5 Best Cryptocurrency Books For Beginners

If you know nothing about a topic and want to become an expert on it, one foolproof way to start is to read good books about the topic.

This is because once you have read a couple of good books on a topic, you will appear to be like an expert to the general public.

Here are some unscientific numbers to describe this.

If you read one book about a topic, you will be able to share knowledge or discuss the topic at an elementary level with almost everyone.

Read three books and you will likely know more than the majority of people and will be able to discuss the topic at an intermediate to expert level.

It would also be clear that you are a subject matter expert to almost anyone who is not a professional in the industry. The majority of people will not be able to properly challenge your topic about the subject.

Not to mention that you would have gained some valuable knowledge as well.

This applies especially to intellect driven, theory-heavy topics like Cryptocurrency. I am not saying that you can become a doctor after reading 10 books.

As much as reading a book is a big commitment, I assure you, it’s worth the effort.

The books on this list are carefully curated to include books by experts at the top of their game.

As much as reading Seedly articles will help you with your learning about Cryptocurrency, books can take it one step further.

As such, here are some of the best books about Cryptocurrency for beginners!

TL;DR: Best Cryptocurrency Books

1. The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Blockchain Are Challenging the Global Economic Order (2016)

If you are new to the world of Cryptocurrency, The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Blockchain Are Challenging the Global Economic Order is a good place to start.

The book is written by experts like Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Paul Vigna who covers Bitcoin, blockchain, and the Cryptocurrency sector and Micheal Casey the Chief Content Officer at CoinDesk and former senior columnist for the WSJ who covered global economics the markets and Cryptocurrency.

The result?

An accessible and rather objective read that covers the larger overarching narrative of Cryptocurrencies that you will not get listening to the hardcore Cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

The book breaks down Cryptocurrency by explaining its origins, its function, blockchain technology and what you need to know to navigate the future cyber-economy.

In addition, the book explores the relationship between Cryptocurrency and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, as well as a deep dive into the mistrust that people have with existing financial systems.

2. Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing (2020)

Anyone who wants to know more about the history of money and cryptocurrencies should read Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing 

The book is written by Jacob Goldstein: a graduate of Stanford University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism who used to write for the WSJ.

He is also the co-host of the superb National Public Radio (NPR) podcast Planet Money.

Put simply, the book is a well researched and entertaining overview of money throughout the ages.

It covers the history of the rise of coins in ancient Greece, how Kublai Khan the Mongol emperor created paper money backed by nothing, U.S. banks and the start of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Gold standard, modern Cryptocurrencies and more.

If you are curious about the future of money, you will want to read this book to understand where it came from and how it has worked in the past.

And Goldstein is great in providing that perspective.

3. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies (2019)

If you want to gain an in-depth understanding of blockchain technology and its development, you will want to check out Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies.

The book is written by three tech experts who have worked at companies like Google, IBM and Microsoft.

Currently, Bitcoin is facing stiff competition from other decentralised blockchain platforms and alternative Cryptocurrencies, and this book envisions how the sector will be like in the future.

The book is well written as it explains blockchain technology and Cryptocurrencies in a manner that even those without a technological background can understand.

In terms of content, the book covers topics like:

• Bitcoin and blockchain technology.
• Possible applications of blockchain technology and how to determine if your business needs that technology.
• How Ethereum is different from Bitcoin and how they can co-exist.
• Smart contract technology.
• Stablecoins.
• Regulations and how Cryptocurrency may replace fiat currencies in the future.
• And more.

In sum, the book provides a well-researched perspective of the present and future of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.

4. Cryptocurrency Investing For Dummies (2019)

Next up we have the Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies book created by the publishers behind the wildly successful For Dummies series.

Since the first For Dummies book was published in 1991, the series has generated billions of dollars in revenue and has sold over 250 million printed copies.

I would guess that the reason why the books are so popular is that the series cover topics as diverse as Beekeeping to Shakespeare and removes the intimidation factor out of learning.

Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies is no exception as it provides a good introduction to trading and investing Cryptocurrencies profitably.

Reading the book will equip you with the know-how to choose the right Cryptocurrency with the help of real-world examples as well.

You will also gain a good understanding of how the Cryptocurrency market works, a framework to help you pick the right Cryptocurrency as well as advice on how to start investing in Cryptocurrency. 

In addition, the book will help you develop intelligent investment strategies based on your personal risk tolerance.

The author Kiana Danial is a personal investing and wealth management expert who has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, CNN, Forbes, The Street, and numerous other publications.

So if you are looking to prepare yourself well before starting to invest in Cryptocurrency, this book is a good place to start.

5. How to DeFi

Decentralised Finance (DeFi) has been touted as a potential solution to the problems of centralised financial systems.

It also can provide the underbanked access to financial services and commerce opportunities that they might not get from centralised financial institutions.

Simply put, DeFi is an umbrella term for the digital ecosystem of financial services built on a public decentralised blockchain network like Ethereum.

The defining feature of DeFi is the use of technology to remove intermediaries between parties in a financial transaction and achieve the goal of decentralisation.

In other words, DeFi aims to provide an open borderless alternative to any traditional financial system you use today.

This book provides a straightforward introduction to the DeFi ecosystem with accessible explanations and step-by-step guides to help you gain a good understanding of it and kickstart your journey in the fast-growing ecosystem.

The first part of the book starts with a comparison of traditional financial institutions and DeFi as well as an introduction to the DeFi ecosystem.

The second part of the book covers how you can get into DeFi with an exploration of Ethereum, smart contracts, decentralised applications, and Cryptocurrency wallets.

The third part of the book is a deep dive into DeFi and explores Stablecoins, Cryptocurrency lending, decentralised exchanges and more.

The last part of the book explores DeFi regulation as well as how an explanation of how the authors of the book envision where the DeFi sector is heading.

Each chapter also provides a list of further reading if you want to dive deeper.