Blockchain technology is bringing together concepts and operations from several fields, including computing, communications networks, cryptography, and has broad implications and consequences thus encompassing a wide variety of domains and issues, including Network Science, computer science, economics, law, geography, etc. The aim of the paper is to provide a synthetic sketch of issues raised by the development of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, these issues are mainly presented through the link between on one hand the technological aspects, i.e. involved technologies and networks structures, and on the other hand the issues raised from applications to implications. We believe the link is a two-sided one. The goal is that it may contribute facilitating bridges between research areas.
As we enter the Industrial Revolution 4.0, demands for an increasing degree of trust and privacy protection continue to be voiced. The development of blockchain technology is very important because it can help frictionless and transparent financial transactions and improve the business experience, which in turn has far-reaching effects for economic, psychological, educational and organizational improvements in the way we work, teach, learn and care for ourselves and each other. Blockchain is an eccentric technology, but at the same time, the least understood and most disruptive technology of the day. This book covers the latest technologies of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology and their applications. This book discusses the blockchain and cryptocurrencies related issues and also explains how to provide the security differently through an algorithm, framework, approaches, techniques and mechanisms. A comprehensive understanding of what blockchain is and how it works, as well as insights into how it will affect the future of your organization and industry as a whole and how to integrate blockchain technology into your business strategy. In addition, the book explores the blockchain and its with other technologies like Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence, etc.
Learn about cryptography and cryptocurrencies, so you can build highly secure, decentralized applications and conduct trusted in-app transactions. Key Features Get to grips with the underlying technical principles and implementations of blockchain Build powerful applications using Ethereum to secure transactions and create smart contracts Explore cryptography, mine cryptocurrencies, and solve scalability issues with this comprehensive guide Book Description A blockchain is a distributed ledger that is replicated across multiple nodes and enables immutable, transparent and cryptographically secure record-keeping of transactions. The blockchain technology is the backbone of cryptocurrencies, and it has applications in finance, government, media and almost all other industries. Mastering Blockchain, Second Edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to provide a detailed description of this leading technology and its implementation in the real world. This book begins with the technical foundations of blockchain technology, teaching you the fundamentals of distributed systems, cryptography and how it keeps data secure. You will learn about the mechanisms behind cryptocurrencies and how to develop applications using Ethereum, a decentralized virtual machine. You will also explore different other blockchain solutions and get an introduction to business blockchain frameworks under Hyperledger, a collaborative effort for the advancement of blockchain technologies hosted by the Linux Foundation. You will also be shown how to implement blockchain solutions beyond currencies, Internet of Things with blockchain, blockchain scalability, and the future scope of this fascinating and powerful technology. What you will learn Master the theoretical and technical foundations of the blockchain technology Understand the concept of decentralization, its impact, and its relationship with blockchain technology Master how cryptography is used to secure data - with practical examples Grasp the inner workings of blockchain and the mechanisms behind bitcoin and alternative cryptocurrencies Understand the theoretical foundations of smart contracts Learn how Ethereum blockchain works and how to develop decentralized applications using Solidity and relevant development frameworks Identify and examine applications of the blockchain technology - beyond currencies Investigate alternative blockchain solutions including Hyperledger, Corda, and many more Explore research topics and the future scope of blockchain technology Who this book is for This book will appeal to those who wish to build fast, highly secure, transactional applications. It targets people who are familiar with the concept of blockchain and are comfortable with a programming language.
: This book provides a comprehensive overview of blockchain technology and its various facets. In Chapter 1, it introduces the concept of blockchain, highlighting its decentralized nature, transparency, and immutability, and explores its historical context and diverse applications in engineering and beyond. Chapter 2 delves into the fundamentals of blockchain architecture, including the structure of blocks, cryptographic keys, consensus mechanisms, mining, and the world of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). Chapter 3 focuses on the structure of a block, emphasizing its role as a foundational unit for securing and recording transactions. Chapter 4 delves deep into the essential role of cryptography in blockchain, covering cryptographic hash functions, public and private keys, mining, elliptic curve cryptography, consensus algorithms, and addressing the potential threat of quantum computing. In Chapter 5, the book explores cryptocurrencies, emphasizing their decentralized nature, transparency, low fees, and global reach, along with their use in various applications, the process of acquiring them, and the significance of cryptocurrency wallets. Chapter 6 introduces Ethereum, highlighting its role as a decentralized computing platform, the Ethereum Virtual Machine, the creation and deployment of smart contracts, and the growing world of DApps and their impact on engineering. Chapter 7 delves into blockchain security, addressing common challenges like 51% attacks, consensus algorithm vulnerabilities, smart contract risks, privacy concerns, wallet security, and the looming quantum computing threat, among others. Lastly, Chapter 8 explores the complex world of regulatory and legal considerations in the realm of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, discussing the need for various types of regulations, providing examples from different jurisdictions, and highlighting the challenges of regulating a global, ever-evolving industry. Throughout the book, the critical balance between regulation and innovation is emphasized, recognizing the potential of blockchain technology while ensuring consumer protection and the integrity of the technology.
Develop a deeper understanding of what's under the hood of blockchain with this technical reference guide on one of the most disruptive modern technologies Key Features Updated with four new chapters on consensus algorithms, Ethereum 2.0, tokenization, and enterprise blockchains Learn about key elements of blockchain theory such as decentralization, cryptography, and consensus protocols Get to grips with Solidity, Web3, cryptocurrencies, smart contract development and solve scalability, security and privacy issues Discover the architecture of different distributed ledger platforms including Ethereum, Bitcoin, Hyperledger Fabric, Hyperledger Sawtooth, Corda and Quorum Book Description Blockchain is the backbone of cryptocurrencies, with applications in finance, government, media, and other industries. With a legacy of providing technologists with executable insights, this new edition of Mastering Blockchain is thoroughly revised and updated to the latest blockchain research with four new chapters on consensus algorithms, Serenity (the update that will introduce Ethereum 2.0), tokenization, and enterprise blockchains. This book covers the basics, including blockchain's technical underpinnings, cryptography and consensus protocols. It also provides you with expert knowledge on decentralization, decentralized application development on Ethereum, Bitcoin, alternative coins, smart contracts, alternative blockchains, and Hyperledger. Further, you will explore blockchain solutions beyond cryptocurrencies such as the Internet of Things with blockchain, enterprise blockchains, tokenization using blockchain, and consider the future scope of this fascinating and disruptive technology. By the end of this book, you will have gained a thorough comprehension of the various facets of blockchain and understand their potential in diverse real-world scenarios. What you will learn Grasp the mechanisms behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, and alternative cryptocurrencies Understand cryptography and its usage in blockchain Understand the theoretical foundations of smart contracts Develop decentralized applications using Solidity, Remix, Truffle, Ganache and Drizzle Identify and examine applications of blockchain beyond cryptocurrencies Understand the architecture and development of Ethereum 2.0 Explore research topics and the future scope of blockchain Who this book is for If you are a technologist, business executive, a student or an enthusiast who wishes to explore the fascinating world of blockchain technology, smart contracts, decentralized applications and distributed systems then this book is for you. Basic familiarity with a beginner-level command of a programming language would be a plus.
Since its inception, blockchain has evolved to become a crucial trending technology that massively impacts the fast-paced digital world. It has been a game-changing technology that is underpinned with cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin that eventually closed the doors for hacking activities. As blockchain is utilized across areas such as banking, voting, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, it is important to examine the current trends, difficulties, opportunities, and future directions in order to utilize its full potential. Blockchain Technologies and Applications for Digital Governance addresses the impacts and future trends of blockchain, particularly for digital governance, and demonstrates the applications of blockchain in digital governance using case studies. Covering a range of topics from cybersecurity to real estate tokenization, it is ideal for industry professionals, researchers, academicians, instructors, practitioners, and students.
Work with blockchain and understand its potential application beyond cryptocurrencies in the domains of healthcare, Internet of Things, finance, decentralized organizations, and open science. Featuring case studies and practical insights generated from a start-up spun off from the author’s own lab, this book covers a unique mix of topics not found in others and offers insight into how to overcome real hurdles that arise as the market and consumers grow accustomed to blockchain based start-ups. You'll start with a review of the historical origins of blockchain and explore the basic cryptography needed to make the blockchain work for Bitcoin. You will then learn about the technical advancements made in the surrounded ecosystem: the Ethereum virtual machine, Solidity, Colored Coins, the Hyperledger Project, Blockchain-as-a-service offered through IBM, Microsoft and more. This book looks at the consequences of machine-to-machine transactions using the blockchain socially, technologically, economically and politically. Blockchain Enabled Applications provides you with a clear perspective of the ecosystem that has developed around the blockchain and the various industries it has penetrated. What You’ll Learn Implement the code-base from Fabric and Sawtooth, two open source blockchain-efforts being developed under the Hyperledger Project Evaluate the benefits of integrating blockchain with emerging technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence in the cloud Use the practical insights provided by the case studies to your own projects or start-up ideas Set up a development environment to compile and manage projects Who This Book Is For Developers who are interested in learning about the blockchain as a data-structure, the recent advancements being made and how to implement the code-base. Decision makers within large corporations (product managers, directors or CIO level executives) interested in implementing the blockchain who need more practical insights and not just theory.
***GET THE KINDLE VERSION FREE WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE PAPERBACK!***"What the Internet did for communications, Blockchain will do for trusted transactions".- Ginni Rometty, IBM CEO Cryptocurrency and it's disruptive architecture, Blockchain, is now making the biggest revolution in the Finance sector for the last 100 years. There is a lot of hype surrounding the concept of the blockchain, but what does this term actually mean? What is blockchain technology? Why does it matter? These questions are not always answered with due diligence in the sea of headlines that deal with digital currencies using blockchains. As a result, many people are left with an incomplete understanding of this transformative new technology and its massive implications for the future. The goal of this book is not to plumb the depths of the mathematical wizardry used to code blockchain-based applications, but rather to serve as an introduction to the broader architecture and conceptual background behind blockchain technology. We will take a practical approach, examining how Blockchains are used in the real world. In this short, concise guide you will learn: A Brief History of Blockchain Technology Blockchain Basics: Managing Digital Transactions What is a Distributed Ledger? Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin Implications Of Blockchain: Big Data, Privacy & Personal Data Profiting from Blockchain Technologies Limitations & Challenges of Blockchain The Future of Blockchain For Centuries, people have relied on corrupt Centralized Institutions like banks and Governments to serve as intermediaries when it comes to storing and transacting financial assets. This is ALL About To Change... Make sure you take action and join the Financial Revolution by reading this book!
This open access Pivot demonstrates how a variety of technologies act as innovation catalysts within the banking and financial services sector. Traditional banks and financial services are under increasing competition from global IT companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon and PayPal whilst facing pressure from investors to reduce costs, increase agility and improve customer retention. Technologies such as blockchain, cloud computing, mobile technologies, big data analytics and social media therefore have perhaps more potential in this industry and area of business than any other. This book defines a fintech ecosystem for the 21st century, providing a state-of-the art review of current literature, suggesting avenues for new research and offering perspectives from business, technology and industry.
This book presents chapters from diverse range of authors on different aspects of how Blockchain and IoT are converging and the impacts of these developments. The book provides an extensive cross-sectional and multi-disciplinary look into this trend and how it affects artificial intelligence, cyber-physical systems, and robotics with a look at applications in aerospace, agriculture, automotive, critical infrastructures, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, smart transport systems, smart cities, and smart healthcare. Cases include the impact of Blockchain for IoT Security; decentralized access control systems in IoT; Blockchain architecture for scalable access management in IoT; smart and sustainable IoT applications incorporating Blockchain, and more. The book presents contributions from international academics, researchers, and practitioners from diverse perspectives. Presents how Blockchain and IoT are converging and the impacts of these developments on technology and its application; Discusses IoT and Blockchain from cross-sectional and multi-disciplinary perspectives; Includes contributions from researchers, academics, and professionals from around the world.
