The best cryptocurrency books allow you to get real insight into the world of cryptocurrency trading

Cryptocurrencies have taken the world by storm over the past years. With their values skyrocketing and then dipping. Despite this volatility, there is still a tremendous amount of interest in cryptocurrencies and the technology behind them, blockchain. Books on cryptocurrencies are a great help to understand the future importance of cryptocurrency.

Why 2024 Will Be An Interesting Year For Cryptocurrencies?

The most important and awaited events:

  • Announcement of Bitcoin Spot ETF (Approved!) – Jan. 10 – Blackrock and other big players applied for a BTC Spot ETF product – Track the Bitcoin ETF market
  • Purchases of Bitcoin ETF products – Jan 11-ongoing – High profile companies will start to invest in Bitcoin Spot ETF products
  • Bitcoin Halving  – Apr. 19 – Bitcoin halving – 4th Bitcoin halving date. Bitcoin block reward will sink from 6.25 BTC to 3.25 BTC for miners. This day may indicate the next long term bull run for Bitcoin
  • Bitcoin Supply Crunch (SP) – Expected between Aug. and Oct. – The high demand toward bitcoin will skyrocket the price of the crypto asset

How To Start Bitcoin Investing?

First register a trusted partner, which could be either a cryptocurrency exchange (Coinbase, Binance) or a wallet provider (Revolut, Uphold).

Timing is everything, track the Bitcoin price and avoid purchasing crypto when the price if high, purchase on the dips! We use Coinmarketcap for tracking crypo assets.

What Cryptocurrencies we (here at Joelbooks) suggest for 2024 and 2025?

  • Primary: Bitcoin (the biggest and oldest cryptocurrency since 2009)
  • Secondary: Solana (the best technology)

Essential Cryptocurrency Topics

If you want to learn about cryptocurrency related information, check the following topics:

  • Bitcoin BTC (the most known cryptocurrency invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009),
  • Altcoins (there are several alternative coins the most widely known and use one is Ethereum ETH),
  • Blockchain (the technology behind the cryptocurrencies),
  • NFTs (non physical representation of an art, item, picture or any other intellectual property, that exists on a blockchain like on Ethereum)
  • Smart Contracts (automations on the blockchain, these algorithms perform automatic executions when certain conditions are meet)
  • DeFi (Decentralized Finance means the collection of peer to peer financial services performed on a blockchain),
  • Play to Earn Games (games that offer cryptocurrency or NFT rewards, which are tradable out of the game's close ecosystem)
  • Web 3 (the collective name of web technologies and apps connected to decentralization of web)
  • Why crypto market dipping?

Cryptocurrencies and tokens are now important trading assets in major trading platforms.

I looked up several crypto books and resources connected to the above topics, but truth to be told, not everyone of them was outstanding or well written. In this list article I want to introduce only the Amazon's top crypto books in order, that meet the quality standards of the professionals and experts. (Use the below links to quickly navigate to the desired section)

What Are The Top Books on Cryptocurrencies?

Crypto Essentials, by Pascal Marsolais (2024)

Crypto Essentials is a beginner-friendly guide that simplifies the complex world of cryptocurrencies. Written by Pascal Marsolais, a seasoned expert in the field, especially known for his insights into NFTs, the book breaks down crucial topics such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain technology, digital wallets, and decentralized finance (DeFi). It’s tailored for those new to digital currencies, offering clear explanations and practical tips on investment strategies and security. The book also features an engaging quiz to test your knowledge, reinforcing what you've learned in a fun way.

Pascal Marsolais uses his extensive experience to present a comprehensive overview of the cryptocurrency landscape. His book is aimed at clearing up common misconceptions about digital finance and demonstrating the significant, legitimate role cryptocurrencies can play in our financial systems. Crypto Essentials equips readers with the confidence to navigate the crypto world and understand its potential impact on the future of finance. Marsolais’s approach is direct, making complex concepts accessible to everyone, regardless of their background in digital finance.

Catching Up to Crypto, by Ben Armstrong (2023)

Catching Up to Crypto is a detailed guide about Bitcoin and digital currencies, explaining how they are shaping the future of money. Armstrong, a known expert in crypto, breaks down what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its role in the shift to a digital economy. The book points out the shortcomings of traditional fiat currency and the advantages of digital assets.

Readers will learn about the real-world functioning of Bitcoin, the blockchain technology behind it, and concepts like decentralization and cryptographic consensus. The story of Bitcoin's humble beginnings, near extinction, and rise to global prominence is also covered.

Armstrong shows how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are changing financial policies. The book is a helpful introduction to crypto for investors, enthusiasts, and those new to the field.

Proof of Stake: The Making of Ethereum and the Philosophy of Blockchains, by Vitalik Buterin (2022)

Yes, you are reading right. This upcoming book (September 2022) is written by the inventor of the Ethereum blockchain. In many sense Vitalik Buterin is a genius, he realized the opportunity in the decentralized world before anyone could even understand how Bitcoin really works.

In this book we will get insight how the author first meet with cryptocurrencies. At the time when I'm writing this article Ethereum is valued about half a trillion dollars, which is higher than the valuation of VISA.

Buterin's words gathered during the development and the rise of Ethereum show the real talent of the founder. Buterin, unlike other ICO founders around him, was searching constantly for the new potentials of the technology. From a certain point of view he make possible the rise of DAOs, NFTs and DeFi.

Buterin's book will be most likely the biggest hit among crypto books in 2022.

Life After Google, by George Gilder (2022)

The book is either part manifesto, part historical summary, part criticism, part anticipation of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence. Gilder's first hundred pages situates the history of the idea of computing and artificial intelligence alone worth the cost of the tome.

The author claims blockchain technology fixes the flaws in a digital network. The author argues that this whole decentralized technology was not built to deal with financial transactions securely but to emphasize the rise of true democracy.

This crypto book with thought-provoking parts is surprisingly readable, written by a professional and experienced writer.

The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze, by Laura Shin (2022)

A critical work committed to Ethereum is featured in this book, with all of its grit and drama lais behind it.

In a Forbes article the author describes the case of 2016 DAO scandal, which resulted a possible lost of $11 Billion in Ether. The story involves a hacker and the CEO of TenX who managed to exploit the weakness of smart contracts and ultimately had a great effect on the ETH network, including the so called “Hard Fork” and the establishment of Ethereum Classic (ETC).

This book uncovers the weakness and the early days of Ethereum investment. It's a great insight how Ethereum achieved prominence and how altcoins expected going forward.

The 7th Property, by Eric Yakes (2021)

The books and literature I have read on BTC are either too basic or too technical. The 7th Property attempts to explain the topics in a language that are in depth but not necessary using jargon.

The book explains the objective of Bitcoin as an investment. You will find a short history of money, current financial systems, and an introduction into Bitcoin and how it works. The author analyzes Bitcoin's prospects, including how it is being developed over time, and the most common objections against it.

I recommend this crypto book to anyone interested in bitcoin as general.

Layered Money, by Nik Bhatia (2021)

In this deep dive into the history of monetary systems, Nik Bhatia takes us as well as to the origins of how money has evolved to function in a layered way. Bhatia applies his analogy to gold, he offers a similar paradigm for the growth of digital currencies.

Currency enthusiasts will come away with a comprehensive understanding of the historical foundation of our economic system. Why modern money is rigidly entrenched despite its infamy. How different CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) and cryptocurrencies will interact within our collective monetary future.

One of the best crypto books about history of money.

The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution Is Transforming Currencies and Finance, by Eswar S. Prasad (2021)

This crypto book gives an overview of how financial change in the era of cash has led to the rise of cryptocurrencies. The world of finance is in the midst of a significant changes that will influence companies and the entire financial world. The transformation of money will fundamentally change how practically everyone lives.

As the author explains in this crypto book, the revolution in modern technology is seeking to redefine the very concept of money with cryptocurrencies. Unbundling its functions as an independent unit of account, medium of exchange, and store of value. The outcome could be a greater efficiency and flexibility to the market needs of different consumers and greater market access for people who don't have any bank accounts at all.

The Future of Money was praised as one of the best crypto books on Amazon.

CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money, by J. Christopher Giancarlo (2021)

Giancarlo's life story is marked by his experiences as a Wall Street trader. In order to explore the workings of the trading markets, he advocated for the CFTC to recognize their digitization.

Giancarlo has received significant public attention especially on Twitter, where he introduced his ideas about the continuously growing opportunities in the crypto world. What he basically did in the past to analyse the technical details of the market and make relevant assumptions.

In the books you will find comprehensive analysis of social change and its impact on lives in the global marketplace. How regulators are rethinking the way the legal system responds to technological development. How a traditional financial organizations need an overhaul, revitalizing our belief in free market innovations.

What Are The Top Crypto Books For Beginners?

Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain 101, by Goffredo Righi Schwammer (2022)

It's vital that we gain the greatest possible insight into the full scope of the most recent financial revolution, as it's happening now.

Cryptocurrencies exploded in popularity in 2017, with the total value of all cryptocurrencies reaching nearly $830 billion by the end of the year. The increase in price was due, in part, to the explosive growth of initial coin offerings (ICOs), where startups issue their own cryptocurrencies in order to raise money.

Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain 101 offers insight into the most important historical events of crypto along with the most recent topics like NFTs and Metaverse connected to blockchain technologies.

Cryptocurrency Investing For Dummies, by Kiana Danial (2019)

Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies gives strategic advice on the best way to trade and make a profit in the leading 200 digital currencies no matter what the current market feels. You will discover how to evaluate the new crypto-financial landscape. The best way to assess the right cryptocurrency for various circumstances with easy-to-understand scenarios that help you maximize your profits.

This book explains current market trends and the factors driving cryptocurrencies' values. You'll learn how to strategically invest in your portfolio, depending on your specific level of risk.

The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking, by Saifedean Ammous (2018)

While Bitcoin is a fairly new to our society, its alleged problem is better understood in the context of human history. Transferring value across space and time. The author follows a captivating journey through the history of technologies performing the functions of money from settling disputes through the exchange of limestones and seashells, to metals, coins, the gold standard, and paper money.

Bitcoin is an open source, peer-to-peer program of computer code that serves as a tool for converting electrical energy and processors into verifiable records. Because users do not need trust in any authorities or infrastructure, they can use the Internet to negotiate with various individuals online. Thereby allowing them to use digital currencies in the same way that people use cash.

At the end of the book, the author attempts to answer the most important questions connected to this technology. Is this only a hype? Can authorities or countries really kill this technology, do they need to shut this down?

What Are The Top Crypto Books For Traders?

The Only Cryptocurrency Investing Book You'll Ever Need, by Freeman Publications (2022)

Without the a doubt buying crypto assets is the act of investing in crypto. And yes there are a lot of people who made fortunes from it. But old myths disappeared quickly and professionalism is essential when we are speaking about crypto trading.

In this book you will learn the red flags when investing in altcoins, tips for future investments. How to identify scams, new trends in the crypto world like DeFi 2.0. The book includes a lot of practical parts, and tried to keep reader friendly without introducing the core concepts in the first hundred pages.

This cryptocurrency book is great for starting investors to gain information before putting any penny on your crypto wallet.

What Are The Top Crypto Books on NFTs?

The NFT Handbook: How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Tokens, by Matt Fortnow, QuHarrison Terry (2021)

An NFT is a digital or tokenized asset that serves as a non-fungible replacement for real-world assets. A very detailed guide on how to create, buy, and sell NFTs, without the need for a technical background.

Step by step instructions on how to create NFTs, including what kinds of content to use. Where to source content, how to add artistic design, how to write the NFT’s description and add optional unlockable content. Royalty and pricing is also a key element for NFTs, this book will give a good to know information also to this part of creation.

Navigate through the process of creating, minting, selling and buying NFTs with the authors no matter if you are an enthusiast of blockchain or a crypto beginner.

Final Thoughts on Crypto Books

There are many great books on cryptocurrency to choose from. If you are looking to learn about Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other type of cryptocurrency, these books are a great place to start. Some of these books on crypto only provide a basic overview of the topic, but there are others which dig deep into the world of cryptos and how it will change the way we think about digital money.

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