See how the concept of verification and addition to the blockchain works in real time.

A look at nodes and miners in managing bitcoin transactions

Each time a transaction involving bitcoin is carried out, the information must be relayed and recorded onto the currency’s blockchain. Multiple steps are involved, including the passage of the transaction to various nodes and miners who comprise multiple layers of verification and validation. See an illustrated guide to how these two crucial features of bitcoin processing work here.

Watch an expert explain blockchain technology to five different people: a child, a teen, a college student, a grad student, and a fellow expert.

Bitcoin mining validates/adds bitcoin transactions onto the blockchain

Mining, done by a decentralized network of actors, is incredibly energy intensive, making the award of bitcoins a major incentive.

A simple visual explanation of how blockchains work

Blockchains are decentralized, distributed, and digital methods to record transactions and prevent alterations and tampering of the record. That's a simplified definition. This easy-to-understand six-minute video further and better explains what blockchains are and how they work using colorful illustrations and clear, concise clarifications on their processes and what makes them so special.

The blockchain offers tantalizing possibilities for future use

Think of blockchains as a running list of information, where new details are added to the running chain as discrete "blocks." With crypto, the information contained within each block could be virtually anything, providing flexibility for uses in commerce, legal filings, healthcare records, and more.

A visual guide to how bitcoin transactions work and rely on cryptography

The "crypto-" in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin refers to the mathematical functions that generate pairs of public and private keys and encrypt data in blocks. When combined, these systems secure transactions on the network, verify digital asset and token transfers, and contribute to end-user anonymity.

Ledgers—what are they good for?

It might seem strange that a ledger—a dull and practical document associated mainly with accounting—would be described as a revolutionary technology. But the blockchain matters because ledgers matter. Read (or listen to) this 14 minute breakdown on why ledgers matter.

What is blockchain? A visual explanation from a Stanford professor

Stanford professor Dan Boneh teaches "Blockchain Primitives: Cryptography and Consensus," providing an introduction to the cryptographic foundation of blockchains and how developers can use them to build new types of applications.

Check the real-time price of bitcoin

Bitcoin has gone through several boom and bust cycles. Those peaks and valleys sit on top of a steadily rising value, growing as the currency gains wider adoption. As of 2024, bitcoin’s total market value was over $1.3T, with more than 19.6 million coins in circulation. Still, the value fluctuates.

Bitcoin explained and made simple

Bitcoin, the most popular and well-known example of a cryptocurrency, came on the scene around 2010, with its evangelists proclaiming it would eventually displace government-backed traditional cash. While the concept of a digital currency may seem straightforward, the details can be deceptively simple. This quick video overview provides the foundation for a deeper dive into the world of decentralized currency.

Only 21 million bitcoin will ever be created—what happens then?

Bitcoin is a popular cryptocurrency with a finite supply, and the issuance of new bitcoins is currently offered as a reward for verifying the transactions on the blockchain. Experts say the currency won't reach its limit until the year 2140, and miners may ultimately rely on transaction fees.

A definitive guide to crypto and blockchain

The concept of cryptocurrency emerged more than a decade ago, with a famous whitepaper on bitcoin. To fully understand the rise of bitcoin, Bloomberg’s Matt Levine developed this comprehensive four-part series exploring the broader crypto and blockchain ecosystems, where they came from and how they work (subscription required).

What are smart contracts?

Smart contracts are potentially one of the most useful tools associated with blockchain, and they can enable the transfer of everything from Bitcoin and fiat currency to goods transported around the world. Here’s what they do and why they’re likely to gain traction.

Using cryptocurrency to turn traditional financial arrangements on their head

Cryptocurrency is poised to drastically change everything in the financial world, including financial arrangements. Decentralized finance makes it easier for virtually anyone to take advantage of financial markets without the need for a bank. However, there are new risks involved as well. Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics Kevin Werbach, an expert on Bitcoin and blockchains discusses it all in detail in The Conversation.

The benefits of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology

At the root of cryptocurrencies' allure is blockchain technology, an innovation bringing profound transformations to industries, especially the financial industry. This simple article breaks down the difference between cryptocurrencies and blockchain as well as the benefits of each.

In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto began working on the underlying bitcoin code and blockchain

Widely credited as inventing the currency, Nakamoto abruptly disappeared from the digital world—no one has confirmed his identity, or whether he was even a single individual.

Many bitcoin enthusiasts have compared the cryptocurrency to digital gold

Gold is valued for its stability and reliability, serving as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Bitcoin shares both of these characteristics, but also provides near-instant liquidity and isn’t subject to government regulation.

Watch a video that visualizes what really happens inside a credit card network when you make a purchase.

Learn about Web3 and how it differs from past versions of the internet

Web3 is the idea of a new, decentralized internet built on blockchain technology. It aims to shift control from centralized entities like big tech companies to users through distributed ledgers and smart contracts. Key components include cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) that operate without a central authority. Web3 promises more user privacy, ownership, and control over data and digital assets.

The Chain Reaction podcast: The latest in bitcoin and blockchain developments

There are constantly new tokens, DeFi projects, NFT collections, and DAOs being launched, but how can you make sense of everything going on in the crypto space? TechCrunch senior crypto reporter Jacquelyn Melinek explores the impact of crypto on finance, art, web3, and society as a whole. One the best resources to keep up with actual—meaning, beyond the hype—developments in the world of bitcoin and blockchain.

Princeton University offers a free online bitcoin course

Want to understand bitcoin and cryptocurrencies? A free online course from Princeton University unpacks the details of bitcoin, from how it works to what distinguishes it from other currencies, to the security and anonymity associated with its use. Explore explainer videos, or take the course as a series of lessons.

Cryptocurrency acts as a store of value

Traditional money, dating back to its first known uses in ancient Babylonia, has many uses—it reduces friction in transactions by providing a common denominator of value (unit of account), acts as a single item accepted by many vendors (medium of exchange), and holds wealth as a store of value.

Proof-of-work is the original way cryptocurrencies added new blocks to blockchains

It’s a competitive method requiring “miners” to solve cryptographic puzzles, often using equipment that consumes massive amounts of energy. Ethereum switched to proof-of-stake, a less energy-intensive method in which “validators” stake crypto to be randomly chosen to check transactions.

Bitcoin started as a .PDF

Have you ever wondered how bitcoin became, well, bitcoin? In this podcast episode, journalist PJ Vogt dives into what drove the bitcoin hype machine, explaining how it became the phenomenon it is today.

Two Papa John's pizzas were the first real-world transaction involving cryptocurrency.

Proof-of-work versus proof-of-stake: what's the difference?

The two main consensus mechanisms—the way blockchains confirm and enshrine information—are proof-of-stake and proof-of-work. An overview compares the differences between the two and the latter's ability to reduce the energy intensity of the computation process, which has emerged as one of the biggest criticisms of the crypto boom.

Bitcoin and ethereum are decentralized cryptocurrencies with different functions

Bitcoin, launched in 2009, is primarily a digital currency and store of value with a fixed supply. Ethereum, introduced in 2015, enables smart contracts and decentralized apps, offering more flexibility.

The industries ripe for disruption by blockchain and cryptocurrencies

Blockchain—what is it good for? Lots of things, it would seem. Peruse this guide from The Motley Fool site and learn about different applications and use cases for blockchain technology. Financial exchanges, real estate, insurance, voting, an gambling are just a few of the 15 applications discussed here.

The future of the internet

Blockchain? Crypto? NFTs? Oh my. Gilles DC provides a simple breakdown of what Web3 is, what it involves, its connection with web currencies, and how you can begin your own explorations of this brave new world. Gilles promises to describe Web3 in one take, explain how the reader can take advantage of it, and how blockchain might build a better society as a result.

Bitcoin, the oldest and most popular cryptocurrency, is a digital cash alternative introduced in 2009 that rapidly grew in popularity and now boasts a global user base.

Smart contracts are the foundational technology behind NFTs

Smart contracts use “if that, then this” logic to track the ownership of NFTs and record when they are bought and sold on the blockchain.

Read the original white paper from Satoshi Nakamoto

Satoshi Nakamoto's original introductory paper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System," is required reading for anyone who wishes to understand the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin.org provides assorted translations. While Nakamoto's identity remains a mystery, his ideas are neatly laid out here, along with supporting documentation.

Visualizing the history of money

Money is any medium of exchange used in payments for goods or services and can take many forms. From cattle and shells in ancient times to paper and blockchain today, money has taken many shapes and sizes. This infographic illustrates some of the major forms of exchange world cultures have used over the last 5,000 years.

Bitcoin's founder has always remained anonymous

A pseudonym used by the person or group of people who created bitcoin—the first decentralized cryptocurrency—the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has baffled millions of enthusiasts for years.

NFTs can be minted using an online marketplace or directly on the blockchain

Minting, or creating, an NFT is how NFTs are added to the blockchain. The process can be simplified by using a popular marketplace.

Who accepts bitcoin payments in 2025?

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are used primarily as stores of value or speculative assets, and less likely to be used to purchase goods and services. Advocates for the currency say as an increasing number of retailers accept bitcoin, average holders will begin to treat the currency more like traditional money.

Ethereum is a blockchain-powered operating system known for its cryptocurrency, ether

Ethereum's underlying blockchain allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) that leverage smart contracts to seamlessly run decentralized financial tools (crypto wallets, exchanges, marketplaces, and more), along with Web3 concepts like non-fungible tokens.

NFTs create a unique digital signature to prove ownership

NFTs create digital certificates for unique online collectibles, mainly on the Ethereum blockchain. Artists can leverage NFTs to verify their online works.

Why blockchain applications are worth investing and building

Chris Dixon is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. In this hourlong podcast episode, Dixon shares his overall thesis for investing in the cryptocurrency space, the opportunities and limitations of blockchain applications, and why this is the most interesting area for investing and building over the next 10 years.

Since its introduction, the price of bitcoin has experienced significant volatility

Driven in large part by speculation and intense social media attention during the pandemic, along with the availability of capital during near-zero interest rate periods, the price has seen at least three major crashes despite steadily increasing over the long run since 2014.

Ethereum is a blockchain-powered platform for building decentralized software and apps

Among crypto enthusiasts, ethereum is known for the cryptocurrency it uses to facilitate transactions: ether, or ETH. It's often compared to an app store. The underpinnings of ethereum's blockchain include dApps, which operate using automated scripts called "smart contracts."

Explaining the Ethereum merge in simple terms

Ethereum slowly switched the way it adds blocks to the chain. In 2022, it completed its transition from a proof-of-work model to a proof-of-stake model. That event, called “The Merge,” happened when it combined two Ethereum blockchains operating under different systems. For an explanation of proof-of-work and proof-of-stake, and the significance of switching from one to the other, read this article.

The SEC recently approved bitcoin ETFs in landmark investing decision

In January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission made history when it decided to allow fund issuers to launch bitcoin ETFs. This new class of exchange-traded fund tracks spot bitcoin prices, essentially allowing investors to hold bitcoin without actually having to buy the crypto.

The US Mint created a video to show kids how coins are made

The video, made simple for children (or anyone who wants an easy-to-understand 101 video about the process coins go through to get in your wallet), outlines the entire process that a coin goes through in its lifetime, from Congress voting on new coins, to how coins are stamped, to their journey to a Reserve Bank.

Every printed bill has its own unique serial number

In the US, each bill also has its own plate number, series year, Treasury seal, and more. Each design helps track money and combat counterfeiting.

From bartering to banking, temples to electronic transactions, here’s banking has evolved significantly since ancient times

A few historical facts about banking (like that one day, not long ago, certificates of deposit were physical pieces of paper) may not surprise you. But did you know that the church was the original lender? And that Julius Caesar himself invented foreclosure?

Solana is a blockchain designed for fast, scalable, low-cost transactions

Solana uses a unique Proof-of-History and Proof-of-Stake hybrid to process thousands of transactions per second. Solana supports a wide range of Web3 applications, offering an alternative to Ethereum with lower fees and faster speeds. Its native cryptocurrency, SOL, is used for transactions, staking, and governance.

Decentralized applications are blockchain-based and run without a central authority

These apps use smart contracts to automatically execute functions, ensuring security, transparency, and censorship resistance. Built on platforms like Ethereum, Solana, and Binance Smart Chain, DApps power DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and social media, offering users control over their data and assets.

There's a bitcoin mine in remote Zambia

In Zambia, a small hydropower plant draws water to power a town of 15,000 people—and a bitcoin mine. A shipping container containing 120 computers mining bitcoin—solving complex calculations to win the reward of several bitcoin—was set up near the plant to use its cheap electricity, and share its revenue.

How the checking account has evolved into a platform of features rather than a product

The accounts act as an anchor for customer relationships that banks need to retain said customers. As fintech companies unbundle the checking account without technically being chartered banks, traditional banks face pressure to innovate the checking account experience.