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Blockchain Basic Learning Path - From Bitcoin to Web 3.0… the technologies around blockchain

Blockchain Basic Learning Path - From Bitcoin to Web 3.0… the technologies around blockchain

Although some initiatives had been published around those topics earlier, it is back in 2008 that Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the concept of a cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) that could be managed securely and independently from a central authority thanks to the use of a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) aka blockchain. This technology allows to securely store information in a way that is secure, immutable, transparent and resilient, even in case of malicious behaviors. Since then, blockchain has evolved through different generations, supporting more and more complex use cases and being used in a wide diversity of domains, finance, digital rights, real estate, ehealth…  In this learning path, we will cover the basics around blockchain technologies; what are the assumptions, the blocks on which it is building, the opportunities and also the challenges and some examples of usage. 

Introductory learning materials

How does a blockchain work?

Let’s start this journey with a short video that explains how a blockchain work in an easy and accessible language; it explains the organization of data in a blockchain, i.e. by using a chain of blocks, and illustrates its main security attributes: immutability, transparency, resilience.  

The Blockchain & Bitcoin

To follow-up on the previous presentation, this video from Computerphile goes deeper into the core concepts behind the blockchain: decentralized network, ledger, authenticated transactions, immutability and  hashing algorithms; it may sound a bit technical, but it will become clearer as you progress along this learning path. If you have difficulties understanding the cryptographic functions, just refer to the resource in the Advanced Learning Materials. 

Distributed Consensus Protocol: A Key Component of Blockchain

At the core of the blockchain, we have a set of computers (nodes) that each store the content of the ledger and communicate to update the ledger in the same way, ensuring that at any point of time, all nodes share a common view of the ledger. But in a network where some nodes might be slow, failing or even be malicious, and communicate through networks that also have different speeds or sometimes suffer from interruption, how can we ensure that all nodes eventually come to the same content of the ledger? This is the goal of the consensus protocol. Bitcoin is known to use a Proof of Work protocol, but there are many others, and this article discusses them along with their pros and cons.

Advanced learning materials

Cryptography in Blockchain

In various videos and documents, you have heard terms like encryption, hash, signature… These are cryptographic terms that describe techniques used to secure data and offer security properties like confidentiality, integrity or authenticity, which are key to the blockchain operation. This documentary website explains those functions at length, starting by explaining why cryptography is needed to secure the blockchain, then presenting the various types of cryptography, their goals and their usage.

This guide is published by the European Digital SME Alliance; it provides an brief overview of blockchain and DLT characteristics before focusing on the uses cases that are relevant for SME. It also examines the policy priorities in Europe as well as in China, together with their impact on European SMEs. A interesting reading for actors in this sector. 

Demystifying Web3: From Blockchain to AI and Beyond

Since its introduction back in 2008, blockchain technology has evolved and has undergone several generations. Blockchain is now been considered as one of the foundation blocks of the Web 3.0. But what is the Web 3.0? How does it relate to blockchain? Is it already there or is it a myth? This online course by the eSkills Malta Foundation covers those questions, and others, in an undestable way.  

Learning path Details

Digital skill level
Digital technology / specialisation