<p>I would recommend <a href="https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bitcoin book</a> and <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=39.0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bitcointalk</a> forum as starting points. The book is very technical, but has everything you need to know. After 2nd+ reading things will get much easier. Forum has huge amount of useful information, but keep an eye on outdated material. It is also good to know whats going on with current <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIPs</a> to have some vision about upcoming protocol changes, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-16T08:27:42.393Z
The bitcoin book is starting to look like what I’m after. I’ll carry on with it and accept this answer if it suffices.
AjLearning
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T16:17:17.410Z
2018-07-15T16:23:07.960Z
2018-07-15T16:23:07.960Z
charlie137
<p>I’ve got to this point reading various blogs, articles, other stackexchange threads and watching Youtube videos on the subject and still have a ton of questions. I don’t expect the questions below to be answered here, they are just for illustrating my level of understanding and what I’m confused about. What I’m really asking here is to be pointed to an online resoursce (tutorial, lecture, course, etc), that can help me answer ALL these questions below:</p>

<p>1) Ok so I keep hearing about creating a wallet. And just about every resource I’ve come across goes into talking about using something like blockchain.info or coinbase or some site. Now to my understanding, the wallet is essentially made up of two components: the private and public key. So creating a wallet (account) on a site means I’m pretty much allowing the site to know what my private key is, correct? Don’t want an ethical discussion here. Technically speaking, they have my private key correct? If so, how is a bitcoin wallet created this way different to online banking except with no insurance, because it’s some random 3rd party site? I must be missing something here, surely...</p>

<p>2) Next I hear about mining. Being rewarded for solving complex mathematical puzzles and what not. “Complex”? Really? Are they like...differential equations or NP-hard problems? So just, trying a new nonce? Is that really all there’s to this “complex puzzle”? Trying random numbers till something works?</p>

<p>3) Then I hear about specialised mining hardware, and mining farms, and what not. Guessing it’s all to do with (2) above. But what about the actual ‘verification’ bit with transactions? Is that automated too now or?</p>

<p>4) “When a group of transactions is verified and the proof or work done, a new block containing these transactions is added to the block chain once it receives sufficient confirmations”. Oh dear lord, where do I even begin asking about this one. Let’s see...which transactions does one ‘select’ to verify and put in the next block, what happens when someone else creates another block containing some of the transactions you’re attempting to verify as well, what actually does a block contain, is it a hash of all transactions or, wtf confirms a block, is that even a thing, who does that, what’s their incentive? <em>Head exploding</em> People invest in this without knowing all these details, really!?
<a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6HFtk29k7-Y" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6HFtk29k7-Y</a></p>

<p>5) “When you send bitcoins to an address, the transaction is broadcast to the network”. What network, how is it broadcast, is there some API that gets called with a request or? Is there some software I MUST download to become a node in this network?</p>

<p>6) Merkel trees. What now?</p>

<p>Ok, so hopefully that gives a good indication of where I’m at. Need help.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T18:39:06.340Z
This question covers far too many topics to be answerable properly. Moreover, al the questions you have posed have already been answered on this site, it's simply a matter of searching. Beyond that, you could look at Mastering Bitcoin.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T20:56:05.160Z
Take a look at https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/22796/i-am-new-to-bitcoin-how-can-i-get-started. Pretty much everything you've asked has been asked before, and there are some great answers on here. Hunt around a bit and do some reading, then feel free to return and ask any remaining (more pointed) questions :)
chytrik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T22:27:49.483Z
@Raghav Scouring the web looking for bits and pieces of info across various sites (including this) is how I’ve ended up in this mess to begin with. Hence the question about a single good resource that answers everything from start to finish. Will have a look at mastering bitcoin like you suggested though.
AjLearning
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T22:38:32.090Z
@chytrik Thanks but I’m asking for a single reference, not a link to another questions that itself has suggestions for various links, none of which actually indicate that they answer the precise questions I’m asking.
AjLearning
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T22:43:40.363Z
@AjLearning I honestly suggest just using the search bar on this site, you will find answers to the questions you posted (even if each answer is on its own question). This site is design to be ‘one Q : one A’ for each post, this helps keep it searchable and useful. Expecting all your specific Qs to be perfectly answered in one spot is kinda unrealistic. If you are technical, the mastering bitcoin book is a great resource, I second that recommendation.
chytrik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T23:05:19.940Z
@chytrik thanks for the suggestion. I’m familiar with stacexchange sites and the Q&A format, have used these a lot, just not for bitcoin. Like I said though, searching for bits and pieces is how I’ve ended up in this spot. I’m used to referring to a single point of reference for the truth (docs.microsoft for instance for Microsoft technologies). Surely Bitcoin proponents wouldn’t expect people to just go scouring everywhere for information? It’s like a lecturer saying: “no book or lectures for this course, all up to you to find all the info, see you at the final exam”.
AjLearning
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T23:07:08.180Z
@chytrik Will have a look at the madtering bitcoin book though. Seems like understanding the Bitcoin protocol will help resolve some of my questions.
AjLearning
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-16T07:47:02.800Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because as it shows the unwillingness to follow advices. If OP is willing to pay, then I am happy to provide him with the requested "microsoft" like replies. Even after explanation of logic of bitcoin.SE OP is still looking for a one stop shop, to fit his (egoistic) needs. Really?
pebwindkraft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-16T07:54:39.437Z
@pebwindkraft I would gladly accept “there isn’t a one-stop resource” as a worthy answer...unless of course you are too egoistic to post such a remark for bitcoin?
AjLearning
<mining-theory><sending>
What is a good resource to learn about bitcoin
AjLearning
# What is a good resource to learn about bitcoin

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-15)

I’ve got to this point reading various blogs, articles, other stackexchange threads and watching Youtube videos on the subject and still have a ton of questions. I don’t expect the questions below to be answered here, they are just for illustrating my level of understanding and what I’m confused about. What I’m really asking here is to be pointed to an online resoursce (tutorial, lecture, course, etc), that can help me answer ALL these questions below:

1) Ok so I keep hearing about creating a wallet. And just about every resource I’ve come across goes into talking about using something like blockchain.info or coinbase or some site. Now to my understanding, the wallet is essentially made up of two components: the private and public key. So creating a wallet (account) on a site means I’m pretty much allowing the site to know what my private key is, correct? Don’t want an ethical discussion here. Technically speaking, they have my private key correct? If so, how is a bitcoin wallet created this way different to online banking except with no insurance, because it’s some random 3rd party site? I must be missing something here, surely...

2) Next I hear about mining. Being rewarded for solving complex mathematical puzzles and what not. “Complex”? Really? Are they like...differential equations or NP-hard problems? So just, trying a new nonce? Is that really all there’s to this “complex puzzle”? Trying random numbers till something works?

3) Then I hear about specialised mining hardware, and mining farms, and what not. Guessing it’s all to do with (2) above. But what about the actual ‘verification’ bit with transactions? Is that automated too now or?

4) “When a group of transactions is verified and the proof or work done, a new block containing these transactions is added to the block chain once it receives sufficient confirmations”. Oh dear lord, where do I even begin asking about this one. Let’s see...which transactions does one ‘select’ to verify and put in the next block, what happens when someone else creates another block containing some of the transactions you’re attempting to verify as well, what actually does a block contain, is it a hash of all transactions or, wtf confirms a block, is that even a thing, who does that, what’s their incentive? *Head exploding* People invest in this without knowing all these details, really!?
<https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6HFtk29k7-Y>

5) “When you send bitcoins to an address, the transaction is broadcast to the network”. What network, how is it broadcast, is there some API that gets called with a request or? Is there some software I MUST download to become a node in this network?

6) Merkel trees. What now?

Ok, so hopefully that gives a good indication of where I’m at. Need help.

**Tags:** mining-theory, sending

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question covers far too many topics to be answerable properly. Moreover, al the questions you have posed have already been answered on this site, it's simply a matter of searching. Beyond that, you could look at Mastering Bitcoin.  
> **username_2**: Take a look at https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/22796/i-am-new-to-bitcoin-how-can-i-get-started. Pretty much everything you've asked has been asked before, and there are some great answers on here. Hunt around a bit and do some reading, then feel free to return and ask any remaining (more pointed) questions :)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Scouring the web looking for bits and pieces of info across various sites (including this) is how I’ve ended up in this mess to begin with. Hence the question about a single good resource that answers everything from start to finish. Will have a look at mastering bitcoin like you suggested though.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Thanks but I’m asking for a single reference, not a link to another questions that itself has suggestions for various links, none of which actually indicate that they answer the precise questions I’m asking.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I honestly suggest just using the search bar on this site, you will find answers to the questions you posted (even if each answer is on its own question). This site is design to be ‘one Q : one A’ for each post, this helps keep it searchable and useful. Expecting all your specific Qs to be perfectly answered in one spot is kinda unrealistic. If you are technical, the mastering bitcoin book is a great resource, I second that recommendation.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 thanks for the suggestion. I’m familiar with stacexchange sites and the Q&A format, have used these a lot, just not for bitcoin. Like I said though, searching for bits and pieces is how I’ve ended up in this spot. I’m used to referring to a single point of reference for the truth (docs.microsoft for instance for Microsoft technologies). Surely Bitcoin proponents wouldn’t expect people to just go scouring everywhere for information? It’s like a lecturer saying: “no book or lectures for this course, all up to you to find all the info, see you at the final exam”.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Will have a look at the madtering bitcoin book though. Seems like understanding the Bitcoin protocol will help resolve some of my questions.  
> **username_3**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because as it shows the unwillingness to follow advices. If OP is willing to pay, then I am happy to provide him with the requested "microsoft" like replies. Even after explanation of logic of bitcoin.SE OP is still looking for a one stop shop, to fit his (egoistic) needs. Really?  
> **username_0**: @username_3 I would gladly accept “there isn’t a one-stop resource” as a worthy answer...unless of course you are too egoistic to post such a remark for bitcoin?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-07-15. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I would recommend [bitcoin book](https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook) and [bitcointalk](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=39.0) forum as starting points. The book is very technical, but has everything you need to know. After 2nd+ reading things will get much easier. Forum has huge amount of useful information, but keep an eye on outdated material. It is also good to know whats going on with current [BIPs](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips) to have some vision about upcoming protocol changes, etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The bitcoin book is starting to look like what I’m after. I’ll carry on with it and accept this answer if it suffices.  

---

