Learn Crypto Investing
Free, plain-English guides and a six-module beginner course that take you from “what is Bitcoin?” to buying, storing and paying tax on crypto safely. New here? Follow the Start Here path below, about 57 minutes of reading in total.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Guides show the date they were last updated.
Start here: the beginner path
Six guides, in order. Each one builds on the last.
- 1What is Bitcoin? A Beginner's Guide7 min read
- 2Understanding Blockchain Technology11 min read
- 3Crypto Wallets Explained9 min read
- 4How to Buy Your First Cryptocurrency7 min read
- 510 Common Crypto Mistakes to Avoid10 min read
- 6Cryptocurrency Taxes: What You Need to Know13 min read
Stuck on a term? The crypto glossary defines it in a sentence or two.
Free course
All guides
What is Bitcoin? A Beginner's Guide
What Bitcoin is, how it works, the 21 million supply cap and halving, spot Bitcoin ETFs, and the real risks, explained in plain English for beginners.
Understanding Blockchain Technology
How blockchains actually work, why they matter, and what they are genuinely bad at, explained without the jargon: blocks, hashes, consensus and Layer 2.
How to Buy Your First Cryptocurrency
How to buy Bitcoin or other crypto safely in 2026: exchange vs app vs spot ETF, account setup, fees, your first purchase, and moving coins to a wallet.
Crypto Wallets Explained
Hot vs cold crypto wallets explained: how wallets and seed phrases work, current hardware wallet options, how to back up safely, and the threats to watch for.
10 Common Crypto Mistakes to Avoid
The 10 most costly beginner crypto mistakes, from lost seed phrases and giveaway scams to panic selling, overtrading and ignoring taxes, and how to avoid each.
Cryptocurrency Taxes: What You Need to Know
How US crypto tax works for 2025–2026: taxable events, short vs long-term rates, cost basis, Form 1099-DA, losses, and the records you need to file.
Advanced DCA Strategies: Beyond Basic Dollar-Cost Averaging
How dollar-cost averaging works for crypto, plus value averaging, sentiment-based DCA, dip-buying and lump-sum hybrids, with worked examples and trade-offs.
Crypto Portfolio Rebalancing: Strategies for Optimal Allocation
When and how to rebalance a crypto portfolio: calendar vs threshold rules, a worked example, the maths of each trade, and how to keep fees and taxes down.
Crypto Risk Management: Protecting Your Portfolio
Crypto risk management in practice: how much to allocate, position sizing, stop-losses, diversification, hedging with ETF options, and a written plan.
DeFi Explained: Understanding Decentralized Finance
What DeFi is and how it works: DEXs, lending, stablecoins, liquidity pools and AMMs, plus fees, key metrics, the risks, and how to start safely.
Yield Farming Guide: Earning Passive Income in DeFi
How DeFi yield farming works: liquidity pools, lending, staking and vaults, impermanent loss with worked numbers, true-yield maths, and the risks to weigh.
DeFi Risks Explained: Protecting Yourself in Decentralized Finance
The main DeFi risks explained: smart-contract bugs, rug pulls, oracle and bridge hacks, stablecoin de-pegs, regulation and phishing, and how to stay safe.
What changed in 2024–2026
Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs
US spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024 and spot Ether ETFs in July 2024, so you can now get exposure in an ordinary brokerage account or IRA.
Read moreThe 2024 halving
In April 2024 the new-bitcoin reward per block fell from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC. The 20 millionth bitcoin was mined in March 2026.
Read moreForm 1099-DA
US brokers now report your crypto sales to the IRS: gross proceeds for 2025, plus cost basis for coins bought from 2026.
Read moreUS stablecoin law
The GENIUS Act (July 2025) set federal reserve and disclosure rules for payment stablecoins. Broader market-structure rules are still before Congress.
Read moreLatest articles
Frequently asked questions
Where should a complete beginner start?
Start with "What is Bitcoin?", then read the guides in the Start Here path in order: blockchain basics, wallets, how to buy, common mistakes and taxes. Or take the free six-module beginner course, which covers the same ground with learning objectives for each module.
Is crypto a good investment for beginners?
Crypto is a high-risk, volatile asset: Bitcoin has fallen more than 75% from its peak several times. It can have a place in a diversified plan, but only with money you will not need for years and after you have an emergency fund and no high-interest debt.
How much money do I need to start?
Very little. Most platforms let you buy a few dollars of bitcoin, and many beginners start with $25 to $100 to learn the process before deciding whether to invest more.
Are these guides and the course free?
Yes. Every guide, the beginner course, the glossary and the calculators are free to read and use without an account.
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