Lesson 03 · 9 minute read

How to approach Bitcoin safely

The safest first step is not buying. It is building a process that makes rushed decisions, scams, and irreversible mistakes less likely.

The beginner safety rules

1. Never act from urgency. Real opportunities survive a 24-hour pause. Scams manufacture deadlines.
2. Never share a seed phrase. No legitimate support person needs it. Anyone who has it can take the funds.
3. Start smaller than your ego wants. Use an amount you can lose while you learn how transfers and fees work.
4. Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication. Prefer an authenticator or hardware security key over text messages when supported.
5. Verify addresses on the device you trust. Bitcoin transfers generally cannot be reversed.
6. Understand custody before choosing it. An exchange account and a self-custody wallet solve different problems and carry different risks.