The year 2020 is coming to an end. Bitcoin has had an excellent time being the market’s best-performing asset, ahead of gold. More and more people are talking about Bitcoin and are beginning to realize that it may one day surpass the current monetary system. Cryptocurrency, as an industry, is growing at a phenomenal rate, with several more altcoins and start-ups emerging. Bitcoin continues its journey, and we could witness a potential Bitcoin revolution not so far ahead in the future.

If you want to be a part of the Bitcoin frenzy, it’s not too late to start now, but it’s certainly better to start by getting the basics right. Bitcoin enthusiasts were one day Bitcoin novices too. What better way to gain knowledge than reading books? Here are the five most important Bitcoin books on every enthusiast’s shelves.

Note: All user reviews and rating information taken from Goodreads

The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking

The Bitcoin Standard is one of the best reads when it comes to learning about Bitcoin. It analyzes the historical context of the rise of Bitcoin, the economic properties that have allowed it to grow quickly, and it’s likely economic, political, and social implications.

The book is all about how a pseudonymous programmer introduced “a new electronic cash system that’s fully peer-to-peer, with no trusted third party” to a small online mailing list in 2008. After that, rest is right in front of us, as it’s grabbing headlines almost every other day. This is one of the most recommended books by market experts and Bitcoin aficionados.

The Little Bitcoin Book – by Multiple Authors

The Little Bitcoin Book: Why Bitcoin Matters for Your Freedom, Finances, and Future is a book written targeting the non-technical part of the audience. This book, written by multiple authors – Timi Ajiboye, Luis Buenaventura, and Lily Liu – can serve as a great piece of knowledge for beginners who are just starting to know about Bitcoin. The book talks about why Bitcoin was invented – as an alternative to the current monetary system. It also explains in layman’s terms what Bitcoin is, how it works, and why it’s valuable. Most of the book’s discussion centers around how Bitcoin is a better alternative to previous forms of money and what problems Bitcoin attempts to address.

The book has exceptionally positive reviews from its readers and has a rating of 4.28, which is considered pretty high. However, it’s less likely to satisfy people who are already familiar with Bitcoin as the technical scope of this book is limited.

The Internet of Money by Andreas M. Antonopoulos

Many beginners’ Bitcoin books explain the how of Bitcoin, but The Internet of Money by Andreas M. Antonopoulos talks more about the why of Bitcoin. The book is a very solid and informative introduction to the phenomenon of Bitcoin and other decentralized digital currencies. Antonopoulos talks about the social and historical dimensions of decentralized currencies along with political and economic dimensions. What’s interesting about this book is that the author philosophically talks about currencies, which boggles many readers and has had more reach. This Bitcoin book breaks down the technical aspects into simpler terms well.

The Internet of Money has a rating of 4.11. Most readers talk about how their entire point of view about currencies changed after reading this book. Certainly, a must-read.

The Book of Satoshi by Phil Champagne

The identity of Bitcoin’s creator is mysteriously anonymous to date. Like the currency he created, the identity of Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto (a pseudonym) is virtual. The Book of Satoshi by Phil Champagne is the first-ever professionally published collection of the essential writings that detail Bitcoin’s creation. Included in the Bitcoin book are –

• Satoshi Nakamoto Emails and Posts on Computer Forums Presented in Chronological Order
• Bitcoin Fundamentals Presented in Layman’s Terms
• Bitcoin’s Potential and Profound Economic Implications
• The Seminal Paper Which Started It All

The book includes what Satoshi wrote over the span of two years that constituted his “public life” before he disappeared into oblivion. 

If you’re completely new to the world of Bitcoin, you might need to re-read some paragraphs and take notes here and there to make sense of what the book is talking about. With a rating of 4.09, this book can be a great read if you’re familiar with what Bitcoin is.

The Blockchain Developer by Elad Elrom

This is the only book on the list that doesn’t solely focus on Bitcoin and generally focuses on Blockchain technology. It helps the reader understand Blockchain to better harness its capability by providing practical tools to start your own projects. Immerse yourself in technological key topics such as crypto-economics; code your own Blockchain P2P network; learn about decentralized ledger; how to mine, etc. 

The Blockchain Developer helps you design Blockchain projects using Bitcoin, Ethereum, NEO, EOS, and Hyperledger.
This book is for blockchain developers and engineers who are interested in designing and programming Blockchain projects; and investors who want to understand Blockchain technology and it’s potential better. This book is highly technical and expects the readers to have more than the basic knowledge about cryptocurrencies.

Bullish on Bitcoin by Misha Yurchenko

Bullish on Bitcoin by Misha Yurchenko is more like an investing guide about the Bitcoin market. Misha talks about how to master emotional stability amidst the market price fluctuation and which projects to go for, which ones to avoid, among a lot of other such tips. Risk management, tax strategy, and advice from expert investors are outlined in the book for wise investing. You can also discover many tips on how to get a career in blockchain, featuring interviews with professional blockchain entrepreneurs and what’s in store over the next 4-5 years.

With an average rating of 4.25, this is a great Bitcoin book for people who have some technical knowledge about the crypto world.

Final Word

As more people begin considering Bitcoin as a credible alternative to fiat currency with its highly accelerated circulation, you must prepare yourself for this new world concretized by cryptocurrencies. Reading these books can help a great deal. This is not an exhaustive list. However, there are so many more great Bitcoin books out there. But we’d go on to say that these are some of the Best Bitcoin books that ought to be on your shelf if you’re seriously into Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, or blockchain.