Bitcoin: The Complete Digital Currency Guide

Bitcoin and Beyond: From Cryptographic Foundations to Advanced Blockchain Applications for Engineers

What you'll learn

Students will be able to explain and implement core cryptographic primitives including hash functions, digital signatures, and blockchain security.

Students will be able to build and analyze basic blockchain systems with focus on Bitcoin's architecture and consensus mechanisms.

Students will be able to develop applications using advanced crypto concepts like zero-knowledge proofs and smart contracts.

Students will be able to assess blockchain platforms' technical, economic, and social impact through critical analysis.

Requirements

The course assumes mathematical maturity demonstrated through strong performance in undergraduate discrete mathematics and familiarity with fundamental computer science concepts. Students should be comfortable with algorithm analysis, basic probability theory, and theoretical computing models including Turing machines. While no prior cryptography knowledge is required, students should possess: Proficiency in Java programming, as the course includes hands-on implementation projects Experience reading and constructing mathematical proofs Understanding of computational complexity and running time analysis Working knowledge of basic probability theory Familiarity with foundational theoretical CS concepts Prior exposure to cryptography is not necessary, but students must be prepared to engage with rigorous mathematical content and formal proofs throughout the course. The ideal candidate has successfully completed core undergraduate CS theory courses and enjoys tackling challenging theoretical problems while implementing practical solutions.

Description

Dive into the fascinating world of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in this mathematically rigorous journey designed for curious minds in Computer Science. Unravel the cryptographic mysteries that underpin the digital currency revolution while exploring the elegant theoretical foundations that make it all possible.This course takes you from the building blocks of cryptography – where symmetric and asymmetric primitives dance together – to the architectural brilliance of blockchain systems. Watch as Bitcoin's revolutionary protocol unfolds before you, revealing its ingenious consensus mechanisms and transaction choreography, before venturing into the realm of advanced cryptographic wizardry like zero-knowledge proofs and secure computation. Discover how these fundamental building blocks come together to create secure, decentralized systems that are revolutionizing digital trust.Through engaging theoretical explorations and mathematical proofs, you'll master the cryptographic principles that breathe life into blockchain systems. Journey beyond Bitcoin to explore the landscape of alternative cryptocurrencies, investigate the intricacies of different consensus mechanisms, and wrestle with the challenges of anonymity in the digital age. Delve into the theoretical frameworks that enable smart contracts and decentralized applications, understanding their potential and limitations.Venture into the societal and economic ripples created by this technological tsunami, and emerge with the theoretical arsenal needed to evaluate and analyze the next wave of blockchain innovations. Explore real-world applications and critical perspectives on blockchain technology's impact on privacy, security, and financial systems. Engage with cutting-edge research problems and open questions in the field, preparing you to contribute to this rapidly evolving technology.Prerequisites include intermediate mathematical maturity, familiarity with algorithms, and computational complexity theory. No prior cryptography experience required – just bring your intellectual curiosity and analytical mindset. Success in this course requires comfort with abstract mathematical concepts, basic probability theory, and the ability to reason about computational models. Students should be prepared to engage with formal proofs and theoretical constructs while considering their practical implications.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Getting Started with Bitcoin and Blockchain

Section 2: Introduction to Formalisms in Cryptography and their Relation to Blockchains

Lecture 2 Cryptographic Primitives and Algorithms - Encryption Schemes

Lecture 3 Cryptographic Primitives - Hash Functions (Part I)

Lecture 4 Cryptographic Primitives - Hash Functions (Part II)

Section 3: Double Spending in Cryptocurrencies

Lecture 5 GoofyCoin and ScroogeCoin: Discussing Double Spending with Two Example Coins

Section 4: Distributed Consensus: Agreeing Collectively

Lecture 6 Distributed Consensus Part I: Consensus Protocols and Decentralization

Lecture 7 Distributed Consensus Part II: Conventional Protocols in Consensus Mechanisms

Lecture 8 Distributed Consensus Part III: Implicit Consensus - A Simplified Algorithm

Section 5: Applying Distributed Consensus to Bitcoin

Lecture 9 Understanding the Practical Consensus Application to Bitcoin

Section 6: Bitcoin: Proof of Work and Selection of Nodes in the Blockchain

Lecture 10 Understanding PoW for Node Selection, Mining Economics and the Sybil Attack

Section 7: Bitcoin: Let us do a Deep Dive

Lecture 11 Understanding Bitcoin Scripts and the Benefits of Transaction Based Ledgers

Section 8: Bitcoin has a Scripting Language?

Lecture 12 Applications of Bitcoin Script and Bitcoin Blocks

Section 9: Bitcoin Blocks and the Network

Lecture 13 Bitcoin Blocks, UTXOs, and General Bitcoin Network Discussion

Section 10: Bitcoin Forking and Wallets

Lecture 14 Understanding the Different Types of Bitcoin Forks and Wallets

Section 11: Secret Sharing and Bitcoin Economics Compared to Banks

Lecture 15 Understanding Shamir's Secret Sharing, its Applications and Bitcoin Economics

Section 12: Mining Pools & Game Theory Analysis of Mining

Lecture 16 Understanding Mining Pools, Attacks on the Mining Economics and Game Theory

Section 13: Bitcoin Anonymity and Mixing

Lecture 17 Understanding the Privacy of Bitcoin and Studying Privacy Preserving Ideas

This course is ideal for senior Computer Science students and graduate students who are fascinated by the intersection of cryptography, distributed systems, and emerging blockchain technologies. Perfect for those who are comfortable with programming in Java and enjoy implementing theoretical concepts into working solutions. Students should have a strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, including algorithms, computational complexity, and discrete mathematics – if you've enjoyed your theory classes and are ready to apply those concepts to cutting-edge technology, this course is for you. While no prior cryptography experience is required, successful students typically have a solid grasp of mathematical concepts and enjoy working with formal proofs. If you're excited about diving deep into the technology powering modern cryptocurrencies while strengthening your theoretical computer science skills, this course will provide you with both the rigorous foundation and practical expertise needed in this rapidly evolving field. The course bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, covering everything from the mathematical underpinnings of cryptographic protocols to real-world cryptocurrency implementations and their broader economic and societal implications.