Guiding Principles

Starting simply and improving is better than than not starting at all

It’s more engaging to use tools before reading a detailed explanation

Always keep full control of your bitcoin (use non-custodial tools)

Stay focused and avoid scams (use bitcoin-only tools & services)

Step Description Done 1. Get a Wallet 2. Buy some bitcoin 3. Why use bitcoin? 4. What is bitcoin? 5. Further Learning 6. Better Backup 7. Running a Node 8. Joining In 9. Bitcoin Privacy 10. Bitcoin MicroPayments (Lightning) 11. Technical Details 12. Buying privately

Step 1. Get a Wallet

Aim: Make and backup a bitcoin wallet

Download Samourai Wallet for Android or Blockstream Green wallet for iOS. Make a new wallet and write down the words presented to you using pen and paper. These words act as a key to access your bitcoin. Make another copy of these words (again, using pen and paper) and put them both somewhere hidden/safe in your house. In the wallet, click receive and copy the address shown on screen, this can be done by clicking on the QR code.

Step 2. Buy some bitcoin

Aim: Get a small amount of bitcoin

Only buy a small amount of bitcoin to start (in a later step we will improve your backup redundancy).

These recommendations let you buy bitcoin quickly at the cost of reduced privacy.

Buying Privately is detailed in a later step.

USD (1.5% Fee)

Check cashapp on Trustpilot Download Cashapp from the app store. Make an account & connect a Debit Card. Buy 25 USD of BTC. Find the Withdraw Bitcoin button, specify an amount and paste your first bitcoin address from Step 1. 5. Wait for the funds to appear in green wallet (< 24 hrs).

AUD (0% Fee)

Check Bitaroo on Trustpilot Go to Bitaroo Express Buy. Sign up & deposit 25 AUD. Buy 25 AUD of BTC. Click ‘Withdraw’, paste your first bitcoin address from Step 1, click ‘max’ amount to withdraw, confirm. Wait for the funds to appear in green wallet (< 24 hrs).

CAD (BullBitcoin - 0.25% Fee)

Check BullBitcoin on Trustpilot Go to Bull Bitcoin. Deposit 25 CAD & Buy 25 CAD worth of bitcoin Paste your first bitcoin address from Step 1 Wait for the funds to appear in green wallet (< 24 hrs)

CHF (any SBB ticket machine - 6% Fee)

Withdraw cash (CHF or EUR) & Locate an SBB ticket machine. Select “Prepaid” then “Top up Bitcoin” Scan the QR code on your Bitcoin wallet Enter your desired amount (any sum between CHF 100 and CHF 500) Confirm the offer received Enter your mobile number and the security code (mTAN) sent to your phone

Congrats you now officially hold some BTC. As long as you keep those 24 words safe nobody can steal the funds from the wallet you have created. Without these words (known as your seed words or your private key) nobody can access your bitcoin wallet.

Step 3. Why use bitcoin?

Aim: Learn why bitcoin is useful

Step 4. What is bitcoin?

Aim: Learn what bitcoin is

Step 5. Further Learning

Aim: Further develop your understanding of bitcoin

Listen

Read

Step 6. Better Backup

Aim: Improve your backup so you are ready in-case bitcoin goes up in price or you decide to buy more.

Read the Seed FAQ Pick a setup (e.g. Two full backups, one on paper one on stamped metal) Implement your selected setup

Step 7. Running a Node

Aim: Understand how and why bitcoiners run their own full nodes.

Note: Running a node only benefits you if you use your node to send and receive transactions.

Watch Benefits of a Full Node Evaluate below tables to determine which route seems most suitable given:

Route A Route B Route C Route D Cost Zero Zero Low High Time Requirement Low High Mid/High Low Setup Difficulty Low High Mid Low Downtime High Low Low Low

Route Ideal User Positives Negatives A Non-technical Beginner Free, Easy and Quick When your computer is off your node will not be running so when you do want to use it you will have to wait for it to sync. B Technical Enthusiast Free Requires significant time to setup & is technologically difficult if you have not used linux before. C Less Technical Enthusiast Reasonably low cost & quick Requires some time to setup though typically guides specify hardware making setup as simple as following instructions precisely. D Anyone who can comfortably afford this option Quick and Easy High cost compared to alternatives

Route A: Bitcoin-Core on your day to day computer

Download NodeLauncher, a simple program to help you intstall bitcoin core.

Route B: Bitcoin-core on an available always-on computer

Route C: Build a standalone node

Enthusiasts who want to control their own bitcoin full stack: MyNodeBTC

Samourai Wallet Users: DOJO

Other Options: RaspiBolt / RaspiBlitz

Route D: Buy a pre-built standalone node

Price sensitive enthusiasts who want to control their own bitcoin full stack: MyNodeBTC / Raspiblitz (EU / USA )

Enthusiasts who want high performance: NODL / NODL Samourai

Step 8. Joining In

Aim: Discover how to get involved in discussions about bitcoin.

Attend a local meetup Subscribe to bitcoin op-tech Join Twitter and follow bitcoiners you come across.

Step 9. Bitcoin privacy

Aim: Understand how and why to use bitcoin in a private way

Step 10. Bitcoin MicroPayments

Aim: Understand what the lightning network is and how you can use it.

Download a non-custodial bitcoin lightning wallet Transfer some bitcoin to it (a small amount) Send bitcoin over lightning Watch The Importance of Layer Two Read LNP/BP as compared to TCP/IP (extract from Q/A About Bitcoin).

Step 11. Technical Details

Aim: Better understand how bitcoin works & the terminology

Step 12. Buying Privately

Though the methods explained in Step 2 are simple and easy for buying your first bitcoin it is worth considering more private options for further buying.

Overview table

Private Methods Semi-Private Methods Non-Private Methods Method of Payment Cash Bank Transfer Debit Card Interface In person Website Website Email & Phone Not Required Required Required Name & Address Not Required Not Required Required Relative Privacy Great Fair Fair Examples BISQ / Vouchers Bittr CashApp / Bull Bitcoin

BISQ

Download & Install BISQ Set local currency Look for local sellers (Select BUY BTC button on top ribbon ) Buy from local seller (Select Create new offer to buy BTC with … ) Withdraw bitcoin to bitcoin address from Step 1.

Note: As stated when installing BISQ, the user is responsible for using the software in compliance with local laws.

Vouchers