# Introduction Over the last couple of years, cryptocurrencies have been all over the news. There have been lots of opinions being spread from both blockchain supporters and doubters. Despite all of the FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) being spread about blockchain and cryptocurrencies, there has been a surge of people buying up cryptocurrencies and trying to become part of the blockchain community. This guide provides explanations and examples that can help people get introduced to the blockchain world and show the benefits of being a member of the community. This guide is especially designed for those who have had no exposure to blockchain and want to start learning, and for those who have bought cryptocurrencies on centralized exchanges like Coinbase and Crypto.com and want to take the next step in joining the community. This guide covers what blockchains are, how to join a blockchain network, how to transfer assets to the blockchain, and what is available for members of a blockchain. As the world of blockchains and cryptocurrencies can be quite overwhelming, it is important to start with basics. Firstly, what is a blockchain? --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://dantheman8300.gitbook.io/beginners-guide-joining-the-world-of-blockchain/introduction.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.