The Best Books on Cryptocurrency
The Best Books on Cryptocurrency
The cryptocurrency market is booming. Once an alternative fad that few understood, cryptocurrencies are growing by the day, and names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others are now being used and traded by hundreds of millions worldwide.
While there are a plethora of sites online that explain cryptocurrencies, those in the know turn to the literature. There are quite a few choices, and the search alone can be quite overwhelming. This is why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and have compiled a list of the best books on cryptocurrency. Let’s get started!
The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking
In The Bitcoin Standard, author Saifedean Ammous starts at the beginning. After all, understanding cryptocurrency's role in the present requires a bit of a deep dive into the functions of money. Thankfully, Ammous has a firm grasp of historical monetary evolution, and better yet, can explain it in an engaging way.
By the time we arrive at the final chapter, Ammous asks the question we’re all dying to know … “what’s next?” While heavily centered on Bitcoin, folks are buzzing about The Bitcoin Standard for good reason.
The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money Are Challenging the Global Economic Order
The topic of cryptocurrency can be daunting for those with little knowledge of the subject. Wall Street journalists Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey clearly understand this, thankfully so. The two have written a book that covers cryptocurrency from A to Z, but with terminology and an agreeable prose that we can all digest.
There is no doubt the digital currency world will look radically different from the paper one we are accustomed to. The Age of Cryptocurrency provides all the answers as to why and what to be prepared for. Fanatics on the subject give it two thumbs up!
Digital Cash: The Unknown History of the Anarchists, Utopians, and Technologists Who Created Cryptocurrency
History is bound to repeat itself. While cryptocurrency might appear novel and groundbreaking, in Digital Cash: The Unknown History of the Anarchists, Utopians, and Technologists Who Created Cryptocurrency, author Finn Brunton reminds us that this “experiment” has been attempted before.
Ever since the 1970s political radicals and technological utopians have used experimental money ideas as an alternative to the status quo. If you want to understand the present and portend where the future will take us, diving into the past is an absolute must.
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them
Need a quick primer on blockchain technology? How about understanding the difference between Ethereum, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies? The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains does not mince words - this is a basics guide that is a must-read prior to considering the purchase of any cryptocurrency.
Reviews speak volumes, and a cursory review of satisfied customer comments using words like “authoritative,” “comprehensive,” and “level-headed” give The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains a worthy best book mention for cryptocurrency.
The Book Of Satoshi: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto
There are few figures as enigmatic as Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to go online in 2009. Nakamoto is rumored to have created it, but little is known. Is he/she an individual, a group? Regardless, The Book of Satoshi provides perhaps the best glimpse into Nakamoto’s beginning with the November 1st, 2009 seminal paper on Bitcoin.
While there are other books that explain cryptocurrencies better, The Book of Satoshi delves into the why. To understand what may be our new monetary order, understanding the why is certainly critical.
The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution Is Transforming Currencies and Finance
Author Eswar Prasad posits the end of physical cash. If you had uttered this just a decade ago people would surely have labeled him confused or just plain crazy. Now, Prasad is likely moving along the right path, and in The Future of Money, he explains how he sees the world of finance (corporations, bankers, states, etc) evolving and the participation of virtual and digital currencies.
Prasad has an interesting way of writing, easily digestible to the average reader but also chock-full of data and charts for those seeking more in-depth analysis. This is a book that will continue to be referenced and read for some time.
Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Future of Bitcoin, Blockchains, and Cryptocurrencies
This is the question for any investor, right? Are we in a bubble or is something bigger afoot? While few can predict the future, Blockchain Bubble or Revolution is authored by three folks who have worked at some of the biggest tech companies - Microsoft, Google, and IBM. They aren’t wizards, but their insights are certainly well-founded.
Understanding blockchains and their natural relation to cryptocurrencies is critical. Principally because blockchains are now being used in a host of new arenas. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution is easy to undersatnd and an enjoyable book for a long weekend or even a short week!
Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor's Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond
Authors Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar took a rather intuitive path to lay out the skeleton of their book. Cryptoassets are broken down into three sections - what, why, and how. If you’re new to the cryptocurrency world or even have a nice working knowledge, the what section provides a solid base. The why digs deeper into issues surrounding our current financial markets and why a future along the same path could be untenable. And finally, the how delves into a fundamental analysis of valuing crypto assets and even how to avoid scams.
The future of cryptocurrencies is closely tied to blockchain. Should blockchain continue to evolve and expand, playing a protagonist role in industries beyond crypto, the future of crypto will only be brighter. Don Tapscott would appear to be bullish on this prospect, and his brilliantly researched book provides a fantastic overview as to how the revolution will progress over time.
There is no doubt blockchain will produce winners and losers. But Tapscott focuses on where the results of this interchange will lead us, and without revealing any spoilers, it’s a must-read!
A Brief History of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
In terms of people in the “crypto-know,” Joseph Chen would certainly count. The author of A Brief History of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain, Chen might advertise that the history is brief, but he really takes the reader through a comprehensive overview that is one of the most complete you’ll find.
Chen is a well-known figure within the larger crypto community and a leading mind when it comes to blockchain and the current trends that are sure to shape the future.
It is tough to pick even the top two or three books from this list of ten. We also had to leave out some worthy candidates. You can’t go wrong with any of the ten if you want to either continue learning or begin learning about the exciting cryptocurrency world.
