Cryptocurrency
Learn how cryptographic primitives power the blockchain and digital currencies.
A Brief History of Currency
The Fable of Cryptonia
Cryptographic Signatures
Decentralizing Cryptonia
Cryptonian Vulnerabilities
Cracking Cryptonia
Cryptographic Hash Functions
Exploring Hash Functions
Inverting Hash Functions
Securing Hash Functions
Blockchains
Merkle Trees
Introducing ZooCash
Account Management
Blockchain Ledger
Double-Spending
Proof of Work
Robustness of ZooCash
Smart Contracts
Course description
Cryptocurrencies represent a fundamentally new way for people to exchange goods and services. They're powered by blockchains — data structures that are enabled by cryptographically secure hash functions. Proponents of cryptocurrencies argue that they'll lower transaction fees and democratize monetary policy, while detractors argue that they're a mathematician's pipe dream repackaged into a scam. In this course, you'll learn about the math and technology behind cryptocurrencies through hands-on puzzles. You'll also explore the mechanics of maintaining and securing a cryptocurrency, so that you can decide for yourself if cryptocurrencies are a passing fad or the next big thing.
Topics covered
- Ledger Currencies
- Digital Signatures
- Decentralized Authentication
- Hash Functions
- Collision Resistance
- Blockchains
- Merkle Trees
- Double Spending
- Hash Puzzles
- Proof of Work
- 51% Attack
- Smart Contracts
Prerequisites and next steps
A basic understanding of algorithms and computer functions will help you understand the concepts in this course, but you don't need to know how to code. Familiarity with probability concepts will help — specifically knowing the rule of product and rule of complementary probabilities. While modular arithmetic will be used, it will be developed in context.
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