Learn Bitcoin Concepts
This section covers the technical foundations of Bitcoin and self-custody. Understanding these concepts will help you make better decisions about securing your Bitcoin.
If you're ready to start setting up your wallet, head to Wallet Setup. Come back here when you want to understand why things work the way they do.
What You'll Learn
🔑 Keys & Cryptography
The foundation of Bitcoin ownership. Learn how private keys, seed phrases, and derivation paths work together to secure your Bitcoin.
- What makes a key "random enough"
- How 12/24 words become your master key
- Extended keys (xpub/xprv) and derivation paths
- The role of passphrases
💼 Wallets
Wallets don't hold Bitcoin—they hold keys. Understand the different types and their trade-offs.
- Hardware wallets and their security model
- Software wallets: hot vs. cold
- Air-gapped wallets for maximum security
- Multisig: multiple keys for one wallet
📤 Transactions
How Bitcoin actually moves. From UTXOs to broadcast, understand the transaction lifecycle.
- What is a UTXO?
- Creating and signing transactions
- Transaction types and fees
- Broadcasting to the network
🔒 Privacy
Privacy isn't optional—it's essential security. Learn how Bitcoin transactions can be traced and how to protect yourself.
- Why privacy matters for security
- How chain analysis works
- Practical privacy protection
🖥️ Nodes
Running your own node means trusting no one. Understand what nodes do and why they matter.
- What is a Bitcoin node?
- Why run your own node
- Node vs. SPV wallets
Learning Path
New to Bitcoin? Start with Getting Started first, then return here for deeper understanding.
Setting up your first wallet? You don't need to read everything here first. Start with Wallet Setup and refer back to these concepts as needed.
Want to go deeper? After mastering the basics, explore Security, Privacy, and Advanced setups.
Quick Reference
Looking for definitions? Check the Glossary.
Need to understand address formats? See Address Types.