Cryptocurrency almost feels esoteric, understood by a select few with technological superpowers. The world of crypto can very quickly get overwhelming, especially when confronted with strange jargon and terminology, and new coins popping up every day.
But cryptocurrency doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming.
Some fantastic ways to learn about the world of crypto are online courses, tutorials, or certifications. Alternatively, you can read books written by crypto experts.
Ready to finally jump into crypto? Nurture your knowledge with our curated list of the best books on cryptocurrency available in 2024. Read on to see our top choices!
Best Books on Cryptocurrency in 2024
1. Blockchain Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction in 25 Steps
Author: Daniel Drescher
If you’re a complete newbie to blockchain and cryptocurrency, this is one of the best cryptocurrency books to start with.
In Blockchain Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction in 25 Steps, Daniel Drescher offers an in-depth yet beginner-friendly introduction to cryptocurrency foundations. Drescher breaks blockchain down in plain English, so you can learn everything without knowing how to code.
The author keeps a balanced outlook in this book, where he explains the benefits and limitations of cryptocurrency and blockchain. That way, you don’t get sucked into crypto unprepared for potential downsides!
2. The Internet of Money: A Collection of Talks
Author: Andreas M. Antonopoulos
The Internet of Money is a three-part series book crypto enthusiasts should read at some point in their lives.
Andreas M. Antonopoulos is a University of Nicosia professor who often speaks about economics, barter, trade, and the philosophy involved in technology — all with regards to crypto, of course. In these books, you’ll find the directly transcribed versions of the author’s live talks, radio shows, and podcasts.
This book is volume one in a series of three books in total. You can find volume two here and volume three here. All three books share the same title.
Buy on Amazon.3. The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking
Author: Saifedean Ammous
The Bitcoin Standard is an excellent book for those who want to learn more about the reigning king of cryptocurrencies.
In this book, author Saifedean Ammous discusses the economics of BTC, how its price is determined, and what gives it its inherent value. The book goes over various other topics in-depth, discussing why society may be heading toward a future of decentralized currency.
4. The Little Bitcoin Book: Why Bitcoin Matters for Your Freedom, Finances, and Future
Author: The Bitcoin Collective (Daniel McGrane, Jim Duffy, Lucy-Rose Walker, Jordan Walker, Laura McConnell)
The Little Bitcoin Book by the Bitcoin Collective comprises expertise from five expert blockchain engineers. Authors aim to provide an accurate yet concise depiction of what Bitcoin can do.
This crypto book is best if you’re interested in Bitcoin more than any other cryptocurrency. While reading it, you’ll learn about Satoshi history, mining, blockchain, and what exactly gives Bitcoin its value (economics). We recommend this book if you want to learn more about Bitcoin from experts on the subject.
5. An Altcoin Trader’s Handbook
Author: Nik Patel
In An Altcoin Trader’s Handbook, author Nik Patel offers a look into the recent past — specifically, cryptocurrency’s widest bull run. By that, we mean the charts and patterns that any non-Bitcoin currency, also known as alt coins, took before they exploded in 2017.
Not all the points in this book are completely up-to-date or valid today, but many nuggets of wisdom can help you formulate strategies for your crypto investments.
It’s worth mentioning that alt-coins are often known as “penny stocks” in the crypto world — investing in them can be incredibly risky due to the market’s inherent volatility.
6. The Blockchain Developer: A Practical Guide for Designing, Implementing, Publishing, Testing, and Securing Distributed Blockchain-based Projects
Author: Elad Elrom
The Blockchain Developer by Elad Elrom focuses on providing a good read for developers. This is one of the best cryptocurrency books for the technical aspects of crypto and blockchain. You’ll learn about blockchain technology, its structure, how to create your own blockchain, and more.
This book is best for those with some programming and coding experience, comfortable with more technical content.
7. The Everything Guide to Investing in Cryptocurrency
Author: Ryan Derousseaeu
This book is certainly a contender for the titleof best book on cryptocurrency, and the content meets expectations, especially if you want to start from the basics as a newbie.
The Everything Guide to Investing in Cryptocurrency teaches you the basics of crypto, how crypto mining works, setting up your cryptocurrency wallet, Bitcoin vs. XRP (ripple), and much more. You'll learn everything you need to know right before you start purchasing crypto on an exchange.
8. Inventing Bitcoin: The Technology Behind the First Truly Scarce Decentralized Money Explained
Author: Yan Pritzker
If you already have a fair knowledge about cryptocurrency, Inventing Bitcoin: The Technology Behind the First Truly Scarce Decentralized Money Explained is a great read. This is one of the best Bitcoin books to help you learn about Bitcoin's history and how it works. Author Yan Pritzker offers a closer look at the technology behind BTC in a short but sweet read — read it in one go, in as little as two hours!
9. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Future of Bitcoin, Blockchains, and Cryptocurrencies
Authors: Neel Mehta, Adi Agashe, Parth Detroja
Cryptocurrency can be a polarizing topic. You’ll find people who hate crypto and others who love everything crypto and blockchain-related.
Blockchain Bubble or Revolution stays as neutral as possible in the discussion about blockchain and crypto. However, its three authors don’t shy away from discussing the weaknesses of crypto, giving you a balanced perspective of the technology.
10. Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption
Author: Ben Mezrich
Bitcoin Billionaires is a fun read that feels like it could be adapted into a movie or television show.
In this book, you’ll learn about Bitcoin's history, including (you guessed it) the first ever Bitcoin billionaires. Who might those billionaires be, you ask? Well, they’re none other than the Winklevoss twins of Facebook fame. Yes, the very same twins that fought it out with Mark Zuckerberg in the early days of Facebook.
This book is best for those looking for history and a light read, and less for people who want to learn how to invest or work with blockchain.
11. Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money
Author: Nathaniel Popper
Digital Gold is written by Nathanial Popper, an author for the renowned New York Times. It’s easy to see Popper’s journalism skills as he recounts the early days of BTC.
In this book, you won’t necessarily learn any technical knowledge and skills about blockchain or crypto. However, you’ll get a deeper look into the shadier parts of bitcoin’s history.
12. Crypto Asset Investing in the Age of Autonomy
Author: Jake Ryan, Barry Adams, et al.
In this book, author Jake Ryan offers a thought-provoking yet educational look into cryptocurrency and how it fits into the future. It also discusses how investing in crypto fits into both economics and finance. If you’re looking for a no-frills perspective on crypto, this is the book for you.
13. Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies
Author: Andreas M. Antonopoulos
Andreas M. Antonopoulos is the only author on this list with two separate books mentioned. Here, he dives into the technical aspects of Bitcoin and blockchain, including Bitcoin mining, usage, and the future of blockchain and Bitcoin.
14. Out of the Ether: The Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist that Almost Destroyed It All
Author: Matthew Leising
Out of all our best books about cryptocurrency, this book offers a deeper look at Ether or Ethereum — the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world after Bitcoin.
In this book, the author discusses how Ethereum works, and how a $55-million-dollar hack and resulting theft made the Ethereum development team adjust their strategies.
Ethereum is a constantly developing blockchain platform and cryptocurrency. As such, you may find that some of the information in this book may eventually become outdated. However, it’s certainly still worth a read!
15. The Infinite Machine
Author: Camila Russo
The Infinite Machine: How an Army of Crypto-Hackers Is Building the Next Internet with Ethereum is one of the best books on crypto and Ethereum. Author Camila Russo, a financial journalist, explores everything Ethereum-related, including its history, function, and future.
16. Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond
Author: Chris Burniske, Jack Tatar
Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond is a book by venture capitalists Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar. It’s a top-notch book about crypto for learning about cryptocurrency investment.
This book is best for people with a foundational knowledge of traditional markets and investing, who now want to apply their skills to crypto.
17. Crypto Revolution: Your Guide to the Future of Money
Author: Bryce Paul
This book is more than a guide — it’s also a history book. In Crypto Revolution: Your Guide to the Future of Money, you’ll learn more about the past and future of cryptocurrency and how it can change our lives.
You’ll learn how to start in crypto, invest, buy as safely as possible, store crypto, and more.
18. The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money Are Challenging the Global Economic Order
Author: Michael J. Casey, Paul Vigna
Authors Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey lead you through money and its history, as well as how humans think about it.
A unique feature is the interviews with the best crypto investors. Moreover, the book breaks down complex and confusing topics and makes them easier to understand — a major contender for the best book on crypto for beginners.
19. Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies
Author: Kiana Danial
Kiana Danial’s Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies is the perfect book for complete beginners with no knowledge whatsoever of cryptocurrency investing.
It teaches you how to set up a crypto wallet, choose a reputable crypto exchange, buy and sell assets (cryptocurrencies), and protect your investments.
Beyond what you can read in the guide, you can also read some interviews with some of the best crypto investors. These interviews can provide you with some insight you might not get anywhere else.
20. Cryptocurrency: Mining, Investing and Trading in Blockchain
Author: Abraham K. White
Cryptocurrency: Mining, Investing and Trading in Blockchain offers readers a solid foundation in cryptocurrency basics.
This book is targeted toward beginners, especially those who want to learn more about mining, trading, and investing in crypto. However, even more experienced readers can use it as a refresher.
21. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them
Author: Anthony Lewis
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains is a contender for best crypto book — at least for those who already know a bit about cryptocurrency and blockchain to begin with.
Readers love how objective yet detailed the text covers mining, public and private keys, network balances, as well as general discourse about the pros and cons of Bitcoin.
However, beginners might be better off starting with another book on our list, as this one gets a little technical.
22. The Book of Satoshi: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto
Author: Phil Champagne
Software engineer Phil Champagne wrote The Book of Satoshi: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto to explore Bitcoin’s elusive founder’s legacy.
This book covers everything about Bitcoin, from its earlier days to its more technical aspects. Additionally, Champagne covers topics like proof of work, decentralization, and transaction types, along with limited correspondence found from Nakamoto.
23. Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies is Changing the World
Author: Don Tapscott, Alex Tapscott
Don and Alex Tapscott’s book focuses on blockchain technology and how its potential function in various industries, like healthcare and politics. Out of all the books on our list, the Tapscotts offer an inspiring, optimistic view of the sheer potential of blockchain in improving economies and financial systems, including in underdeveloped countries.
The best part? Blockchain Revolution doesn’t demand a finance background for reading — the text is accessible and straightforward, making it a great choice for newcomers.
24. The Business Blockchain: Promise, Practice, and Application of the Next Internet Technology
Author: William Mougayar
Curious about blockchain’s potential in the world of business? The Business Blockchain is for you! Mougayar’s balanced approach plainly reveals the benefits and drawbacks of the technology, without overwhelming bias. It helps readers gain a more realistic or neutral understanding of this technology and its potential in society.
Conclusion
Crypto books are excellent learning tools to support your investment journey on the blockchain. We hope that this curated list of the best books on cryptocurrency has helped you find a starting point for your learning!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Best Crypto Book for Beginners?
Three books on crypto are great for beginners:
- Blockchain Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction in 25 Steps by Daniel Drescher
- The Everything Guide to Investing in Cryptocurrency by Ryan Derousseau
- Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies by Kiana Danial
2. How Do I Learn Cryptocurrency?
You can learn about cryptocurrency through our top books on cryptocurrency, courses on cryptocurrency and blockchain, or crypto and blockchain tutorials. Additionally, you can join forums and groups and learn from other members who are more knowledgeable on the subject.
3. Which Course is Best for Cryptocurrency?
You have excellent options for courses on cryptocurrency. Two of the best are The Complete Cryptocurrency & Bitcoin Trading Course and Cryptocurrency Mastery: The Complete Crypto Trading Course. Both are on Udemy and are rated pretty high on the platform.
