Bitcoin is the world’s first decentralized digital currency that operates without a central authority and has a scarce supply. Bitcoin allows users to own their own money and exchange it over a peer-to-peer network.

Bitcoin can be purchased in a variety of ways using several different payment methods. Brokerages, exchanges, and peer-to-peer networks offer trade-offs between liquidity, security, and privacy.

Sending and receiving bitcoin is getting easier each year as new wallets and services come to the fore to provide market services for Bitcoin’s growing economy. You can also use your brokerage to send and receive bitcoin.

Bitcoin wallets store and protect the public and private keys, allowing you to send, receive, and store bitcoin. Bitcoin wallets can come in the form of software or hardware devices.

Learn what schemes exist to steal bitcoin, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Recognizing these scams will help you avoid them and safeguard your bitcoin.