The Bitcoin Field Guide
Bitcoin can feel complicated. The Bitcoin Field Guide is a growing collection of straightforward answers to the questions people actually have about Bitcoin, from the basics of how it works to self custody, mining, privacy, and using bitcoin in everyday life.
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What happens to a Bitcoin transaction while it’s still pending? Learn what the mempool is, why each node has its own, and what happens while transactions wait to be confirmed.
What is the Mempool?
What is the Mempool?
What happens to a Bitcoin transaction while it’s still pending? Learn what the mempool is, why each node has its own, and what happens while transactions wait to be confirmed.
What actually happens when you send bitcoin?
What actually happens after you hit send? Follow a Bitcoin transaction from your wallet to the network, through the mempool, and into a block.
What Does a Bitcoin Node Actually Do?
What does a Bitcoin node actually do, and why do so many Bitcoiners run one? Learn how nodes verify the network, enforce Bitcoin’s rules, and let you check for yourself instead of relying on someone else.