Get started
You've done some reading — here's the practical part: see how far a little goes, how to buy your first sats safely, and where to keep them.
How much can you get?
Each bitcoin divides into 100 million tiny units called sats — so you can start with almost any amount. Try it:
Fetching the live price…
You're buying sats, not a whole coin. Figures are live estimates for illustration — not a quote or financial advice.
Buying your first Bitcoin
A calm, six-step walk-through. Take it slowly — there's no prize for rushing, and slowing down is itself a safety habit.
- 1
Learn before you buy. Watch a couple of the videos and skim the beginner's guide first. Understanding comes before owning.
- 2
Choose a reputable, regulated exchange. Pick a well-known platform that operates legally in your country. Reach it by typing the address or using a bookmark — never from an ad, a search result, or a message someone sent you.
- 3
Create your account and verify your ID. Being asked for ID (known as "KYC") is normal and legally required — it isn't a scam. Just make sure you're on the official site or app before entering anything.
- 4
Switch on security. Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication — an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) is safer than text-message codes.
- 5
Buy a small amount first. Your first goal isn't profit — it's getting comfortable. Buy a few pounds' worth of sats and watch how it works before doing more.
- 6
Move it to a wallet you control. For anything you mean to hold for a while, withdraw it from the exchange to your own wallet and back up your recovery phrase offline. More on that just below, and in the safety guide.
A note: nothing here is financial advice. Bitcoin's price can move sharply. Only ever spend what you can afford to lose, and take your time.
Where to keep it
A wallet doesn't actually hold your coins — it holds the keys that control them. That's the whole idea behind "not your keys, not your coins." Here's the lay of the land:
Left on an exchange (custodial)
The exchange holds the keys for you, like a bank. Easiest way to start and fine for small amounts while you learn — but you're trusting the company, so it's not the place for long-term savings.
Your own wallet (self-custody)
You hold the keys and the recovery phrase — full control, and no account that can be frozen. It comes with more responsibility: if you lose the phrase, no one can recover it for you. This is the goal for anything you'll keep.
Hot wallet (a phone or computer app)
A self-custody wallet that lives on an internet-connected device. Handy for spending and smaller amounts — convenient, but a little more exposed because the device is online.
Cold / hardware wallet (an offline device)
A small dedicated device that keeps your keys off the internet entirely. A little more to set up, and the gold standard for larger amounts you're holding for the long term.
Rule of thumb: just starting, or only a small amount? A reputable app is fine. Holding for years, or a larger amount? Move to a hardware wallet and control your own recovery phrase. Whatever you pick, read Staying safe first.
Going further: run your own node
You don't need this to use Bitcoin — but when you're ready for genuine independence, running your own node is the next step. It's free software that keeps a full copy of the Bitcoin ledger and checks every rule for itself, so you can rely on Bitcoin without trusting anyone else.
Verify, don't trust
Confirm your own transactions and balance straight from the network — with no third-party server in between. That independence is what true financial sovereignty really means.
Keep your privacy
Checking your wallet through someone else's server lets them see what's yours. Your own node keeps that information to itself, so your activity stays private.
Strengthen the network
Every independent node makes Bitcoin harder to censor or change. Yours adds to the decentralisation that keeps the whole system resilient and out of any one party's control.
Good to know: this is an optional, more advanced step — most people buy and self-custody first, and come to running a node later. You can see how many nodes are securing Bitcoin worldwide on the network page.
Keep it safe from day one
The fastest way to lose Bitcoin is a scam or a mislaid recovery phrase — not the price. Five minutes on the safety guide is the best move you'll make.