Presume I create a new key, then calculate a public address from that key.  So far, it is just on my computer and is not what I would call a real address.  If I then send some coins to that address, does that automatically create the address in the real bitcoin world?  Maybe I go to Gemini and enter that public address as the receiving address and move some coins.  Does that result in the new address being created?  Are there other methods worth mentioning?

I suspect, that new addresses are created, in the real BTC world, when some amount of coin is sent to the address.  Is there more to it than this?

ABCbits: Thank you for the links, looking at them.  I keep missing that WIF, Wallet Import Format.  Cannot seem to keep it in my head.

DannyHamilton: Yes, the deep end.  I have a bit of dyslexia and knew that the correct phrase is private key, just wrote it wrong.  I am not a mathematician, or even very good with math.  I just want to develop my own sense of confidence in this entity into which we place so much trust.  

I have a small amount of bitcoins in a commercial exchange and will probably put them in an offline wallet.  Someday soon.

I continue to be a bit surprised at how volatile BTC is, and most cryptos.  Similar to the stock markets of the world, but much more volatile.  Seems to me it should be more stable.  I really do like the concept of a currency that is independent of government control.  That is its main attraction for me.

Oh, and I still don’t fully understand why we use the base 58 format.  Its not that much shorter than hex, and quite a bit more complicated.  Regarding fonts and the characters 0/O and 1/l  (one and lower case l), how often does anyone really transcribe a private key or an address by hand?  I suspect extremely seldom.  Almost to the point of never.  We just do a copy with the keyboard and mouse, in which case, the font has no significance what-so-ever.  And I suspect that we very seldom manually copy the key. It gets saved by our selected exchange or our offline wallet.  We write down the code words for recovery, but even then, I print them out and put them in a safe.  Won't trust my writing and spelling for something that critical.

I cannot find a simple step-by-step process to understand how to go from a BTC private address, in the form of a 256-bit binary number, to initiating an actual transaction.  A description or link to a good web page will be greatly appreciated.

Here is what I suspect happens.

1. Create 256-bit random number.  Yeah, a bit difficult to do properly.
2. translate to base 58 format.
   2.a. takes multiple steps, what are they?
3. Create seed phrases, how to do this?
4. There is more stuff needed to actually initiate a BTC transaction I don't understand, but keep this short and stop here.

This is probably already on this forum.  Do you have a search phrase that will discover it? Link to a specific thread?

Thank you for your time.

How much BTC is needed to run a lightning node?  Is that BTC tied up with the node?  Is it put at a risk?

And on that risk note, answers in this thread indicate that my transactions are more secure if I have my own full node.  Looking in the other direction, my transactions are at more risk when I do not have my own node.  Just how much more risk is there?

If I am running a wallet such as Trezor, and I send or receive some BTC, how much risk am I exposed to?

I suspect that if I am using Coinbase, and put in a buy or sell for BTC, the only risk is that the dollar cost of BTC changes while the transaction is being consummated.  Is there another risk I am not aware of?

Presume we are running a full node under some version of Linux. Let's say 2 to 3 Ghz clock rate, 16 Gig of memory, and nothing running but the Bitcoin full node software.  About how much will the CPU be utilized?  Will it be fairly steady?  Or I suspect with significant peaks for each block that is validated and stored? 

I mostly use Windows, but, am quite certain that Linux is much better at this task.

If you are running a full node, please advise as to some of your system specifications.

After the full blockchain has been gathered and stored, what is the average and peak network bandwidth?

Thank you for your time and patience.

Ok, I was a bit overboard on the power and cooling.  On the other hand, a Raspberry Pi cannot run a full node with the entire block chain.  But no reader has admitted to running a node.  I would really like to hear thoughts and comments from someone running a full node.

I don't understand something here.  When I use an exchange, such as Coinbase, they do all the work. Or at least get it started. When I use a wallet, such as Trezor, the request is submitted to the Bitcoin network and some number of the Bitcoin nodes validate the transaction.  In the response you wrote, I get the hint that I might need to do something more to validate the transaction.  Please explain a bit more.

A few days ago I found an article that stated the number of bitcoin node has dropped from some high value, something like 40,000 nodes (but I did not take careful note), down to something like 10,000 nodes.  Then again, this site:  Bitcoin network node count sets new all-time high (cointelegraph.com), dated JUL 15, 2021,  states that for the first time the node count has exceeded 13,000.  Maybe that 40,000 count was something I misread.

Side thought, found this site:  Tor-enabled Bitcoin nodes are back after bug on network (cointelegraph.com) that mentioned as many as 25% of the Bitcoin nodes run on TOR.  
Why use TOR for a Bitcoin node?

Back to the main topic.

I have a basic, only very basic, concept of the need to run a node.  This includes the need to make the entire Bitcoin system resilient and prevent a 51% attack.  That attack would be rather difficult to do right now, but if the node count drops, might become a problem.

This site presents some advantages of running a full note:  Why should I run a bitcoin node? — 7 reasons - Unchained
https://unchained.com/blog/why-run-bitcoin-node/#:~:text=7%20reasons%20to%20run%20your%20own%20bitcoin%20node,...%207%207.%20Increase%20your%20bitcoin%20knowledge%20

Edit, when first posted, the link did not work out well.  Just edited to add that link and test it.

But there are no direct advantages.  No minor amount of Satoshis seem gained, meaning no financial gain.  The disadvantage is the cost of the computer and storage space, and the cost of electricity and cost to cool my house.

Still, I am considering it.  The tentative plan is to buy a five year old (about) computer, install about 8 or 16 Gig of memory, Maybe a Terra byte drive for the OS and the node code, then a raid of SSD Terra byte drives for the block chain.  (I presume the block chain changes little so SSDs will last quite a while and use less power.  Make it a RAID-5 (not positive) in the event that when one drive fails it can easily be replaced with no loss of data.)  This will not be my daily use computer and will be dedicated to the node.

To the question:  Have you considered running a Bitcoin node?  Why did you or why did you not start a node?  If you are running a node, private or working for a company, have you any important thoughts to share?

How do "we" know which coins are Satoshi's? 

Good answers from all.  I have had some difficulties in my personal life, good difficulties that is, but will get back to working my cold storage device now.
I did have some questions on the topic of what the SEC, and maybe other agencies, use to declare that something is an investment and therefore should be regulated.  But that should be a separate thread and I need to re-read the concepts before posting questions.

To each of you, thank you for your time.

Yes, I am a bit worried.  But maybe too worried.  I have, what is to me, a substantial amount in their exchange.  

I have a cold storage wallet but am not yet comfortable with it.  Maybe I need to work that.  My thought is to put a small amount into the cold wallet, create a new account with Binance, or Kraken, or someone, then transfer to there and see the coins pop up.  I suppose that will take two transaction periods which I think are about 10 to 15 minutes each.  Is that a reasonable plan?

I have seen a few articles about the Gemini crypto exchange and legal problems in the U.S.  Do you think they are in real trouble?  Might that put my, our, coins in jeopardy? 

If I move to a different exchange, which one charges the least to sell coins and transfer the cash to a local bank for withdrawal?

This is what I think is true, but do not know for a fact.
Yes, we have exceeded the debt limit.  But, and a very big but, the people in the treasury, and/or other agencies, are prioritizing the items to be paid right now and no due bills have been missed.  That says that technically speaking, we have not defaulted.  However, they can only juggle a few weeks more before there are actual defaults.

In debt, oh yes, tremendously, and getting worse with no probable end in sight.  

Gold no longer backs up the U.S. dollar.  What really backs the dollar and keeps it value is the confidence people have in it.  Confidence expressed by every single transaction that uses the dollar.  Confidence supported by the ability of the U.S. to produce goods and services that may be purchased with the dollar.

Regarding the original question: I suspect there is no person, or group, who has sufficient information to make a solid prediction.  But, I suspect that world wide cryptocurrencies will tend to go up.

I don't see that as impossible at all.  Considering the incredibly antagonistic view each party has of the other, and indeed of the general public members of each party, I see it as a real possibility.  That it is a political decision is what makes it a real possibility.  If things go really bad each side will self-righteously blame the other. I don't have sufficient knowledge to proclaim a probability.

If the U.S. goes into default on its debts, what do you expect the reaction will be in the BTC world?
What about other crypto currencies?
My naive view is that BTC and other currencies should gain value.

The U.S. Dollar is probably the worlds most used currency for drugs, sex trafficking, and other illegal behaviors.  Yes, those bills in your wallet have probably been in the hands of people behaving in illegal and immoral activities.  I do mean, take a $1, $5, or $20 out of your wallet and I am talking about that particular bill.

So, if you are worried about BTC being used for those purposes, what do you suggest be done about that currency in your hand?

Thanks for the comments.  The relationship between BTC, and all cryptos, and the US dollar is complex, to say the least.  The Republicans seem hell-bent on using the threat of default as leverage to get what they want.  We might default for a short period, but Congress will almost certainly do something to stop that.
I am worried about the deficit and the long term future.
In the meantime, I will make some additional investments in BTC and other cryptocurrencies.