Free guide
Useful links
Independent places to look things up, plus books, videos and podcasts worth your time on money, Bitcoin and risk.
These are other people's websites, listed because they are useful for looking something up yourself. We are not paid to list any of them, there are no referral links, and listing one isn't a recommendation to use it. Check anything important against the source.
Read the source
- The Bitcoin white paper
The original nine-page paper from 2008 that describes how Bitcoin works.
- mempool.space
A block explorer: look up any Bitcoin transaction or address and see fees in real time.
Prices and market data
- CoinGecko
Prices, supply and market size for most digital assets.
- CoinMarketCap
The same kind of data from a different source, useful for cross-checking.
Holding it yourself
We are not paid by any of these and we don't use referral links.
- Trezor
Hardware wallet maker. Buy only from the maker's own site.
- Ledger
Hardware wallet maker. Buy only from the maker's own site.
- Sparrow Wallet
Free, open-source Bitcoin wallet software for a desktop computer.
- Bitwarden
Open-source password manager. For passwords, never for a recovery phrase.
Records and tax
These help you produce records. A registered tax agent or accountant is who should check them.
- Koinly
Imports your transactions and produces tax reports for many countries.
- CoinTracking
Another long-running tracking and tax reporting service.
Rules and scam warnings (Australia)
If you live elsewhere, look up the same three things where you live: the tax office, the financial regulator and the national scam service.
- ATO
The tax office's own guidance on how digital assets are taxed in Australia.
- ASIC Moneysmart
The regulator's plain-English money guidance, including crypto risks.
- Scamwatch
Current scams, and where to report one.
Reading and watching
Books, videos, podcasts and courses we think are worth your time, on money, Bitcoin and risk. They're other people's work and their views are their own. Many of these authors are strongly in favour of Bitcoin, so read them alongside the risks.
Where to start
Step 1
Start with The Bitcoin Standard and its podcast
It's hard to understand Bitcoin without understanding money. Most of The Bitcoin Standard is the history of money, before Bitcoin appears at all.
Step 2
Then Broken Money and Saylor Academy's free course
Lyn Alden links monetary history to modern technology. The free Bitcoin for Everybody course adds the technical side.
Step 3
Add Taleb for thinking about risk
Read The Black Swan and Antifragile. You don't need to share Taleb's views on Bitcoin to use his ideas on randomness, fragility and risk.
Step 4
Keep up with long interviews, not price talk
Skip daily price updates. Long conversations with economists and energy experts teach more than short clips.
What money is
Saifedean Ammous and Murray Rothbard
The history of money, from shells and gold to central banks, and the argument for hard money that Bitcoin builds on.
- The Bitcoin Standard
Book · Saifedean Ammous · Start here
A good first book. Most of it is the history of money, from seashells to gold to central banks, before Bitcoin appears.
- The Fiat Standard
Book · Saifedean Ammous
A critique of today's government money and how it shapes saving, spending and planning ahead.
- What Has Government Done to Our Money?
Book · Murray Rothbard
A short, clear account of how money arises in markets and how governments have debased it.
- The Bitcoin Standard Podcast
Podcast · Saifedean Ammous
Long conversations on economics, energy and history, with no price talk.
Clear thinking, no hype
Lyn Alden, Andreas Antonopoulos and Jack Mallers
Careful writers and speakers on economics, technology and why open money matters to everyday people.
- Broken Money
Book · Lyn Alden · Must read
One of the best modern books on the history and technology of money.
- Lyn Alden's research
Writing · Lyn Alden
Free, data-driven articles on the economy and markets.
- The Internet of Money (volumes 1 to 3)
Book · Andreas Antonopoulos
The social, technical and philosophical side of open money, explained calmly.
- Andreas Antonopoulos on YouTube
Video · Andreas Antonopoulos
Classic talks for beginners on how Bitcoin works and why it was built.
- Jack Mallers on What is Money?
Podcast · Robert Breedlove and Jack Mallers
A long conversation on money, the Lightning Network and payments on the internet.
- Jack Mallers' talks
Video · Jack Mallers
Conference talks on Bitcoin as a payments network and what it means for everyday people.
Money, energy and meaning
Robert Breedlove
Long-form conversations and essays on the deepest questions about money and society.
- What is Money? podcast
Podcast · Robert Breedlove · Essential
Its long series with Michael Saylor covers money, energy and history in depth.
- Thank God for Bitcoin
Book · Robert Breedlove and others
A philosophical and religious look at why money matters beyond its price.
- Breedlove's essays
Writing · Robert Breedlove
Long essays on the nature of money and proof of work.
The Saylor view
Michael Saylor
An engineer and company founder's case for Bitcoin, including a free university-style course.
- Bitcoin for Everybody (PRDV151)
Free course · Saylor Academy · Free course
A free online course with no prerequisites.
- Michael Saylor on YouTube
Video · Michael Saylor
Talks and interviews on Bitcoin as digital property.
- Lex Fridman Podcast
Podcast · Lex Fridman
Long interviews, including several with Michael Saylor and other Bitcoin thinkers.
Risk and uncertainty
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Essential thinking on luck, rare events and risk, whatever you think of digital assets.
- Fooled by Randomness
Book · Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Luck versus skill in markets, and how we misread outcomes.
- The Black Swan
Book · Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why predictions fail and rare events matter most.
- Antifragile
Book · Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Things that gain from disorder, and how to avoid fragility.
- Skin in the Game
Book · Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why advice is worth more from people who share the risk.
- Taleb's lectures
Video · Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Talks on risk, uncertainty and decision-making.
Markets and the big picture
Anthony Pompliano
Interviews and a daily letter on the economy and digital assets.
- The Pomp Podcast
Podcast · Anthony Pompliano
Interviews with investors, economists and founders.
- The Pomp Letter
Writing · Anthony Pompliano
A short daily letter on markets and digital assets.
In Australia
Official and local sources
Tax rules, the Reserve Bank's research and local news.
- ATO: crypto asset investments
Website · Australian Taxation Office
How digital assets are taxed in Australia.
- Reserve Bank of Australia speeches
Website · RBA
Speeches and research, including on digital money and central bank digital currencies.
- Bitcoin Association of Australia
Website
Local news, policy and events.