Your first steps
Start small. Buy an amount you’d be fine forgetting about for years.
1. Buy with River
River is a Bitcoin-only ExchangeA company where you buy and sell bitcoin with dollars. While your bitcoin sits there, the company holds it for you.See the glossary. It doesn’t sell other coins, so there’s nothing to distract or confuse you. The app is simple, and you can set up small automatic buys every week or month.
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2. Spend with Manna
Manna is a spending WalletAn app or device that holds the keys to your bitcoin and lets you send and receive it. The bitcoin itself lives on the network; the wallet holds what proves it is yours.See the glossary built for everyday use. It’s self-custodial, which means you control the money, not a company. Sending a few dollars’ worth to a friend is the fastest way to feel Bitcoin work as money.
3. Stay safe
A few rules will keep you clear of nearly every scam.
- No real person or company will ever ask for your Recovery words (seed phrase)A list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that can rebuild your wallet if your phone or device is lost. Anyone who sees them can take your bitcoin. Write them on paper and never share them.See the glossary. Anyone who asks is trying to steal from you.
- Bitcoin “investment managers,” “recovery services,” and giveaways are scams.
- Don’t buy other coins because someone promised you returns.
- Write your recovery words on paper. Never photograph them or type them into anything.