Learn

Start here if you’re new to crypto, or pick a topic to go deep. Our learn hub collects the long-form guides our editorial team has written for readers who want to understand how digital assets actually work — the technology, the markets, the security trade-offs, and the rules that apply to holders. Every guide is written by a named contributor, reviewed before publication, and updated when the underlying facts change. None of it is investment advice; all of it is intended to make you a more informed reader of the rest of our reporting on news and predictions.

Bitcoin basics

Bitcoin is the asset most readers encounter first, and the one whose mechanics shape much of the rest of the market. Start with what is Bitcoin for a plain-English explanation of the protocol, the supply schedule, and what gives the asset its scarcity properties. Then read the halving cycle to understand the four-year issuance schedule and the empirical pattern of market behaviour around each halving event.

Ethereum and DeFi

Ethereum is the largest smart-contract platform and the foundation for most of decentralised finance. Begin with what is Ethereum for the basics of accounts, gas, and the EVM. What is DeFi covers lending, decentralised exchanges, and the risk model that comes with on-chain finance — including smart-contract risk, oracle risk, and liquidation mechanics. What is staking explains how proof-of-stake validation works, why yields differ across networks, and what the trade-offs are between solo staking, pooled staking, and liquid staking derivatives.

Trading and strategy

If you are considering active participation in crypto markets, the trading guides are the right place to start. Crypto trading basics covers order types, exchange selection, and the differences between spot, margin, and derivatives venues. Reading market signals is the framework our analysts use to interpret price, funding, and on-chain data together. Crypto derivatives guide goes into perpetual futures, options, funding rates, and the liquidation cascades that drive much of crypto’s volatility. For risk management, see position sizing and dollar-cost averaging.

Operational security

Self-custody is one of crypto’s defining features, and one of its hardest. Our wallet security guide covers seed-phrase storage, hardware wallets, transaction signing, common phishing patterns, and what to do if you suspect a compromise. It is the single most important guide on this site for anyone holding meaningful value on-chain.

Tax and compliance

Crypto tax rules differ sharply by jurisdiction and change frequently. Our crypto taxes guide walks through the general principles that apply in most jurisdictions and points readers towards primary sources for their own country. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified accountant.

Reference

Three reference pages sit alongside the guides. The glossary defines the terms our reporters use, in plain English. Methodology sets out how we source, verify, and review our work. How predictions work explains what our forecasts are and — just as importantly — what they are not. Once you’ve worked through the guides, the rest of the site will read very differently. From here, the news feed is the natural next stop.