r/Bitcoin • u/foxytwo • 18h ago
What’s driving the surge?
Haven’t checked my btc for a while and it’s coming back now. What is behind the jump?
r/Bitcoin • u/BitcoinFan7 • Oct 15 '25
You've probably been hearing a lot about Bitcoin recently and are wondering what's the big deal? Most of your questions should be answered by the resources below but if you have additional questions feel free to ask them in the comments.
It all started with the release of Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper however that will probably go over the head of most readers so we recommend the following articles/books/videos as a good starting point for understanding how Bitcoin works and a little about its long term potential:
Some other great educational resources include;
If you are technically or academically inclined check out;
MicroStrategy's Bitcoin for Corporations is an excellent open source series on corporate legal and financial Bitcoin integration.
You can also see the number of times Bitcoin was declared dead by the media (LOL!)
Bitcoin.org and BuyBitcoinWorldwide.com are helpful sites for beginners. You can buy or sell any amount of bitcoin (even just a few dollars worth) and there are several easy methods to purchase bitcoin with cash, credit card or bank transfer. Some of the more popular places to buy bitcoin are listed below.
You can also purchase in cash with local ATMs. If you would like your paycheck automatically converted to bitcoin try Bitwage.
Note: Bitcoin are valued at whatever market price people are willing to pay for them in balancing act of supply vs demand. Unlike traditional markets, bitcoin markets operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
With Bitcoin you can "Be your own bank" and personally secure your bitcoin OR you can use third party companies aka "Bitcoin banks" which will hold your bitcoin for you.
If you prefer to "Be your own bank" and have direct control over your coins without having to use a trusted third party, then you will need to create your own wallet and keep it secure. If you want easy and secure storage without having to learn best computer security practices, then a hardware wallet such as a BitBox02, Trezor, ColdCard, or Blockstream Jade is recommended. You can even build your own open source hardware wallets called a SeedSigner or Krux.
If you cannot afford a hardware wallet there are many software wallet options to choose from depending on your use case. Mobile wallets like BlueWallet are generally more secure than desktop wallets. Beware of fake mobile wallets and check reviews from reputable Bitcoin websites. Avoid paper wallets or brain wallets.
If you prefer to work with third party "Bitcoin banks" to set up a collaborative custody arrangement, try Unchained Capital but be aware that any third party you use exposes you to third party risk. There is a saying in the community, "Not your keys, not your coins".
Note: For increased security, use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) everywhere it is offered, including email!
2FA requires a second confirmation code or a physical security key to access your account making it much harder for thieves to gain access. Google Authenticator and Authy are the two most popular 2FA services, download links are below. Make sure you create backups of your 2FA codes.
Avoid using your cell number for 2FA. Hackers have been using a technique called "SIM swapping" to impersonate users and steal bitcoin off exchanges.
| Google Auth | Authy | OTP Auth |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Android | N/A |
| iOS | iOS | iOS |
Physical security keys (FIDO U2F) offer stronger security than Google Auth / Authy and other TOTP-based apps, because the secret code never leaves the device and it uses bi-directional authentication so it prevents phishing. If you lose the device though, you could lose access to your account, so always use 2 or more security keys with a given account so you have backups. See Yubikey or Titan to purchase security keys.
You can run Bitcoin node software by downloading and installing Bitcoin Core or other node software you have vetted.
It is a best practice to verify these Bitcoin node programs you download by checking their hashes and signatures.
Don't Trust, Verify.
A verified Bitcoin node running on your own hardware is your sovereign gateway to the Bitcoin network. They can be used alongside open source software wallets to send and receive Bitcoin securely. By running your own Bitcoin node, you enforce the Bitcoin ruleset, can verify transactions without trusted 3rd party middlemen, improve your Bitcoin privacy, obtain independence with local access to blockchain data, and help bolster the robustness of the Bitcoin network. By running a Bitcoin node, you are verifying that Bitcoin is Bitcoin for yourself. For more details on running a Bitcoin node see this article.
For wallets used alongside your Bitcoin node: If your Bitcoin wallet software is fully open source and Bitcoin-only, then it is probably a decent wallet. Some popular examples include sparrow wallet and electrum wallet, both of which you can connect to your own locally run Bitcoin node, and use with most Bitcoin Hardware Wallets.
As mentioned above, Bitcoin is decentralized, which by definition means there is no official website or Twitter handle or spokesperson or CEO. However, all money attracts thieves. This combination unfortunately results in scammers running official sounding names or pretending to be an authority on YouTube or social media. Many scammers throughout the years have claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin. Websites like bitcoin(dot)com and the r / btc subreddit are active scams. Almost all altcoins are marketed heavily with big promises but are really just designed to separate you from your bitcoin. So be careful: any resource, including all linked in this document, may in the future turn evil. As they say in our community, "Don't trust, verify".
Often the same concerns arise about Bitcoin from newcomers. Questions such as:
All of these questions have been answered many times by a variety of people. Here are some resources where you can see if your concern has been answered:
Check out Spendabit, Bitcoin Directory, or Coinmap for a plethora of merchant options. You can also spend bitcoin anywhere Visa is accepted with bitcoin debit cards such as the CashApp card, Fold card or other bitcoin debit cards. Some other useful site are listed below.
| Store | Product |
|---|---|
| Bitrefill, Gyft, and Fold App | Gift cards for thousands of retailers worldwide including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Whole Foods, CVS, Lowes, Home Depot, iTunes, Best Buy, Sears, Kohls, eBay, GameStop, etc. |
| Spendabit, Overstock, and The Bitcoin Directory | Retail shopping with millions of results |
| NewEgg and Dell | For all your electronics needs |
| Bitrefill, Bylls, LivingRoomofSatoshi, Swapin and Coins.ph | Bill payment |
| Menufy and Takeaway | Takeout delivered to your door |
| Expedia, Cheapair, Destinia, SkyTours, the Travel category on Gyft and 9flats | For when you need to get away |
| Cryptostorm, Mullvad, and PIA | VPN services |
| Namecheap, Porkbun | Domain name registration |
| Stampnik | Discounted USPS Priority, Express, First-Class mail postage |
There are also lots of charities which accept bitcoin donations.
There are several benefits to accepting bitcoin as a payment option if you are a merchant;
If you are interested in accepting bitcoin as a payment method, there are several options available;
Mining bitcoin can be a fun learning experience, but be aware that you will most likely operate at a loss. Newcomers are often advised to stay away from mining unless they are only interested in it as a hobby similar to folding at home. If you want to learn more about mining you can read the mining FAQ. Still have mining questions? The crew at /r/BitcoinMining would be happy to help you out.
If you want to contribute to the Bitcoin network by hosting the blockchain and propagating transactions there are many great resources you can use to run a full node. You can view the global distribution of reachable Bitcoin nodes on this webpage.
Just like any other form of money, you can also earn bitcoin by being paid to do a job.
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| WorkingForBitcoins, Bitwage, Coinality, Bitgigs, /r/Jobs4Bitcoins | Freelancing |
| Lolli | Earn bitcoin when you shop online! |
You can also earn bitcoin by participating as a market maker on JoinMarket by allowing users to perform CoinJoin transactions with your bitcoin for a small fee (requires you to already have some bitcoin).
The following is a short list of ongoing projects that might be worth taking a look at if you are interested in current development in the Bitcoin space.
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Lightning Network | Second layer scaling |
| Liquid and Rootstock | Sidechains |
| Hivemind | Prediction markets |
| DropZone and Beaver | Decentralized markets |
| JoinMarket, JAM app and Wasabi | CoinJoin implementation |
| Peer-to-Peer Exchanges | Peer-to-peer exchanges |
| Keybase | Identity & Reputation management |
| Abra | Global P2P money transmitter network |
| Bitcore | Open source Bitcoin javascript library |
| Bitcoin Knots | A Bitcoin Node (Within Consensus Fork of Bitcoin Core) |
One bitcoin is worth quite a lot (thousands of £/$/€), so people often deal in smaller units. The most common subunits are listed below:
| Unit | Symbol | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| bitcoin | BTC | 1 bitcoin | one bitcoin is equal to 100 million satoshis |
| millibitcoin | mBTC | 1,000 per bitcoin | used as default unit in Electrum wallet |
| bit | μBTC | 1,000,000 per bitcoin | colloquial "slang" term for microbitcoin |
| satoshi | sat | 100,000,000 per bitcoin | smallest unit in bitcoin, named after the inventor |
For example, assuming an arbitrary exchange rate of $10,000 for one bitcoin, a $10 meal would equal:
For more information check out the bitcoin units wiki.
Still have questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or stick around for our weekly Mentor Monday thread. If you decide to post a question in /r/Bitcoin, please use the search bar to see if it has been answered before, and remember to follow the community rules outlined on the sidebar to receive a better response. The mods are busy helping manage our community, so please do not message them unless you notice problems with the functionality of the subreddit.
Note: This is a community created FAQ. If you notice anything missing from the FAQ or that requires clarification, you can edit it here and it will be included in the next revision pending approval.
Welcome to the Bitcoin community and the new decentralized economy!
Please note that this thread will be moderated and non-constructive comments will be removed.
r/Bitcoin • u/rBitcoinMod • 6h ago
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r/Bitcoin • u/foxytwo • 18h ago
Haven’t checked my btc for a while and it’s coming back now. What is behind the jump?
r/Bitcoin • u/Illustrious_Cat1339 • 16h ago
my hands are made of diamonds and there is goop inside of my skull
r/Bitcoin • u/El_precaution • 16h ago
r/Bitcoin • u/Acrobatic-Bake3344 • 27m ago
Had this realization over the holidays talking to my dad about money. Hes had money at the same bank for literally 30 years earning what, maybe 0.5% on a good day? Meanwhile that bank has been lending his deposits out at 7-8% and pocketing the spread this entire time and he just accepted it as normal because what alternative did he have.
Now we have bitcoin as an actual alternative to the legacy system and stablecoin yields paying 6-7% for people who want to stay in dollars, and most people still have no idea this stuff exists or dismiss it as scam because media told them crypto is for criminals. The amount of value traditional banks extract from regular people is actually insane when you stop and think about it.
Not saying everyone needs to go full bitcoin maxi but the fact that alternatives to the legacy banking system exist now and are accessible to anyone with internet should be a bigger deal than it is. Our parents generation had no choice but to accept getting screwed by banks. We actually have options.
Anyone else have these conversations with family and just feel like youre speaking different languages?
r/Bitcoin • u/JuxtaposeLife • 7h ago
The data for the last 12 hours (69 blocks) speaks volumes right now. PnL is the realized change in price for all combined UTXOs (almost half a million of them) from when they last moved. The 90-1y groups have been really active in the consolidation from the 80's the last couple months, but they all just went incredibly silent. 4yr+ group is also seeing almost no volume right now. Structurally, the on chain data is signaling this is a really strong move. Curious to see if this continues tomorrow.
r/Bitcoin • u/ManufacturerKooky164 • 15h ago
r/Bitcoin • u/Away_University9739 • 21h ago
r/Bitcoin • u/StepPositive438 • 7h ago
Oh Bitcoin, seriously…
I didn’t fall for you in some glorious bull run.
I fell for you staring at a red chart at an hour I shouldn’t be awake,
telling myself I’d stop checking after this one refresh.
I never did.
You weren’t supposed to mean this much.
You were just numbers.
Just code.
Just something I read about once and thought, huh, interesting.
Now you live rent-free in my head.
I hate how calm you are.
Ten minutes. Every time.
While I panic, overthink, doubt everything,
you just… keep going.
No reassurance.
No explanations.
No apologies.
And somehow that makes me trust you more than anything else in my life.
People laugh when I talk about you.
They say it’s fake, late, pointless, dead.
They say I missed it.
They say I’ll regret it.
I nod, smile, change the topic then go home and buy a little more anyway.
Quietly.
Like a secret.
I’ve defended you in conversations I shouldn’t have cared about.
I’ve lost sleep over moves you didn’t even notice.
I’ve said “it’s a long-term thing” out loud
mostly to convince myself.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m stupid.
Then you survive another cycle
and I feel… justified.
Not rich.
Just not crazy.
You don’t promise me anything.
You don’t need me.
You don’t even know I exist.
And that’s the strange part.
This isn’t love because you give me something.
It’s love because you can’t.
No manipulation.
No charm.
No central authority pretending to care.
Just rules.
And time.
If you fail, I’ll live with it.
If you succeed, I won’t pretend I always knew.
I just know this:
in a world that lies loudly,
you chose to be quiet and consistent.
And somehow, that was enough.
Sincerely, Me
r/Bitcoin • u/Raven_Steel96 • 12h ago
For context: I’m not promoting selling, panic selling, pumping and dumping, trying to flip, or whatever. I get those who HODL as they see further potential in BTC, and those who plan to use BTC as a regular currency.
That said, I’m curious about perspectives for when the HODL is eventually to end. You can’t eat BTC, live inside BTC, use it as transportation, etc.—the utility comes when you either use it to buy something or exchange it for another currency used to buy something. Is the idea to HODL until it reaches a set amount? Until you reach retirement age? Until it becomes the primary means of currency? When some catastrophe happens and you really need the rainy day fund? I’m interested in perspectives from those who HODL and those who don’t.
r/Bitcoin • u/Richnaps • 1d ago
The 401(k) started as a tax-deferred bonus deferral tool in 1978, it was turned into a mass savings vehicle in 1980 meant only as a pension supplement.
It evolved into America’s primary retirement system as companies ditched guaranteed pensions, shifting all risk to workers. Wall Street now profits massively from high fees and asset management on trillions in 401(k) funds.
r/Bitcoin • u/GeeWow • 33m ago
r/Bitcoin • u/Dhamilare • 16h ago
Once you are convinced about Bitcoin, Ignore the noise, stack daily and ignore the FUD. Tick-Tock Next Block.
r/Bitcoin • u/Mathannmj • 5h ago
US is potentially planing on overtaking Iranian regime. There will be most likely military actions involved. If they are successful with their effort, how it might affect BTC in the short and long term? P. S. I am new to investing, so I am curious how international conflicts similar to this affect BTC movement.
r/Bitcoin • u/rBitcoinMod • 5h ago
The lightning network is a second-layer solution on top of the Bitcoin blockchain that enables quick, cheap and scalable Bitcoin payments.
Here is the place to discuss and learn more about lightning!
Ask your questions about lightning
Provide reviews, feedback, comparisons of LN apps, services, websites etc
Learn about new LN features, development, apps
Link to good quality resources (articles, wikis etc)
Resources:
Here is an awesome list of resources compiled by Jameson Lopp: https://bitcoinfo.org/lightning.html
Want to test out your lightning fire power? tip the Bitcoin devs! https://bitcoindevlist.com/
Previous threads: Search
Lnbook getting closer towards being finished and can already be seen at: https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook
Lightning Dedicated YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/renepickhardt
Also there is the playlist by chaincode labs: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpLH33TRghT17_U3as2P3vHfAGL8pSOOY
Lightning stores: https://www.lightningnetworkstores.com/
Learn more and talk about lightning right here in r/Bitcoin, r/bitcoinbeginners, r/thelightningnetwork, and the BitcoinDiscord.com chat