Questions
Questions people ask us
Select a question to open its answer. Each answer explains how the site works or how the protocol behaves. None of them tells you what to do with your money.
The most common questions
Is Tallybark connected to a company or project?
No. Tallybark is an independent explainer. It is not connected to any company, exchange, wallet, or project, and it does not sell products. If we ever mention a specific product, we will say what it is and how it works, without endorsing it.
Will this site tell me whether to buy or sell?
No. We explain how Bitcoin works and why its rules are shaped the way they are. We do not give personal investment advice and we do not predict prices. For decisions about your own money, speak with a licensed professional who knows your situation.
Why is the supply capped at 21 million?
The cap is part of the protocol's rules, and every node that checks blocks enforces it. Changing it would require the broad agreement described in the guide's entry on forks. The cap is a design choice, and the guide explains both the reasons for it and the trade-offs.
Can a confirmed transfer be reversed?
Confirmed transfers are designed to be final. The network has no reversal button and no central party that can undo a payment. Each new block makes an older transfer harder to undo, but no count guarantees finality in every case. Check the address carefully before you send anything.
What happens if I lose my private key?
The protocol cannot recover a lost private key, and no support desk can reset it for you. Coins controlled by a key you no longer have may become permanently inaccessible. Keep recovery material offline, in more than one safe place, and never share it with anyone who asks for it.
Does proof of work waste energy?
That is a fair question, and people disagree about it in good faith. The guide explains that proof of work uses energy on purpose, as the cost of changing the past. Whether that trade is worth it is a judgment for each reader. We present the mechanism and the arguments on several sides and leave the verdict to you.
How are the guide's entries written and checked?
Our editors describe how the protocol behaves and mark opinions as opinions. When a claim depends on a specific rule, the entry says which rule it is. If you find an error, write to us with the page and the sentence, and we will correct it in place.
Can I reuse the content?
Please link to the page you read rather than copying long passages. If you want to reuse more than a short quotation, write to hello@whysatoshi.org and describe how you plan to use it.
Still have a question?
Write to the Tallybark desk and tell us which page prompted it. Questions that help other readers may end up on this page. Please do not include private keys, recovery phrases, or account details in any message.