Before we dive into the list, let me tell you a pretty cool personal story about one of my favorite crypto books.
During the beginning of the 2021 bull run, I had a pretty diverse portfolio hodling Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and a number of other digital currencies.
One of them was Cardano, poised to compete with the largest coins out there, those with the largest top-10 market caps.
I hate throwing shade on any company, but this example is very relevant to this article.
After reading Camila Russo’s book, "The Infinite Machine", which tells the tales and hardships that Ethereum faced during the early days, I found out things I did not know at all about crypto’s novel origin.
The book spoke about how Cardano’s founder and CEO was actually the former CEO of Ethereum, a brilliant mathematician who had synergy issues with the core team, leading to him parting ways with the team.
His name was Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles).
Cardano remains a top cryptocurrency, but among Crypto Twitter (now Crypto X), the sentiment has tamed after a couple of bull cycles.
Before you call me a hater, know that I genuinely want all chains to find their moat, since our goal at Joined Crypto is to grow our industry first and foremost.
But that was not the best part…
“The craziest part of that book was that Kieren J. Lubin (X @kjameslubin), was in it, who later ended up being my former boss at BlockApps!”
In fact, I learned about the book from my colleagues there at the time. Kieren is not only the founder of his own L1 chain, Strato Mercata, but he also helped build Solidity, a key component to Ethereum’s development.
Understanding the strengths of the Ethereum team and their past allows me to reach conclusions as to why certain coins take different roadmaps and price actions.
At the end of the day, some of my best strategies were shaped by the knowledge gained from these books.
Let’s break down some of the must-read books for all those who are new or seasoned in the world of crypto and Web3.
The time to learn about digital money is now.
The 3 cryptocurrency books I would prioritize for 2026
Let's face it, reading this entire list will take you quite some time. It did for me!
Offering crypto and NFT marketing services in New York is no easy feat, which is what I do. This curated list of books would of saved me tons of my precious time.
If I were to select just a few blockchain books to start 2026 on track, I would go for:
- Kings of Crypto - The story of Coinbase, and Brian Armstrong, its founder
- The Infinite Machine - The Story of Ethereum
- Solana Rising - The Story of Solana (will read next!)
Getting The Most out Of Your Crypto Books
When it comes to selecting the right crypto book, there are several criteria I follow before I pop open the cover.
Relevance and Date of Publishing
Those already settled in the crypto world will admit that the technology moves at a rapid pace, enough to sideline you within days.
Therefore, checking the date of publishing is essential.
At the end of the day, crypto is tech.
It takes time and commitment to stay up to date and not get lost in outdated information.
Trustworthy Authors and Sources
There is no shortage of content clutter or weird acronyms in this industry. The key is to find trustworthy sources that are relevant and explain well.
I typically ape (“buy”, in crypto lingo) the books as soon as they come out. This is especially useful if you are making financial decisions in crypto.
I’ve also been lucky enough to have met or worked with crypto founders who were featured in some of these books.
“For me, the goal of the book should be to explain and report a story. I try to avoid books that repeatedly sell (“shill”) their chain or token blatantly.”
Yet, we got so many authors who are well established in the community, and conducted numerous interviews to get their insights, speaking to founders and team members. Therefore, their stuff is legit and doesn't read like a prompt from ChatGPT.
My favorites are Laura Shin, and Camila Russo, for instance. I see them pushing fresh content daily, and that signals a level of trust that’s convincing enough.
These authors and researchers tend to conduct founder interviews often. Therefore, they build a special rapport that allows them to publish realistic stories.
Categorization of Blockchain Books
Any book that is slightly technical, enough for a non-crypto person to get lost, I categorize as a technical book. From what I’ve seen, these books perish faster since the tech keeps upgrading.
“These books are meant to be read and understood with a grain of salt. There are simply too many self-interests to trust all of these authors.”
It’s also true that I am not as technical as I would like to be. Therefore, the more technical books become practical as I need them to build a particular project.
In my opinion, informational and research books are easier to digest and provide the most value.
Informational pieces typically cover a story or explanations of a subject, whereas the research is usually tailored towards forecasting and chart analysis.
22 Ultimate Best Crypto Books To Read in 2026
Before we get started, note that this research was extensive and required tons of time to go over these books.
Here's the entire list of crypto books I recommend, if you want to jump right on the one you are looking for.
1. The Bitcoin Standard
2. Mastering Bitcoin
3. Digital Gold
4. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains
5. The Infinite Machine
6. The Internet of Money
7. Bitcoin Billionaires
8. Cryptoassets
9. Kings of Crypto
10. Crypto Confidential
11. The Cryptopians
12. Blockchain for Everyone
13. The Age of Cryptocurrency
14. The Truth Machine
15. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution
16. Blockchain Babel
17. Proof of Stake
18. The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto
19. Solana Rising
20. NFTs are a Scam
21. The Creature From Jekyll Island: Pepe Edition
22. Twelve and a Half (Bonus)
Between my Amazon Kindle device and the library, I’ve managed to get most of them over time.
I saw the opportunity to pair Joined Crypto’s content with complementary, long-format content to educate our readers.
Books are a great way to get the job done.
Pay attention to the criteria on each book to skim over the list if needed, such as the year written, word count, and content style: informational, research, or technical.
1. The Bitcoin Standard
Author: Saifedean Ammous
X: @saifedean
Year: 2018
Bull Run: 2017 bull run aftermath
Weight: Mid-High
Style: Educational / Economic theory
Reviews
Amazon: 4.7 / ~8,500 reviews
Goodreads: 4.14 / ~10,800 ratings
The coolest thing about this book now is reading Saifedean Ammous’ research, who explained how Bitcoin works years back, proving he was right about Bitcoin today.
Bear in mind that this book was written in 2018, and considering how spot on it was, we had to put it as a top contender.
He speaks about the history of money, the different monetary systems across history, from the Romans to the Byzantines, Austrian economics, and how it has evolved.
Along with the different materials chosen for money for what he calls an “ironclad” style of thinking, like gold, silver, copper, etc. Mainly those without any utility, and are used as a store of value.
He emphasizes over and over the potential of Bitcoin as a store of value more than a payment network, although this was written before the Lightning Network was launched, which significantly increased the network’s performance.
He predicted that hyperinflationary countries like Venezuela would push citizens to opt for decentralized alternatives, like crypto, to safeguard their finances and transact without censorship.
A research book with many charts and graphs to analyze.
Perfect for understanding Bitcoin and its benefits.
2. Mastering Bitcoin (3rd Edition)
Author: Andreas M. Antonopoulos
X: @aantonop
Year: 2023 (3rd Ed.)
Bull Run: Written pre-2017, updated through cycles
Weight: High (Technical)
Style: Technical / Educational
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.6 / ~1,600 reviews
Goodreads: 4.28 / ~2,100 ratings
If you need a rundown on what most crypto concepts mean, how bitcoin functions, then this book is right for you.
Packed with illustrations and real-life examples, the book reads like one of those thick, hardcover science books you used to get in school.
Don’t get me wrong, the book can get very intricate and technical at times, too. It has a blend of the technical and the informative.
If you are the one to crunch numbers and go in depth, this book fits the bill.
I consider it an encyclopedia of sorts, by one of the great ambassadors of the crypto industry.
3. Digital Gold
Author: Nathaniel Popper
Author X: @nathanielpopper
Year: 2015 Bull Run, Pre-2017 boom
Weight: Light
Style: Reporting / Narrative journalism
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.5 / ~2,200 reviews
Goodreads: 4.14 / ~6,900 ratings
A good book to tune into the minds of early adopters back in 2015. Considering how fast crypto moves, decade-old books give you the chance to go back in time.
Knowing how things happened is the highlight.
It elaborates on the story of Satoshi Nakamoto, the most renowned name in crypto, along with other influential characters like the Winkelvoss twins.
As any Bitcoin-focused book would, it dives into the turmoil caused when the Silk Road was taken down. Yet, its preferred currency, Bitcoin, remained despite government and institutions wanting its destruction. And its resilience led to eventual worldwide regulatory attention.
With Bitcoin here to stay, the book does a good job at showcasing the tensions between Wall Street and crypto, a battle that has changed quite a bit today.
The book reads very well, picturing the thrill that the core believers and builders of the industry faced during the early days. Battling for their ideals, facing backlash and consequences.
Not a technical read, and it reads somewhat like a novel.
If you are curious about how the world of Bitcoin and crypto started, this book is a great option.
4. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains
Author: Antony Lewis
X: @antony_btc
Year: 2018
Bull Run: Post-2017 boom educational resource
Weight: Light-Mid
Style: Educational / Beginner's guide
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.5 / ~2,400 reviews
Goodreads: 4.01 / ~2,200 ratings
This book is a classic when it comes to understanding the history and the different concepts around trade, money, banking, payments, and above all, Bitcoin’s blockchain technology.
I like how the book explains the different forms of former money: barter, commodity money, representative money, fiat currency, and now cryptocurrency.
It includes tons of graphics about how payments work, banking flows, and blockchains. Which is very nice considering that some of these concepts are hard to grasp.
My favorite part of this book is the snippets of Satoshi Nakamoto’s last known messages on Bitcoin Forum, dating back to 2010.
It also shares the story of the Silk Road and how governments took it down, but Bitcoin, as its main payment form, remained.
This book is a great addition to any library, and a great choice for those trying to grasp early and basic concepts from the world of money, finance, crypto, along with retail and institutional involvement.
The book also goes well beyond Bitcoin, as it steps into explaining Ethereum and other tokens.
It really covers a ton of concepts, picture it as a story-style dictionary, packed with everything to know.
5. The Infinite Machine
Author: Camila Russo
X: @CamilaRusso
Year: 2020
Bull Run: Post-2017 ICO boom, pre-DeFi summer
Weight: Light-Mid
Style: Biography / Reporting
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.5 / ~1,100 reviews
Goodreads: 4.08 / ~1,800 ratings
What could easily be my favorite book of them all, mainly because Camila Russo did a fantastic job at telling the story of Ethereum and its early days.
“As mentioned before, this book is special to me because Kieren J. Lubin, my former boss, is in the book!”
He personally explained to me his key involvement as one of the core devs who built Solidity, the language to program all Ethereum smart contracts.
As someone who decided to go all in on crypto after 2021, despite entering the space in 2017, my journey has been more or less divided between the Ethereum and Solana ecosystems.
But for the OGs that were around the 2021 NFT bull run, you know that Ethereum that cycle changed the world with their ERC-721 tokens.
I learned quite a bit about Ethereum from this book, including valuable insights.
In the beginning, it spoke about the cyberpunk concept led by Vitalik Buterin and his core team, and their struggles living off couches and sleeping on the floor.
Typical badass founder story.
A highlight was their forced fork due to an unprecedented DAOs attack, which led to the creation of the Ethereum L1 cryptocurrency we know today, leaving what is known as Ethereum Classic on the past.
If you are wondering who runs Ethereum Classic today, you may also want to learn more about what is a CTO in crypto.
It also explained how Charles Hoskinson had to step down as CEO of Ethereum, who then founded Cardano, another massive cryptocurrency with a large ecosystem as well.
"And yeah, I'd say it is my favorite book so far, and I'm not the only one raving about it."
Both because Camila is a great author, and because I knew someone who showed up in the book.
6. The Internet of Money
Author: Andreas M. Antonopoulos
X: @aantonop
Year: 2019 (v3)
Bull Run: Spans multiple cycles
Weight: Light
Style: Educational / Philosophy
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.7 / ~2,500 reviews
Goodreads: 4.12 / ~5,400 ratings
Written by one of the most influential folks behind the Bitcoin ecosystem, Andreas Antonopoulos, who I consider only a second to Michael Saylor at the moment.
I cannot recall other folks who are more associated with Bitcoin, aside from Satoshi Nakamoto himself.
More of a philosophical book with conversations about the core values behind Bitcoin and fundamental concepts.
Touching on subjects about sovereignty, and the similarities between Bitcoin adoption and that of the early internet days.
An opportunity to bank the unbanked thanks to decentralized blockchain technology, with cryptocurrencies that are free to transact worldwide.
Before I dived further into crypto, I found myself watching numerous videos of Andreas vouching for Bitcoin to grow, and it sure did.
A well-explained book that debunks some of the criticisms and misconceptions behind cryptocurrency as a whole.
7. Bitcoin Billionaires
Author: Ben Mezrich
X: @benmezrich
Year: 2019
Bull Run: Covers 2012-2017 through the Winklevoss lens
Weight: Light
Style: Biography / Narrative journalism
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~2,800 reviews
Goodreads: 3.72 / ~8,200 ratings
Ever heard of the Winklevoss twins?
Likely, if you know Facebook’s early days, or have seen the infamous The Social Network movie.
This book is about the pair, Tyler and Cameron, who could not get their venture capital career going after the strained relationship with Mark Zuckerberg, who had become a behemoth with Facebook, and no one in Silicon Valley dared to do business with them and upset Mark.
For those who do not know the story, the Winklevosses had reached out to Zuckerberg to work on their new social media platform, a new concept at the time. Long story short, Zuckerberg ended up spinning an almost identical version of the idea, called The Facebook, which ended up in an infamous legal battle between him and the twins.
After the turmoil, the twins eventually discovered the topic of cryptocurrency while in Ibiza. And since they were looking for their next big bet, they had to try it.
I really found it amusing the fact that they had a ton of Bitcoin stored in Mt. Gox, which they then transferred paranoically to their first-ever, cold and hot wallets.
The paranoid part struck a ton of resemblance to what it feels like to move funds for the first time, pretty funny.
Fast forward to today, and the twins are worth nearly $10 billion combined. Founded the exchange Gemini, one of the largest in the United States, and have now cemented themselves in the world of crypto.
The Winklevoss twins dreamed of being successful entrepreneurs, and their launch of Gemini made it happen. Not only did their cryptocurrency investment skyrocket, but they also became prominent crypto investors with Winklevoss Capital.
Let’s just say that this book made me appreciate the twins more, and it shed a cool light beyond the movie The Social Network.
It gave me a lot of empathy for them, and I’m glad they got it right this time.
8. Cryptoassets
Author: Chris Burniske & Jack Tatar
X: @cburniske / @JackTatar
Year: 2017
Bull Run: Peak of 2017 ICO boom
Weight: Mid
Style: Educational / Investment guide
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~700 reviews
Goodreads: 3.95 / ~1,800 ratings
More of an educational piece, an innovative investor's guide.
"Personally, I’m not a fan of pitching investment strategies to our readers, nor is the goal of Joined Crypto, but worth adding to the shelf if you need to understand or remind yourself of some core concepts."
Although the book is slightly outdated, it provides the classical frameworks to navigate current environments.
Teaching subjects like portfolio theory to assess diversification and risk management across cycles.
It also breaks down blockchain basics.
Worth checking out if you are new to cryptocurrency investing.
9. Kings of Crypto
Author: Jeff John Roberts
Year: 2020
Bull Run: Covers Coinbase's rise through 2017-2018
Weight: Light
Style: Reporting / Business narrative
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~600 reviews
Goodreads: 3.75 / ~700 ratings
If you are a fan of Coinbase, like me, then you are gonna love this book.
It tells the story of Coinbase’s early days and how it went from Y Combinator to become the largest crypto exchange in the United States, and aims to dominate global finance, supporting thousands of crypto assets.
Sorry if I am biased, but I really do not know anyone who has a negative opinion about Brian Armstrong, the founder of Coinbase.
The dude is always pushing for the entire crypto ecosystem, and it’s perhaps the most influential American crypto founder to date.
Not only did he see the vision of mainstream adoption before anyone, but he dared to push past some massive obstacles, from general backlash from the banking system and financial regulators, to competitors and hackers trying to ruin his plans.
The banking system in the is relentlessly working with regulators to bring crypto to the masses, a utopian scenario back when the industry backlash was evident. Today, after a lot of collective effort, we are starting to see our first crypto friendly banks in the United States.
It also spoke about an interesting acquisition from Coinbase, earn.com, which allowed them to acqui-hire a new CTO, who seems not to have settled so well, but allowed Andreesen Horowitz to liquidate their stake in said company. Call it a side favor of some sort.
Snippets like this make the book so worth it, and there are tons of them.
The book speaks a lot about certain events that happened that shifted demand and had charts looking like roller coasters, picturing the euphoria and mayhem they generate.
A must-read for all Brian Armstrong and Coinbase fans.
10. Crypto Confidential
Author: Nathaniel Eliason
X: @nateliason
Year: 2024
Bull Run: 2021-2022 bull run and crash (firsthand account)
Weight: Light
Style: Memoir / Narrative journalism
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.6 / ~700 reviews
Goodreads: 4.22 / ~700 ratings
Pretty cool book as it really matches the scene I personally was involved in during the 2021 bull run.
As a part thriller, part education book, this insight comes straight from the trenches. Which is awesome!
It explains how the author, Nathaniel Eliason, managed to earn big bucks after learning how to code on Solidity, the language for Ethereum’s smart contracts.
Unfortunately, he left his secret phrase on GitHub and had his wallet drained afterwards.
As anyone with money and into crypto would at the time, he dropped $200k on a Bored Ape NFT, and so on. Again, showcasing the story of a native trencher.
It also explores the psychological impact the industry instills for him and his loved ones. The FOMO and risks from everyday opportunities are enough to drive you mad.
This book is fairly new, up to date, speaks the language, is written by a native, and is a personal favorite.
Add it to your list.
11. The Cryptopians
Author: Laura Shin
X: @laurashin
Year: 2022
Bull Run: 2017 ICO mania
Weight: High
Style: Investigative reporting
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.2 / ~280 reviews
Goodreads: 3.69 / ~840 ratings
A book that I just started reading! But was good enough to add to the list.
Authored by no other than Laura Shin, one of the most trusted journalists and podcasters in the world of crypto.
The book covers the story of Ethereum, its founder, and the torturous journey the chain had as it skyrocketed to success.
The entire book is written in a timeline format, which is cool if you have been around crypto for a while. It’s easy to jump to a particular period and see what was going on with Ethereum and the team. Or see what was happening behind the scenes as you were delving into the world of crypto.
As I reviewed the index with short summaries between each section and chapter, I realized that the book covers a similar story to The Infinite Machine, by Camila Russo. Essentially telling the story of Ethereum and its evolution.
Even though I know the Ethereum story quite well, I am still going to finish it, also because I am a huge fan of Laura.
"When Laura Shin posts, I pay attention."
Getting this book was a no-brainer.
12. Blockchain for Everyone
Author: Sir John Hargrave
Year: 2019
Bull Run: Post-2017 boom/crash memoir
Weight: Light
Style: Memoir / Educational
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~400 reviews
Goodreads: 3.56 / ~150 ratings
Pretty cool book for newcomers.
Why? Because it also shares the story of some gut-churning losses across a memoir-style book.
I really liked that the author was transparent about his mistakes, considering that I have made numerous ones myself (and everyone around me!).
This book shares a compelling argument showcasing the ups and downs of cryptocurrency investing, including the psychological toll it carries.
I suppose this would be a good read if you are coming from trading in traditional financial markets, considering you would be able to compare apples-to-apples these experiences.
Aside from the above, it shows great wins, and easily explains blockchain concepts with real-life stories and applications, examples.
It also gets pretty funny in certain sections, which is again great to read as a newcomer or a seasoned crypto head.
13. The Age of Cryptocurrency
Author: Paul Vigna, Michael J. Casey
X: @paulvigna / @mikejcasey
Year: 2015
Bull Run: Pre-2017 boom
Weight: Light-Mid
Style: Reporting / Educational
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~900 reviews
Goodreads: 3.77 / ~3,500 ratings
The book examines Bitcoin’s potential to reshape finance and global economies at scale.
Led by Wall Street Journal reporters, who dove deep into how this technology aims to enhance the current banking system.
If you are not fully red-pilled on crypto, this book also offers a neutral analysis that makes you see things from other angles.
It provides a historical and chronological style section explaining that the innovation of monetary systems has always been inevitable.
A section dedicated to the unbanked helped me understand this concept when I took my first job in banking. The “unbanked” are those who receive no support from the current financial system, systematically or by choice.
It covers specific case studies in high-inflation countries at the time, such as Argentina, Afghanistan, and the Caribbean.
A fairly long but great read, filled with great insights and future outlooks on finance, with practical cryptocurrency applications.
Would recommend for any beginner.
14. The Truth Machine
Author: Paul Vigna, Michael J. Casey
X: @paulvigna / @mikejcasey
Year: 2018
Bull Run: Post-2017 boom
Weight: Mid
Style: Educational / Research
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~500 reviews
Goodreads: 3.72 / ~1,400 ratings
You may have noticed that the previous book was written by the same authors. If I were to pick one, I'd pick this one, simply because it is more up to date.
The book dates back to 2018, during the ICO bull run at the time. It covers applications beyond currency itself.
I recall a section where it speaks about the first ledgers, back in Mesopotamia, where civilians kept their taxes, properties, and finances recorded on stone ledgers.
Thousands of them were found and set the foundation for modern societies.
One thing that stood out was that each ruler had his own set of rules for trade and ledgers, which is strikingly similar to economies of today, and even blockchains.
The book predicts the push for multiple blockchain use cases in different fields, such as legal, logistics, and obviously, tech and finance.
It walks you through the power of being your own custodian, with full control of your data, assets, and identities.
Let’s say that the book is a great mix to grasp the historical progression of money and its impact on society.
Although, as of today, the book does have questionable political outlooks for the time, and the mention of cryptocurrencies that were large caps that now have dropped from the radar.
15. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution
Author: Neel Mehta, Aditya Agashe, Parth Detroja
X: N/A
Year: 2019
Bull Run: Post-2017 crash analysis
Weight: Mid
Style: Educational / Analysis
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.5 / ~1,400 reviews
Goodreads: 4.02 / ~1,400 ratings
Written by product managers from top tech companies like Microsoft, Facebook, and Google.
They conduct a series of interviews and angles about the practical use of blockchain technology and its use cases.
The book covers a balanced, neutral point of view on crypto, which is nice to avoid bias.
In my opinion, an interesting option to learn about basic concepts and opinions from thought leaders about the broader crypto ecosystem.
A cool book for all newcomers.
16. Blockchain Babel
Author: Igor Pejic
X: @IgorPejic9
Year: 2019
Bull Run: Post-2017 crash
Weight: Mid
Style: Educational / Business strategy
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.4 / ~100 reviews
Goodreads: 3.87 / ~60 ratings
A blockchain book that tries to break down the myths and realities that the crypto world faces, since there is no lack of skepticism or complexities.
A more balanced read in contrast to crypto books written by hard-core crypto evangelists. Sometimes it is best to read both sides of the coin.
It argues the stance of banks as blockchain technology enters the market, and how they adapt to expand their service stack.
Considering my stint in the banking world, I can relate to how he explains the challenges surrounding compliance and the integration it has with governments and central banking.
It is no surprise that the technology is a game-changer, but it is also logical that one cannot jeopardize people’s savings either, nor rattle the central system in one jolt.
With elaborated real-world use applications for payments, identity, property rights, manufacturing, supply chain, and more.
17. Proof of Stake
Author: Vitalik Buterin
Year: 2022
Bull Run: Pre-Ethereum Merge
Weight: High
Style: Essays / Philosophy (collected writings)
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.3 / ~200 reviews
Goodreads: 3.64 / ~350 ratings
Knowing that Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, wrote this is all you need to know.
Although the book explains the origin and need of new cryptocurrencies.
He shares the broad vision of crypto cities and how a new democratic, decentralized order can flourish in a future under new rules of governance.
If you also have a technical mind, this book is for you, as in many instances, I’ll challenge your math skills. To be honest, for someone who is not somewhat technical, it is harder to follow.
I love Vitalik, but I have to admit the fella does not lack a taste for complicated acronyms and explanations.
I suppose that he is so innovative and smart that he gets lost in the weeds and alienates himself from talking to regular folks like you and me.
Although for a technical audience, this book is it.
I particularly liked the section on Crypto Cities and optionality. Essentially, all cities have the opportunity to launch a token, NFTs, and/or a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), anything really. Yet, it raises questions around how it could be managed, when to launch it, and whether it is enough.
Imagine your own city launching a token, rug-pulling it, and launching it again. That would suck, and that’s what I also assumed from the “optionality” angle.
On the other hand, if implemented correctly, it could shed light on new levels of transparency, innovation, and efficiencies.
This is the future we want and are working on.
Again, it cannot get any better than reading from the founders themselves. Get this book if you love or are curious about Ethereum.
18. The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto
Author: Benjamin Wallace
X: @benjwallace
Year: 2025
Bull Run: Post-2024 halving / current cycle
Weight: Light-Mid
Style: Investigative journalism / Mystery
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.6 / ~300 reviews
Goodreads: 3.86 / ~500 ratings
The book explores the story of a 15-year hunt by Benjamin Wallace to figure out who the infamous Satoshi Nakamoto is.
With Bitcoin's impact now cemented, figuring out who this prolific individual is has become an everyday manhunt.
Covering suspects like Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, Craig Wright, the NSA, and more obscure figures in this journalistic-style story.
Although we all know he did not figure out who Satoshi is (obviously!), it’s perhaps the deepest investigative research to date.
A fun read, composed like a murder mystery, ready to launch you on a suspenseful hunt around the world.
For readers interested in finding Satoshi Nakamoto, this book is it.
19. Solana Rising
Author: Anthony Scaramucci, Kyle Samani
X: @Scaramucci / @KyleSamani
Year: 2025
Bull Run: Current cycle (2024-2025)
Weight: Light-Mid
Style: Educational / Investment guide
Reviews:
Amazon: 4 / ~15 reviews
Goodreads: 4 / ~11 ratings
To be honest, this book just came out, and I have not had a chance to read it yet.
Now that it is out, it is definitely part of my to-dos this year.
Anthony Scaramucci and Kyle Samani both authored this piece, with the latter turning into a prominent and vocal figure when it comes to promoting the Solana ecosystem.
To some, these founders are what Michael Saylor is to Bitcoin, one of its top evangelists and investors.
The book covers interviews with the founder of Solana, Anatoly (Toly) Yakovenko, and the successes and hardships the chain has had to champion.
I expect this book to be bullish on the Solana ecosystem in all aspects, which I happen to be a fan of.
You could say that the recent memecoin craze matched the NFT bull run of 2021, with Solana DEX trading platforms booming, and people winning big left and right.
Although I am sure I will thoroughly enjoy this one, it’s important to read all things crypto with a grain of salt.
20. NFTs are a Scam
Author: Bobby Hundreds (Bobby Kim)
Year: 2023
Bull Run: 2020-2022 NFT bull run
Weight: Light
Style: Memoir / Manifesto
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.3 / ~150 reviews
Goodreads: 3.62 / ~250 ratings
This book was authored by Bobby Hundreds, founder of the popular streetwear brand The Hundreds, who successfully launched his own NFT collection during the epic NFT bull run of 2021.
An NFT stands for non-fungible token, which essentially means a single unique token that cannot be duplicated.
The concept spins from Ethereum's ERC-721 standard, which birthed the NFTs known today for Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.
This narrates well the first big cryptocurrency craze over NFTs.
When cat and monkey NFTs were going for the price of a brand new Honda Accord, or more.
The title is quite edgy, which matches Bobby’s strong personality, and it’s meant to jump the gun on those questioning NFTs by telling them from the beginning, “NFTs are a scam”.
But are they really?
The book goes in depth on the state the world was in at the time the NFT craze hit, it simply was something that rippled everywhere, with cartoon pictures trading for 5-figures a piece with ease.
Bobby breaks down chapters based on the relationship between NFTs and fashion, streetwear, culture, and religion.
He saw the resemblance between branding and community, along with his expertise with trading cards and collectibles, and the concept of NFTs clicked right away.
All in an appealing story form, and involving many real actors who have also shaped the NFT world we know today.
Although he does shill (sell) his own NFT collection, Adam Bomb Squad, he does not do it to the intrusive extent.
Today, NFT collections have dropped in price dramatically, but the tech remains the future in my opinion. Blockchains provide provenance and trading features that are unreachable for the traditional art market.
Despite the NFT market’s ups and downs, Bobby simply had the vision we all had at the time, and despite what anyone says, NFTs are here to stay.
I personally enjoy NFTs still, collecting and making friends along the way.
If you are new and are looking to jump in, start by getting yourself the best NFT wallet you can find, and jump on OpenSea or SuperRare.
If you want to learn about the stories of the trenches during the NFT bull run of 2021, from a real NFT OG like Bobby, this book is for you.
21. The Creature From Jekyll Island: Pepe Edition
Author: Kane Mayfield
Year: 2024
Bull Run: Current cycle (2024-2025)
Weight: Mid
Style: Fiction / American mythology
Reviews:
Amazon: 5.0 / ~18 reviews
Goodreads: 5.0 / ~2 ratings
If you ever heard of Pepe the Frog, then this book is for you.
A book that depicts the economic implications of shifting monetary policy in a meme-style read.
This book serves as a cool and innovative way to explain Bitcoin and crypto in a more immersive way, more than usual.
Packed with graphics and even an AR (augmented reality) page that pops a hologram on your phone, this book, you can tell this was authored by true natives, real crypto OGs.
It even touches base on one of Bitcoin's notorious art circles, the Fake Rares.
You will notice here and there, stark warnings and similarities between the current financial system and the one being developed today in crypto.
The book also talks about how some individuals are trying to replicate the same zero-sum doctrines that blockchain technology is trying to solve, and the author does an excellent job at highlighting them.
An easy read that covers secrets of the Federal Reserve, the power of Bitcoin, and the rise of one of the coolest technologies to date.
Written by a true crypto and Bitcoin OG, like Kane Mayfield.
I'm actively trying to get myself a signed copy of this book from the legend himself.
22. Bonus: Twelve and a Half
Author: Gary Vaynerchuk
X: @garyvee
Year: 2021
Bull Run: Peak 2021 NFT mania
Weight: Light
Style: Business / Self-help (NOT a crypto book)
Reviews:
Amazon: 4.7 / ~4,500 reviews
Goodreads: 3.94 / ~5,800 ratings
Don’t get carried away with this one, since it's not a crypto book at all!
The story, though, is quite epic nonetheless.
Picture mass NFT euphoria left and right, Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs taking over the entire scene.
And then comes Gary Vee announcing that his new book, "Twelve and a Half", will give an NFT of his new upcoming collection for every 12 books you buy.
As expected, digital assets were flying off the shelves, NFTs to be specific.
So, naturally, the people were buying his book by the dozen.
Luckily for those who bought, Gary Vee did end up airdropping an NFT from his Vee Friends collection.
A collection that, at the time, was selling each NFT for thousands of dollars a piece.
<tweet about sell bot vee friends>
A rare, and OG, story of how NFTs are used as a digital product, and their resemblance to IRL (in real life) collectibles.
But not a crypto book.
Helping You Understand Blockchain Technology, Market Trends, and Narratives
Reading is an exercise I’ve kept long before my entry into Web3.
These books deliver golden nuggets of knowledge that many seasoned crypto professionals know and can potentially influence your portfolio in the right way.
Although I did skim through some of the technical books mentioned here, I was more interested in the early founder(s) and team stories.
These are stories and narratives that are typically poorly explained in short social media posts.
Let’s narrow down the top benefits reading has left me:
- The Early Days - Getting to know the protocols (Ethereum, Solana, Near Protocol, etc), early challenges, the core team, their go-to-market approach, and beyond
- Understanding Founders - You will be surprised by how many early founders branch out to create their own products and companies. Knowing your founder’s background will always pay off
- Land a job in crypto - They can also help you be a better crypto professional to land you a gig in the industry
Afterword of the General Ecosystem
Despite my interest in Bitcoin and its fast Lightning Network, alts (alternative cryptocurrencies) like Ethereum and Solana are pushing the hardest to acquire developers and build cool products.
It's the broader, alt crypto ecosystem that I see creating the best events, or even the coolest dApps (decentralized applications).
I do want to see improvements to Bitcoin's architecture and Lightning Networks develop, yet I know these things are not easily done for the biggest cryptocurrency today.
Consensus among the community will always be a challenge, but it is also a key to Bitcoin's rise.
Just my opinion about Bitcoin's blockchain ecosystem.
Getting Started
Therefore, let’s focus on these 21 books (without the bonus) to learn more about some of the hottest stories about the chains running the show.
I hope you enjoyed this long but awesome list of cryptocurrency books.
"Remember, it is best to skip a book that cannot easily explain complex topics or a unique perspective. The world of crypto can be complex enough as is."
Stories tend to repeat themselves, especially in crypto. Therefore, get to know the origins and core concepts of the industry that is changing the world of finance like never before.
That's a wrap!
Don't overthink it, build a solid foundation with books, not just Crypto Twitter! (now Crypto X), get the best laptop for crypto that you can get, follow practical advice, and make informed decisions.
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