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Introduction
The foundation of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin lies in a new technology called the blockchain; it’s the infrastructure that cryptocurrencies are built on. Blockchain is a disruptive technology that many argue is bigger than the advent of the Internet. The applications of blockchain don’t end with cryptocurrencies, though, just like the applications of the Internet don’t end with email. If you want to find out what blockchains are, the basics of how to use them, which cryptocurrencies are lucrative investments, and what hardware is needed for cryptocurrency mining, this is the book for you.
About This Book
In this book, you find helpful advice for navigating the blockchain world and cryptocurrencies that run them — from the ins and outs of wallets, exchanges, Bitcoin, and Ethereum to investing in cryptocurrencies and even mining your own.
You don’t have to read the book cover to cover. Just flip to the subject that you’re interested in.
As you dip into and out of this book, feel free to skip the sidebars (shaded boxes) and the paragraphs marked with the Technical Stuff icon. They contain interesting but nonessential information.
Within this book, you may note that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you’re reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it’s noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist. If you’re reading this as an e-book, you’ve got it easy — just click the web address to be taken directly to the webpage.
Some of the web addresses are affiliate links, meaning that if you click them and start using a company’s services through that specific web address, the author may earn an affiliate payment for making the introduction.
Foolish Assumptions
We didn’t want to make too many assumptions about you and your experience with cryptocurrency, blockchains, mining, and legal matters, but we do assume the following:
You have a computer, a smartphone, and access to the Internet.
You know the basics of using your computer and the Internet, and how to download and install programs.
You know how to navigate through menus within programs, how to find files on your computer, and how to create folders.
You’re new to blockchain and you aren’t a skilled programmer. (Of course, if you are a skilled programmer, you can still get a lot out of this book — you just may be able to breeze past some of the step-by-step guidelines.)
You may have heard of, or even purchased, some