What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is the first and only decentralized digital currency that allows people to securely send, receive, and store value without relying on banks or governments. It operates on a global, peer-to-peer computer network using blockchain technology, offering transparency, fixed and limited supply, and censorship resistance.

Why does Bitcoin have value?

Bitcoin has value because it’s scarce (only 21 million), decentralized, secure, and useful for storing and transferring money without relying on banks or governments. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin is immune to quantitative easing and other inflationary measures. Because Bitcoin is a digital currency, it is highly portable and therefore extremely easy to transact with globally.

How does Bitcoin work?

Bitcoin isn’t controlled by a government or company. It runs on a secure code that uses advanced mathematics (cryptography) to protect your money and verify every transaction on a distributed ledger. Instead of trusting banks, Bitcoin relies on a global network of computers that follow the same math-based rules, making it fair, predictable, and nearly impossible to cheat.

  • “The world ultimately will have a single currency, the internet will have a single currency. I personally believe that it will be Bitcoin.”

    Jack Dorsey - Co-Founder, Twitter & Block

  • "Bitcoin is digital gold."

    Larry Fink - CEO, BlackRock

  • “We need Bitcoin because we need a non-state-controlled store of value. It’s not just about inflation—it’s about freedom.”

    David Sacks - U.S. Crypto & AI Czar

  • “Bitcoin is math. Math has been around for thousands of years… I like the idea of investing in something that’s reliable, consistent, honest, and 100% certain.”

    Paul Tudor Jones - Hedge Fund Billionaire

  • “There’s no second‑best crypto; Bitcoin’s the best crypto asset.”

    Michael Saylor - CEO, Microstrategy

  • “It might make sense to get some in case it catches on. ”

    Satoshi Nakamoto - Author of the Bitcoin Whitepaper, 2009

  • "Bitcoin is the most amazing mathematical miracle. It's better than gold."

    Steve Wozniak - Co-Founder, Apple

  • "No one should work for what another man can print. Bitcoin is the best money we have."

    Jack Mallers - Founder, Strike

Curated Educational Resources

  • Videos (beginner-friendly)

    Swan Bitcoin’s free “Welcome to Bitcoin” introductory course is a friendly, one‑hour, self‑paced lesson designed to demystify Bitcoin—covering what it is, how it works, debunking common myths, and explaining its benefits like inflation protection and financial sovereignty. 

    Watch here
  • Book cover titled 'Inventing Bitcoin' by Yan Pritzker, featuring a dark blue background with a digital blockchain diagram in gold and white lines.

    Book (beginner-friendly)

    A concise book that explains the ‘how’ behind Bitcoin, covering its key technologies and the economic problems it solves without requiring technical expertise.

    Buy
  • Book cover titled 'The Little Bitcoin Book' with subtitle 'Why Bitcoin Matters for Your Freedom, Finances, and Future' and a large image of a Bitcoin coin at the bottom.

    Book (beginner-friendly)

    A short, accessible guide that explains what Bitcoin is, why it matters for individual freedom and global financial fairness, and how it can empower people around the world.

    Buy
  • Book cover titled 'Gradually, Then Suddenly' by Parker A. Lewis, featuring a painting of a young man in a small boat battling stormy seas, with lightning, storm clouds, flying birds, and a dramatic sky.

    Essays (beginner-friendly)

    A curated collection of essays that is structured to guide readers—especially those new to Bitcoin—through the key economic, technical, and philosophical ideas underpinning Bitcoin’s design and importance.

    Click Here
  • Book cover titled 'The Bullish Case for Bitcoin' by Vijay Boyapati, featuring an illustration of a humanoid bull with a Bitcoin logo on its chest, wearing warrior armor, holding a hammer with 'B' on it, and standing in a powerful pose.

    Book (beginner-friendly)

    This short book makes a clear, accessible argument for why Bitcoin is poised to become the dominant global store of value, highlighting its economic, technical, and societal advantages over traditional money.

    Buy
  • A graphic showing a large Bitcoin coin orbiting Earth with the text 'God Bless Bitcoin' and a quote from Proverbs 23:23 at the top.

    Documentary (beginner-friendly)

    This free 1.5 hour documentary explores how our broken, unjust fiat monetary system fuels inequality and war—and proposes Bitcoin as a more just, equitable, and peaceful alternative through insights from interfaith and Bitcoin leaders.

    Watch here
  • Cover page of a research paper titled 'Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' by Satoshi Nakamoto, with contact information and an abstract introducing blockchain technology for digital transactions.

    Whitepaper

    The original Bitcoin whitepaper, written by Satoshi Nakamoto, that proposed a peer-to-peer electronic cash system that enables trustless digital payments without relying on a central authority, using proof-of-work and a decentralized network to solve the double-spending problem.

    Free
  • Book cover titled "Broken Money" by Lyn Alden, featuring US dollar bills at the top and an orange circuit-like pattern at the bottom.

    Book

    This lengthier read examines the history and failures of monetary systems, arguing that technological innovation—especially Bitcoin—is essential to fixing the deep structural problems in today’s global financial system.

    Buy
  • Book cover of 'The Bitcoin Standard' by Saifedean Ammous with images of a stone coin, gold bars, and a Bitcoin QR code.

    Book

    A foundational book that explores the history of money and argues that Bitcoin is the best candidate for a future global sound money system, rooted in Austrian economics and hard money principles.

    Buy