To really understand what is special about Bitcoin, we need to understand how it works at a technical level. We’ll address the important questions about Bitcoin, such as:
How does Bitcoin work? What makes Bitcoin different? How secure are your Bitcoins? How anonymous are Bitcoin users? What determines the price of Bitcoins? Can cryptocurrencies be regulated? What might the future hold? After this course, you’ll know everything you need to be able to separate fact from fiction when reading claims about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. You’ll have the conceptual foundations you need to engineer secure software that interacts with the Bitcoin network. And you’ll be able to integrate ideas from Bitcoin in your own projects.
Module 1: Introduction to Cryptography and Cryptocurrencies
Lessons
Introduction to Cryptography and Cryptocurrency
Cryptographic Hash Functions
Hash Pointers and Data Structures
Digital Signatures
Public Keys as Identities
A Simple CryptocurrencyModule 2: How Bitcoin Achieves Decentralisation
Lessons
Introduction to Bitcoins
Centralisation vs Decentralisation
Distributed Consensus
Consensus without Identity Using a Blockchain
Incentives and Proof of Work
Cost MiningModule 3: Mechanics of Bitcoin
Lessons
Bitcoin Transactions
Bitcoin Scripts
Applications of Bitcoin Scripts
Bitcoin Blocks
The Bitcoin Network
Limitations and ImprovementsModule 4: How to Use and Store Bitcoins
Lessons
Simple Local Storage
Hot and Cold Storage
Splitting and Sharing Keys
Online Wallets and Exchanges
Payment Services
Transaction Fees
Currency Exchange MarketsModule 5: Bitcoin Mining
Lesson
The Task of Bitcoin Miners
Mining Hardware
Energy Consumption and Ecology
Mining Pools
Mining Incentives and StrategiesModule 6: Bitcoin and Anonymity
Lessons
Anonymity Basics
How to De-Anonymize Bitcoin?
Mixing
Decentralised Mixing
Zerocoin and ZerocashModule 7: Community, Politics, and Regulation
Lessons
Consensus in Bitcoin
Bitcoin Core Software
Stakeholders: Who's in Charge?
Roots of Bitcoin
Governments Notice Bitcoin
Anti-Money-Laundering
RegulationModule 8: Alternative Mining Puzzles
Lessons
Essential Puzzle Requirements
ASIC-Resistant Puzzles
Nonoutsourceable Puzzles
Virtual MiningModule 9: Bitcoin as a Platform
Lessons
Bitcoin as an Append-Only Log
Bitcoins as “Smart Property”
Secure Multi-Party Lotteries in Bitcoin
Bitcoin as Public Randomness Source
Prediction Markets and Real-World Data FeedsModule 10: Altcoins and the Cryptocurrency Ecosystem
Lessons
Introduction to Altcoins
Relationship Between Bitcoin and Altcoins
Merge Mining
Atomic Cross-Chain Swaps
Bitcoin-Backed Altcoins, “Side Chains”
Ethereum and Smart Contracts
