Down the Rabbit Hole – Resources for Beginners

The past 3 years has been a fascinating journey for me of learning more and more about digital currencies and the underlying technology of the blockchain. I am often asked by people if I have good resources to give a quick non-technical introduction to the topic. Learning about bitcoin, altcoins (other types of digital currency that use the same type of technology as bitcoin), and blockchain is often described as being like Alice in Wonderland falling down a rabbit hole…once you dive in, you just keep on going as there is always more to learn.

So here is a brief list of videos – for those who prefer to learn via visual content  – and articles and books for those who prefer words or want to explore the topics in more detail. These resources are all simple and not too technical. They are all also freely available online but, at Unblocked, we think it’s helpful to have them collected all in one place. There are, of course, many more. We’d be happy to have your comments and suggestions of how we can add to this list as well. Tell us what your favourite bitcoin and blockchain resources are and why they made an impact on you.

 

Videos:

Bitcoin explained and made simple – Guardian animation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4g1XFU8Gto

 

Bitcoin in 3 minutes – The Nantucket Project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_a8jlyqk4g

 

What is Blockchain?  World Economic Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WG7D47tGb0

 

BBC video on Bitcoin & The Blockchain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ky3mDUoh74

 

How Blockchain could change finance – Financial News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYduOfRLHq0

Blockchain Bonanza – Blockchain Explained (a fun one, nice for kids too)

 

 

Introductory Articles on Bitcoin and Blockchain:

Coindesk: What is Bitcoin?

http://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-bitcoin/

Blockchain.info – Beginner’s FAQ

https://blockchain.info/wallet/bitcoin-faq

Coinbase – What is the Blockchain

https://support.coinbase.com/customer/portal/articles/1819222-what-is-the-blockchain-

Fortune.com – Why Blockchains will change the world

http://fortune.com/2016/05/08/why-blockchains-will-change-the-world/

 

Articles on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and tokenization:

The Origins of ICOs and Tokens – Meltem Demirors, DCG

https://medium.com/@Melt_Dem/the-origins-of-icos-and-tokens-756fa6fae44f

Laura Shin, Forbes on the rise of Initial Coin Offerings and the ‘Crypto bubble’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/the-emperors-new-coins-how-initial-coin-offerings-fueled-a-100-billion-crypto-bubble/#1f7740a66ece

Helen Disney – Navigating the Initial Coin Offering Minefield, ICO Crowd magazine (p.26-27)

https://goo.gl/mcmqA3

Silicon NYC – ICOs are on the rise

http://silicon.nyc/ico-crowdfunding-blockchain-technology/

Coin Center – What does it mean to issue a token on top of Ethereum?

https://coincenter.org/entry/what-does-it-mean-to-issue-a-token-on-top-of-ethereum

Medium blog post by Balaji Srinivasan – Thoughts on Tokens (more technical)

https://medium.com/@balajis/thoughts-on-tokens-436109aabcbe

Coinbase – ICOs and the legal framework

https://www.coinbase.com/legal/securities-law-framework.pdf

Books:

Blockchain Revolution – By Don and Alex Tapscott

http://blockchain-revolution.com

The Business Blockchain – By William Mougayar

http://thebusinessblockchain.com

Mastering Bitcoin – Andreas Antonopolous

http://chimera.labs.oreilly.com/books/1234000001802

Digital Gold – Nathianel Popper

https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062362513/digital-gold

Bitcoin – The Future of Money? – Dominic Frisby

https://bitcointhefutureofmoney.com

 

Unblocked Events In the News

Interview with Social Butterflies:

Demystifying the blockchain

Navigating the Initial Coin Offering Minefield (p.26-27):

ICO Crowd magazine

PharmaPhorum:

Blockchain applications in healthcare

Article for Digital Currency Council on International Women’s Day:

What if the best female talent were attracted to work in fintech?

 

Please note – Unblocked Events has no conflict of interest or financial relationship with any of the organisations mentioned nor does this blog constitute a formal endorsement of the content listed.

 

 

 

 

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