Practical guide
How to Use Bitcoin
You've bought Bitcoin — now what? This hub covers the whole lifecycle after buying: spending it, accepting it as payment, sending and receiving it safely, and cashing out when you need to.
Quick Answer
Using Bitcoin has four parts: spend it (pay merchants on-chain or via the Lightning Network), accept it (share an address or invoice to get paid), send & receive it (transfer between wallets using addresses), and sell it (convert back to cash on an exchange or P2P). Each step is covered in the guides below.
Using Bitcoin — Step by Step
How to Spend Bitcoin
Pay with Bitcoin on-chain or over Lightning, plus cards and gift-card workarounds where merchants don't accept it directly.
8 min readHow to Accept Bitcoin Payments
Get paid in Bitcoin as an individual or a business — wallets, invoices, QR codes, Lightning, and auto-converting to cash.
9 min readHow to Send & Receive Bitcoin
Move Bitcoin between wallets safely: addresses, networks, fees, confirmations, and the test-transaction habit.
8 min readHow to Sell Bitcoin & Cash Out
Convert Bitcoin back to your local currency through an exchange or P2P, and withdraw to your bank with fewer surprises.
8 min readRecommended Exchange
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I actually spend Bitcoin in real life?
Yes. Some merchants accept Bitcoin directly (on-chain or via the Lightning Network for fast, cheap payments). Where they don't, you can use a Bitcoin debit card that converts BTC to local currency at checkout, or buy gift cards with Bitcoin. For everyday small payments, Lightning is the most practical option.
Is it free to send Bitcoin?
No, but it's usually cheap. Every on-chain transaction pays a network fee to miners that depends on how busy the network is, not on the amount sent. Lightning Network payments cost a tiny fraction of that. Exchanges may also add their own withdrawal fee on top.
How long does a Bitcoin payment take?
An on-chain transaction is typically usable after one confirmation (about 10 minutes) and considered final after a few more. Lightning payments settle in seconds. For large amounts, waiting for several confirmations is the safe habit.
Do I owe tax when I spend or sell Bitcoin?
In many countries, spending or selling Bitcoin is a taxable disposal — you may owe tax on the gain between what you paid and its value when you used it. Rules vary widely by country, so keep records of dates and amounts and check your local guidance. This is educational information, not tax advice.
What's the safest way to receive Bitcoin?
Generate a fresh receiving address in your own wallet, double-check it (ideally via a scanned QR code rather than typing), and confirm the sender is using the same network. For any meaningful amount, ask the sender to make a small test transaction first.