Blockchain Fundamentals: Understanding the Origins, Mechanisms, and Applications of Decentralized Systems

In the past decade, the hype and disruption potential of blockchain technology has become increasingly popular. This course will address some of the key questions regarding blockchain such as its origins, working mechanisms, and technical features. It will enable you to gain an understanding of the types of blockchain and their characteristics and explore how cryptography, distributed systems, economics, and politics form the foundation upon which blockchain technology is built. You will discover the main reasons that led to the creation of a decentralized monetary network and dive into the origins of Bitcoin and how it works, including the intricacies of decentralizing chronological commitments. Finally, you will study blockchain tools and learn how to harness them to ensure an organization is poised for success.

• Understand blockchain and the technical pillars that underpin it.
• Outline the difference between permissioned and permissionless blockchain networks.
• Explore Bitcoin and how it achieved data decentralization, including the involvement of smart contracts and peer-to-peer networks.
• Examine how scarcity influences the value of money and how this translates to blockchain-enabled crypto assets.
• Review different blockchain technology-enabled tools and relevant blockchain applications.