The Almanac

Almanac

Guides that age well — the fundamentals, explained without hype.

How to read a crypto market cap without fooling yourself

Market cap is the most quoted and least understood number in crypto. Here is what it genuinely measures, what it hides, and how to read it without fooling yourself.

Tomas Reyes · July 4, 2026

beginner

trading

How to Buy Bitcoin Safely (Step by Step)

A plain-English walkthrough of buying your first Bitcoin: choosing a platform, placing an order, keeping fees low, and moving coins to a wallet you control.

Tomas Reyes·July 3, 2026· 7m

beginner

security

Self-custody, explained for people who value sleep

Self-custody means holding the keys to your own crypto instead of trusting a company to hold them for you. Here is a calm walk through keys, seed phrases and the real trade-offs.

Priya Nandakumar·July 2, 2026· 8m

beginner

wallets

Hot vs Cold Wallets: Which Should You Use?

Hot wallets are connected to the internet for everyday use; cold wallets stay offline for long-term safety. Here is how to decide which fits your holdings.

Tomas Reyes·July 1, 2026· 7m

beginner

fundamentals

What Is DeFi and How Does It Work?

Decentralised finance recreates lending, trading, and saving using smart contracts instead of banks. Here is how it works — and the risks you need to weigh.

Ilya Sorokin·June 29, 2026· 8m

beginner

fundamentals

What actually happens during a Bitcoin halving

Roughly every four years Bitcoin's block subsidy is cut in half. Here is what the halving actually changes, what it does not, and why the mechanics matter more than the mythology.

Tomas Reyes·June 29, 2026· 8m

intermediate

fundamentals

Staking Explained: How to Earn Yield on Crypto

Staking lets you earn rewards by helping secure a proof-of-stake network. Here is how it works, what you can realistically earn, and the risks involved.

Ilya Sorokin·June 27, 2026· 7m

beginner

fundamentals

How Gas Fees Work on Ethereum

Gas fees are the cost of doing anything on Ethereum. Learn what drives them, why they spike, and practical ways to pay less without risking your funds.

Dana Whitfield·June 25, 2026· 8m

intermediate

fundamentals

Layer 1 vs Layer 2 Blockchains Explained

Layer 1 is the base blockchain; layer 2 is a network built on top to make it faster and cheaper. Here is how they differ and why both matter for scaling.

Tomas Reyes·June 23, 2026· 7m

intermediate

fundamentals

Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake Explained

Proof of work uses energy and mining; proof of stake uses locked-up coins. Here is how each secures a blockchain and the trade-offs between them.

Tomas Reyes·June 21, 2026· 7m

intermediate

fundamentals

How to Read a Crypto Whitepaper

A whitepaper is a project's pitch and blueprint. Learn what to look for, which red flags signal trouble, and how to separate substance from marketing.

Ilya Sorokin·June 19, 2026· 7m

intermediate

trading

Dollar-Cost Averaging Into Crypto

Dollar-cost averaging means buying a fixed amount on a schedule, smoothing out volatility. Here is how it works, its pros and cons, and how to set it up.

Mara Ostrowski·June 17, 2026· 7m

beginner

fundamentals

Understanding Stablecoins and Their Risks

Stablecoins aim to hold a steady value, usually pegged to the dollar. Learn how the main types work, where their value comes from, and how pegs can break.

Naomi Adeyemi·June 15, 2026· 8m

beginner

fundamentals

What is a Bitcoin ETF and how does it work?

A plain-English guide to spot Bitcoin ETFs — what they are, how they track the price, and the trade-offs versus holding bitcoin directly.

Naomi Adeyemi·June 13, 2026· 8m

beginner

security

How to avoid crypto scams: a practical guide

The most common crypto scams and the simple habits that defeat almost all of them, from phishing to fake giveaways and rug pulls.

Priya Nandakumar·June 11, 2026· 9m

beginner

trading

Reading candlestick charts for beginners

Understand what candlesticks show, how to read common patterns, and how to avoid over-reading noise on crypto charts.

Mara Ostrowski·June 9, 2026· 9m

intermediate

fundamentals

What is market liquidity in crypto?

Why liquidity matters more than most beginners realise, how to spot it, and how thin markets amplify risk.

Rafael Costa·June 7, 2026· 8m

intermediate

taxes

Crypto tax basics: what you owe and why

A general primer on how crypto is commonly taxed, which events are usually taxable, and how to keep records that save you pain.

Naomi Adeyemi·June 5, 2026· 8m

beginner

analysis

How on-chain analysis works

An introduction to reading blockchain data directly — the metrics that matter, what they reveal, and their limits.

Dana Whitfield·June 3, 2026· 10m

advanced

security

Seed phrases and wallet recovery explained

What a seed phrase is, why it is the master key to your crypto, and how to store and recover it safely.

Priya Nandakumar·June 1, 2026· 8m

beginner

fundamentals

What are rollups and how do they scale Ethereum?

A deeper look at optimistic and zero-knowledge rollups — how they cut fees, inherit Ethereum's security, and differ from each other.

Elias Fenn·May 30, 2026· 10m

advanced

trading

How to read the Crypto Fear & Greed Index

What the Fear & Greed Index measures, how to use it as a contrarian sentiment gauge, and where it can mislead.

Mara Ostrowski·May 28, 2026· 7m

beginner