Do you want to learn crypto as efficiently as possible? I’ve consumed hundreds of educational resources on the topic, and these are the ones that have been most instrumental in my journey. They are ordered from simplest to most complex, but that doesn’t mean you have to go in order. Each has its own flavor.

1. Whiteboard Crypto

Whiteboard Crypto is, without a doubt, the most user friendly way to learn crypto. It doesn’t go deep, but that makes it perfect if you’re brand new. Plus, I’ve worked with Theodore personally, and he’s one of the kindest people you’ll meet. One interesting thing to note is that despite WBC being praised by many crypto newbies of the past year, I’ve found that many crypto veterans haven’t even heard of it.

Here are a few videos to get you started:

• What is a Blockchain?

• What is an NFT?

• What are Smart Contracts in Crypto?

• What is Web 3.0?

• What is DeFi?

2. Bankless Podcast

Bankless is a “revolution where everyone gets access to the global money system—no bank required.” Ryan Sean Adams and David Hoffman are highly respected figures in the industry, and they’ve created an entire educational ecosystem around the premise that crypto should—and will—replace banks. They tend to focus on Ethereum, but the content is relevant regardless of your preferred chain. What I appreciate most about Bankless is that they teach more than just how crypto works; they teach why it matters.

In particular, I recommend the Bankless Podcast. Start with the first 8 episodes, then feel free to jump around after that:

1. Welcome To Bankless

2. The Evolution of Monetary Policy

3. Economic Bandwidth

4. Ether: The Triple Point Asset

5. Crypto Memes Good

6. DeFi Trust Spectrum

7. Ether’s Value Mechanisms

8. How to go Bankless

3. Messari’s Crypto Theses

Messari is the top provider of crypto market intelligence. Every year, founder Ryan Selkis writes a report that looks back at the past year and forward to the next one. Dubbed the Crypto Theses, reading this is the most effective way to give yourself a broad understanding of the entire crypto landscape. Not only is the report 165 pages long, but it actually deserves to be that long. You’ll definitely notice some of his subjectivity along the way (not to mention his personality), but he’s fair to participants across the board. If the length overwhelms you, just poke around at whatever you find intriguing.

4. freeCodeCamp

freeCodeCamp teaches coding, not just crypto. As a developer, I’ve always found it to be one of the best places to learn a new language or framework. I was delighted to find that they had recently partnered with Patrick Collins to create a 32-hour Solidity course. This is the course I’d share with any aspiring Web3 developer, but I’d also highly recommend the first 2 hours to anyone who just wants to understand how a blockchain works.

5. Bitcoin and Ethereum Whitepapers

Reading the Bitcoin and Ethereum whitepapers is a rite of passage for the industry. It proves you’re serious about crypto. Even if you don’t understand the more technical parts, paying these a visit is always worthwhile. I return to them every few months, and each time I comprehend more than I did previously. It’s a way of proving to yourself how far you’ve come. Don’t stop at Bitcoin and Ethereum, though! There are plenty of other fascinating whitepapers to keep you busy.

Summary

Not all of these resources may be right for you. In short, here’s what makes each one great:

1. Whiteboard Crypto: Simplicity

2. Bankless Podcast: Depth

3. Messari’s Crypto Theses: Breadth

4. freeCodeCamp: Development

5. Bitcoin and Ethereum Whitepapers: Proof

Whichever route you take, the most important thing is to enjoy the process.