Get it. Hold it. Use it. Bitcoin in 10 minutes.
Buy your first sats
in 10 minutes
Self-custody:
True ownership
Send, save,
and verify
Total Time: 30 minutes to Bitcoin sovereignty
Buy $10-50 on an exchange, then move it to your own wallet.
Time: 10 minutes | Start with: $10-50
Fast, easy, accepts cards & bank transfers
Examples: Coinbase, Kraken, Strike, Cash App
✓ Beginner-friendly
⚠️ Withdraw to own wallet ASAP
More private, direct ownership
Examples: Bisq, RoboSats, ATMs
✓ Better privacy
⚠️ Higher learning curve
Get paid in Bitcoin for work or goods
Freelance, sell products, services
✓ No KYC needed
○ Slower to accumulate
Not your keys, not your Bitcoin. Always move funds to your own wallet after buying.
Create account on exchange
Bank or card
Start with $10-50
The exchange holds it for you. Next step: Move it to YOUR wallet.
Your first withdrawal will likely be held for 24–48 hours for "security review."
This is NORMAL. Exchanges like Coinbase, CoinSpot, Kraken do this for new accounts. You might get:
Send $5–$20 first. Wait for 1–3 confirmations. Verify it arrives. Then send the rest.
When to use: First time ever, large amounts, unfamiliar wallet, or you're feeling anxious.
Send everything in one transaction. Saves time and one network fee.
When to use: You've done this before, small amount (under $100), or you've verified the address multiple ways.
Anxiety management: If you're nervous, do the practice send. The peace of mind is worth the extra $1 fee. Bitcoin is final — you can't reverse a mistake.
Some exchanges (like CoinSpot) don't show a transaction ID (TXID) until the withdrawal is approved. Here's how to handle it:
If it's been over 48 hours with no movement, use this template:
✅ Remember: As long as the withdrawal shows in your history, your funds are safe. The exchange has processed your request; they just haven't broadcast it to the network yet.
❌ They hold your keys
❌ Can freeze/censor
❌ You're trusting them
✅ You hold your keys
✅ Only you can spend
✅ True ownership
Think of it like this: Exchange = Hotel Safe | Self-Custody = Your Own Safe at Home
It's not an "account." It's a keyring that unlocks your Bitcoin on the blockchain. No bank, no permission—just you.
Different wallets for different needs. Start simple, upgrade as you learn.
Best for: Beginner / Daily use
Examples: BlueWallet, Phoenix
Best for: Savings / Security
Examples: Trezor, Coldcard
Best for: Advanced / Shared
Examples: Unchained, Sparrow
Modern wallets generate the recovery words for you. Think of those words as the master key. If you lose them, no one can restore your wallet—not even the app.
The wallet app generates 12 random words FOR you using cryptographic randomness. You never choose them yourself.
Write down the words the app shows you. Store them safely.
Pick words yourself, type them into any website, or use words from a poem/song.
Forgot password? Click "Reset"
Support can unlock your account
They control access
Lost seed words? Funds are gone forever
No support can help you
YOU control access
This is the trade-off: True ownership = true responsibility. No one can freeze your Bitcoin, but no one can recover it for you either.
Passwords can be reset by companies. Recovery words put you in charge. Lose them = no recovery desk. Keep them safe = lifelong access.
This is a practice simulation. No real keys are generated.
No email. No password. You control access.
This is what you'd share to receive Bitcoin from someone.
A new address each time improves privacy. Old addresses still work.
When sending or receiving Bitcoin, always verify the address. Here's the quick way:
Instead of checking the entire 42-character address, check:
Example address:
bc1qxy2kgdygjrsqtzq2n0yrf2493p83kkjhx0wlh
← Check these parts match!
Why this works: Malware that swaps addresses can't easily match both the first AND last characters. This quick check catches 99.9% of address swap attacks.
Malware can silently replace addresses you copy from one app and paste into another. You might think you're sending to the right address, but the malware swaps it mid-paste.
If you're copying an address on the same phone (e.g., from exchange app to wallet app), you're more vulnerable to clipboard malware.
Trust what's on your hardware device screen, not your computer screen. If using a hardware wallet, the device shows the true destination. If it doesn't match what you expect, STOP and investigate.
Yes—the words restore your wallet in any compatible app. Your Bitcoin lives on the blockchain, not in the app.
Want to master wallet security?
Deep dive into "Bitcoin Wallets" in Pragmatist →
Hardware wallets, security levels, seed phrase protection
Now that you have a wallet, let's use it safely—receive, send, and track a real transaction (testnet or tiny mainnet).
Simulate a real Bitcoin transaction between two phones. This is exactly how it works in real life!
Balance:
5,000 sats
Send amount (sats):
Balance:
0 sats
bc1qxy2...x0wlh
📱 Share this QR to receive
No real money. Real blockchain. Learn by doing.
Download a Bitcoin testnet wallet app on your phone or computer.
⚠️ Make sure to select Testnet mode in settings!
In your wallet, tap "Receive" and copy your address. It should start with tb1.
Example: tb1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kxpjzsx
Visit the faucet and paste your address to receive free testnet Bitcoin.
📍 How to Use the Faucet:
🔗 bitcoinfaucet.uo1.net
Track your transaction on the blockchain explorer.
Open Block ExplorerWatch it go from "Unconfirmed" (0) to "Confirmed" (1+). Takes ~10-30 mins.
Once confirmed, practice sending coins.
📤 Send to:
tb1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kxpjzsx
• Double-check address before sending
• Start with small amounts
• Bitcoin is final—no undo!
🎉 You made real Bitcoin transactions!
Alternative Faucets:
If one is empty, try another. Testnet Bitcoin has no real value!
Understand what fees do and why Bitcoin is final.
Estimated Fee:
~10 sats
Confirmation Time:
~10 mins
Fees go to miners for including your transaction in a block. Higher fee = faster confirmation. No monthly fees. No chargebacks.
Once you drop it in, you can track it—but not pull it back. Bitcoin is final.
Fix the biggest misconception about Bitcoin wallets.
"The Vault"
Coins live here
"The Key"
Unlocks your coins
Your Bitcoin isn't inside the app. The app holds your keys; the coins live on the blockchain.
Delete the app? Restore with words. Your Bitcoin is safe on the blockchain.
Choose your first real-world Bitcoin action.
Buy a gift card, pay a friend, try Lightning later
Example: Bitrefill →
Withdraw from exchange to your wallet
See checklist →
Move to hardware wallet for long-term storage
Best practice →
Prove you can recover your wallet. This is critical.
Never type your mainnet words into any website or demo. Paper, in person, offline only.
Track your progress as you learn to use Bitcoin safely and effectively.
Want to understand fees & confirmations?
Learn "Bitcoin Transactions" in Pragmatist →
Fee levels 🟢🟡🟠🔴, confirmation security, Lightning Network
In 10 minutes, you now know more about Bitcoin than 99% of people.
You know how to buy your first sats and understand the difference between exchange custody and true ownership
You control the keys = you control the Bitcoin. No bank, no intermediary, no permission needed
Spend, send, or save — Bitcoin gives you financial freedom without borders or restrictions
For the first time in history, you can own digital money that nobody can take away, freeze, or devalue. Not your bank. Not your government. Just you.
Send any amount to anyone, anywhere, anytime. No forms to fill out. No approval needed. No borders. No censorship.
Only 21 million Bitcoin will ever exist. No government can print more. No central bank can inflate it away. Your purchasing power is protected.
You are your own bank. With that comes responsibility — but also complete control over your wealth.
"Not your keys, not your coins."
— Bitcoin Proverb
Ready to Become a Bitcoin Expert?
You've mastered the basics! Now dive deep with the Pragmatist Path:
How the network stays secure
Immutability & distributed ledger
Advanced protection strategies
Continue your Bitcoin education journey
You've mastered the basics. Explore these paths to expand your Bitcoin journey.
Practical • Action-Oriented
Learn by doing. Master real-world Bitcoin skills with hands-on demos, transaction practice, and wallet setup guides.
Advanced • Security-Focused
Achieve true financial sovereignty. Master cold storage, multi-sig, privacy techniques, and inheritance planning.
Or return to Homepage to explore all learning paths