Principles of Bitcoin: Technology, Economics, Politics, and Philosophy by Vijay Selvam, published in June 2025 by Columbia University Press, offers a comprehensive exploration of Bitcoin’s transformative potential. This book strips away the hype and jargon surrounding cryptocurrencies to provide a first-principles-based framework for understanding Bitcoin’s technology, economics, politics, and philosophy. This article reviews the book’s content, key insights, target audience, and where to purchase it.
What Is Principles of Bitcoin About?
Structured across five parts—Framework, Technology, Economics, Politics, and Philosophy—the book guides readers through Bitcoin’s multifaceted nature. Selvam, a corporate lawyer and financial expert with experience at Goldman Sachs and in digital assets, draws on his extensive background to distill complex topics into an accessible narrative. From Bitcoin’s architecture and proof-of-work mechanism to its role as a store of value and a tool for resisting centralized control, the book covers topics typically requiring thousands of hours of research in just 320 pages. Readers are invited to view Bitcoin as a tool for individual empowerment and a challenge to traditional monetary systems. According to Lyn Alden, author of Broken Money, it provides “one of the most logical frameworks for analyzing Bitcoin” with extensive references.
Key Insights of the Book
- Decentralized Empowerment: Bitcoin’s design enables financial sovereignty, freeing users from reliance on banks or governments.
- Economic Revolution: Its fixed 21-million-coin supply counters inflation, positioning Bitcoin as a digital equivalent to gold.
- Technological Innovation: The proof-of-work system ensures security and resilience, making Bitcoin a unique, non-replicable invention.
- Philosophical Implications: Bitcoin embodies a resistance to centralized authority, rooted in principles of individual liberty and transparency.
Who Is This Book For?
Principles of Bitcoin is ideal for financial professionals, students, and curious thinkers seeking a rigorous yet accessible understanding of Bitcoin. It caters to both newcomers and seasoned Bitcoin enthusiasts, requiring no prior technical knowledge. Readers appreciate Selvam’s clear storytelling and analogies, which make complex concepts approachable, though some note the book prioritizes theoretical depth over practical investment advice. As Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer of the Human Rights Foundation, notes in the foreword, the book transforms readers “from zero knowledge to budding experts.” It’s a must-read for anyone exploring Bitcoin’s role in shaping a decentralized, transparent future.
Why Read This Book?
Principles of Bitcoin stands out for its holistic approach, weaving together technology, economics, politics, and philosophy to present Bitcoin as a revolutionary force. Selvam’s first-principles perspective, praised by Jameson Lopp as a “masterful work,” clarifies Bitcoin’s significance without resorting to oversimplified narratives. The book’s engaging style, backed by references to philosophers, economists, and cryptographers, makes it both educational and inspiring. As Richard Byworth of Syz Capital notes, it condenses extensive research into an engaging 300-page read, perfect for those wanting to understand Bitcoin’s potential to reshape finance and society.
Where to Buy the Book?
You can purchase Principles of Bitcoin: Technology, Economics, Politics, and Philosophy from various online retailers. Here are some options:
