2025 Edition Complete Guide to Cryptocurrency Investment: From How to Start with Bitcoin to Operational Strategies

Many people may want to know how to buy or get started with Bitcoin (BTC), which is the representative of cryptoassets.

In 2024, the price is expected to rise sharply, attracting significant attention as it surpasses $100,000 (approximately 17 million yen).

This article provides an easy-to-understand explanation for beginners, covering everything from basic knowledge of Bitcoin to actual purchasing methods and important points to consider when investing.

Basic Knowledge of Bitcoin

First, I will explain the background of the birth of Bitcoin, the world's first cryptocurrency, and the blockchain technology that underpins it.

Background of Birth

Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized cryptoasset (virtual coin) that was born in 2009.

Bitcoin was born based on a paper published in 2008 by an unknown person or organization using the name "Satoshi Nakamoto."

It was conceived as a new financial system that does not rely on central institutions against the backdrop of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The concept of "P2P electronic currency" that eliminated traditional central management was initially viewed with skepticism, but gradually its decentralization and scarcity began to be recognized.

blockchain technology

The foundation of Bitcoin is blockchain technology.

This is a mechanism that summarizes transaction data in units called "blocks" and links them in chronological order to form a "chain."

This blockchain technology makes it extremely difficult to alter information, ensuring transparency and security.

Each block contains the hash value of the previous block (a unique identifier for the data), and reliability is ensured by all network participants holding the same data.

Important Features of Bitcoin

Bitcoin has unique characteristics that differ from traditional fiat currencies. Here, we will explain the main features in detail.

autonomy through decentralized systems

Bitcoin adopts a decentralized system that operates without the presence of central authorities such as central banks or governments, functioning through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network.

For this reason, it functions autonomously without being subject to management or operations by specific institutions or organizations.

Transparency and anonymity of transactions

All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on the blockchain and are accessible to anyone.

On the other hand, the addresses involved in the transactions are encrypted and do not contain any personally identifiable information, thus ensuring a certain level of anonymity.

Issuance Limit and Scarcity

One of the main features of Bitcoin is that its issuance limit is set at 21 million BTC.

This helps to mitigate inflation risks similar to traditional fiat currencies, ensuring their scarcity value.

Additionally, there is a mechanism in place whereby the new issuance amount is halved due to the "halving" that occurs approximately every four years.

This design functions as a mechanism to maintain the value of Bitcoin.

global availability

Bitcoin can be traded 24/7 across borders.

Remittances can be completed in a few minutes to a few hours even between countries, and the fees are kept lower compared to traditional international remittances.

This is being used as a global payment and value storage method.

Market Trends of Bitcoin in 2025

Bitcoin boasts the largest circulation in the world and receives significant attention in the cryptoasset market.

Here, we will discuss the latest market trends for 2025.

Institutional investors' entry status

In recent years, the entry of institutional investors into the Bitcoin market has accelerated.

Companies like Tesla and MicroStrategy are purchasing large amounts of Bitcoin for the purpose of asset diversification and protection against inflation risks.

Elliott Capital, Apollo Management Holdings, Wells Fargo Bank, and JP Morgan are also entering the market one after another, and Japanese companies such as Metaplanet and Remixpoint are also advancing their purchases of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin ETF's market impact

The first approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF by the US SEC in 2024 accelerated the influx of funds from institutional investors. The cumulative net inflow into Bitcoin spot ETFs listed in the US (12 products) has reached $35.4 billion (5 trillion yen) by March 2025.

As a result, Bitcoin has strengthened its role not only as an inflation hedge but also as a hedging tool to maximize potential returns and diversification in a portfolio.

Regulatory trends in various countries

Regulatory frameworks for Bitcoin are gradually being established in various countries around the world. In Japan, the Financial Services Agency has implemented a registration system for cryptoasset exchange operators, allowing transactions under certain regulations.

In the United States, under the new Trump administration, the "Bitcoin reserve currency" plan is progressing, and a presidential order was signed on March 6, 2025.

At this time, this reserve is based on Bitcoin that has been seized through criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings, and is intended for long-term value preservation without selling.

How to Buy Bitcoin: A Practical Guide

Here, we will provide a detailed explanation of the specific steps to actually purchase Bitcoin, including how to choose a cryptocurrency exchange, how to open an account, and how to conduct transactions.

How to choose a cryptocurrency exchange

To purchase Bitcoin, you first need to open an account at a cryptocurrency exchange. The main points for choosing an exchange are as follows.

1. Security System – Asset storage via two-factor authentication and cold wallets, etc.
2. Fees – Transaction fees, deposit and withdrawal fees, spread (buy-sell price difference)
3. Trading Volume (Volume) – When active trading is taking place, it is easier to execute buy and sell orders at desired prices.
4. Types of currencies handled – If you want to invest in other cryptoassets in the future, it's better to have a wide variety.
5. Usability – Especially for beginners, the operability of the app and trading tools is important.
6. Type of Services – It is convenient to have a variety of services such as dollar-cost averaging and staking.

Comparison of Domestic and Overseas Exchanges

There are domestic cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country and global overseas exchanges. I compared the features of each.

| Exchange Type | Advantages | Disadvantages | | --- | --- | --- | | Domestic Exchanges | ・Registered with the Financial Services Agency, providing a sense of security・Support is easy to receive in Japanese・Deposits and withdrawals in Japanese yen are simple | ・Limited variety of coins offered・Tendency for fees to be higher than overseas exchanges | | Overseas Exchanges | ・Wide variety of cryptocurrencies available