.. meta::
   :description: The Dash Documentation offers information and guides on Dash, the open source peer-to-peer cryptocurrency with a strong focus on the payments industry. 
   :keywords: dash, cryptocurrency, blockchain, documentation, guide, masternodes, mining, wallets, merchants, governance, instantsend, coinjoin, privatesend, x11, instant, private, secure, digital cash

.. _user-index:

=========
User Docs
=========

Dash is an open source peer-to-peer cryptocurrency with a strong focus on the payments industry.
Dash offers a form of money that is portable, inexpensive, divisible and fast. It can be spent
securely both online and in person with only minimal transaction fees.

.. raw:: html

    <div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto;">
        <iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EDC1ioQ46m4?modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe>
    </div>

Features
========

Based on the Bitcoin project, Dash aims to be the most user-friendly and scalable payments system in
the world. In addition to Bitcoin's feature set, Dash currently also offers instant transactions
(:ref:`instantsend`), private transactions (:ref:`coinjoin`) and operates a self-governing and
self-funding model that enables the Dash network to pay individuals and businesses for work that
adds value to the network. This :ref:`decentralized governance and budgeting system <governance>`
makes it one of the first ever successful decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO).

Security
======== 

If you are new to cryptocurrencies, the most important change to understand is that transactions
occur directly between two parties without any central authority to facilitate the transaction. This
also means that you are responsible for your own security - there is no bank or credit card company
to reverse a transaction if your funds are stolen or lost. In this sense, it is similar to cash or
gold, but cryptocurrency can be spent locally and internationally with equal ease, if you are
confident you are sending funds to the right destination.

For these reasons, the Dash documentation has a strong focus on safety and understanding the
concepts and features that drive the Dash ecosystem. The videos, links and documentation below can
help you get started, or use the table of contents on the left to find a specific topic of interest.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: First Steps
   :hidden:

   introduction/about
   introduction/features
   introduction/how-to-buy
   introduction/safety
   introduction/information

.. _user-docs:   

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Users
   :hidden:

   wallets/index
   earning-spending

.. _network-docs:

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Network
   :hidden:

   governance/index.rst
   masternodes/index
   mining/index
   developers/index
   network/dashmate/index
   network/dash-evo-tool/index
   network/electrumx-server
   marketing.rst
   legal.rst