Crypto Guides and How-Tos for Beginners

About these guides

New to crypto? Start here. These guides explain how cryptocurrencies work and how to use them safely, step by step and in plain words.

Begin with the basics: what a cryptocurrency is, how a blockchain records transactions, and what a wallet really holds. A wallet does not store coins. It stores the keys that prove the coins are yours, and the seed phrase is the backup of those keys. Anyone who sees your seed phrase can take your funds.

Then move on to buying and selling, sending crypto, staking and taxes. We review the most-read guides regularly, and each one shows when it was last updated.

Crypto prices swing hard and scams are common. Never put in money you cannot afford to lose, and walk away from anyone who promises guaranteed returns.

Five safety rules

1. Seed phrase Write it down, keep it offline and never share it. No real support team will ever ask for it.
2. Two-factor login Turn on two-factor authentication for every exchange account, with an app rather than text messages where you can.
3. Addresses Bookmark the sites you use and check every wallet address before you send. Some malware swaps copied addresses.
4. Test first Send a small amount first when you use a new address or network.
5. Promises Guaranteed returns, giveaways and urgent messages are the most common signs of a scam.