Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and Smart Contracts

Catalog description

Viewed variously as a niche currency for online criminals and a technological threat to the financial industry, Bitcoin has fueled myth-making and financial speculation, as well as real innovation. In this course, we will study not just Bitcoin, but the rich technological landscape it has inspired and catalyzed, especially smart contracts and Web3. Topics will include: the mechanics of consensus algorithms and their role in blockchains and cryptocurrencies; cryptographic tools employed in cryptocurrencies, including hash functions, digital signatures, and zero-knowledge proofs; the evolution and mechanics of Bitcoin and its ecosystem; smart contracts; and special topics, such as trusted hardware in blockchain-based systems, crime, and NFTs. Grading will be based on homework assignments and a final exam.