About Course
What is Bitcoin exactly? How is the blockchain related to Bitcoin? What are the similarities and differences between the different cryptocurrencies? Are they truly anonymous?
The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the world of blockchains. The mechanism, hash function, and other basic concepts are covered. Cryptocurrencies are virtual, but the technology behind them is very real. By the end of this course, you’ll have formed your own opinion about blockchains and about following cryptocurrencies, one of the hottest and most controversial topics today.
Main Topics
- What is blockchain?
- Math behind blockchain
- Hash function
- Blockchain mechanism
- Theory of Bitcoin
- Use Bitcoin
- Crypto mining
- Is it really anonymous?
- Controversy of Bitcoin
- POW vs. POS
- Bitcoin in the view of real world
- Altcoins
- Decentralization
- The Future of Blockchain
Course Format
- Online
Course Update
- Once a week, continuous
Course Content
What is blockchain?
-
Introduction to Crypto and Cryptocurrencies
Functions behind Blockchain
-
Cryptographic Hash Functions
-
Hash Pointers and Data Structures
-
Digital Signatures
-
Public Keys as Identities
-
Simple Cryptocurrencies
Blockchain Mechanism
-
Centralization vs. Decentralization
-
Distributed Consensus
-
Consensus Without Identity — The Block Chain
-
Incentives and Proof of Work
-
Putting it All Together
Theory of Bitcoin
-
Bitcoin Transactions
-
Bitcoin Scripts
-
Applications of Bitcoin Scripts
-
Bitcoin Blocks
-
The Bitcoin Network
-
Limitations & Improvements
Use Bitcoin
-
How to Store and Use Bitcoins
-
Hot and Cold Storage
-
Splitting and Sharing Keys
-
Online Wallets and Exchanges
-
Payment Services
-
Transaction Fees
-
Currency Exchange Markets
Crypto Mining
-
The Task of Bitcoin Miners
-
Mining Hardware
-
Energy Consumption & Ecology
-
Mining Pools
-
Mining Incentives and Strategies
Is it really anonymous?
-
Anonymity Basics
-
Overview of Bitcoin Deanonymization
-
Mixing
-
Decentralized Mixing
-
Zerocoin and Zerocash
-
Tor and the “Silk Road”
Controversy of Bitcoin
-
Consensus in Bitcoin
-
Bitcoin Core Software
-
Stakeholders — Who’s in Charge?
-
Roots of Bitcoin
-
Governments Notice Bitcoin
-
Anti Money-Laundering
-
Regulation
-
New York’s BitLicense Proposal
POW vs. POS
-
Essential Puzzle Requirements
-
ASIC Resistant Puzzles
-
Proof-of-Useful-Work
-
Non-outsourceable Puzzles
-
Proof-of-Stake
Bitcoin in the View of Real World
-
Bitcoin as an Append-Only Log
-
Bitcoins as “Smart Property”
-
Secure Multi-Party Lotteries in Bitcoin
-
Bitcoin as Randomness Source
-
Prediction Markets & Real-World Data Feeds
Altcoins
-
Short History of Altcoins
-
Interaction between Bitcoin and Altcoins
-
Lifecycle of an Altcoin
-
Bitcoin-Backed Altcoins, “Side Chains”
Decentralization
-
The Block Chain as a Vehicle for Decentralization
-
Routes to Decentralization
-
What Can We Decentralize
-
When is Decentralization a Good Idea
The Future of Blockchain
-
Traditional Financial Arrangements
-
Credit Card Payment Systems
-
From Credit to (Crypto) Cash
-
Minting Money out of Thin Air
-
Recording Everything in a Ledger
-
Hints about Satoshi
-
Concluding Remarks
Student Ratings & Reviews
No Review Yet
