bitcoin blockchain allows permissionless transactions

But how do you learn the practical details of Bitcoin?

How do you learn the essential skills like:

  • Creating a wallet that can be easily restored

  • Sending and receiving Bitcoin inexpensively and safely

  • Holding Bitcoin long-term in self custody

  • Avoiding scammers and other dangers

You could spend hundreds of hours reading articles and books, and watching videos. Or patch together information from all kinds of different sources.Or you could let this book guide you, with 28 "learn-by-doing" exercises that replace anxiety with confidence. Exercises that give you the practice you need, to understand how to actually use Bitcoin.

The way to truly learn Bitcoin is to roll up your sleeves and use it.

Think back to learning to drive. Did your instructor start with the physics of internal combustion engines? No, they didn't. They probably said:

  1. "Here's the gas pedal, here's the brake"

  2. "Let's practice in this empty parking lot"

  3. "Now try turning. See, you're doing it!"

These exercises give you a risk-free way to learn Bitcoin safely.

After installing Sparrow Wallet (a well-known free and open-source Bitcoin wallet software), you'll do exercises that walk you through:

  • Setting up your first real wallets for practice

  • Making sure that the wallets can be recovered

  • Sending and receiving Bitcoin securely and confidently

All this, while learning how to avoid common problems. The potential pitfalls are laid out, so you can steer clear.Every exercise ends with a "Learn More" section—it's there if you're curious, but skip it if you just want the essentials.

Who Is This For? It's For You If You:

  • Suspect self-custody is important, but aren't sure how to start

  • Have tried learning but got lost in technical jargon

  • Spent hours reading and watching videos, but still feel like you're missing some of the practical basics

  • Own Bitcoin, but keep it on an exchange because self custody seems risky

What You'll Need:

  • A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and a mobile phone

  • Some time to work through the exercises. (depending on your skill level, it can take about half a day).

  • The willingness to learn some new software (Sparrow Wallet is beginner-friendly)

  • The ability to buy a little bit of Bitcoin (you don't need much)

The Real Risk Isn't Making Mistakes—It's Waiting

Every day without self-custody is another day that:

  • Bitcoin you have on an exchange could be lost, because exchanges are notorious for being hacked

  • Inflation eats away at the money you could have converted to Bitcoin

  • A bank crisis could lock you out of your bank account

  • The price of Bitcoin increases—it usually goes up over time

Are you ready?