What would life be like if our currency wasn’t controlled by government and corporate agencies? What if there were no limits on the amount you can transfer to another person, no interference from authorities when those limits are exceeded, and perhaps best of all, no physical cash? It all sounds pretty futuristic.

Thanks to a few industrious entrepreneurs, the monetary future has arrived. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that was created and designed to give total financial autonomy to its users. There’s no censorship, it’s protected from inflation, and it’s cheaper than other payment systems—just you and your coins, however you choose to use them. The use of cryptocurrencies liberates individuals to be able to manage their finances the way they see fit, without any prying eyes.

We have compiled our best articles on bitcoin and cryptocurrency into this essential guide. Bitcoin is a difficult subject to grasp, no doubt, but we hope that after reading this that you will have a more thorough understanding of what bitcoin is, how it works, and why the technology behind it will be the basis of the currency of the future.