Bitcoin Development

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto to address flaws in traditional monetary systems, such as centralized control, inflation, and reliance on trust in institutions. Unlike government-issued currencies, Bitcoin operates without a central authority, using cryptographic principles and a distributed network to enforce rules.

Ready to build your first Bitcoin-integrated web project? In this hands-on lesson, you’ll create a static donation tracker website that lets users send Bitcoin to your address, scan a QR code, and see real-time progress toward a fundraising goal.

A Bitcoin node is the backbone of Bitcoin’s decentralized network, acting as both a guardian and a gateway. It’s software that downloads and validates the entire blockchain, ensuring every transaction and block follows Bitcoin’s rules. Unlike third-party tools like block explorers—which require blind trust—nodes let you independently verify transactions, resist censorship, and uphold the network’s integrity. Think of it as auditing your own bank account instead of relying on someone else’s word.

In this hands-on lesson, you’ll learn how to run your own Bitcoin node using Docker—a tool that simplifies setup and ensures consistency across systems. Whether you’re a developer testing applications or a privacy-conscious user, running a node empowers you to validate transactions independently, avoid third-party trust, and contribute to Bitcoin’s resilience. By the end, you’ll configure a Regtest network (a private testing environment), execute commands via Bitcoin CLI, and even simulate transactions—all without risking real funds. Dive in to unlock self-sovereignty, master blockchain mechanics, and build the foundation for advanced Bitcoin projects. Let’s turn theory into practice.

Ready to bridge Bitcoin’s decentralized power with modern web apps? In this lesson, you’ll learn how to connect a Bitcoin node to a Node.js application using Docker and JSON-RPC. Whether you’re building a wallet, explorer, or custom financial tool, this guide will teach you to securely expose your node’s API, authenticate requests, and execute blockchain operations programmatically.

Learn to create a full-stack application that tracks Bitcoin donations in real-time using Node.js, ZeroMQ, and WebSockets.

Learn to deploy a live Bitcoin donation tracker using AWS EC2. This lesson covers node configuration, security best practices, and production deployment workflows.

While our journey ends here, your learning continues. Explore the attached resources to deepen your Bitcoin expertise.