<p>There is a book called <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00DG8EPT0" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin Internals</a> that explains how Bitcoin works technically. It covers all the major topics like addresses, transaction processing, the blockchain, mining, pools, etc. </p>

<p>The Bitcoin wiki (<a href="http://bitcoin.it" rel="nofollow">http://bitcoin.it</a>) is a good reference for more specific details. </p>

<p>Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper is also obligatory reading, but it is only a partial explanation of how Bitcoin works.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-18T03:18:24.877Z
2013-11-18T03:18:24.877Z
Anonymous
<p>Unfortunately, at this point the best resource is the source code itself. There isn't really good documentation. This is a major issue for the community  and the economy as a whole because it stifles the growth and development of the economy. We all know what happens when only a few people understand and are able to meaningfully manipulate the monetary system . . .</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I'd start with the original Satoshi whitepaper: <a href="http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf" rel="nofollow">bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf</a>  </p></li>
<li><p>Then I'd move on to the original <a href="http://www.bitcointrading.com/forum/bitcoin-clients/original-bitcoin-source-code-archives/" rel="nofollow">Satoshi source code</a>  </p></li>
<li>And then I'd start swimming through the active development on the reference client (good luck): <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/netspec" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/bitcoin/netspec</a></li>
</ul>

<p>The best aids you can find in this quest are people like those here on stackexchange but also in other places such as the Bitcoin IRC channel and the Bitcoin Forums</p>

<p>It would be great for everyone here and the world at large if you documented your learning process on <a href="http://github.com/bitcoin" rel="nofollow">github</a> and the <a href="http://bitcoin.it" rel="nofollow">bitcoin wiki</a>. That would be the answer to your question.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-07T17:55:40.423Z
2013-08-07T17:55:40.423Z
Kinnard Hockenhull
<p><br>
first of all nice question.<br>
Secondly, here is Satoshi whitepaper. <a href="http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf</a> I don't know if it's all math you want to know, but might be helpful.<br>
There is also NSA paper, which is probably somehow related. NSA is sometimes said to create bitcoin: <a href="http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/money/nsamint/nsamint.htm" rel="nofollow">http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/money/nsamint/nsamint.htm</a>
<br>I don't know anything more, but you should also consider reading source code after the first link.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-05T16:21:50.230Z
2013-08-05T16:21:50.230Z
ripazha
<p>There are so many good resources there to learn about bitcoin but finding them at the beginning might be a bit difficult since there is so much information in this marketing.</p>
<p>I'm working in a blockchain startup so the resources I'm sharing here are relevant for my position, but i'm pretty sure some of them will be valuable you as-well:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hackernoon.com/learn-blockchains-by-building-one-117428612f46" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Learn Blockchains by Building One</a></li>
<li><a href="https://decrypt.co/9091/the-true-cost-of-running-a-failed-ieo" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The cost of running a failed IEO</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.righto.com/2014/09/mining-bitcoin-with-pencil-and-paper.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mining Bitcoin with pencil and paper: 0.67 hashes per day</a></li>
<li><a href="https://guerrillabuzz.com/blockchain-pr/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Guide to blockchain PR</a></li>
<li><a href="https://vitalik.ca/general/2019/11/22/progress.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hard Problems in Cryptocurrency: Five Years Later</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aniccaresearch.tech/blog/bitcoin-minings-three-body-problem" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bitcoin Mining's Three Body Problem</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-04/lone-bitcoin-whale-likely-fueled-2017-price-surge-study-says" rel="nofollow noreferrer">A Lone Bitcoin Whale Likely Fueled 2017 Surge, Study Finds</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-06T08:02:28.517Z
2020-11-06T08:02:28.517Z
Faris Gomp
<p>The explanation at <a href="http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works/" rel="nofollow">http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works/</a> by Michael Nielson, gives a nice walk through what is going on at a pseudo technical level suitable for coder/devs to appreciate the underlying practicalities.</p>

<p>It takes a few minutes to read but doesn't talk down to the reader, and compares each stage to various concepts folk will probably already know or at least appreciate what is going on.</p>

<p>The block chains are quite similar to Git's commit chains in terms of their validation and verification capability for those who look at such issues.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T19:37:29.330Z
2014-02-25T19:37:29.330Z
Philip Oakley
<p>Make a block explorer. It will teach you everything you need to know. Start small, just record each block, then look through transactions, then link transactions to addresses, etc etc. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-11T16:38:11.097Z
2013-10-11T16:38:11.097Z
bvpx
<p>Take a look into the technical wiki pages: <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Category%3aTechnical" rel="nofollow">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Category:Technical</a></p>

<p>For example, <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Technical_background_of_Bitcoin_addresses" rel="nofollow">Technical background of version 1 Bitcoin addresses</a> explains how Bitcoin addresses are generated, or the <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_specification" rel="nofollow">Protocol specification</a> might help you as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-08T12:56:25.380Z
2013-08-08T12:56:25.380Z
Malte
<p>What are some good resource(s) for learning <strong>how</strong> bitcoin works?</p>

<p>I can't seem to find any resources that are any more detailed than the basics - how you have wallets, the blockchain, confirmations, mining, etc. The source code for bitcoin is also a little beyond me.</p>

<p>What are some good resources that explain the maths behind bitcoin? i.e. things like:</p>

<ul>
<li>How to mine bitcoin, step-by-step ('manually' - not how to setup cgminer or GUIMiner)</li>
<li>How to generate a new bitcoin wallet address</li>
<li>How to update the blockchain</li>
<li>etc</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-05T16:39:15.210Z
I think that my question is related to this one. I, actually, would like to have the same kind of knowledge about litecoin :http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/12524/litecoin-formal-description
ddddavidee
<learning>
What's a good resource to learn how [technically] bitcoin works?
Anonymous
# What's a good resource to learn how [technically] bitcoin works?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-05)

What are some good resource(s) for learning **how** bitcoin works?

I can't seem to find any resources that are any more detailed than the basics - how you have wallets, the blockchain, confirmations, mining, etc. The source code for bitcoin is also a little beyond me.

What are some good resources that explain the maths behind bitcoin? i.e. things like:

* How to mine bitcoin, step-by-step ('manually' - not how to setup cgminer or GUIMiner)
* How to generate a new bitcoin wallet address
* How to update the blockchain
* etc

**Tags:** learning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think that my question is related to this one. I, actually, would like to have the same kind of knowledge about litecoin :http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/12524/litecoin-formal-description  

---

## 7 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2013-08-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Take a look into the technical wiki pages: [https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Category:Technical](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Category%3aTechnical)

For example, [Technical background of version 1 Bitcoin addresses](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Technical_background_of_Bitcoin_addresses) explains how Bitcoin addresses are generated, or the [Protocol specification](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_specification) might help you as well.


---

### Answer by username_0 on 2013-11-18. Score: 1

There is a book called [Bitcoin Internals](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00DG8EPT0) that explains how Bitcoin works technically. It covers all the major topics like addresses, transaction processing, the blockchain, mining, pools, etc.

The Bitcoin wiki (<http://bitcoin.it>) is a good reference for more specific details.

Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper is also obligatory reading, but it is only a partial explanation of how Bitcoin works.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-08-07. Score: 1

Unfortunately, at this point the best resource is the source code itself. There isn't really good documentation. This is a major issue for the community and the economy as a whole because it stifles the growth and development of the economy. We all know what happens when only a few people understand and are able to meaningfully manipulate the monetary system . . .

* I'd start with the original Satoshi whitepaper: [bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf](http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf)
* Then I'd move on to the original [Satoshi source code](http://www.bitcointrading.com/forum/bitcoin-clients/original-bitcoin-source-code-archives/)
* And then I'd start swimming through the active development on the reference client (good luck): <https://github.com/bitcoin/netspec>

The best aids you can find in this quest are people like those here on stackexchange but also in other places such as the Bitcoin IRC channel and the Bitcoin Forums

It would be great for everyone here and the world at large if you documented your learning process on [github](http://github.com/bitcoin) and the [bitcoin wiki](http://bitcoin.it). That would be the answer to your question.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-08-05. Score: 1

first of all nice question.  
Secondly, here is Satoshi whitepaper. <http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf> I don't know if it's all math you want to know, but might be helpful.  
There is also NSA paper, which is probably somehow related. NSA is sometimes said to create bitcoin: <http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/money/nsamint/nsamint.htm>
  
I don't know anything more, but you should also consider reading source code after the first link.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-11-06. Score: 1

There are so many good resources there to learn about bitcoin but finding them at the beginning might be a bit difficult since there is so much information in this marketing.

I'm working in a blockchain startup so the resources I'm sharing here are relevant for my position, but i'm pretty sure some of them will be valuable you as-well:

* [Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos](https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook)
* [Learn Blockchains by Building One](https://hackernoon.com/learn-blockchains-by-building-one-117428612f46)
* [The cost of running a failed IEO](https://decrypt.co/9091/the-true-cost-of-running-a-failed-ieo)
* [Mining Bitcoin with pencil and paper: 0.67 hashes per day](http://www.righto.com/2014/09/mining-bitcoin-with-pencil-and-paper.html)
* [Guide to blockchain PR](https://guerrillabuzz.com/blockchain-pr/)
* [Hard Problems in Cryptocurrency: Five Years Later](https://vitalik.ca/general/2019/11/22/progress.html)
* [Bitcoin Mining's Three Body Problem](https://www.aniccaresearch.tech/blog/bitcoin-minings-three-body-problem)
* [A Lone Bitcoin Whale Likely Fueled 2017 Surge, Study Finds](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-04/lone-bitcoin-whale-likely-fueled-2017-price-surge-study-says)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-02-25. Score: 0

The explanation at <http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works/> by Michael Nielson, gives a nice walk through what is going on at a pseudo technical level suitable for coder/devs to appreciate the underlying practicalities.

It takes a few minutes to read but doesn't talk down to the reader, and compares each stage to various concepts folk will probably already know or at least appreciate what is going on.

The block chains are quite similar to Git's commit chains in terms of their validation and verification capability for those who look at such issues.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-10-11. Score: 0

Make a block explorer. It will teach you everything you need to know. Start small, just record each block, then look through transactions, then link transactions to addresses, etc etc.


---

