1. Obtaining bitcoins

To own bitcoins, you need an account, but you don't have to give your identity to create one. This anonymity of bitcoin holders is one of the characteristics of this currency. However, this anonymity is only partial, as the tracking of transactions can in some cases be traced back to the account holder. This is known as "pseudonymity" rather than anonymity.

Each account is associated with two numbers. There's the secret number, which you absolutely must keep to yourself, because anyone who has it can spend the contents of the account. Then there's the public number, which you can give out as an address or account number. This second number enables you to receive bitcoins: you give it to the person wishing to send you bitcoins, enabling them to compose a transaction (which they sign) from their account to yours.

Creating an account is immediate...