Mastering Bitcoin Core from the Command Line
A hands-on course teaching developers how to use bitcoind, bitcoin-cli, and regtest to build, test, and simulate Bitcoin applications using Bitcoin Core.
Last updated 05/2025
English
What You’ll LearnRun your own Bitcoin Core node with confidence, learning how to set up, configure, and maintain a secure and efficient local or testnet environment.
Leverage regtest to create isolated Bitcoin networks, mine blocks instantly, and test apps safely without risking real funds.
Create and manage wallets and addresses (Bech32, legacy) while understanding their differences and practical use cases in your apps.
Build, sign, and broadcast raw Bitcoin transactions directly from the command line, giving you full control over UTXO selection and fees.
Explore and inspect blockchain data, UTXOs, mempool state, and block details using precise commands to debug and monitor Bitcoin activity.
Write Bash or Python scripts to automate regtest environments and Bitcoin workflows, making your development and testing seamless.
Course Modules8 modules . 1h 25m total length
Module 1: Installing & Running Bitcoin Core
Module 2: Bitcoin Core Architecture
Module 3: Wallets and Addresses in Bitcoin Core
Module 4: Using Regtest to Simulate Bitcoin
Module 5: Transactions and UTXO Control
Module 6: Blocks and Blockchain State
Module 7: Working with Bitcoin RPC
Module 8: Developing with Bitcoin Core Locally
Capstone ProjectYou will create a command-line tool that:
Spins up a regtest node
Mines 101 blocks instantly
Creates a wallet and sends Bitcoin to two addresses
Confirms the transaction
Outputs the full transaction hex and decoded data
Final Quiz + CompletionYou will create a command-line tool that:
15–20 technical questions to test your knowledge
3 scenario challenges to apply what you’ve learned (e.g. “What happens if you send a tx with 0 fee on regtest?”)
Completion OutcomeBy the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
Operate and inspect Bitcoin Core via CLI with confidence.
Simulate Bitcoin payments safely in regtest.
Build, sign, and broadcast raw transactions manually.
Use regtest as a sandbox for developing Bitcoin apps.
