Resources
Don’t trust. Verify.
| The Rules | Keep it simple |
| Rule #1 | Don’t trust. Verify. |
| There are scammers everywhere — fake sites, fake support, fake “wallet help”, and people trying to rush you. Slow down. Verify URLs, verify software, verify addresses. If you’re unsure, ask someone you trust before you click or send. | |
| Rule #2 | Self-custody. |
| Custodial means you don’t control the keys — someone else does. Non-custodial means you control the keys, so you control the Bitcoin. If you’re serious about this, graduate to a proper setup (see the Hardware section). | |
| Rule #3 | No Shitcoins. 💩 |
| A shitcoin is anything that isn’t Bitcoin. Most are hype cycles, insiders, and marketing — and they all trend to zero against BTC over time. Playing that casino gets people wrecked. Example: Ethereum. | |
| Rule #4 | Backups you can verify. |
| Rule #5 | Small test sends. |
| Learn | Start here |
| Bitcoin White Paper 🔥 | Read the original |
| The original Bitcoin white paper published by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. Nine pages that changed the world. If you want to understand Bitcoin properly, start here. Read it slowly. Think about it. Then read it again. | |
| Learn Me A Bitcoin | Clear explanations |
| Bitcoin.org | Basics + wallets |
| Where to buy | Fiat on-ramps |
| USA | USD |
| Strike | Buy + Lightning |
| Easy way to buy and send Bitcoin with USD. Lightning-enabled, low fees, and instant transfers — great for stacking sats fast. | |
| Cash App | Simple + widely available |
| Straightforward Bitcoin on-ramp with massive reach. Simple for beginners, but remember to withdraw to self-custody. | |
| River | Bitcoin-only exchange |
| Bitcoin-only exchange with no shitcoins and a focus on long-term stacking and self-custody. | |
| Australia | AUD |
| HardBlock | Bitcoin-only |
| HardBlock is Australia’s longest-running Bitcoin-only exchange, focused on radical transparency and simple, honest AUD-to-BTC purchases. No hidden fees, no deposit fees — just straightforward Bitcoin buying and withdrawals at cost. With human support and automation tools like recurring buys and bank-to-wallet workflows, it makes stacking sats in Australia easy and intuitive while still encouraging you to withdraw to your own self-custody wallet. | |
| Bitaroo | Bitcoin-only |
| Bitaroo is Australia’s largest Bitcoin-only exchange, designed for straightforward BTC buying with low fees and fast AUD deposits/withdrawals. It supports on-chain and Lightning transactions, lets you set up market tools like DCA, and encourages you to stack sats responsibly and withdraw to self-custody. | |
| Global | Multi-region |
| Strike | Buy + Lightning |
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Always withdraw to self-custody.
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| Running a Node | Run your own Bitcoin |
| Bitcoin Knots 🔥 | Policy flexibility |
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Bitcoin Knots follows the same consensus rules as Core but keeps more policy control in the operator’s hands. Ongoing debates around arbitrary data relay in what is fundamentally a monetary protocol haven’t sat well with everyone. If you prefer tighter control and fewer surprises, Knots keeps your options open.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| ₿itcoin Core | Reference client + full node |
| Wallets | Self-custody |
| Sparrow Wallet 🔥 | Desktop |
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Sparrow is mandatory kit. It pairs beautifully with Coldcard and other serious signers, supporting air-gapped workflows via QR or SD card. Use it simple or go deep. Sync it with your own Bitcoin Core and keep your wallet metadata off public servers.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Electrum | Desktop |
| Nunchuk 🔥 | Mobile + multisig 🔐 |
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Perfect on-the-go multisig wallet. Pairs beautifully with a TAPSIGNER for mobile-first sovereign setup without lugging hardware around.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| BlueWallet | Mobile |
| Hardware | Cold storage |
| Coldcard 🔥 | Airgapped-friendly |
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Coldcard is the gold standard for air-gapped Bitcoin security. You can use it simply, or unlock deep features as you level up. It grows with you. Most serious Bitcoiners end up here eventually — spend the extra upfront and skip the upgrade cycle.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Blockstream Jade | Good value |
| SeedSigner | DIY + stateless |
| Bitkey | Hybrid custody model |
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Bitkey is Block’s attempt to make self-custody normal. Hardware + phone + recovery setup so you’re not juggling seed plates on day one. It’s not the hardcore air-gapped max setup — but for someone graduating from an exchange, it’s a serious step up.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Home Servers ₿ | Run your own infrastructure |
| Start9 🔥 | Sovereignty-first |
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Start9 is a sovereignty-first home server platform designed for people who want to actually run their own infrastructure. Bitcoin node, Lightning, electrum server, and more — all under your control. Tor-native and privacy-focused from the ground up. If you’re serious about self-hosting, this is where you graduate.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Umbrel | Beginner-friendly |
| Lightning | Payments |
| Zeus 🔥 | Lightning (self-hosted) |
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Zeus is a non-custodial Lightning wallet built for connecting to your own node. Whether you run LND or Core Lightning, it lets you manage channels, send payments, and interact with your stack from mobile. It can also run in embedded mode if you’re just starting out.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Alby 🔥 | Lightning ecosystem |
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Alby started as a browser Lightning extension and has grown into a full Lightning ecosystem. With Alby Go for mobile and Alby Hub for self-hosted setups, it offers a path from convenience to sovereignty. It’s flexible enough for beginners while still supporting those running their own node.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Wallet of Satoshi ⚡️ | Easy Lightning |
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Wallet of Satoshi is custodial — you don’t hold the keys. But it’s fast, frictionless, and extremely reliable for Lightning payments and zapping. For small amounts and pure convenience, it’s hard to beat.
Tutorial: BTC Sessions (YouTube) |
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| Verify | Trustless checks |
| Bitbo | Treasuries |
| mempool.space | Blocks + fees |
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