What are people reading?
Comedian John Oliver once summed up cryptocurrencies as “everything you don’t know about economy combined with everything you don’t know about computers.” Like most new technologies, cryptocurrencies have a learning curve of their own, and most of us are behind it still. In fact, research shows that only 17% of all crypto investors really understand cryptocurrency markets, whereas most only have the most basic understanding of how cryptocurrencies work. Most beginner and experienced traders have low or moderate information about cryptocurrencies.
A lack of knowledge doesn’t stop people from investing in digital assets, but people who invest without understanding what they are investing in exacerbate some of the rampant problems that haunt crypto markets: FOMO mentality can easily replace critical thinking, leaving investors vulnerable to scams and rug pulls.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader, there is a lot you can learn about cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that supports them. Down below, we’ve listed some of the best and most recommended books on cryptocurrencies for everyone who wants to educate themselves further on crypto markets.
Cryptoassets by Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar
“Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond” is a book for cryptocurrency investors who want to understand how to research and assess the value of crypto assets available on the market.
Burniske and Tatar cover the history of Bitcoin briefly, but this book is so much more than a historical treatise on Bitcoin. The authors describe the creation of crypto assets, and the blockchain technology that supports them, explaining how cryptocurrency trading works with just the right amount of technical details. The best part of the book, however, is that it works as a strategic framework to approach crypto trading: It gives solid advice on how to manage a market full of risks and opportunities by going over some of the most problematic aspects of cryptocurrencies such as their volatility, their speculative character, and the inevitable bubbles they face as an emerging market.
The book is a practical guide to investing as well, thanks to the authors’ detail-oriented explanations of trading platforms, crypto wallets, ICOs, and so on.
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains by Antony Lewis
Lewis’s “The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains” is a perfect introduction to the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The book includes technical explanations of how Bitcoin and blockchain technology work, but it is so well-written that it never stops being a page-turner despite the technical orientation. Lewis breaks down each concept into easy to digest pieces, methodically explaining processes such as mining and trading that are crucial for cryptocurrencies.
This is a perfect introduction if you want to learn more about blockchains and how blockchain technology is evolving to make a difference in the world. Even if you are not one for technical explanations, you will have a much better idea about how Bitcoin works, and what it can really become in the future.
The Book of Satoshi: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto by Phil Champagne
Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, remains an interesting figure even now, after a decade since they left the Bitcoin community never to be heard from again. Of course, Satoshi Nakamoto has around 1 Million BTC to their pseudonym, so it is unlikely that anyone can just forget about the existence of the Bitcoin founder.
If you want to learn more about Satoshi Nakamoto and the process that culminated in the creation of Bitcoin, “The Book Of Satoshi” is a perfect introduction. The book explores the Bitcoin whitepaper, as well as Satoshi Nakamoto’s blog posts and communication with other developers. You will have a clear idea of how the Bitcoin founder looked at problems around digital money and centralized economies and developed visionary solutions to some of the most pressing problems of modern economies.
Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies by Neel Mehta, Aditya Agashe, et al.
“Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies” is a fair and comprehensive look at blockchain technology from industry professionals. Instead of celebrating blockchains as a panacea to all world’s problems, an attitude that contributed a lot to the ensuing Initial Coin Offering Bubble of 2017, the authors provide a clear-eyed analysis of blockchain technology and its possibilities.
The book covers how blockchain technology works, defining the basic concepts of blockchains in simple language that is easy to understand. If you are wondering how different cryptocurrency blockchains function, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, Monero, and some stablecoins, you will find your answers here. This book also excels in providing examples of how blockchain technology can and (can’t) be applied to sectors outside of cryptocurrencies. The authors use real-world case studies to investigate the complexities of blockchain-enabled products and services to see whether blockchains can stand the test of time. You will learn about different kinds of blockchains, and how technological innovation and legal regulations are altering the future of decentralized ledger technologies and cryptocurrencies that function thanks to them.
Digital Cash: The Unknown History of the Anarchists, Utopians and Technologists who Created Cryptocurrency by Finn Brunton
Most people interested in cryptocurrencies already know how Satoshi Nakamoto created the world’s first cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but only a few realize there is lesser-known history that paved the way for the emergence of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is actually a culmination of many developments and conceptual awakenings about electronic money, and Finn Brunton expertly explores this forgotten history.
“Digital Cash” explores the conceptual and historical background of Bitcoin’s development with a focus on libertarian and cypherpunk ideologies. This is a fun treatise that reveals how innovators need to think about ever-shifting concepts like money and value exchange. The book isn’t just well-written and entertaining but it is also intellectually enriching. “Digital Cash” is a must-read that will provide you with the necessary information about the history of cryptocurrencies so that you can look at the future of crypto with insight.
A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present by Glyn Davies
The last book on our list isn’t strictly about cryptocurrencies but it is nonetheless an important read for all cryptocurrency investors. “A History of Money” explores the concept of money from ancient times to its modern-day functions, giving an account of the evolution of modern economies.
While this book can’t tell you which cryptocurrencies are good investments by their name, the thorough explanations of economic developments promise good value to the readers. Once you understand how modern-day markets and businesses operate, you will have a much better idea of why cryptocurrencies are worth anything and how their value can change within a larger economic system.
A Few Final Words…
Once you learn about the basics of economics and combine this knowledge with information about blockchain technology, you will have a much better understanding of how digital economies work. The insights from these books will give you a clear edge when it comes to investigating and investing in cryptocurrencies. Of course, there are many more valuable resources on the market about cryptocurrencies, as the field is constantly evolving, so it is a good idea to keep an eye on the latest developments. Following journalists, cryptocurrency experts and economists on social media can be a good way of keeping up with the times, while you educate yourself on the basics of crypto assets.
