Blockchain technology has emerged as one of the most transformative innovations of the digital age, reshaping industries from finance to supply chain and beyond. This course, Blockchain and Its Applications, offers a structured and in-depth exploration of blockchain fundamentals, cryptocurrencies, decentralized systems, and smart contracts. Designed as a 40-hour, 2-credit professional course, it equips students with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights into this rapidly evolving field.
Whether you're new to decentralized technologies or looking to deepen your understanding, this curriculum delivers a clear pathway from foundational concepts to advanced applications.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to blockchain as a decentralized, distributed ledger technology that enables trustless peer-to-peer interactions. At its core, blockchain eliminates the need for centralized authorities by leveraging cryptographic techniques and consensus algorithms—making it the backbone of digital currencies like Bitcoin.
By the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the fundamental principles of blockchain architecture and cryptography.
- Analyze how decentralized networks achieve consensus without a central coordinator.
- Explore the mechanics of Bitcoin transactions, mining, and wallet management.
- Evaluate alternative cryptocurrencies and their unique technical features.
- Learn to develop and audit smart contracts using platforms like Ethereum and programming languages such as Solidity.
This course assumes no prior prerequisites, making it accessible to students across technical disciplines.
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Detailed Course Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction to Blockchain (6 Hours | Instructor: Xu Haixia)
This foundational chapter sets the stage for deeper exploration by covering:
- The History and Current State of Blockchain: From Satoshi Nakamoto’s whitepaper to enterprise adoption.
- Real-World Applications: Supply chain tracking, identity verification, voting systems, and more.
- Future Trends: Scalability challenges, interoperability, and regulatory landscapes.
- Background Knowledge: Essential concepts in cryptography, hashing, and distributed systems.
Students gain a holistic view of where blockchain stands today and where it’s headed.
Chapter 2: Bitcoin – The First Decentralized Cryptocurrency (18 Hours)
Led by Xu Haixia and Wang Kunpeng, this extensive module dives into Bitcoin—the pioneer of decentralized digital money.
Section 1: Bitcoin Protocol (3 Hours)
An examination of Bitcoin’s network rules, block structure, and transaction validation process.
Section 2: Bitcoin Transactions (3 Hours)
Understanding UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs), script validation, and digital signatures.
Section 3: Storage and Usage (3 Hours)
Wallet types (hot vs. cold), private key security, and best practices for managing funds.
Section 4: Mining and Proof-of-Work (3 Hours)
How miners validate blocks, compete for rewards, and maintain network integrity.
Section 5: Alternative Mining Schemes (3 Hours | Instructor: Wang Kunpeng)
Exploring energy-efficient alternatives like Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and Proof-of-Authority (PoA).
Section 6: Bitcoin as a Platform (3 Hours)
Beyond currency: Using Bitcoin’s scripting language for basic smart contracts.
Section 7: Anonymity and Privacy (3 Hours)
Analyzing pseudonymity in Bitcoin transactions and methods to enhance privacy (e.g., CoinJoin).
Chapter 3: Alternative Cryptocurrencies (3 Hours | Instructor: Wang Kunpeng)
While Bitcoin laid the foundation, hundreds of alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) have since emerged. This chapter explores:
- The Altcoin Ecosystem: Litecoin, Dash, Monero, and others.
- Key Features: Faster transaction speeds, enhanced privacy, different consensus models.
- Technical Innovations: New cryptographic approaches and network designs.
Students learn how altcoins address limitations in Bitcoin while introducing new trade-offs.
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Chapter 4: Smart Contracts and Ethereum (6 Hours | Instructor: Wang Kunpeng)
Smart contracts are self-executing agreements coded on blockchains. This chapter introduces:
Section 1: Introduction to Smart Contracts
Basics of automated contract execution and use cases in finance, insurance, and real estate.
Section 2: Ethereum Platform
How Ethereum expanded blockchain functionality beyond payments to support decentralized applications (dApps).
Section 3: Solidity Programming Language
Hands-on introduction to writing secure smart contracts using Solidity.
Section 4: Smart Contract Analysis
Common vulnerabilities (reentrancy attacks, overflow errors) and tools for code auditing.
This section empowers students to move from theory to practice in building trustless digital agreements.
Chapter 5: Blockchain Summary and Outlook (4 Hours | Instructor: Wang Kunpeng)
The final chapter synthesizes key learnings and looks ahead:
- Recap of core blockchain components.
- Emerging trends: Layer-2 solutions (e.g., Lightning Network), cross-chain interoperability.
- Ethical considerations, environmental impact, and policy implications.
Students leave with a forward-looking perspective on the role of blockchain in shaping a decentralized future.
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- blockchain technology
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- smart contracts
- decentralized systems
- Ethereum
- digital currency
- blockchain applications
These terms reflect high-volume queries related to blockchain education and industry trends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is prior knowledge required to take this course?
No. The course is designed for beginners and does not require any pre-requisite courses. Basic familiarity with computer systems and internet technology is helpful but not mandatory.
Q2: What can I do with blockchain knowledge after completing this course?
Graduates can pursue roles in fintech development, cybersecurity, blockchain analysis, or decentralized application (dApp) engineering. The skills are also valuable for entrepreneurs building Web3 startups.
Q3: How is Bitcoin different from other cryptocurrencies?
Bitcoin was the first decentralized digital currency based on proof-of-work. Other cryptocurrencies may offer faster transactions, improved privacy, or support complex smart contracts—features not natively available in Bitcoin.
Q4: Can I build my own cryptocurrency after taking this course?
Yes. With understanding of consensus mechanisms, token standards (like ERC-20), and smart contract development, students will have the foundational skills needed to design and deploy their own tokens or blockchain-based projects.
Q5: Why is Ethereum important in blockchain technology?
Ethereum introduced a programmable blockchain that allows developers to build decentralized applications using smart contracts. It expanded blockchain use cases far beyond simple payments.
Q6: Are there career opportunities in blockchain?
Absolutely. Demand for blockchain developers, auditors, consultants, and researchers continues to grow across finance, tech, healthcare, and government sectors.
Recommended Reading
Primary Textbook:
"Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction"
By A. Narayanan, J. Bonneau, E. Felten, A. Miller, S. Goldfeder
Published by Princeton University Press (July 2016)
A rigorous yet accessible guide covering cryptographic foundations, mining, anonymity, and smart contracts.
Additional Resources:
While not listed formally in the syllabus, students are encouraged to explore documentation from Ethereum.org, academic papers on arXiv.org, and open-source projects on GitHub for hands-on experience.
Instructor Profile
Wang Kunpeng, Professor and PhD Supervisor at the Institute of Information Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He serves as a council member of the Chinese Cryptography Society and is recognized in national expert databases including those of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education.
Dr. Wang holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Tsinghua University (2000). His research focuses on advanced cryptographic systems such as lattice-based cryptography, fully homomorphic encryption, and elliptic curve cryptography. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier journals and conferences.
His expertise ensures that theoretical depth is matched with real-world relevance throughout the course.
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