New to Bitcoin? This glossary is designed as a reference to come back to throughout this Knowledge Base - a quick, plain-English definition for every term you're likely to run into, grouped by topic rather than buried in a single alphabetical list. Where a term has its own dedicated article, we've linked straight to it.
You've probably heard the word "Bitcoin" thrown around - in the news, on social media, maybe from a friend who won't stop talking about it. But if nobody's actually sat you down and explained what it is, you're not alone. Millions of people have heard of Bitcoin without really understanding it. This guide breaks Bitcoin down in plain English - no jargon, no hype, just the basics you need to understand why it exists, how it works, and why so many serious investors are starting to take it seriously.
Explains what a Bitcoin treasury company actually is, why public companies choose to hold Bitcoin on their balance sheet, and how they go about building that treasury. Makes clear that buying shares in such a company is not the same as buying Bitcoin directly.
Introduces Smarter Web, trading as The Smarter Web Company plc under ticker SWC, the UK's largest listed Bitcoin treasury company. Covers its origins as a web business, its current Bitcoin holdings, and what its stock and share basics mean for a prospective investor.
Clarifies the difference between Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market, explaining why Bitcoin's fixed supply, lack of central control and long track record set it apart from the thousands of other tokens often grouped under the same label.
Addresses six of the most common Bitcoin myths, covering criminal use, its lack of physical backing, environmental impact, technical complexity, timing, and regulation, replacing each with a balanced, evidence based explanation.
Goes back to first principles to explain why Bitcoin was created, covering the 2008 financial crisis backdrop and the specific problems it was designed to solve: the double spend problem, trust in institutions, inflation, and access to money.
Breaks down the three distinct ways people invest in Bitcoin, direct ownership, Bitcoin ETFs, and shares in a Bitcoin treasury company, and explains why only the first two actually track Bitcoin's price while the third is a different kind of investment altogether.
Sets out the investment case for Bitcoin built on scarcity, a lengthening track record, growing institutional adoption, and potential diversification benefits, while giving equal weight to the volatility and risk that come with it.
Explains the idea of Bitcoin's ongoing monetization, its gradual shift from a niche asset to a widely recognised store of value, and why that process matters to anyone holding Bitcoin directly or through a company's balance sheet.
