Bitcoin for Individuals
Bitcoin lets you send and receive money directly, anywhere in the world.
Mobile payments made easy
Bitcoin when used on a mobile device allows you to pay with a simple two-step scan-and-pay. There's no need to sign up, swipe your card, type a PIN, or sign anything. All you need to receive Bitcoin payments is to display the QR code in your Bitcoin wallet app and let the other party scan it, or tap to pay with a contactless reader where supported (using NFC technology).
Security and control over your money
Bitcoin transactions are secured by mathematics and energy. Cryptographic signatures (ECDSA and, since the 2021 Taproot upgrade, Schnorr signatures) prevent other people from spending your money. Energy spent by proof of work (PoW) prevents other people from undoing, rearranging or losing your transactions. So long as you take the required steps to protect your wallet, Bitcoin can give you control over your money and a strong level of protection against many types of fraud.
Works everywhere, anytime
Similarly to email, you don't need to ask recipients you're sending bitcoin to, to use the same software, wallets or service providers. You just need their bitcoin address and then you can transact with them anytime. The Bitcoin network is always running and never sleeps, even on weekends and holidays.
Fast international payments
Sending bitcoins across borders is as easy as sending them across the street. There are no banks to make you wait three business days and no special limitations on the minimum or maximum amount you can send. You pay the network fee you choose, the same whether the payment crosses the street or the planet.
Choose your own fees
There is no fee to receive bitcoins, and many wallets let you control how large a fee to pay when spending. Most wallets have reasonable default fees, and higher fees can encourage faster confirmation of your transactions. The fee depends on the size of the transaction in data, not on the amount of value being sent, so moving a large amount does not by itself cost more than moving a small one.
Protect your identity
With Bitcoin, there's no credit card number that malicious actors can collect in order to steal from you. Bitcoin transactions are recorded publicly and permanently on the block chain. While Bitcoin addresses are not inherently tied to real-world identities, they can sometimes be linked to individuals depending on how Bitcoin is used. Some effort is required to protect your privacy.
Fast, low-cost payments
The Lightning Network lets you send and receive bitcoin near-instantly, even for very small amounts, with minimal fees. Built on top of Bitcoin, it settles payments off-chain so they confirm in seconds rather than waiting for a block.
Be your own bank
With Bitcoin, you can hold your money yourself instead of trusting a bank or company to hold it for you. Your wallet keeps the keys that control your funds. This freedom comes with responsibility: it is up to you to secure your wallet.
