A comprehensive, curated collection of Bitcoin learning materials, development resources, and community tools. From beginner guides to advanced protocol development.
Note: This is a living document. Contributions and suggestions are welcome!
- Essential Reading
- Official Documentation
- Video Resources
- Development Resources
- Explorers & Tools
- News & Updates
- Security & Privacy
- Lightning Network
- Community Resources
- Academic Resources
- Advanced Topics
- Wallets
- Organizations
- Data & Statistics
Economics and monetary history perspective on Bitcoin.
- Website: https://saifedean.com/the-book
Technical deep dive into Bitcoin's inner workings.
- GitHub: https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook
- Free Online: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/mastering-bitcoin-3rd/9781098150082/
Learn by building a Bitcoin library from scratch in Python.
- Website: https://programmingbitcoin.com/
Visual, beginner-friendly approach to understanding Bitcoin.
Understanding monetary layers and Bitcoin's role in the system.
History of Bitcoin's governance crisis and scaling debate.
- Free Online: https://blog.bitmex.com/the-blocksize-war/
Satoshi Nakamoto's original Bitcoin whitepaper.
Adam Back's proof-of-work system that inspired Bitcoin mining.
Wei Dai's early cryptocurrency concept.
- Original: http://www.weidai.com/bmoney.txt
Nick Szabo's Bitcoin precursor concept.
Original Lightning Network whitepaper.
Technical specification for Schnorr signatures in Bitcoin.
Technical specifications for Taproot upgrade (BIPs 340, 341, 342).
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Bitcoin.org - https://bitcoin.org/
- Official Bitcoin project website
- Wallets, documentation, getting started guides
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Bitcoin Core - https://bitcoincore.org/
- Reference implementation of Bitcoin
- GitHub: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
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Bitcoin Developer Documentation - https://developer.bitcoin.org/
- API references, guides, and examples
- RPC documentation
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Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) - https://github.com/bitcoin/bips
- All Bitcoin protocol improvements
- Searchable: https://bips.dev/
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Bitcoin Optech - https://bitcoinops.org/
- Weekly technical newsletter (essential!)
- Scaling resources and compatibility matrix
- Workshop materials
Comprehensive free course with companion book.
- Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/learn/cryptocurrency
- Companion Book: https://bitcoinbook.cs.princeton.edu/
Beginner-friendly Bitcoin education.
Advanced technical seminars for developers.
- Website: https://learning.chaincode.com/
Comprehensive Bitcoin Core development course.
- Website: https://www.base58.school/
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Andreas Antonopoulos - https://www.youtube.com/@aantonop
- Bitcoin education, Q&A, talks
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Bitcoin Magazine - https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinMagazine
- News, interviews, documentaries
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BTC Sessions - https://www.youtube.com/@BTCSessions
- Practical tutorials and guides
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Ministry of Nodes - https://www.youtube.com/@MinistryofNodes
- Node operation and setup tutorials
- Bitcoin Conference - https://www.youtube.com/c/BitcoinConference
- Baltic Honeybadger - https://www.youtube.com/@BalticHoneybadger
- Adopting Bitcoin - https://www.youtube.com/@adoptingbitcoin
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Bitcoin Core GitHub - https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
- Main Bitcoin repository
- Issues, pull requests, releases
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Bitcoin Core Dev Meetings - https://bitcoincore.org/en/meetings/
- IRC logs and meeting transcripts
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Bitcoin Core PR Review Club - https://bitcoincore.reviews/
- Learn by reviewing pull requests
- Weekly meetings
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Delving Bitcoin - https://delvingbitcoin.org/
- Technical discussion forum for Bitcoin development
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Learn Me a Bitcoin - https://learnmeabitcoin.com/
- Visual technical guide with interactive tools
- Build Tools: https://learnmeabitcoin.com/tools/
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Bitcoin Dev Kit (BDK) - https://bitcoindevkit.org/
- Modern toolkit for building Bitcoin wallets
- GitHub: https://github.com/bitcoindevkit/bdk
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BTCPay Server - https://btcpayserver.org/
- Self-hosted Bitcoin payment processor
- GitHub: https://github.com/btcpayserver/btcpayserver
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LND (Lightning Network Daemon) - https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
- Lightning Labs' Lightning implementation
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Core Lightning (CLN) - https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning
- Blockstream's Lightning implementation
- Bitcoin Testnet Faucet - https://testnet-faucet.mempool.co/
- Bitcoin Testnet Explorer - https://mempool.space/testnet
- Signet Faucet - https://signetfaucet.com/
- Bitcoin Regtest - Local testing environment (built into Bitcoin Core)
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Mempool.space - https://mempool.space/
- Best open-source explorer
- Fee estimation, transaction tracking, Lightning explorer
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Blockchair - https://blockchair.com/bitcoin
- Multi-chain explorer with advanced search
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Blockchain.com Explorer - https://www.blockchain.com/explorer
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OXT - https://oxt.me/
- Advanced analytics and privacy analysis tools
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Clark Moody Bitcoin Dashboard - https://bitcoin.clarkmoody.com/dashboard/
- Real-time metrics and network statistics
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Bitcoin Visuals - https://bitcoinvisuals.com/
- Charts and statistics about the Bitcoin network
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Coin Metrics - https://charts.coinmetrics.io/
- Professional network data and analytics
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Glassnode Studio - https://studio.glassnode.com/
- Advanced on-chain analytics (freemium)
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Mempool.space - https://mempool.space/
- Live mempool visualization
- Fee estimation and transaction accelerator
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Johoe's Bitcoin Mempool Statistics - https://jochen-hoenicke.de/queue/
- Historical mempool data and visualization
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Bitcoin Fee Estimator - https://bitcoiner.live/
- Real-time fee recommendations
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Bitcoin Transaction Size Calculator - https://bitcoinops.org/en/tools/calc-size/
- Calculate transaction sizes and fees
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Transaction Decoder - https://live.blockcypher.com/btc/decodetx/
- Decode raw transactions
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Bitcoin Script Playground - https://bitcoin.sipa.be/miniscript/
- Test and visualize Bitcoin scripts
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Miniscript - https://bitcoin.sipa.be/miniscript/
- Compose Bitcoin scripts safely
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Bitcoin Optech Newsletter - https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/
- Weekly technical newsletter (essential for developers!)
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Bitcoin Magazine - https://bitcoinmagazine.com/
- News, analysis, and opinion
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The Bitcoin Times - https://medium.com/the-bitcoin-times
- Essays and long-form content
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What Bitcoin Did - https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/
- Interviews with influential Bitcoin figures
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Bitcoin Audible - https://bitcoinaudible.com/
- Guy Swann reads and discusses Bitcoin articles
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Stephan Livera Podcast - https://stephanlivera.com/
- Technical and economic discussions
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Tales from the Crypt - https://tftc.io/podcasts/
- Bitcoin news and interviews
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Chaincode Podcast - https://podcast.chaincode.com/
- Technical deep dives with Bitcoin developers
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Bitcoin Stack Exchange - https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/
- Technical Q&A (highly recommended!)
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Bitcoin Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/
- General Bitcoin discussion
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Bitcoin Talk Forum - https://bitcointalk.org/
- Original Bitcoin forum, historical discussions
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Stacker News - https://stacker.news/
- Bitcoin-focused discussion with Lightning micropayments
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Twitter/X - Follow @bitcoin, @bitcoinops, @BitcoinMagazine
- Real-time updates and community
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Glacier Protocol - https://glacierprotocol.org/
- High-security cold storage protocol
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Seedsigner - https://seedsigner.com/
- DIY air-gapped hardware wallet
- GitHub: https://github.com/SeedSigner/seedsigner
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Specter Desktop - https://specter.solutions/
- Multisig wallet interface
- GitHub: https://github.com/cryptoadvance/specter-desktop
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Samourai Wallet - https://samouraiwallet.com/
- Privacy-focused mobile wallet with Whirlpool CoinJoin
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Wasabi Wallet - https://wasabiwallet.io/
- Desktop wallet with built-in CoinJoin
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JoinMarket - https://github.com/JoinMarket-Org/joinmarket-clientserver
- Decentralized CoinJoin implementation
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Bitcoin Privacy Guide - https://bitcoiner.guide/privacy/
- Comprehensive privacy best practices
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Running Bitcoin Core with Tor - https://bitcoin.org/en/tor
- Official guide for Tor integration
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Tor Project - https://www.torproject.org/
- Anonymous communication network
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Whonix - https://www.whonix.org/
- Anonymous operating system
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Lightning Network - https://lightning.network/
- Official Lightning Network website
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Lightning Labs - https://lightning.engineering/
- Company behind LND implementation
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ACINQ - https://acinq.co/
- Company behind Eclair implementation
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Blockstream - https://blockstream.com/lightning/
- Company behind Core Lightning (CLN)
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Lightning Network Whitepaper - https://lightning.network/lightning-network-paper.pdf
- Original technical paper
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Mastering the Lightning Network - https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook
- Free book by Antonopoulos, Osuntokun, and Pickhardt
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Lightning Network Training - https://lightningnetwork.plus/
- Guides for channel management and node operation
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1ML Lightning Network Explorer - https://1ml.com/
- Node and channel explorer
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Amboss - https://amboss.space/
- Node analytics, tools, and explorer
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Ride The Lightning (RTL) - https://github.com/Ride-The-Lightning/RTL
- Web UI for managing Lightning nodes
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ThunderHub - https://thunderhub.io/
- Lightning node management interface
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Terminal Web - https://terminal.lightning.engineering/
- LND cloud management
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Bitcoiner.Guide - https://bitcoiner.guide/
- Guides for all levels and use cases
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Bitcoin-Only - https://bitcoin-only.com/
- Curated list of Bitcoin-only resources
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Ministry of Nodes - https://www.ministryofnodes.com.au/
- Node guides and hardware recommendations
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RaspiBlitz - https://github.com/rootzoll/raspiblitz
- Raspberry Pi Bitcoin/Lightning node
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Umbrel - https://umbrel.com/
- User-friendly node OS with app store
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MyNode - https://mynodebtc.com/
- Premium node solution
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Start9 - https://start9.com/
- Sovereign computing platform with Bitcoin node
- Bitcoin Core Dev IRC - #bitcoin-core-dev on Libera.Chat
- Lightning Dev Mailing List - https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev
- Bitcoin Dev Mailing List - https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-dev
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Chaincode Labs - https://chaincode.com/
- Bitcoin development residency program
- Open-source funding
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Brink - https://brink.dev/
- Bitcoin developer funding and mentorship
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Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) - https://spiral.xyz/
- Open-source Bitcoin development
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MIT Digital Currency Initiative - https://dci.mit.edu/
- Academic Bitcoin research
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Bitcoin Research - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VaWhbAj7hWNdiE73P-W-wrl5a0WNgzjofmZXe0Rh5sg/
- Comprehensive collection of Bitcoin research papers
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Scaling Bitcoin - https://scalingbitcoin.org/
- Conference proceedings and research
- MIT - Bitcoin and Blockchain courses
- Stanford - Bitcoin Engineering
- UC Berkeley - Blockchain at Berkeley
- Princeton - Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Technologies
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Bitcoin Wiki - Protocol Rules - https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_rules
- Comprehensive protocol documentation
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Bitcoin Improvement Proposals - https://github.com/bitcoin/bips
- All protocol improvement proposals
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Optech Schnorr/Taproot Workshop - https://bitcoinops.org/en/schorr-taproot-workshop/
- Technical workshop materials
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Miniscript - https://bitcoin.sipa.be/miniscript/
- Structured Bitcoin scripts
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Bitcoin Script Wiki - https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script
- Script operations reference
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Braiins - https://braiins.com/
- Mining pool and firmware
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Stratum V2 - https://stratumprotocol.org/
- Next-generation mining protocol
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Bitcoin Mining Council - https://bitcoinminingcouncil.com/
- Mining industry coordination
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Blue Wallet - https://bluewallet.io/
- Bitcoin and Lightning, user-friendly
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Phoenix Wallet - https://phoenix.acinq.co/
- Lightning-focused, excellent UX
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Breez - https://breez.technology/
- Non-custodial Lightning node in your pocket
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Muun - https://muun.com/
- Bitcoin and Lightning, submarine swaps
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Sparrow Wallet - https://sparrowwallet.com/
- Advanced features, privacy-focused, excellent UI
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Electrum - https://electrum.org/
- Lightweight, mature, highly configurable
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Specter Desktop - https://specter.solutions/
- Hardware wallet interface, multisig focus
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Coldcard - https://coldcard.com/
- Bitcoin-only, air-gapped, advanced security
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BitBox02 - https://shiftcrypto.ch/bitbox02/
- Swiss-made, Bitcoin-only version available
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SeedSigner - https://seedsigner.com/
- DIY, completely open-source, air-gapped
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Trezor - https://trezor.io/
- Original hardware wallet, open-source
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Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
- Popular option, wide coin support
- Bitcoin Core - https://bitcoincore.org/
- MIT DCI - https://dci.mit.edu/
- Chaincode Labs - https://chaincode.com/
- Blockstream - https://blockstream.com/
- Lightning Labs - https://lightning.engineering/
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Coin Center - https://www.coincenter.org/
- Policy advocacy and research
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Human Rights Foundation Bitcoin Development Fund - https://hrf.org/programs_posts/devfund/
- Funding Bitcoin development for human rights
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Bitcoin Magazine - https://bitcoinmagazine.com/
- Longest-running Bitcoin publication
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CoinDesk - https://www.coindesk.com/
- Crypto news and analysis
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The Block - https://www.theblock.co/
- Research and news
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CoinGecko - https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/bitcoin
- Price data, market cap, trading volume
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CoinMarketCap - https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/
- Market statistics and data
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Blockchain.com Charts - https://www.blockchain.com/charts
- Historical blockchain data
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BitInfoCharts - https://bitinfocharts.com/bitcoin/
- Network statistics and charts
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Coin Metrics - https://coinmetrics.io/
- Professional-grade analytics
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Glassnode - https://glassnode.com/
- Advanced on-chain metrics
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Bitnodes - https://bitnodes.io/
- Map of reachable Bitcoin nodes
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Bitcoin Node Map - https://bitcoinmap.org/
- Geographic distribution of nodes
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Luke Dashjr's Node Count - http://luke.dashjr.org/programs/bitcoin/files/charts/software.html
- Historical node statistics
Contributions are welcome! If you know of a valuable Bitcoin resource that's missing from this list, please:
- Fork this repository
- Add the resource with a brief description
- Submit a pull request
Quality over quantity - we prioritize well-maintained, accurate, and valuable resources.
This document is released into the public domain under CC0 1.0.
This resource list has been compiled from the Bitcoin community's collective knowledge. Special thanks to all the educators, developers, and contributors who make Bitcoin learning accessible.
Last Updated: November 2025
Maintained by: mcps976