What is
Bitcoin?

No jargon. No complexity. Just the truth about the most important invention in the history of money.

Bitcoin is digital cash. Not digital money controlled by a bank. Not a credit card. Actual cash — but for the internet.

When you hand someone a $20 bill, no bank needs to approve it. No one can stop you. No one takes a cut. Bitcoin works exactly the same way — except it works over the internet, anywhere in the world, instantly.

"Think of Bitcoin as cash that can teleport anywhere in the world in seconds, with no middleman and no bank account required."

It was created in 2009 by someone called Satoshi Nakamoto. Nobody controls it. There's no CEO, no company, no government behind it. It's a set of open rules that runs on thousands of computers worldwide. It can't be shut down. It can't be inflated.

There will only ever be 21 million bitcoins. Ever. That's it. Compare that to the US Dollar, where the government printed more money in 2020 than in the previous 200 years combined.

Bitcoin
OPEN
FREE
21M
P2P

What's a sat?

A "sat" is short for satoshi — the smallest unit of Bitcoin. Named after its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

One Bitcoin = 100,000,000 sats. So even if you can't afford a whole Bitcoin, you can own and spend sats. You don't need to buy a whole coin — any amount works.

A cup of coffee might cost 2,000 sats. A taco might cost 5,000 sats. That's all. Start small. Start today.

01
1 Bitcoin = 100,000,000 satsJust like 1 dollar = 100 cents. Sats make Bitcoin usable at any price.
02
Lightning Network makes it instantA second layer on Bitcoin that lets you send sats in under a second for near-zero fees.
03
You can start with $5Buy a tiny amount of Bitcoin, download a Lightning wallet, and you're ready to spend. That's it.
04
No account neededNo bank. No credit check. No ID required. Bitcoin works for everyone, everywhere.

3 steps to
your first sat.

01
Get a Lightning Wallet

Download Strike, Wallet of Satoshi, or Phoenix. These apps hold your sats and let you pay with a QR code scan. Free. Takes 2 minutes.

Strike App →
02
Buy Some Sats

Top up your wallet with as little as $5. You don't need a whole Bitcoin. Even 10,000 sats is enough to start spending today.

Buy Bitcoin →
03
Find Somewhere to Spend

Use our directory to find merchants near you accepting Bitcoin. Or try online shops. Make your first purchase. Post it with #SatsInTheWild.

Find Merchants →
Join a Free Beginner Session →

FAQ

Isn't Bitcoin just for criminals?

Less than 1% of Bitcoin transactions are linked to illicit activity — far lower than cash. Bitcoin is transparent: every transaction is recorded on a public ledger. It's actually harder to use for crime than cash.

What if the price goes down after I spend?

That's the same risk you take with any currency. The difference is Bitcoin has a fixed supply and has increased in value over every 4-year period in its history. Spending a small amount you're comfortable with is how you learn to use it.

Is it complicated to use?

Not anymore. Modern Lightning wallets are as easy as Venmo or Cash App. You scan a QR code and tap send. Most people are surprised how simple it is after they try it once.

Do I need to buy a whole Bitcoin?

Absolutely not. You can buy $5 worth and have 10,000+ sats to spend. You don't buy a whole share of stock either. Start with whatever amount you're comfortable with.