Where to Get Started with Cryptocurrencies?

If you want to start hacking right away:

I started with setting up my own Bitcoin/Lightning node with LND/BTCD, since I was a little more comfortable in the Go ecosystem. Nowadays I would probably use Bitcoind since it is the de facto standard.

As a wallet I often hear about Wasabi and Samourai to be relatively comfortable.

If you want to read/listen first, there are some good podcasts, e.g. Stephan Livera. And Jameson Lopp has a good collection of links for every purpose https://www.lopp.net/bitcoin-information.html .

Bitcoin development is focussed on building a maximally decentralized store of value and thus rather careful.

Only if you do not care about monetary value and just want to play around with crazy ideas that may or may not prove useful in the future, take a look at Ethereum or one of the other altcoins.

Find an exchange in your own country, as it makes it easier to withdraw your cryptocurrency profits into your bank account at a later stage. But also be aware that not all exchanges trade all the different cryptocurrencies out there. Best thing to do is to work out which currency you want then source the appropriate exchange, keep in mind any fees associated with trading in that particular exchange. Then you need to decide how and where you want to keep your cryptocurrency. Either locally on your phone or computer at home or USB, or leave it in a wallet on the exchange you are trading on. Remember each time you move or convert your coin you may be charged a transaction fee.

The “accounts” are called wallets. There are all kinds of wallets, from minimalist “command line” ones to full featured mobile apps.

To buy crypto, you will need an account in an exchange, so you can exchange your fiat currency (dollars?) by crypto. Binance and Kraken are popular choices.

For keeping up with developments and meeting other hackers, Reddit is the best forum so far. The Hacker News crowd usually don’t dig crypto currencies for whatever reason, so it’s a little harder to discuss them here (but count me in!).

Pro-Tip: don't.

The hype isn't worth it.