In the beginning was the Cryptoverse; but it was without form and void. And darkness hovered upon the face of the deep. And Satoshi spoke: ‘Let there be light’ – through inspired fiat Bitcoin appeared, and it began to stir; spreading a small amount of illumination upon the face of the deep. But the world did not understand it. Soon, though, Bitcoin attracted a few followers; and it grew in strength and was nurtured with fertile imaginations. And it came to pass that Bitcoin became precipitously powerful and volatile; much like the old gods, shrouded in mystery but imbued with archetypal authority. The assembly of believers grew and the light flourished. As the seasons passed Bitcoin became both father and mother of many children, and they spread across the plains of the earth; led by great Chaos, wild Adventure, and rich Imagination. The unrestrained triad unwittingly gave birth to Hope...
From The Book of Cryptomythological Mysteries, by R. M. Harris
My journey into cryptocurrency and the Cryptoverse began as it did with most folks, out of curiosity. It all started with that one word really: Bitcoin. While Bitcoin has become a household word, defining it is not so simple; explaining it and its ramifications are impossible – at least in a few sentences. Mark Twain famously quipped that the definition of a literary classic is a book that everyone talks about, but no one has actually read. Similarly, Bitcoin was a word I heard often in conversations, and saw with some hyperbole on newscasts; but I did not know anyone who owned or knew anything about it – though everyone had their own opinions. At that time I also did not realize that within the Cryptoverse, Bitcoin was just the beginning of a whole new world known as cryptocurrency. I am exhilarated when I realize that cryptocurrency, even though in its infancy, and in its very volatility, has the possibility of changing the world; indeed, it is already doing so.
If you find your knowledge is thin on really understanding much about Bitcoin, Blockchain or the world of cryptocurrency then read on. I’ll provide some resources for learning about Bitcoin and blockchain technology in some depth. This little article does not define Bitcoin for you, but if you undertake the challenges listed below, you will be able to speak authoritatively at the next family get together. It may even fall to you to educate your local, state, or national leaders; the media; or others who may have fallen into the world of soundbites and ignorance. You will be the source of light – well, at least you will be able to point them to the way. It is my opinion that you should know as much as possible about Bitcoin in particular, and cryptocurrency in general – especially if you are acquiring crypto assets of any kind.
The way of Cryptocurrency is not apparent, there are many avenues to travel, and innumerable rabbit holes to examine. My suggestion to start with Bitcoin and blockchain technology seems the most natural progression from which to begin. I am only sharing the educational tools that I have taken advantage of myself. But there are literally hundreds of resources out there; the ones I am sharing are fairly accessible, free, and provide a solid knowledge base of material. I chose the following three out of dozens of options, and hundreds of hours of examination.
My first choice for an educational adventure was found at EdX.org, a free marketplace for education that I have utilized in the past. The title which spoke to me was: “Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies,” and is presented by Berkeley University. The course is free, or if you should desire a certificate of achievement, it will cost $99. You can also take this course alongside another one to provide you with a professional certification in Blockchain Fundamentals (about $180). This pathway won’t be appealing to some; and while it is broken down into understandable parts and pieces; it is academic in nature. But in general, this is as good as it gets, you can take it at your own pace, and it is excellent. So, try it out, you literally have nothing to lose except a little bit of time.
What is it that you get with this free course? You get a professionally developed program that provides you with the fundamentals of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. It not only covers the history of Bitcoin and Blockchain, it delves into aspects of security, wallets, script and a whole host of related topics. It is very comprehensive.
edx.org/course/bitcoin-and-cryptocurrencies
The next adventure starts at Saylor Academy, an institution that was founded by Michael Saylor, Bitcoin evangelist, and is entitled: “Bitcoin for Everybody.” This class has the added advantage of teaching the student about the history of money/exchange, and the revolutionary potential of blockchain technology. There are many wonderful essays and a number of great videos included. Mastery of this course and the one above places you into the position of acquiring a good philosophical and historical background in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and the context to make it meaningful. This course can also be taken at your own pace.
//learn.saylor.org/course/PRDV15
The final “training” opportunity for this session is a video series entitled: “The Saylor Series with Michael Saylor.” It is an interview with Mr. Saylor by another Bitcoin proponent, Robert Breedlove (who has several other excellent interviews as well). While the series is ostensibly about Bitcoin, it really is more about the emphasis on the development of Bitcoin as the greatest store of value and the catalyst for a revolution in the monetary systems of the world. The fascinating history lessons concern trade, economics, and currency in general. They are fascinating, and will inform your understanding for the modern context of cryptocurrency. The great part about this series is that they are free, and you can simply watch or listen to the videos at your leisure. I watched all nine videos over several days while I exercised, and ended up rewatching most of them more than once.
//Hope.com
I wish you great success and enjoyment in your quest for knowledge, understanding and mastery of cryptocurrency in any or all of its ramifications. Thank you for taking the time to explore with me.
Sources and resources
“Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies.” Found online at EdX.org
edx.org/course/bitcoin-and-cryptocurrencies
“Bitcoin for Everybody.” Found online at Saylor Academy.
//learn.saylor.org/course/PRDV15
R.M. Harris (that’s me). The Book of Cryptomythological Mysteries. Don’t try to find this book, it doesn’t exist, not yet anyway. It was inspired by the “Saylor’s Series with Michael Saylor.”
Michael Saylor and Robert Breedlove. “The Saylor Series with Michael Saylor.” Found in multiple places, but here for sure along with other video interviews with Michael Saylor. Hope.com
