Bitcoin - A beginner’s guide

Bitcoin. Blockchain. Cryptocurrency. Private keys. Coin mining. The terminology alone is enough to scare off just about everyone. Fear not! This article will explain Bitcoin in simple language that even Aunt Agatha, aged 96 in the shade, will feel comfortable with and understand. Let’s start with the basics.

What is Bitcoin?

Imagine Little Johnny is sitting in a park with his equally little friend, Jack. Johnny has an orange in his hands. He gives it directly to Jack.

There’s no middleman sitting between them, just all the other kids on the playground watching the transaction closely. Jack is now legitimately in possession of the orange, and he can do with it what he likes.

That’s how Bitcoin works. Sure, it’s super-simplified, and aimed at seven-year olds, but it’s enough to understand the basics (the very basics, mind you).

Really, though, the grown-up explanation isn’t much more complicated.

A peer-to-peer, decentralised, safe, and secure digital currency.

Simply put, Bitcoin is just a different payment method. It’s internet money. Or digital money. And it’s money that stands apart from countries and mainstream financial institutions, like banks and credit unions.

Going back to our example, remember Johnny gave the orange directly to Jack? There was no middleman to complicate the exchange. That’s how Bitcoin works. It’s a peer-to-peer currency, so it doesn’t need a bank teller or a judge standing in-between.

But wait, if there’s nobody to act as a go-between, how can we be confident the transfer is safe and secure? And how can we be certain that the payment reaches the right destination?

Blockchain. It’s what makes Bitcoin completely secure

Remember, in our example, there were all the other kids watching Johnny give Jack the orange. It’s the same with Bitcoin, but on a much, much, much, wider scale.

This is where blockchain technology comes in. Think of it as a ledger that sits atop the Bitcoin universe, and sees and records everything. It’s a ledger that keeps a record of every single transaction, and, in that way, it ensures complete transparency.

Blockchain technology ensures neutral and independent transaction processing that uses vast computing power that it sources from around the world. Millions of people and companies globally contribute computing processing power to ensuring an accurate, safe, and reliable record of all the transactions made.

Why do they do this? What’s in it for them?

Bitcoin mining. More advanced than digging underground.

Miners, the folk who contribute their enormous computing power, are the folk who keep this technology running. In fact, there wouldn’t be this coin without them.

Mining is a spread-out consensus system used to confirm transactions by recording them in the blockchain. Mining enforces a chronological order in the blockchain, it protects the neutrality of the network, and it allows all the above-mentioned computers to agree on the state of the system.

In short, Bitcoin miners keep your coin safe. So, how do they get rewarded?

By earning new coins, of course. But since there is a limited number of bitcoins available (it will never go above 21 million), you can be sure the currency will retain its value and not be watered down.

So, that’s the theory. Pretty simple, hey?

Next up. How do you use bitcoins? Simply.

You’re a new user. You want to get the best out of bitcoins. You prefer not to know the algorithms and tech specs, and you don’t need to.

Here’s how to do it.

Install a crypto wallet on the hard drive of your mobile phone or computer (preferably not the cloud, though that’s possible too).
Purchase coins, or fractions of them, from reputable cryptocurrency exchanges, and they will be stored in your crypto wallet.
Your wallet will give you your first Bitcoin address. You can disclose your addresses to your friends so that they can pay you or vice versa.
Now, this is where security comes in. Each Bitcoin transaction uses two keys. One is a public key, and every public key is known to every bitcoin miner. The second key is unique. It’s a private key known only to the user.
And that’s the key to total security – because you can’t spend bitcoins without knowing the private key.

And that, my friends, is Bitcoin 101. Really, not too complex at all! If you’d like to gain a deeper understanding of this digital currency, the web is full of reputable information.

And Johnny, Jack, and all the other kids on the playground? They’re now using bitcoins to buy ice creams, make bets, and generally have a good time.

So, now you know the basics, what are the next steps? Get a wallet!