How-to

The how-to guides

The practical skills of holding your own Bitcoin, each in plain English. Read them in order if you’re new, or jump to what you need.

01 Hot vs cold storage — where your Bitcoin should actually live Some of your Bitcoin should be easy to spend. Most of it should be locked away. This page shows you how to split the two, and why.
02 How to choose a hardware wallet — think fit, not "best" There is no single best hardware wallet. There is only the one that fits how you'll actually use it. This page walks you through how to think about the choice.
03 Back up your seed phrase — so a fire, a flood, or a bad day can't erase your Bitcoin Your seed phrase is the master key to your Bitcoin. If the only copy lives on one device, or on a scrap of paper in a drawer, you are one accident away from losing everything. Here is how to back it up so it survives.
04 Test your backup before you trust it — the step that turns a setup into a real one A backup you have not tested is a hope, not a backup. The one step that turns a setup into a real one is proving you can actually get your Bitcoin back.
05 Send Bitcoin without losing it — the safe way to move your coins Sending Bitcoin is simple, but a few careful habits keep your coins going exactly where you intend. The cryptography is rock-solid. The mistakes are human. Here's how to send with confidence.
06 Stay safe day to day — the human habits that stop most real-world losses Almost every real Bitcoin loss comes down to a human mistake, not broken math. A handful of calm, repeatable habits protect you from the great majority of them.
07 Stay safe in the physical world — keeping a low profile The strongest thing you can do to stay physically safe is simple and free: don't be known as someone who holds Bitcoin. Privacy does more for you than any gadget or heroics.
08 Protect your privacy — keep the world from watching your Bitcoin Bitcoin is not anonymous. Every payment lives on a public ledger that anyone can read forever. But with a few simple habits, you can keep that ledger from being tied back to you — and you can do most of it for free.
09 Make sure your Bitcoin survives you — a plan your family can actually follow Most Bitcoin that gets lost forever isn't stolen. It's misplaced, forgotten, or left behind with no instructions. This page shows you how to make sure the people you love can actually find your Bitcoin and move it — even when you're not there to help.
10 Run your own node — verify, don't trust A full node is your own copy of Bitcoin's records that checks the rules for you — so you can confirm your money is real without asking anyone else. It's the most advanced step here, and it's completely optional.

Not sure where to start?

If you’ve never done this before, begin with the Start here path — it walks the whole journey and points to each how-to at the right moment. To see which setup fits you, read the ladder.

✓ Last verified: July 15, 2026