Any 'how to' guides for complete novices?
Here's mine: Don't do it, :-)
Not very helpful perhaps, but currency speculation - especially into crytocurrencies - is both complex and a huge gamble. Personally, I'd start with much lower risk investments initially if you're looking to invest outside of cash, which is sensible in itself.
My second point of wisdom runs thus: be generally wary of anything where people are making big returns easily. It won't last, don't be the one caught out.