Bitcoin is the world’s leading digital currency and continues to grow as people learn about its breakthrough potential as a peer-to-peer digital payment system. For a refresher on what Bitcoin is and other things you need to know about Bitcoin, check out the Getting Started page—a collection of essential Bitcoin information, guides, and reviews.
Here are three steps to help you get started using Bitcoin right now:
Step 1: Download a Bitcoin Wallet
A Bitcoin wallet is an app or program that allows you send and receive bitcoin. Wallets also keep track of your bitcoin balance which is held in one or more bitcoin addresses. Generally, wallets also have a feature that keeps a history of your bitcoin transactions.
There are many different wallets across various platforms. While they all share certain basic functionality, features vary from one wallet to the other so it’s worth learning more about How to Choose a Bitcoin Wallet before downloading the wallet of your choice.
Step 2: Add Bitcoin to Your Wallet
Now that you have a wallet, you probably want to add some bitcoin to your balance. Have your Bitcoin wallet address ready and visit the buy Bitcoin page. Here, you will be able to easily purchase Bitcoin with a credit card. Another option is to choose a Bitcoin Exchange where you can quickly set up an account and buy bitcoins with funds from a bank account or credit card.
Keep your private key(s) private and never share with anyone. It is very important to backup your wallet’s private key and any other credentials for offline storage. Failing to backup could result in the loss of your Bitcoin holdings if you should ever lose the device on which the wallet is installed.
Step 3: Use a Bitcoin Wallet to Send and Receive Bitcoin
Receiving bitcoin is as easy as giving the sender your public address. Sending bitcoin requires a few more steps and since bitcoin
transactions are irreversible, it is important to pay attention when sending. Overall, the process for sending bitcoin is actually quite easy:
Copy the receiver’s public Bitcoin address (or scan QR code)
Open your wallet and navigate to its “Send” feature, paste the receiver’s address into the appropriate field
Specify the amount you want to send (for help converting fiat currency into bitcoin visit our Bitcoin Tools page.)
Confirm that the address and amount are both correct
Send
Bitcoin is accepted by thousands of individuals, websites, and brick-and-mortar businesses around the world, here are just a few:
Purse.io can save you money and let you shop on Amazon with Bitcoin
The Bitcoin.com Store. Bitcoin products and more
Play games with Bitcoin
Best Practices for New Bitcoin Users
Congratulations! You have bought your first bitcoin and know the basics of receiving and sending—you are now a full-fledged Bitcoiner!
You have the basics but there is always more to learn. Bitcoin is a tool that is only as useful as your ability to hold and spend it properly. Here are some best practices for new Bitcoin users to read and learn:
How to Choose the Right Bitcoin Wallet
How to Choose the Right Bitcoin Exchange
Guide to Avoiding Bitcoin Fraud
Cold Storage: What is It and How to Set it Up
The above steps are just the basics. Bitcoin and it’s blockchain technology on which it relies are robust solutions to payment obstacles all over the world. Since bitcoin is real money it is important to have a solid understanding of certain aspects related to receiving, storing, and spending.