If you’ve ever felt a bit uneasy during the process of sending or receiving bitcoin, you’re not alone. Many people feel apprehensive when it comes to moving bitcoin around.

After all, navigating self-custody within a decentralized system means there’s no third party responsible for facilitating your transactions. If you’re careless and send bitcoin in error, there’s no one else to blame, and no one who can reverse the action. This stands in stark contrast with the traditional banking and credit card system, and it’s a tradeoff associated with unchaining yourself from these institutions—with great power comes great responsibility.

On the other hand, it’s also common for people to feel anxious about their bitcoin transaction in instances where they don’t need to be. For example, you might follow all the correct procedures, but then feel some uncertainty about the transaction successfully “going through.” Or if a transaction has been broadcast and is currently pending, you might find yourself hoping that the bitcoin doesn’t “get lost along the way.”

Concerns like these stem from an inaccurate perception of how bitcoin transactions work. In this article, we’ll provide a framework for better understanding the mechanics of bitcoin transactions, to help you feel more comfortable and confident about what’s actually happening behind the scenes.

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