Guides
Plain-English explanations of how crypto works, from self-custody to taxes, grouped into five sections. Educational only.
Start here
- Crypto GlossaryPlain-English definitions of 64 common crypto terms, from address and blockchain to staking and seed phrase, each linked to a beginner guide.9 min read
- What Is Cryptocurrency, Really?What cryptocurrency is, how it differs from dollars in a bank, and why a coin and a token aren't the same thing.9 min read
- How a Blockchain WorksWhat a blockchain is, how blocks link together, and how a network of computers agrees on one shared record.11 min read
- Keys, Addresses and WalletsWhat a crypto wallet actually holds: private keys, public keys, addresses, and who holds the keys.11 min read
- How Crypto Transactions WorkWhat happens when you send crypto: signing, the waiting room, fees, and confirmations.10 min read
- What Is Bitcoin?How new bitcoin gets created, why the amount is capped at 21 million, and what the halving actually is.9 min read
- What Is Ethereum?What a smart contract actually is, what ETH and gas pay for, and how the network stays secure without mining.8 min read
- Stablecoins ExplainedHow a stablecoin gets created, why its price tends to snap back to $1, and what happened the times it didn't.8 min read
How crypto works
- Why Network Fees Spike or Transactions Get StuckWhy crypto network fees jump, why a failed transaction can still cost gas, and what a stuck or pending transaction means.11 min read
- Sats, Gwei and Decimals: Crypto's Small Units ExplainedWhat sats, gwei, wei and lamports are, how many decimal places crypto uses, how to read fee quotes like sat/vB and gwei, and why token decimals matter.10 min read
- How to Read a Blockchain ExplorerHow to look up a transaction, check an address, and confirm a transfer actually landed.5 min read
- Layer 1 vs. Layer 2What layer 1 and layer 2 mean, how rollups bundle transactions, and how sidechains and bridges differ.12 min read
- Bridges and Wrapped TokensHow a bridge moves coins between blockchains, what a wrapped token really is, and why bridges are a common hacking target.10 min read
- How the XRP Ledger, Stellar and Hedera WorkHow three payment networks reach agreement without mining, and what XRP, XLM and HBAR do.13 min read
- Ripple and XRPPrice chart, how XRP and Ripple's payment products relate, and recent partnerships.
- Hedera (HBAR)Price chart, how Hedera's governing council works, and enterprise projects on the network.
- What Is Staking?What validators do, where staking rewards come from, and how penalties and slashing work.13 min read
- Market Cap, Supply, and TokenomicsWhat market cap, circulating supply, max supply, and fully diluted value mean, and why a low price isn't the same as cheap.10 min read
- Coin vs. Token: What's the Difference in Crypto?A plain-English look at crypto coins vs. tokens: native coins, tokens built on other blockchains, why fees use the coin, and why token names can be copied.9 min read
- Hard Forks vs. Soft Forks: Crypto Forks, ExplainedWhat a crypto fork is, how soft and hard forks differ, why most are routine upgrades, and what holders see when a chain splits into two.12 min read
- What Are NFTs, Actually?What an NFT is, what you own when you buy one, where the image lives, and the red flags to watch for.10 min read
- What Is a DAO?How a group votes with tokens, shares a treasury, and where code, turnout, and legal status get messy.9 min read
- Tokenization of Real-World AssetsHow bonds, real estate and commodities are being represented on blockchains, and the networks involved.7 min read
- Public vs. Private Blockchains: Permissioned, ExplainedHow public (permissionless) and private (permissioned) blockchains differ: who can join, who can see the data, who validates, and the trade-offs of each.10 min read
- What Is ISO 20022?The financial messaging standard banks moved to in 2025, and how it relates to crypto networks.6 min read
- ISO 20022 Coins: XRP, HBAR, XLM, XDCWhat the "ISO 20022 coin" label means, what it doesn't, and how each network relates to bank messaging.7 min read
- Token Approvals and DeFi BasicsWhat connecting a wallet, signing, and approving a token each allow, and how to revoke an approval.13 min read
- How Decentralized Exchanges Work: Pools, Swaps, SlippageHow a DEX swap works: liquidity pools, how a pool sets a price, price impact and slippage settings, what liquidity providers take on, and common traps.13 min read
- What Is a Blockchain Oracle? A Plain-English GuideHow blockchain oracles bring prices and other outside data to smart contracts, centralized vs. decentralized designs, and why they're a weak point.10 min read
Staying safe and self-custody
- Hot Wallet vs. Cold WalletWhether the keys that control your crypto sit on an internet-connected device, and what that changes in practice.10 min read
- Hardware Wallet Setup GuideStep-by-step setup for Ledger and Trezor, where people go wrong, and how to test before trusting it.9 min read
- Hardware Wallet Tamper CheckHow to check a new hardware wallet for tampering before you trust it with anything.11 min read
- How to Move Crypto to Cold StorageTransferring from an exchange to a hardware wallet without address or network mistakes.6 min read
- How to Send Crypto Safely: A Before-You-Send ChecklistA plain-English checklist for sending crypto: matching the network, checking the full address, memos and destination tags, fees, and small test sends.11 min read
- Seed Phrase vs. Password, PIN, and Private KeyWhat a seed phrase, a password, a PIN, and a private key each unlock, and which ones nobody can reset.10 min read
- Seed Phrase BasicsHow to store a recovery phrase, where never to keep it, and what to do if it's exposed.6 min read
- Multisig for Regular PeopleHow a wallet that needs more than one key works, what it protects against, and what to back up.10 min read
- How to Lock Down Your Exchange AccountStronger two-factor, a locked-down email, and how a SIM swap can take over a phone number.12 min read
- How to Avoid Crypto ScamsPhishing, fake support, rug pulls and romance scams, and the signs that give them away.8 min read
- What Is a Crypto Airdrop? How They Work and Scams to AvoidCrypto airdrops in plain English: how real ones work, how fake claim sites drain wallets, red flags to watch for, and what the IRS has said about taxes.13 min read
- Crypto ATMs Explained: How They Work, Fees and ScamsHow crypto ATMs (Bitcoin ATMs) work, what they cost, and the scam pattern the FTC and FBI warn about, plus what to do if you or a relative already paid.11 min read
- How to Spot a Rug PullHow liquidity pulls and honeypot tokens trap buyers, and why a "liquidity locked" claim isn't a guarantee.10 min read
- How to Read a Whitepaper and Project PageWhat each part of a crypto whitepaper or project page should tell you, and how to check the claims.10 min read
- Crypto Stolen? What to Do Right NowIf a wallet was drained or a hardware wallet may be compromised: secure what's left, document it, and report it.22 min read
Buying, holding and planning
- Exchanges vs. Self-CustodyWhat you hold when crypto sits on an exchange, what happened when past platforms failed, and how self-custody is different.12 min read
- How Crypto Exchanges Work: Order Books, Orders and FeesA plain-English look at how a crypto exchange works: order books, bids and asks, market vs. limit orders, spreads, slippage, fees and custody.10 min read
- Bitcoin ETF vs. Owning BitcoinWhat you own with a spot bitcoin ETF versus holding bitcoin and the keys yourself.12 min read
- How to Open a Crypto-Friendly Bank AccountWhy some banks block exchange transfers, what to look for, and how to avoid frozen accounts.5 min read
- How to Buy XRP in 2026How buying XRP works on a U.S. exchange, the common traps, and where coins go after purchase.7 min read
- Exchange Outages During VolatilityWhy exchanges go down during big moves and how people prepare backup access ahead of time.5 min read
- How to Read a Crypto Price ChartCandles, wicks, timeframes, volume, and log versus linear scales, explained with made-up examples.11 min read
- Crypto Market Cycles ExplainedFour-year cycles, the Bitcoin halving, and the phases markets have historically moved through.8 min read
- Dollar-Cost Averaging in CryptoHow dollar-cost averaging works, what it does and doesn't protect against, and common mistakes.6 min read
- How Position Sizing WorksHow risk-based sizing frameworks set overall allocation and single-position limits.7 min read
- How to Sell Crypto Without Losing Your ShirtHow laddered sell plans work, the tax side of selling, OTC desks, and moving coins out of cold storage.10 min read
- Crypto Credit Cards ComparedHow crypto rewards cards work and what to compare: rewards, fees, and how rewards are paid out.6 min read
- How to Report Crypto on Your Taxes (U.S.): 2026 GuidePlain-English IRS basics for reporting crypto: what's taxable, how a gain is figured, Form 1099-DA, Form 8949 and the digital asset question on Form 1040.12 min read
- Crypto IRAs ComparedWhat a crypto IRA is, how rollovers work, and the fees to compare between providers.11 min read
- Holding Crypto in an LLCWhat an LLC does and doesn't change for taxes and liability, and when it adds cost without benefit.7 min read
- Crypto Estate Planning: A Plain-English Starting PointWhat happens to crypto when someone dies, and how to plan so family can find it: an inventory, a private access plan and legal documents with an attorney.10 min read
Markets and regulation
- The GENIUS Act ExplainedWhat the GENIUS Act does in plain English: who can issue payment stablecoins, reserve and disclosure rules, the foreign-issuer path, and key dates.6 min read
- CBDCs vs. Stablecoins vs. Bank DepositsWho issues a CBDC, a stablecoin, and the money in a bank account, what protects each, and where U.S. rules stand.10 min read
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