¶ Bitcoin Core
¶ Advanced Technologies
Bitcoin Core sits at the heart of one of the most influential technological revolutions of our time. Long before cryptocurrencies became a mainstream conversation, long before blockchain became a buzzword repeated in boardrooms and startups, there existed a simple but powerful idea: money that required no permission, no central authority, and no trust in intermediaries. Bitcoin was the manifestation of that idea, but Bitcoin Core is its living engine — the software that keeps the entire network secure, synchronized, and resilient.
This course of 100 articles is designed for people who don’t just want to use Bitcoin, but want to understand the machinery that makes it work. Not at a surface level, not from the perspective of hype, but through the lens of deep, technical, real-world knowledge. When you understand Bitcoin Core, you start understanding the very foundations of decentralized digital systems. You begin to see how cryptography, distributed consensus, networking, game theory, and software engineering come together in an elegant and almost artistic way.
Bitcoin Core is more than code. It’s a philosophy wrapped in software. Every line reflects a series of trade-offs: performance vs. decentralization, convenience vs. security, speed vs. stability. Behind each release are thousands of conversations, proposals, debates, reviews, and improvements from contributors around the world. And behind every decision is a single goal: protecting the integrity of the Bitcoin network.
But for someone just stepping in, Bitcoin Core can feel intimidating. You’ll hear terms like UTXOs, mempool, chainstate, full node validation, BIP proposals, P2P message types, consensus rules, block propagation, SegWit, pruning, compact block relay, and script opcodes. It’s easy to feel like there’s too much to learn — but once you start peeling the layers, things begin to make sense. What initially looks like an overwhelming maze slowly transforms into a beautifully structured system where every component plays a crucial role.
That’s exactly what this course aims to do. Across 100 detailed articles, we’ll walk through the entire world of Bitcoin Core: how it’s built, how it works, how it evolved, and how you can interact with it at an advanced level. Whether you’re a developer, researcher, engineer, investor, or simply someone passionate about decentralized technology, this collection will give you the depth required to truly appreciate Bitcoin’s inner workings.
The story of Bitcoin Core begins with Satoshi Nakamoto releasing the first implementation of Bitcoin in 2009. What started as a fairly small and experimental C++ program has grown into one of the most carefully maintained open-source codebases on the planet. Today, running a Bitcoin Core node means participating directly in the enforcement of Bitcoin’s consensus rules. You become part of the global, distributed system that validates every block and transaction. You aren’t trusting someone else’s server, API, or gateway — you’re verifying everything independently.
And that’s the core strength of Bitcoin: individuals, not institutions, enforce the rules.
As you work through the articles in this course, you’ll uncover how Bitcoin Core ensures that rules cannot be secretly changed. You’ll see why a decentralized network with thousands of independently operated nodes can resist censorship, fraud, and manipulation. You’ll understand how the system achieves immutability — not through magic, but through the collective verification and agreement of thousands of machines running identical consensus logic.
One of the most fascinating aspects of studying Bitcoin Core is the way it balances simplicity with complexity. On the surface, Bitcoin’s model — transactions spending outputs from previous transactions — is remarkably simple. But beneath that simplicity lies a highly refined architecture involving signature verification, script execution, block validation, network message propagation, mempool logic, transaction selection algorithms, and various performance optimizations that keep the network efficient.
This course will gradually guide you into those depths. You will learn how Bitcoin Core stores data on disk, how it communicates with peers, how it synchronizes the blockchain, how it prevents double-spends, and how it ensures that the longest chain rule is followed without compromising decentralized control. We’ll explore different layers such as the wallet subsystem, RPC interfaces, the script interpreter, mining logic, block acceptance procedures, and bandwidth-saving mechanisms like compact blocks and assume-valid checkpoints.
Bitcoin Core is also constantly evolving, and no single explanation remains complete forever. New Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) introduce new ideas, enhancements, and even major upgrades. We’ve already seen landmark changes like Segregated Witness, Taproot, BIP32 Hierarchical Deterministic wallets, and various P2P networking improvements. Understanding how these upgrades are proposed, evaluated, tested, and eventually adopted will be a key part of what you’ll learn.
This knowledge doesn’t only help you understand Bitcoin — it helps you understand how decentralized governance works in practice. There is no CEO of Bitcoin, no central body issuing orders. There are developers, miners, businesses, full node operators, researchers, and users, all contributing to a complex decision-making ecosystem. Through Bitcoin Core, you’ll see how consensus changes without violating decentralization, and why Bitcoin’s slow, cautious, review-driven development process is a feature, not a bug.
Beyond the technical details, Bitcoin Core also represents a mindset. It’s the belief that security matters more than speed, that decentralization matters more than convenience, and that global permissionless access should not be compromised for short-term gains. Running a Bitcoin Core node means embracing responsibility. You validate your own transactions, keep a copy of the blockchain, and support the resilience of the network.
In many ways, learning Bitcoin Core is learning digital self-sovereignty.
Another key element that this course will explore is performance optimization. Bitcoin Core developers constantly refine the system so that running a node becomes easier, faster, and more resource-efficient. From database optimizations to multi-threaded verification to compact block relay, you’ll see how the software scales without giving up decentralization. This is one of the biggest challenges in modern distributed systems: how to make global consensus fast and effective while keeping every participant equal.
The course will also take you through practical, hands-on knowledge. You’ll learn how to install Bitcoin Core, how to run a node, how to use the command-line interface, how to interact with the JSON-RPC API, and how to build custom tools or applications that communicate with the node. We’ll break down the wallet architecture, key management, PSBTs (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions), coin selection logic, mempool policies, and various security considerations developers need to understand.
You’ll explore how miners interact with Bitcoin Core, how blocks are assembled, how transaction fees are prioritized, and how mining software ensures compatibility with consensus rules. Even though Bitcoin Core does not include mining hardware control, it plays a central role in defining what counts as a valid block. Understanding this helps you understand the entire mining ecosystem.
Another important perspective you’ll gain through this course is how Bitcoin Core separates consensus logic from everything else. Consensus rules — the rules that define what makes a block valid — are treated as sacred. They cannot be casually modified. They require intense review, testing, debate, and broad community agreement. Meanwhile, non-consensus features, including wallet improvements, user interface updates, networking enhancements, or performance tweaks, can evolve more rapidly. This separation ensures that Bitcoin remains stable while still allowing innovation around the edges.
Over the span of 100 articles, you’ll witness how this separation is maintained in the codebase and in the development process. You’ll see how developers carefully avoid accidental consensus changes and why regression tests are treated with such seriousness. You’ll understand why Bitcoin Core has earned a reputation for engineering discipline — a trait that is rare in fast-moving software fields.
Bitcoin Core also teaches something deeper about technology: how to build systems that must remain secure and functional for decades. Most software is built with the assumption that it will be replaced in a few years. Bitcoin Core, on the other hand, must survive across generations of hardware, operating systems, global users, and adversarial environments. It must remain functional even when parts of the network behave maliciously or when governments try to interfere. Studying such a system equips you with an understanding that goes far beyond cryptocurrencies.
By the time you progress through this extensive course, you’ll not only understand how Bitcoin Core works — you’ll understand why it works the way it does. You’ll have the knowledge to run your own node confidently, read the Bitcoin Core source code, understand BIPs, monitor network behavior, debug issues, and even contribute to the open-source project if you choose. You’ll become part of a global community that values transparency, resilience, and trustlessness.
Bitcoin Core stands as one of the most important pieces of software ever created, not because it made anyone rich, but because it changed how we think about money, trust, and digital systems. It introduced a model where individuals hold power, where code defines rules, and where open collaboration trumps centralized decision-making.
This course is not just about learning software — it’s about understanding a movement.
As you begin this journey through all 100 articles, be ready to challenge assumptions, explore complex ideas, and appreciate the craftsmanship that keeps Bitcoin running. Whether you come from a background in programming, cryptography, finance, or general curiosity, this course will elevate your understanding of a technology that is shaping the future.
Bitcoin Core isn’t just software you run. It’s software that empowers you. And by the time you finish this course, you’ll know exactly why.
¶ Bitcoin Core
I. Bitcoin Fundamentals (1-15)
1. What is Bitcoin? A Deep Dive into Decentralized Currency
2. Understanding Blockchain Technology: The Foundation of Bitcoin
3. How Bitcoin Transactions Work: From Creation to Confirmation
4. The Role of Miners and the Proof-of-Work Consensus Mechanism
5. Exploring Bitcoin's Security: Cryptography and Decentralization
6. Understanding Bitcoin Addresses and Private Keys
7. Different Types of Bitcoin Wallets: Hot, Cold, and Hardware
8. Setting Up Your First Bitcoin Wallet
9. Sending and Receiving Bitcoin: A Practical Guide
10. Exploring the Bitcoin Ecosystem: Exchanges, Merchants, and Communities
11. Understanding Bitcoin's Economic Model: Supply and Demand
12. The History of Bitcoin: From Whitepaper to Mainstream Adoption
13. Bitcoin's Use Cases: Beyond Digital Currency
14. Common Misconceptions about Bitcoin
15. The Future of Bitcoin: Potential Developments and Challenges
II. Setting Up and Using Bitcoin Core (16-30)
16. Introduction to Bitcoin Core: The Original Bitcoin Client
17. Downloading and Installing Bitcoin Core
18. Running Bitcoin Core for the First Time
19. Understanding the Bitcoin Core Interface
20. Configuring Bitcoin Core: Basic Settings
21. Synchronizing the Bitcoin Blockchain: Initial Block Download (IBD)
22. Understanding the Bitcoin Core Wallet
23. Creating and Managing Bitcoin Addresses in Bitcoin Core
24. Sending and Receiving Bitcoin using Bitcoin Core
25. Viewing Transaction Details in Bitcoin Core
26. Backing Up Your Bitcoin Core Wallet: Protecting Your Funds
27. Restoring Your Bitcoin Core Wallet from a Backup
28. Using the Bitcoin Core Console: Command-Line Interface
29. Exploring Bitcoin Core Configuration Files
30. Upgrading Bitcoin Core: Keeping Your Software Up-to-Date
III. Working with the Bitcoin Core Command-Line Interface (CLI) (31-45)
31. Introduction to the Bitcoin Core CLI: Mastering the Command Line
32. Basic CLI Commands: Getting Information about Your Node
33. Managing Your Wallet through the CLI
34. Sending and Receiving Transactions using the CLI
35. Exploring Blockchain Data with the CLI
36. Debugging and Troubleshooting with the CLI
37. Advanced CLI Commands: Interacting with the Network
38. Using the bitcoin-cli Utility: A Practical Guide
39. Automating Tasks with the CLI: Scripting and Automation
40. Understanding JSON-RPC: Interacting with Bitcoin Core Programmatically
41. Using the curl Command to Interact with Bitcoin Core
42. Building Scripts to Automate Bitcoin Core Operations
43. Working with Raw Transactions using the CLI
44. Decoding and Encoding Transactions with the CLI
45. Mastering the Bitcoin Core CLI: Tips and Tricks
IV. Understanding Bitcoin Transactions in Detail (46-60)
46. Deep Dive into Bitcoin Transactions: Structure and Components
47. Understanding Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs)
48. How UTXOs Work: The Foundation of Bitcoin Ownership
49. Creating and Signing Bitcoin Transactions
50. Understanding Transaction Fees: How They Work and How to Optimize Them
51. Exploring Different Transaction Types: Standard, Multi-sig, etc.
52. Understanding Transaction Confirmation and Block Inclusion
53. The Anatomy of a Bitcoin Block: Structure and Content
54. How Blocks Are Added to the Blockchain
55. Understanding Block Height and Chain Tip
56. Exploring the Mempool: Where Transactions Wait for Confirmation
57. Transaction Propagation: How Transactions Are Broadcast Across the Network
58. Understanding Transaction Privacy: Best Practices
59. Exploring CoinJoin: Enhancing Transaction Privacy
60. Analyzing Bitcoin Transactions: Tools and Techniques
V. Bitcoin Scripting (61-75)
61. Introduction to Bitcoin Script: The Language of Bitcoin Transactions
62. Understanding Script Opcodes and Instructions
63. Writing Simple Bitcoin Scripts
64. Exploring Common Script Use Cases: Pay-to-PubKeyHash (P2PKH), Pay-to-ScriptHash (P2SH)
65. Implementing Multi-Signature Wallets with Script
66. Understanding Script Limitations and Security Considerations
67. Advanced Scripting Techniques: Timelocks, HTLCs, etc.
68. Building Custom Bitcoin Transactions with Script
69. Exploring Script Use Cases Beyond Payments
70. Understanding Taproot: A Major Upgrade to Bitcoin Script
71. Working with Taproot Addresses and Transactions
72. Exploring Tapscript: Enhanced Scripting Capabilities
73. Understanding Schnorr Signatures: Improved Security and Efficiency
74. Building Applications with Bitcoin Script
75. The Future of Bitcoin Scripting: Potential Developments
VI. Bitcoin Network and Consensus (76-90)
76. Understanding the Bitcoin Network Architecture: Nodes and Connections
77. How Bitcoin Nodes Communicate with Each Other
78. Exploring the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network Protocol
79. Understanding Bitcoin's Consensus Mechanism: Proof-of-Work in Detail
80. How Mining Works: Finding Blocks and Securing the Network
81. Exploring Mining Pools: Collaborative Mining Efforts
82. Understanding Difficulty Adjustment: Maintaining Block Time
83. The Role of Full Nodes in the Bitcoin Network
84. Setting Up a Bitcoin Full Node: Contributing to Decentralization
85. Understanding Network Propagation and Block Relay
86. Exploring Different Consensus Mechanisms: Proof-of-Stake and Others
87. The Importance of Decentralization in Bitcoin
88. Understanding Network Attacks and Security Considerations
89. Exploring Layer Two Solutions: Lightning Network and Others
90. The Future of Bitcoin Network and Consensus
VII. Advanced Bitcoin Core Topics (91-100)
91. Compiling Bitcoin Core from Source Code
92. Contributing to the Bitcoin Core Project
93. Understanding Bitcoin Core's Codebase
94. Debugging and Troubleshooting Bitcoin Core
95. Performance Optimization of Bitcoin Core
96. Integrating Bitcoin Core with Other Applications
97. Exploring Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs)
98. Understanding the Bitcoin Development Process
99. The Bitcoin Community and its Role in Development
100. The Evolution of Bitcoin: Past, Present, and Future