DEFENDING BITCOIN

Reader companion

Read Defending Bitcoin.

The web reader pairs the complete book with current Threats, Controls, and practical resources. Book text and companion notes stay clearly separated.

Start readingPublic excerpts

Reader access

One purchase. Permanent access.

Open the reader to unlock permanent access, redeem a direct-store code, or return with an existing email link or access key.

Unlock reader

The complete book

Edition contents

print-2026-05-31

  1. 01Praise for Defending BitcoinFront matter
  2. 02DedicationFront matter
  3. 03ForewordFront matter
  4. 04Introduction to Bitcoin and CybersecurityFront matter
  5. 05IntroductionFront matter
    • My Background
    • No Such Thing as a Junior
    • Down the Bitcoin Rabbit Hole
    • Central Themes
    • How This Book Is Structured
    • Part I – Introduction to Bitcoin and Cybersecurity
    • Part II – The Bitcoin Threat Landscape
    • Conclusion and Appendices
    • Intended Takeaways
  6. 06Chapter 1 - Bitcoin: The Decentralized ProtocolChapter
    • Precursors to Bitcoin
    • The Whitepaper
    • Blockchain
    • Mining
    • The UTXO Model
    • The Cryptography of Bitcoin
    • Bitcoin Script
    • Upgrades and Address Types
    • Nodes
    • Miners and Pools
    • Lightning and the Second Layer
    • Summary
  7. 07Chapter 2 - Bitcoin: The Hardest Money Ever MadeChapter
    • A Brief History of Money
    • The Properties of Money
    • Absolute Scarcity
    • Bitcoin and the Properties of Money
    • Bitcoin Fixes This
  8. 08Chapter 3 - Cybersecurity FundamentalsChapter
    • What Is Cybersecurity?
    • The CIA Triad
    • Risk Basics
    • Cybersecurity Controls
    • Personal Security Essentials
    • Threats and Threat Actors
    • The Convenience/Security Trade-off
    • The Security Toolkit
    • Summary
  9. 09Chapter 4 - Industrial Control SystemsChapter
    • The Difference Between IT and OT
    • Detailed OT Terminology
    • The Purdue Model
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • ISA/IEC 62443
    • Underlying Principles
    • Case Study 1 – Stuxnet (2010)
    • Case Study 2 – NotPetya (2017)
    • Summary
  10. 10Chapter 5 - Bitcoin as Critical InfrastructureChapter
    • Why Bitcoin Is Critical Infrastructure
    • Bitcoin as a Payment System
    • The Monetary Grid
    • Defending Bitcoin
    • Summary
  11. 11The Bitcoin Threat LandscapePart
  12. 12Part II IntroductionPart
    • Three Layers
    • How to Read Each Chapter
    • Onward
  13. 13Chapter 6 - Exchange & Custodial FailuresChapter
    • The History of Exchanges
    • How Exchanges Work
    • KYC/AML
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Exchange Collapse
    • Threat: Account Frozen
    • Threat: Credential Compromise
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  14. 14Chapter 7 - Securing Your Bitcoin Private KeysChapter
    • The Private Key
    • Seed Phrases
    • Hardware Wallets
    • Cold Storage and Hot Wallets
    • Multisig
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Supply-Chain Tampering
    • Threat: Social Engineering
    • Threat: Malware
    • Threat: Backup Failure
    • Threat: Inheritance Failure
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  15. 15Chapter 8 - Privacy and Physical SecurityChapter
    • On-Chain Privacy Fundamentals
    • Transaction Deep Dive
    • Privacy Beyond the Base Layer
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Chain Analysis
    • Threat: Physical Coercion
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  16. 16Chapter 9 - Mining CentralizationChapter
    • Mining Fundamentals
    • Mining Pools
    • Payout Models
    • Stratum and Block Templates
    • Decentralized Mining
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Mining Centralization
    • Threat: Mining Bans
    • Threat: ASIC Supply Chain
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  17. 17Chapter 10 - Node-Level Threats and Client-Side DefensesChapter
    • The Role of the Node
    • Peers and the Gossip Network
    • The Mempool
    • Bitcoin Core
    • Consensus and Forks
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Isolation Attacks
    • Threat: Software Bugs
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  18. 18Chapter 11 - Arbitrary Data & Witness AbuseChapter
    • The History of Arbitrary Data
    • Ordinals, Inscriptions, and Tokens, Oh My!
    • Policy Filters and Consensus Rules
    • Censorship
    • Fungibility
    • The UTXO Set
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Fee Displacement
    • Threat: UTXO Set Bloat
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  19. 19Chapter 12 - Governance RisksChapter
    • Bitcoin’s Governance Model
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Development Centralization
    • Threat: Chain Splits
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  20. 20Chapter 13 - Political and Regulatory ThreatsChapter
    • The Monetary Monopoly
    • The Surveillance Foundation
    • The Regulatory Spectrum
    • Jurisdictional Arbitrage
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Financial Exclusion
    • Threat: Mining Bans
    • Threat: Criminalization
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  21. 21Chapter 14 - Grid and Network FailuresChapter
    • Bitcoin’s Physical Dependencies
    • The Difficulty Adjustment
    • Alternative Connectivity Methods
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Infrastructure Failure
    • Threat: Internet Outage
    • Threat: Catastrophic Tail Risks
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  22. 22Chapter 15 - Quantum and AI: Emerging ThreatsChapter
    • Quantum Computing Basics
    • Shor’s Algorithm and Bitcoin’s Signatures
    • Grover’s Algorithm and Mining
    • Long and Short Exposure Addresses
    • AI and Bitcoin
    • The Threat Landscape
    • Threat: Key Compromise
    • Threat: Quantum Mining Disruption
    • Threat: AI and Mining Competition
    • Threat: AI Supply Chain
    • Action Items
    • Summing Up
  23. 23ConclusionConclusion
    • You Are the Security Team
    • Three Layers
    • The Unified Control Table
    • Start Here (SL 1)
    • Go Further (SL 2)
    • Advanced Controls (SL 3+)
    • Defense-in-Depth
    • There Is Always Something You Can Do
    • Antifragility and Complacency
    • The Dragon and the Tree
  24. 24Appendices and Back MatterPart
  25. 25Appendix 4: Glossary — Bitcoin TermsAppendix
    • How Bitcoin Works
    • Cryptography and Keys
    • Transactions and Address Types
    • Wallets and Self-Custody
    • Mining
    • Network and Governance
    • Privacy
  26. 26Appendix 5: Glossary — Cybersecurity and ICS TermsAppendix
    • Cybersecurity Fundamentals
    • Core Concepts
    • Threat Actors and Attack Types
    • Defenses and Controls
    • Industrial Control Systems and Frameworks
    • ICS Architecture
    • Frameworks and Standards
  27. 27Recommended ReadingAppendix
    • Bitcoin
    • Non-Technical
    • Technical
    • Books
    • Articles and Papers
    • Key BIPs
    • Quantum and AI Threats to Bitcoin
    • Cybersecurity
    • Books
    • Articles and Papers
    • Standards and Frameworks
    • Money and Economics
    • Books
    • Articles
    • Infrastructure and Geopolitics
  28. 28Online ResourcesAppendix
    • Staying Current
  29. 29AcknowledgementsBack matter
  30. 30About the AuthorBack matter