Crypto basics

The foundations. Read these before you think about buying anything.

Lessons

• What is Bitcoin?

  Where Bitcoin came from, how it works step by step, and the risks regulators warn about.

• What is a blockchain?

  Blocks, hashes and consensus in plain English — plus the myths NIST says to ignore.

• Crypto wallets and private keys

  Why your wallet holds keys, not coins — and what happens if you lose them.

• What are stablecoins?

  How they try to hold a steady price, and the risks central banks point out.

• What is a crypto exchange?

  What platforms do, who holds your coins, and the protections they usually lack.

• What is Ethereum?

  Smart contracts, ether, gas fees, proof-of-stake — and how Ethereum differs from Bitcoin.

• The risks of crypto, in regulators’ words

  Volatility, total loss, protection gaps and scams, quoted from the regulators.