Blockchain

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Information Security

Synopsis:

Students will understand the foundations of blockchain technology, smart contract programming, and gain an overview of most notable blockchain platforms. They will be able to design, code and deploy a secure decentralized application, and assess whether integration of a blockchain is suitable for a given problem. The course places an increased emphasis on the relationship between blockchains and information security. It is concluded with a defense of a research or applied semester project, which prepares the students for implementing or supervising implementation of blockchain-based solutions in both academia and business.

Requirements:

Fundamentals of cryptography, computer security (i.e. BI/E-KAB or BI/E-BEZ) and programming.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Prerequisites and fundamentals: Databases, Decentralized/distributed databases/ledgers, Blockchain-related cryptography, Consensus/trust, types of proofs, Public vs. private blockchains, Blockchain programming languages (Solidity, Rust, WASM..)

2. Cryptocurrencies and major blockchain platforms: Digital currencies, Popular platforms (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Avalanche, etc.), Smart contracts, Decentralized applications, Cryptocurrency trading, Governance, Limitations and future development

3. Systems design, hands-on development: Fitness for purpose, Software architecture, languages, and libraries, Web3.js development - mock projects / simple games, launching ICO, representing identity, exchanging data, tracking goods, smart contracts etc.

4. Security: Most notable hacks (The DAO hack, etc.), Attack vectors, Threat modelling, Anonymity, Post-quantum cryptography, Platform governance, Best practices

5. Applications and case studies: Finance, Enterprise networks, Legal relationships/contracts, Public service, Other use-cases, Startup, corporate and country case studies, Most notable blockchain apps (Uniswap, Compound, Aave, etc.)

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Programming language Solidity & Ethereum Virtual Machine

2. Architecture of a decentralized application, interfaces (ERC-20, ERC-721, etc.). We create an ERC-20 token and list it on DEX on testnet

3. Front-end, back-end, co-design (which logic to code on blockchain and which not)

4. Security of blockchain applications (we take examples containing bugs and try to find them/fix them)

5. Devops/testing blockchain applications (how to properly test/deploy smart contract)

6. Economy of decentralized apps - why do we need a token?

7. Presentation of team works

Study Objective:

Study materials:

1. Bashir, Imran. Mastering Blockchain: Distributed Ledgers, Decentralization, and Smart Contracts Explained. 2nd edition, Packt Publishing, 2018.

2. Antonopoulos, Andreas M. Mastering Bitcoin: Programming the Open Blockchain. 2nd edition, O'Reilly, 2017.

3. Song, Jimmy. Programming Bitcoin: Learn How to Program Bitcoin from Scratch. O'Reilly, 2019.

4. Antonopoulos, Andreas M., and Gavin Wood. Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps. O'Reilly, 2019.

5. Gerard, David. Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Etherium and Smart Contracts.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017.

Note:

Further information:

https://courses.fit.cvut.cz/NIE-BLO/

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans: