Joke Why does Bitcoin take ten minutes to make friends? Because every block needs ‘proof-of-work’ before it can join the chain.

This quip plays on Bitcoin’s core consensus mechanism, Proof-of-Work (PoW). In Bitcoin’s network, miners race to solve a cryptographic puzzle; the first to finish gets to add the next block of transactions, averaging about 10 minutes per block, and collect the block reward. It’s like making a new friend only after they’ve aced a 10-minute quiz on your hobbies!

Tip and insight If you’re HODLing BTC, think of those ten-minute block times as a feature, not a bug. Use that window to: Double-check your transaction details, Learn about on-chain fees, And explore a reputable wallet’s cold-storage option. Building patience around Bitcoin’s block cadence will help you appreciate its security model, and avoid costly mistakes when you do broadcast a transaction.

MindShift Question What real-world decisions could you proof-of-work if they all took ten minutes to confirm?

NB: joke for education.