I’m 20 years old and want to invest for my future. I’m searching for resources like books, courses, or guides that helped you learn about investing and cryptocurrency. There seems to be a lot of content out there that isn’t useful or is just clickbait.
Crypto can be tricky. Focus on Bitcoin and understand what it is first.
Here are some good recommendations:
- The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous
- Broken Money by Lyn Alden
- The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin
If you want to learn more about the technical side, consider these:
- Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos
- Programming Bitcoin by Jimmy Song
Also, check the sidebar of this forum for plenty of useful resources.
Don’t forget, there’s also r/BitcoinBeginners.
@Zariah
Thanks, I’ll definitely look into those books. I’m just looking to ease in, nothing too extreme. Is there a specific method to buy Bitcoin, or will any YouTube tutorial be enough?
Zoe said:
@Zariah
Thanks, I’ll definitely look into those books. I’m just looking to ease in, nothing too extreme. Is there a specific method to buy Bitcoin, or will any YouTube tutorial be enough?
It depends on your location. Different countries have various regulations and cryptocurrency exchanges. Personally, I use Kraken.
For no verification options, look into Bisq, Robosats, or find others on https://kycnot.me.
@Zariah
Thanks, that’s really helpful. One last thing. What about wallets? I’m in the US. Which wallet should I choose? I’ve heard about cold and hot wallets. Should a beginner like me even consider them?
@Zoe
Getting comfortable with self-custody is important once you have accumulated some Bitcoin that you don’t want to lose.
Custodial services might go down, and you could lose your Bitcoin with them.
I recommend Bitbox02 or Jade. There are many good options too. If you’re into DIY, a Jade on an ESP32 could cost around $10.
We’ve all been in your shoes, read my guide, and make sure to keep learning as you go.
Congrats on taking this step; it’s never too late. ONLY INVEST MONEY YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOSE.
Invest in your knowledge and learn about Bitcoin as much as possible. The Bitcoin Standard and Broken Money are must-reads.
Remember not to reply to any DMs or emails from people promising to sell you Bitcoin or get rich quickly. Please read this guide:
Price-wise, nobody can tell you what it will be tomorrow, next week, or by the end of the year.
Try the “Bitcoin ONLY” strategy for at least one full block cycle (210,000 blocks); you will sleep better at night. Newcomers lose a lot trying to hold onto useless tokens just because someone from YouTube suggested it. If you don’t want to lose money in useless coins, avoid them.
A dollar-cost averaging approach is likely the best option. To me, Bitcoin is like a savings account. If I have extra cash, I buy some stats. Once a week works best for me, as I get paid weekly. If there’s a 10% drop since my last purchase, I tend to buy double. This DCA calculator might help you figure out what works for you. Even investing $10 a month can lead to significant savings over a few years. This DCA blog is quite interesting as well.
Don’t buy fake Bitcoin from an ETF or similar places; get the real thing that you can take out whenever you want. Register at a reputable exchange and buy actual Bitcoin. Here’s a list of options: https://bitcoin-only.com/get-bitcoin.
Be sure to install (or purchase - if you’re buying Bitcoin in larger amounts) one or more of these wallets:
Some solid wallet choices are:
https://blockstream.com/green/ - Great security features, open-source, and non-custodial.
https://bluewallet.io - Easy-to-use, open-source, and non-custodial wallet.
https://www.sparrowwallet.com - Top desktop wallet.
https://electrum.org - Trusted and solid choice, open-source and non-custodial, one of the oldest Bitcoin wallets. I prefer the desktop version, but it works on mobile too.
For cheaper and faster transactions with Lightning wallets:
https://phoenix.acinq.co/ - Phoenix - a great wallet with Tor for extra privacy, suitable for newcomers.
https://blixtwallet.github.io/ - Blixt - user-friendly, efficient, and clean.
https://breez.technology - Breez - great payment solution for small businesses and integrates with Bitrefill or LN Pizza.
For hardware wallets to store larger amounts:
Trezor - Simple to use, even for Bitcoin newbies. Use the only Bitcoin firmware for additional safety.
ColdCard - Air-gapped and Bitcoin-only, not super user-friendly, but easy-to-follow tutorials are available.
BitBox02 - Another excellent little device. Go for the more secure Bitcoin ONLY version (fewer currencies mean less code and less chance for hidden bugs or backdoors).
Jade - Air-gapped, fully open-source, Bitcoin-only wallet with fantastic features. You can even build it yourself if you’re feeling adventurous.
Seedsigner - DIY fully open-source air-gapped Bitcoin hardware wallet, best not for beginners but something to consider later.
You can also look into Ledger, but I wouldn’t suggest it since it’s not fully open-source and has had security issues in the past. Stay away, to avoid future headaches.
Always buy your wallet DIRECTLY from the manufacturer; avoid eBay or Amazon.
Ensure the device is NOT pre-set, and you will create your own seed phrase. Write the seed phrase down on paper and the receiving address. Then, wipe the wallet and set up a new one. If the phrases differ, it’s safe to use.
Find a way to set a passphrase for extra security. Don’t store your seed phrase and passphrase together. Use different storage methods if possible. If someone finds both, they can steal your coins.
This wallet will hold your keys to your Bitcoin, so you need to exercise extra caution. And don’t stress, if it breaks, you can replace it – as long as you keep your seed phrase and passphrase safe.
Welcome to the Bitcoin journey, and never hesitate to ask if you have any questions along the way.
Also, take a look at the sidebar here for tons of helpful info. If you have further inquiries, visit r/BitcoinBeginners for assistance.
Stay away from altcoins and remember they are often pushed by tech enthusiasts looking to profit off of you. Bitcoin, unlike others, isn’t controlled by anyone and is considered a commodity, like gold. The attraction of Bitcoin is its independence. Other altcoins are likely to descend in value as people learn about Bitcoin.
Focus on what you excel at in your job, and save in Bitcoin. Repeat the process. If you’re considering a 10-20 year investment, then daily price fluctuations are just background noise. 
Check out Matthew Kratter from Bitcoin University for the basics on why Bitcoin is such a valuable asset.
Buy Bitcoin from an exchange, then move it to a cold wallet. That’s literally all you need to remember.
Westin said:
Buy Bitcoin from an exchange, then move it to a cold wallet. That’s literally all you need to remember.
That’s pretty much it. If you want to understand Bitcoin’s purpose better, read The Bitcoin Standard or other recommended books. Also, be responsible and consider Bitcoin as a safeguard against traditional money. Never share your private keys; remember the saying, “not your keys, not your coins.” Be cautious about who you trust with investing advice and watch out for scammers. Stay safe and good luck!
Make sure you have a portfolio tracker like CoinStats to keep an eye on your profits and losses.
Download CashApp or Venmo and start accumulating SATS. Thank you for your time!
Buy Bitcoin, hold it, forget about it for a while, and then enjoy the benefits.
This seems like a scam. I suggest looking into something more stable. If you want to risk losing all your money, feel free to explore crypto, but you should understand safer investment options first.
Cassian said:
This seems like a scam. I suggest looking into something more stable. If you want to risk losing all your money, feel free to explore crypto, but you should understand safer investment options first.
Wow.