The Bitcoin Builder's Library
A curated library of books, articles, guides, tools, workshops, and open-source resources for learning Bitcoin and Lightning.
Resources are organized by topic and contribution area.
Don't trust. Verify
Resources are curated by the Builders community and the wider Bitcoin ecosystem. They may (or may not!) provide additional insight into one or more facets of Bitcoin understanding. Inclusion does not mean endorsement. Verify claims, ideas, and technical assumptions for yourself.
Don't trust. Verify
Resources are curated by the Builders community and the wider Bitcoin ecosystem. They may (or may not!) provide additional insight into one or more facets of Bitcoin understanding. Inclusion does not mean endorsement. Verify claims, ideas, and technical assumptions for yourself.
Start Here
BEGIN WITH FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES
Learning Bitcoin
Books, guides, and educational resources for understanding Bitcoin fundamentals.
Open Source Contribution
Everything you need to make your first contribution, navigate reviews, and collaborate effectively in public.
Developer Tools
Documentation, tooling, repositories, and environments used throughout the Bitcoin ecosystem.
EXPLORE BY TOPICS
Bitcoin Development
Technical resources covering Bitcoin architecture, consensus, networking, wallets, transactions, scripts, and protocol development.
Lighning Network
Resources focused on Lightning implementations, channel management, routing, payment flows, and protocol design.
Cryptography
Digital signatures, hash functions, key derivation, Schnorr signatures, multisig, and cryptographic primitives used throughout Bitcoin.
Energy & Mining
Resources examining Bitcoin mining, energy usage, sustainability, and mining protocols.
Economics & Monetary Theory
Articles and research exploring Bitcoin's role as money, economic incentives, and monetary systems.
Taproot, SegWit & Miniscript
Deep dives into modern Bitcoin upgrades and scripting tools.
Writing & Communication
Technical writing guides, article-writing resources, and advice for documenting your work effectively.
Culture & History
Essays, books, podcasts, and historical resources that provide context for Bitcoin's development and community.
Open Source Projects
Looking for somewhere to contribute? Browse Bitcoin and Lightning projects categorized by programming language, difficulty level, and contribution readiness.
Bitcoin Core
Bitcoin Development Kit (BDK)
Lightning Network Daemon (LND)
Core Lightning
BTCPay Server
Fedimint
Stratum V2
Polar
Lightning Development Kit (LDK)
Rust Bitcoin
BlueWallet
Open Source Projects
Looking for somewhere to contribute? Browse Bitcoin and Lightning projects categorized by programming language, difficulty level, and contribution readiness.
Bitcoin Core
Bitcoin Development Kit (BDK)
Lightning Network Daemon (LND)
Core Lightning
BTCPay Server
Fedimint
Stratum V2
Polar
Lightning Development Kit (LDK)
Rust Bitcoin
BlueWallet
Contribution Guides
Not sure where to start? We've collected guides covering:
MAKING YOUR FIRST PULL REQUEST
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Working effectively in open source
Building a public proof-of-work portfolio
Code review best practices
Writing technical articles
Suggested Learning Paths
Not sure what to read next? Follow curated reading lists based on your goals:
Bitcoin Fundamentals
Bitcoin Core Development
Lightning Development
Rust for Bitcoin
Wallet Development
Open Source Contribution
Technical Writing
