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Seven articles, in order, for anyone just getting started.
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48 articles
Basics10 crypto terms everyone should know
Ten core crypto terms in plain English, in the best order to learn them. From cryptocurrency and blockchain to private keys, spread and volatility.
BasicsBitcoin vs Ethereum: what is the difference?
Bitcoin and Ethereum compared in plain English. Different goals, supply, consensus, speed, uses and risks, with a side-by-side table.
SecurityCommon crypto scams and how to avoid them
The most common crypto scams, the warning signs, and what to do if you have been scammed. Based on advice from the Icelandic police and Central Bank.
Buying, holding and sellingCrypto and inheritance
What happens to crypto when its owner dies? How to prepare your heirs, what heirs need to do and how estates are settled in Iceland.
Rules, tax and riskCrypto and tax in Iceland
Skatturinn's general rules on crypto. When gains are taxable, how to work them out, where they go on your tax return and what records to keep.
Rules, tax and riskCrypto risks: what to know before you buy
The main risks of buying crypto, with real examples, and the ways people keep those risks in check.
Buying, holding and sellingCustodial or self-custody: who holds your crypto?
Who holds the keys to your crypto? The pros and cons of custodial services and self-custody, the lesson of FTX and what MiCA requires of custodians.
Buying, holding and sellingHow to buy crypto in Iceland
Buying crypto in Iceland, step by step. How to find a licensed provider, sign up, deposit krónur, buy and decide where to keep your crypto.
Rules, tax and riskHow to check if a crypto provider is licensed
How to look up a crypto provider's licence in the Central Bank of Iceland's register and ESMA's register, and how to spot the warning signs of unlicensed firms.
SecurityHow to protect your crypto account
Passwords, two-factor authentication, email, SIM swaps, Icelandic e-ID and wallet addresses. How to protect your crypto account, step by step.
Buying, holding and sellingHow to send crypto to another wallet
How to send crypto to another wallet: the right address, the right network, a memo or destination tag, the network fee and a test amount first.
SecurityInvestment scams and romance scams
How investment and romance scams work step by step, why smart people fall for them, how to help a relative, and where to report them in Iceland.
SecurityLost access: your login or your wallet key?
Access to an account with a crypto provider can usually be restored. A lost recovery phrase for your own wallet can't. The difference, and how to prevent both.
Buying, holding and sellingPrivate keys and recovery phrases
A private key gives control over crypto, and a recovery phrase backs up every key in a wallet. How they work and how to store them safely.
Buying, holding and sellingSelling crypto for krónur
How selling crypto works, what affects the price you get and how the krónur reach an Icelandic bank account. Plus record keeping and tax.
BasicsWhat are stablecoins?
Stablecoins explained in plain English. How they keep a stable price, USDC and USDT, the risks, the Terra collapse of 2022 and how MiCA treats them.
Buying, holding and sellingWhat does it cost to buy crypto?
Every cost of buying crypto in plain English. Spread, commission, card fees, currency conversion, network and withdrawal fees, and how to compare.
BasicsWhat is a blockchain?
Blockchain explained in plain English. How a shared ledger works, what blocks, hashes and nodes are, and why a blockchain is so hard to tamper with.
Buying, holding and sellingWhat is a crypto wallet?
A crypto wallet holds the keys to your crypto, not the crypto itself. The difference between hot and cold wallets, custodial and self-custody.
Coins and projectsWhat is Aave?
Aave in plain English. How deposits and collateralised loans work, the health factor and liquidation with an example, GHO, the AAVE token and the risks.
Coins and projectsWhat is Avalanche?
Avalanche explained in plain English. The C-Chain, X-Chain and P-Chain, Avalanche L1s, how consensus works, what AVAX is and what the risks are.
BasicsWhat is Bitcoin mining?
Bitcoin mining in plain English. Proof of work, difficulty, rewards, hardware, mining pools, energy use and the situation in Iceland.
BasicsWhat is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin explained in plain English. What Bitcoin is, how it works, who created it, why its supply is limited and what the risks are.
Coins and projectsWhat is Cardano?
Cardano explained in plain English. Who is behind it, how Ouroboros and staking work, how the ADA supply works and what the risks are.
Coins and projectsWhat is Chainlink?
Chainlink explained in plain English. What oracles are, how Chainlink brings data onto blockchains, what CCIP does and what LINK is used for.
BasicsWhat is cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency explained in plain English. What it is, how it differs from krónur in a bank, the main types, what it is used for and the risks.
BasicsWhat is DeFi?
DeFi in plain English. Lending, trading and stablecoins without a bank, how people use DeFi, why it appeals, the risks and where MiCA stands.
Coins and projectsWhat is Dogecoin?
Dogecoin explained in plain English. Who created it, what it is used for, how it works, why its supply has no limit and what the risks are.
Buying, holding and sellingWhat is dollar-cost averaging?
Dollar-cost averaging means buying the same amount at regular intervals. A worked example in krónur, pros and cons, and how it compares to a lump sum.
BasicsWhat is Ethereum?
Ethereum explained in plain English. Ethereum vs ether, what smart contracts and gas are, how proof of stake works and what the risks are.
Coins and projectsWhat is Hedera?
Hedera explained in plain English. How hashgraph works, what the Hedera Council does, what the network is used for and how the HBAR supply works.
Coins and projectsWhat is Hyperliquid?
Hyperliquid explained in plain English. A blockchain built for derivatives trading, the HYPE token, the HLP vault, the risks and the rules in the EEA.
The marketWhat is market capitalisation?
A cryptocurrency's market cap is its price per unit times the units in circulation. The formula with a worked example in krónur, and what it doesn't tell you.
Rules, tax and riskWhat is MiCA and what does it mean for you?
MiCA is the European rulebook for crypto, in force in Iceland since 1 January 2026. What it covers, what it doesn't do and what it means for you.
BasicsWhat is money? The króna, inflation and Bitcoin
The story of money from barter to payment apps, its three functions, Iceland's experience with the króna and inflation, and where Bitcoin fits in.
SecurityWhat is phishing?
Phishing explained with Icelandic examples. How to spot fake emails, texts and websites, check links and domains, and what to do if you get caught.
Coins and projectsWhat is Polkadot?
Polkadot explained in plain English. The relay chain and parachains, Polkadot 2.0 and agile coretime, the DOT supply cap and what the risks are.
Coins and projectsWhat is Shiba Inu?
Shiba Inu (SHIB) explained in plain English. Who created it, how the token works, Vitalik Buterin's burn, Shibarium and what the risks are.
Coins and projectsWhat is Solana?
Solana explained in plain English. What the network is used for, how proof of history and staking work, what SOL is and what the risks are.
BasicsWhat is staking, and what are the risks?
Staking explained in plain English. How crypto is staked, where the rewards come from, lock-up periods, slashing and the main risks.
Coins and projectsWhat is Sui?
Sui explained in plain English. Who built the network, the Move language and the object model, what SUI is and what the risks are.
BasicsWhat is the Bitcoin halving?
The Bitcoin halving explained. What it is, why it exists, the history from 2012 to 2024, the next halving in 2028 and what it means for the price.
BasicsWhat is tokenisation?
Tokenisation in plain English. How money, funds, bonds and gold become tokens on a blockchain, the benefits, the risks and the rules in Europe.
Coins and projectsWhat is USDC?
USDC explained in plain English. Who issues it, what backs it, what happened in March 2023 and how USDC works at Myntkaup.
Coins and projectsWhat is XRP?
XRP explained in plain English. What the XRP Ledger is, what XRP is used for, how its supply works and how the SEC's case against Ripple ended.
The marketWhy are crypto prices so volatile?
Why do crypto prices rise and fall so much? Supply and demand, a small market, news, leverage, and how to live with the swings.
Rules, tax and riskWhy do crypto platforms ask for ID?
KYC and anti-money laundering rules in plain English. What Icelandic law requires, why you're asked about source of funds, the travel rule and your data.
BasicsWhy does Bitcoin have value?
A fixed supply, decentralisation and network effects. The main arguments for Bitcoin's value, from The Bitcoin Standard, and what critics say.
Came across a word you don’t know?
The glossary explains the hundred most common terms, each on its own page.
Open the glossaryEverything in Myntkaup Learn is written and regularly reviewed by the Myntkaup editorial team. It is for education and is not investment advice. Editorial policy.