Bitcoin

Bitcoin's Core Principles

Fixed Supply: 21 Million Coins

Bitcoin's monetary policy is set in stone. There will only ever be 21 million bitcoins, and this cannot be changed. No central bank can print more. No government can inflate it away. This makes Bitcoin the hardest money ever created.

No Central Authority

Bitcoin has no CEO, no company, no foundation that controls it. There's no one to call, no customer service, no corporate headquarters. It's a decentralized network maintained by thousands of independent nodes around the world.

Proof of Work Security

Bitcoin is secured by proof of work mining, which requires real-world energy expenditure. This makes the network incredibly expensive to attack and creates a trustless system where participants don't need to trust each other—they trust the mathematics and physics.

Network Effects

Bitcoin has been running 24/7 since January 2009, with 99.99% uptime. It has the largest network of miners, the highest security, the most liquidity, and the strongest brand recognition. These network effects create an insurmountable moat.

Bitcoin vs. Alternative Cryptocurrencies

Characteristic	Bitcoin	Altcoins
Leadership	No CEO, no company	Centralized leadership
Supply	Fixed at 21 million	Changeable or unlimited
Distribution	Fair launch, no premine	Premined for founders
Security	Proof of Work	Proof of Stake or other
Immutability	Never rolled back	Can be rolled back
Purpose	Sound money	Enrich founders

Common Misconceptions

"Bitcoin is Too Slow"

Bitcoin's 10-minute block time is a feature, not a bug. This deliberate slowness is what makes Bitcoin secure and decentralized. Faster blockchains sacrifice security and decentralization—two properties you cannot compromise on for sound money.

"Bitcoin Wastes Energy"

Bitcoin doesn't waste energy—it uses energy to secure the network. This energy expenditure is what makes Bitcoin unstoppable. You cannot create Bitcoin security without energy, just as you cannot create steel without heat. The energy secures $500+ billion in value.

"Newer Technology is Better"

Bitcoin benefits from the Lindy Effect: the longer something survives, the longer it's likely to continue surviving. Bitcoin has been battle-tested for 15+ years. Every day it survives, it becomes stronger. New cryptocurrencies are unproven experiments.

"Bitcoin Can't Scale"

Bitcoin scales in layers, just like the internet. The base layer provides security and settlement. The Lightning Network enables instant, low-cost payments. This layered approach is how all successful systems scale—email, web, and now money.

Why Bitcoin Matters

Bitcoin is the first and only solution to the problem of creating digital scarcity without a trusted third party. This is a profound breakthrough in computer science and economics.

• Separation of Money and State: Bitcoin cannot be controlled by governments or banks
• Financial Sovereignty: You control your money, not banks or corporations
• Censorship Resistance: No one can freeze or confiscate your Bitcoin
• Predictable Monetary Policy: No inflation, no surprise money printing
• Global Accessibility: Anyone with internet can use Bitcoin
• Permissionless: No one can stop you from using Bitcoin

Getting Started with Bitcoin

Learn First

Don't invest in Bitcoin because someone told you to or because of price. Learn why Bitcoin exists, how it works, and what problem it solves. Only then should you consider buying.

Recommended Resources

• Bitcoin.org - Official Bitcoin project website
• Bitcoin Whitepaper by Satoshi Nakamoto (original paper)
• "Mastering Bitcoin" by Andreas M. Antonopoulos (technical)

Self-Custody is Critical

"Not your keys, not your Bitcoin." Learn about hardware wallets and self-custody before buying significant amounts. Bitcoin's power comes from you controlling it directly, not trusting an exchange or custodian.