Do you get a certificate or some paper saying you are the owner?..............
Here is how it works:
Each bitcoin has an “address”. You buy the bitcoin from an exchange. I use Coinbase, a US company. Then I transfer the “address” to my wallet. My wallet is ONLY connected to the internet when I am sending or receiving.
The act of transferring the address is entered into the network and “everyone” confirms that Bitcoin now belongs to me.
The reverse is true if I want to sell it, or send it to someone in payment. They send me their address and I send them the bitcoin.
I have to confirm all transactions with a 2 stage authorizations system. That way there is even less chance of making a mistake or getting ripped off.
My wallet has settings on it that will force me to stop...and enter a pin before I move on with a transaction over X amount.
So, you are never going to use this to buy groceries. But you would never use gold to buy groceries either—you would convert it to dollars first.