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
0.	Setup
1.	Try It
2.	Backup your 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

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Step 0. Setup

I have a printer	I don't have a printer
Print this PDF & Track your progress by ticking off steps in the Done column.	Save this PDF to your desktop & Track your progress by renaming the PDF to include the next Lesson Number (e.g. bitcoin-intro_Lesson2.pdf)

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Step 1. Try it

Aim: Get a small amount of bitcoin and make a transaction

1. Download a Bitcoin Wallet
2. Get some bitcoin
3. Withdraw the bitcoin to your wallet
4. Send some bitcoin to yourself
5. Look at the transaction

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Step 2. Backup your bitcoin

Aim: Backup your bitcoin

1. Locate your seed
2. Write it on a piece of paper
3. Hide that piece of paper somewhere safe

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Step 3. Why use bitcoin?

Aim: Learn why bitcoin is useful

1. Read 'Why Bitcoin' by Wiz
2. Watch 'Why Bitcoin Matters' by Aleks Svetski

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Step 4. What is bitcoin?

Aim: Learn what bitcoin is

1. Read 'What Is Bitcoin' by Greg Walker
2. Watch 'Bitcoin - The Genesis' by RT

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Step 5. Further Learning

Aim: Further develop your understanding of bitcoin

Listen

1. The Bitcoin Standard
2. Intro to Bitcoin Austrian thought

Read

1. The Little Bitcoin Book
2. Sovereignty through mathematics
3. The Bitcoin Standard (Listen to the prologue)

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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.

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

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Step 7. Running a Node

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

1. Benefits of a Full Node
2. Video Tutorials: Install Linux & Install Core
3. Written Tutorial

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Step 8. Joining In

Aim: Discover how to get involved discussions about bitcoin.

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

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Step 9. Bitcoin privacy

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

1. Read how to Hodl Privately
2. Learn about CoinJoin

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Step 10. Bitcoin MicroPayments

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

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

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Step 11. Technical Details

Aim: Better understand how bitcoin works & the terminology

1. Watch But How does bitcoin actually work
2. Watch How Bitcoin Works Under the Hood