Learn Bitcoin and Blockchain

✍ Scribed by Kirankalyan Kulkarni

• Publisher: Packt
• Year: 2019
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 92
• Category: Library

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Title Page
Copyright and Credits
Packt Upsell
Contributor
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction to Blockchain and Bitcoin
An introduction to cryptography and cryptocurrency 
Workings and security of fiat currencies
Understanding cryptocurrency and its uses 
Hash function 
Digital signature 
An introduction to Bitcoin
History of Bitcoin
Alternative cryptocurrencies to Bitcoin
Bitcoin wallets
An introduction to the blockchain
Workings of blockchain
Features of blockchain
Structure of blockchain
Structuring the Bitcoin block header
Representing the blockchain structure
Challenges with blockchain
Types of blockchain
Permission and permissionless blockchain implementations
Platforms for blockchain
Summary 
Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Decentralization
Decentralized, centralized, and distributed systems
How decentralized systems work
Decentralized applications
Decentralizing various entities
Categories of assets
Real-world transactions
Complex agreements
Decentralization of markets
Centralized markets for decentralization
The impact of decentralization
Sectors affected by decentralization
The pros and cons of decentralization
Summary
Chapter 3: Advanced Blockchain Concepts
Introduction to consensus protocols
Properties of consensus mechanism
The Byzantine Generals' Problem
Solution to the Byzantine Generals' Problem
Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance
Types of consensus algorithms
Proof of Work
Challenges with PoW
Proof of Stake 
Proof of Elapsed Time 
Comparison between PoW, PoS, and PoET
Key privacy challenges of the blockchain
Pseudonymous behavior of Bitcoin
Solutions to privacy challenges
CoinJoin
Ring signatures
Zero-knowledge proof
Smart contracts and decentralized applications
Understanding smart contracts
Workings of smart contracts
Decentralized applications
Challenges and solutions
Summary
Chapter 4: Bitcoin and Blockchain Security
Securing Bitcoin and blockchain
Security practices for your wallet
Types of wallets
Hardware wallets
Workings of a hardware wallet
Types of physical Bitcoins
The survival of cryptocurrencies
Summary
Other books you may enjoy
Index