RIVER

Bitcoin Introduction

flash bitcoin treasury automation

Welcome to the exciting world of Bitcoin. On this page you find resources, links, tips and best practices to help you on your journey to financial freedom.

If any questions remain unanswered, book a call with us.

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is digital money that no government, bank, or company controls. It runs on a decentralized network of thousands of computers around the world, and it has a fixed supply: there will only ever be 21 million bitcoin.

That fixed supply is the whole point. National currencies can be printed without limit, which is why savings buy less every decade. Bitcoin cannot be printed. New bitcoin is issued on a fixed schedule, and the issuance is cut in half roughly every four years.

Anyone can use bitcoin. You do not need a bank account, an ID, or anyone’s permission. You can send value to anyone, anywhere, in minutes, for a fraction of what banks charge.

Why Bitcoin Matters

Most people come to bitcoin for the price. They stay for what it is: money that cannot be inflated away, frozen, or censored. If your savings sit in a currency that loses purchasing power every year, you are getting poorer by default. Bitcoin is the attempt to fix that.

You do not need to understand everything on day one. Follow the steps below, then go as deep as you like.

Get Started in 5 Steps

1. Learn the basics

Before you buy anything, understand what you are buying. Read the Bitcoin whitepaper (only 9 pages), or start with The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous. The video list further down this page covers the essentials too.

2. Choose a wallet

A wallet holds your bitcoin. For starting out, a simple mobile wallet is enough: Phoenix (self-custodial, minimal) or Blink (easy, more features). As your holdings grow, move to a hardware wallet like Coldcard or Trezor for long-term storage. The rule: not your keys, not your coins.

3. Buy a small amount

Start with an amount you can afford to lose while you learn. $10 to $50 is plenty. The calmest way to build a position is dollar-cost averaging (DCA): buying a fixed amount on a schedule, which smooths out volatility. The broker list further down this page shows where to buy.

4. Secure it

Enable two-factor authentication everywhere. Back up your recovery phrase on paper or metal, never in a photo or cloud note. Never share private keys. Learn about real attack vectors like the Dark Skippy hack so you know what to guard against.

5. Try spending with Lightning

Bitcoin has a fast payments layer called the Lightning Network: near-instant transfers with tiny fees. Learn when to use Lightning vs on-chain, then go deeper with our Lightning Network guide.

Go Deeper

Once the basics click, these guides take you further:

Bitcoin Introduction Videos

What is Bitcoin? 3min

Investment Advisor Tad Smith: “I Taught Finance for 25 Years. Here’s What They Didn’t Want Me to Say” 7min

Mini documentary, introduction to Bitcoin 9min

What’s the Problem? Explanation of the bigger picture and societal issues Bitcoin could cure 40min

“Bitcoin Is Not A Hedge” Data based masterclass in economics – 30min

More Amazing Bitcoin Introduction Videos – Definitely check them out!un

Introduction Essays:

The Bullish Case For Bitcoin – One of the greatest introductions to bitcoin ever written.

Gradually, then suddenly series

Link

Complete List of Bitcoin Books:

Additional Guides, Courses, Resources

Bitcoin.org – Official Website
Bitcoin Whitepaper – The Technical Specification
Lightning News – Updates on scaling, building, payments
Welcome To Bitcoin – Free educational course
Bitcoiner Guide – Collection of further resources
Plan B Network – Explore technical and non-technical courses and content
Saylor Academy – Get a Free Bitcoin Certification
Michael.com – Website with keynotes and presentations
Swan Canon – A collection of resources

Best Bitcoin Brokers

River.com is the best

Complete List of Brokers

$10 Free Bitcoin with Unbank/Stack

Advanced broker including credit/debit card, advanced features:

nexo acquisition banner

Best Bitcoin Wallets

Phoenix Wallet – Self Custodial, minimal features

Blink Wallet – Custodial, more features

Decentralized Ledger Explanation

Money as a System of Control

Best Bitcoin Movies

Dirty Coin Trailer:


Economics & Fiat Money

Economics In One Lesson
https://mises.org/library/book/economics-one-lesson

What Has Government Done To Our Money
https://mises.org/library/book/what-has-government-done-our-money

The Bullish Case For Bitcoin
https://vijayboyapati.medium.com/the-bullish-case-for-bitcoin-part-1-of-4-94087a70d9e8

Cultural Consequences of Fiat Money – Jorg Guido Hulsmann

Lyn Alden – Broken Money