Learn · Topic
Crypto Basics
New to crypto? These beginner guides explain what cryptocurrency is, how it works and how to get, send and store it, in plain English.
122 guides121 beginner1 intermediate
Start with this guide
Crypto BasicsBeginnerCrypto banking: what it is and how it worksCrypto banking offers bank-like services for crypto holders, but your coin balance is not an FDIC-insured deposit. US taxes apply to interest and rewards.
Vahe Hakobyan3 min readRead guide
All Crypto Basics guides
Every guide in this topic, labelled by level.
Crypto BasicsBeginnerSecurity tokens: what they are and how US rules treat themA security token is a blockchain token that stands for an investment or financial claim. US law usually applies securities rules, and the Howey test decides.4 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWrapped tokens: what they are and why they existA wrapped token is a crypto token pegged to an asset on another chain. A bridge or custodian locks the original and mints the wrapper on that network.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is a synthetic asset in crypto?A synthetic asset is a crypto token that tracks another asset's price without holding it, backed by collateral and kept in line by price oracles.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerCrypto protocols: shared rules for digital assetsA crypto protocol is shared open-source rules that let computers coordinate without a central owner. Uniswap, launched in 2018, is one example.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow New Cryptocurrencies Are Launched: What It TakesNew cryptocurrencies are launched by deploying code to a blockchain or starting a new network. US securities, money-transmitter and tax rules can apply.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerToken generation events: how a new token launchesA token generation event launches a project's own token and first gives out its supply through a sale, an airdrop or a listing, with vesting to watch.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is a crypto mainnet and how does it work?A crypto mainnet is the live blockchain where real transactions settle. Testnets use worthless coins, and confirmed payments cannot be undone.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is a crypto testnet and what is it for?A crypto testnet is a separate blockchain where developers test code with free coins that have no real value, before the code goes live on mainnet.4 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerTransaction finality in crypto: what it meansTransaction finality means a crypto transfer is irreversible and cannot be rolled back. Exchanges wait for confirmations before crediting deposits.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerBlock confirmation: what it means for a crypto transactionA block confirmation means a transaction is included in a block on the blockchain. Each later block adds one, making a reversal harder over time.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhy a cryptocurrency transaction can take longer than expectedCrypto transactions take longer when demand for block space exceeds network capacity. Miners or validators pick which pending transactions confirm first.2 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is a hard fork and what happens to your coinsA hard fork is a permanent rule change that can split a blockchain in two. Your old coins stay put, and forked coins you control count as income.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is a soft fork? How it changes a networkA soft fork is a backward-compatible rule change on a crypto network: old nodes still accept new blocks, while miners enforce the tighter rules.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat decentralization means in cryptoDecentralization in crypto means no single company or person controls the network. Nodes, validators, and users share that control in different ways.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is censorship resistance in crypto?Censorship resistance means no single actor can block valid crypto transactions unless it controls most block production. Rules can change it.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerPermissionless access in crypto: what it is and how it worksPermissionless access in crypto means anyone can use a blockchain without approval. It relies on public ledgers and open protocols, not identity checks.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat does trustless mean in cryptocurrency?Trustless means you do not rely on a bank or company to verify crypto transactions. Public ledgers and consensus rules let many computers agree.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerComposability in Web3: how contracts build on each otherComposability in Web3 means smart contracts can call each other and combine like Lego bricks, so apps reuse code and liquidity on one chain.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat is on-chain governance and how does it work?On-chain governance lets token holders vote on blockchain proposals that can change a protocol's rules. Learn how votes, quorum and execution work.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerCrypto protocol upgrades: how they work and what you doA crypto protocol upgrade changes the rules nodes enforce, through proposals, testing and activation. Most holders only update their wallet software.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerCrypto market cycle stages: accumulation to downtrendA crypto market cycle usually has four stages: accumulation, uptrend, distribution, and downtrend. Stage lengths vary and crypto trades around the clock.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to distinguish a token from its underlying projectTo distinguish a token from its underlying project, confirm the contract address in the official docs, then check its contract on a blockchain explorer.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to check whether a crypto project is still activeA crypto project is active when its team, code and on-chain activity show recent, verifiable signs. Check dated posts, code commits and regulator records.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat to ask before you use a crypto serviceAsk if a crypto service is registered with a US regulator, how you withdraw cash, and who holds your keys; registration is not bank insurance.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to send cryptocurrency to another person safelyTo send cryptocurrency to another person, enter their address, amount, and network, then confirm. Save the transaction ID for your own records.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to receive cryptocurrency safelyTo receive crypto safely, share your public address, confirm the asset and network, and send a small test amount first. A wrong network can lose funds.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to pay a crypto invoice correctlyPay a crypto invoice by sending the exact coin and network shown to the invoice address. Save the transaction ID and confirm the biller marks it paid.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to accept crypto payments for a small businessTake crypto payments with a processor that can settle to dollars, connect a business wallet, and record each sale's USD value for your books and taxes.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerHow to price products when customers pay with cryptoSet the price in US dollars, then convert at checkout with a live rate. Add processor and network fees plus a buffer, and record the sale rate for taxes.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Crypto BasicsBeginnerWhat happens when a crypto payment is underpaidAn underpaid crypto payment is usually not credited in full; the processor may mark the invoice partial, and the merchant decides on a refund or credit.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026