Start Here
Bitcoin Plaster is a Bitcoin self-custody publication. This page has one job: help you find the right starting point, based on what you already understand and what you need next.
Not every reader needs the same first page. Read the short explanation below, then choose the path that fits where you are.
Almost everything on Bitcoin Plaster comes back to one practical question: who actually controls the bitcoin?
When bitcoin sits on an exchange, the exchange controls it. When bitcoin sits in a wallet whose keys you hold, you control it. That distinction is the foundation of self-custody, and it is the reason the Self-Custody hub is the main learning path on this site.
The choice below depends on whether that custody distinction is already clear to you, or whether it should be the first thing you read.
Path B - Default Route
If the basic idea of holding your own keys already makes sense, or if you are not sure which first step fits, start here. The Self-Custody hub is the main learning path on Bitcoin Plaster, arranged to help you move from fundamentals into setup and security practice.
Path A - Branch Route
If the difference between keeping bitcoin on an exchange and keeping it in a wallet you control is still unclear, start with this short explanation. It gives you the custody distinction that makes the rest of the self-custody path easier to follow.
The First Hardware Wallet Setup Checklist helps you approach the process in the right order, without rushing the steps that deserve attention. Free PDF.
Get the First Hardware Wallet Setup Checklist