Bitcoin
Learn what Bitcoin is, how it works, why investors pay attention to it, and explore tools, research, and educational resources. One clear starting point for everything Bitcoin at Money Masters.
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Open the Bitcoin market pageWhat is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a digital currency that runs on a worldwide network of computers, with no government or bank in charge. It was the first cryptocurrency, launching in 2009, and it remains the largest and most widely followed.
Instead of a central authority, Bitcoin uses a public ledger called a blockchain to record every transaction, and its supply is capped at 21 million coins. This hub gathers our beginner-friendly Bitcoin guides, tools, market data, and research in one place, so you can learn at your own pace.
Four ways to get oriented
The core Bitcoin pages on the site, in a sensible order for beginners.
The Bitcoin Power Law
Money Masters' signature Bitcoin model, explained simply.
The Power Law is a long-term model that fits Bitcoin's entire price history to a smooth curve that rises over time. From that curve it draws an estimated fair value line, plus a lower support band and an upper resistance band that the price has tended to travel between.
It is useful for one thing: seeing where today's price sits relative to Bitcoin's own historical trend, instead of reacting only to the last few weeks. Our tool builds the model live from verified price history and reads out where the price falls in the band today.
Important limitations. This is a model of the past, not a forecast and not a guarantee. Past patterns can break, the fit can be wrong, and no model can tell you where the price will go or whether to buy or sell. Treat it as one educational lens among many.
Latest analysis
Money Masters briefings on Bitcoin and crypto: what happened and what it means.
Bitcoin, step by step
A beginner-friendly sequence. Start at the top and work down, or jump to whatever you need.
Bitcoin for investors
Practical questions long-term investors ask, answered in plain English. Educational only, never advice.
Why do some investors own Bitcoin?
Supporters point to its fixed 21 million supply and independence from any central bank, and treat it as a potential store of value or a diversifier that does not always move with stocks. Others remain skeptical of an asset with no cash flows. Both views are worth understanding.
What role can Bitcoin play in a portfolio?
It is often discussed as a small, high-risk slice of a diversified portfolio rather than a core holding. Because it can swing sharply, its size relative to everything else is what shapes its effect on the whole. This is general education, not a recommendation.
How volatile is Bitcoin?
Very. Bitcoin has repeatedly gained and lost more than half of its value, and drawdowns of 70% or more have happened multiple times in its history. Anyone studying it should expect large, fast price swings in both directions.
What are the major risks?
Price volatility, changing regulation, exchange or custody failures, lost or stolen keys, and the simple fact that it is a young asset with a short track record. Our Risks of Bitcoin Investing guide covers these in plain English.
What is the difference between Bitcoin and a Bitcoin ETF?
Owning Bitcoin directly means holding the asset yourself and being responsible for storage and keys. A spot Bitcoin ETF holds Bitcoin for you and trades inside a normal brokerage account, which is simpler but adds a fund and its fee between you and the asset.
How should long-term investors think about position sizing?
A common educational principle is to only hold an amount you could sit through a severe drawdown without being forced to sell. The right size depends entirely on your own situation, which is a question for you and, if helpful, a licensed professional.
Bitcoin vs other assets
Balanced, side-by-side comparisons to help you place Bitcoin next to more familiar assets.
Bitcoin tools
Free calculators and models to explore Bitcoin on your own terms.
Important people
Figures connected to Bitcoin. Read their profiles for context, not endorsement.
Related concepts
Plain-English ideas that help Bitcoin make more sense.
Bitcoin market
Where to watch the price and the wider market. Data, not predictions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a digital currency that runs on a global, decentralized network of computers, with no bank or central authority in charge. It launched in 2009 and lets people send value over the internet directly. Its supply is capped at 21 million coins, which are tracked on a public ledger called a blockchain.
Who created Bitcoin?
Bitcoin was introduced by a person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, who published the Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and released the first software in 2009. Satoshi later stepped away from the project, and the real identity behind the name is still unknown.
Why is Bitcoin different from traditional currencies?
Traditional currencies like the dollar are issued and managed by governments and central banks, which can adjust the supply. Bitcoin has no central issuer, a fixed maximum supply, and a public record of every transaction. Those differences make it behave very differently from government-issued money.
Why is Bitcoin limited to 21 million?
The 21 million cap is written into the rules of the network and enforced by the software every user runs. New coins are released to miners on a schedule that halves roughly every four years, so issuance slows over time and eventually stops. That fixed limit is central to the idea of Bitcoin as a scarce asset.
What determines Bitcoin's price?
Like anything freely traded, the price is set by supply and demand across global exchanges at every moment. Demand is shaped by how many people want to buy or hold it, while supply is fixed and predictable. Because sentiment can shift fast, the price is known for being volatile.
What is Bitcoin mining?
Mining is the process that adds new transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain and keeps the network secure. Computers around the world compete to solve a difficult math problem, and the winner records the next block of transactions. New bitcoins are released to miners as part of this process, on a schedule that slows over time.
What is a Bitcoin ETF?
A spot Bitcoin ETF is a fund that holds Bitcoin and trades on a stock exchange, so investors can get Bitcoin exposure inside an ordinary brokerage account without holding the asset themselves. The fund handles storage and charges a fee for doing so.
Can Bitcoin go to zero?
No asset is risk-free, and Bitcoin is a young, volatile one. It could fall sharply or, in a severe scenario, lose most of its value. It has also recovered from very large drawdowns before. Understanding that full range of outcomes is part of studying it responsibly.
What happens after all Bitcoin is mined?
The last new bitcoin is expected to be mined around the year 2140. After that, no new coins are created, and miners are rewarded only by the transaction fees users pay. The network is designed to keep running on those fees once new issuance ends.
How does Bitcoin compare with gold?
Both are often described as scarce assets held outside the traditional banking system, which is why they get compared. Gold has thousands of years of history and lower volatility, while Bitcoin is digital, easily transferable, and much newer and more volatile. Our Bitcoin vs Gold guide walks through the differences.
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Educational content only. This page explains Bitcoin in plain English for learning. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Cryptocurrency is volatile and carries risk. Always do your own research and consider speaking with a licensed financial professional.