Home>Courses>Cryptographic Primitives in Blockchain Technology

Cryptographic Primitives in Blockchain Technology

Gain insights into fundamental blockchain concepts, delve into cryptographical vulnerabilities, and explore quantum computer attacks and remedies to develop a comprehensive understanding of blockchain security mechanisms.

Intermediate

115 Lessons

23h

Certificate of Completion

AI-POWERED

Explanations

AI-POWERED

Explanations

This course includes

11 Playgrounds

10 Quizzes

Course Overview

What You'll Learn

Course Content

Apply Your Skills

Recommendations

Course Overview

Blockchain-based distributed public ledgers can securely store our data without the need for a centralized controlling authority. Blockchain technology uses intriguing mathematical and cryptographical concepts, which are usually misunderstood. This course presents a comprehensive overview of the basic concepts of blockchain while providing deep insights into its background in mathematics and cryptography. Next, you’ll learn about the critical cryptographical vulnerabilities and attacks against blockchain ...Show More

Blockchain-based distributed public ledgers can securely store our data without the need for a centralized controlling authority...Show More

What You'll Learn

Familiarity with the basics of number theory, abstract algebra, and computing an algorithm’s time complexity

Working knowledge of the fundamentals of cryptography algorithms and principles

An understanding of the RSA cryptosystem and elliptic curve-based cryptography

Familiarity with the major types of attacks against different cryptosystems

Working knowledge of concepts of blockchain in general as well as from the perspective of Bitcoin

An understanding of the limitations of the cryptographic technique in the post-quantum computation era

Familiarity with the types of attacks against blockchain technology after the advent of fully-capable quantum computers, and their remedies

Familiarity with the basics of number theory, abstract algebra, and computing an algorithm’s time complexity

Course Content

Introduction

2 Lessons

Get familiar with blockchain technology, cryptographic primitives, and the future impact of quantum computing.

Foreword

About the Course

Preliminaries

17 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of cryptographic primitives, number theory, algebraic structures, and computational complexity.

Introduction

Number Theory

Euler’s Totient Function 𝜑(n)

Modular Arithmetic

Groups

Groups: Elementary Properties

Computational Complexity

Asymptotic Order of Growth

Classes of Time Complexity

Efficiency of Algorithms

Quiz: Preliminaries

Cryptographic Primitives

14 Lessons

Examine the principles, functions, and applications of cryptographic primitives in secure digital communication.

Introduction

Cryptography Basics

A Basic Cryptosystem

Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Cryptography

Public-Key Cryptography

The Basic Functionality of a Public-Key Cryptosystem

The Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange

The Discrete Logarithm Problem

Hash Functions

The Security of Hash Functions and the Birthday Attack

Real Hash Functions

Real Hash Functions: Structural Weakness

Merkle Trees

Quiz: Cryptographic Primitives

Elliptic Curve Cryptography

16 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of Elliptic Curve Cryptography, key exchange, signing, and ECDSA vulnerabilities.

Introduction

Weierstrass Equations

Elliptic Curves

Group Law

Elliptic Curves Over Finite Fields

Addition of Points

Group Structure

The Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem

Attacking the ECDLP

Cryptographically Secure Elliptic Curves

Additional Security Requirements

The Elliptic Curve secp256k1

The Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm

Attacks on ECDSA

Quiz: Elliptic Curves Cryptography

Information Security in Software Systems

4 Lessons

Deepen your knowledge of foundational principles and security measures in information systems.

The CIA Triad

Attacks Against Distributed Systems

Proof-of-Work

Quiz: Information Security in Software Systems

Distributed Systems

18 Lessons

Tackle fault tolerance and consensus in complex distributed systems with various protocols and models.

Introduction

Classification of Systems

Centralized/Decentralized Systems

Distributed Systems

CAP theorem

Peer-to-Peer Systems

Reaching Consensus in Distributed Systems

Models of Computation

Consensus and Agreement Protocols

Basic Properties of Consensus Protocols

Agreement in a Failure-Free System

Consensus with Crash Failures in Synchronous Systems

The Byzantine Agreement in Synchronous Systems

Problem Definition

Agreement in Asynchronous Systems

Practical Solutions

Summary

Quiz: Distributed Systems

Introduction to Blockchain Technology

18 Lessons

Build on blockchain fundamentals: from decentralized payments and consensus to addressing double-spending and attacks.

Introduction

Definition of Blockchain

Blockchain as a Suit of Technology

Ordering Transactions in a Blockchain

Implementing State Replication by Using Blockchain

Reaching Consensus on the Network

Resolving Forks Using the Longest-Chain-Criterion

Acceptance of New Blocks

The Blockchain as a Data Structure

The Blockchain

Information Security in Blockchain Systems

Proof-of-Work

The Double-Spending Attack

The General Double-Spending Attack: The Race Attack

Other Attacks

The Incentive System of the Nakamoto Consensus

Summary

Quiz: Introduction to Blockchain Technology

Bitcoin

8 Lessons

Learn how to use Bitcoin's peer-to-peer transactions, cryptographic keys, and blockchain mechanics.

Introduction

System basics, Keys, and Addresses

Transactions

The Transaction Script

Lifecycle of Transactions

The Blockchain

Summary

Quiz: Bitcoin

Introduction to Quantum Computing

5 Lessons

Solve challenges with quantum computing's potential threats to current cryptographic security.

Introduction

Quantum Computation Algorithms

Impact on Present Cryptography

Summary

Quiz: Introduction to Quantum Computing

10.

Bitcoin Under Broken Crypto Primitives

5 Lessons

Examine Bitcoin's security challenges, focusing on cryptographic primitives, hash vulnerabilities, and quantum computing threats.

A General Overview of the Primitives

Hash Functions

Impact of Quantum Computers

Summary

Quiz: Bitcoin Under Broken Crypto Primitives

11.

Post-Quantum Blockchains

6 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of post-quantum cryptography and its impact on blockchain security.

Introduction

Post-Quantum Cryptography

Comparison Between Classical and Quantum Safe Schemes

Hash-Based Cryptosystems

Summary

Quiz: Post-Quantum Blockchain

12.

In Closing

2 Lessons

Dig deeper into blockchain vulnerabilities, quantum threats, and secure signature schemes solutions.

Conclusion

Course Author

Oxford University Press

Project

Create and Deploy a Full Stack Web App on the Arweave Blockchain

advanced

1 hour

Project

Create and Deploy a Full Stack Web App on the Arweave Blockchain

Learn to create and deploy a secure, full stack web app on the Arweave blockchain using React and SmartWeave.

advanced

1 hour

Project

Multi-Objective Evolutionary Optimization of Crypto Assets

advanced

1 hour

Project

Multi-Objective Evolutionary Optimization of Crypto Assets

Learn to optimize cryptocurrency portfolios using evolutionary algorithms to balance risk, diversification, and returns.

advanced

1 hour

Trusted by 2.5 million developers working at companies

"These are high-quality courses. Trust me. I own around 10 and the price is worth it for the content quality. EducativeInc came at the right time in my career. I'm understanding topics better than with any book or online video tutorial I've done. Truly made for developers. Thanks"

Anthony Walker

@_webarchitect_

"Just finished my first full #ML course: Machine learning for Software Engineers from Educative, Inc. ... Highly recommend!"

Evan Dunbar

ML Engineer

"You guys are the gold standard of crash-courses... Narrow enough that it doesn't need years of study or a full blown book to get the gist, but broad enough that an afternoon of Googling doesn't cut it."

Carlos Matias La Borde

Software Developer

"I spend my days and nights on Educative. It is indispensable. It is such a unique and reader-friendly site"

Souvik Kundu

Front-end Developer

"Your courses are simply awesome, the depth they go into and the breadth of coverage is so good that I don't have to refer to 10 different websites looking for interview topics and content."

Vinay Krishnaiah

Software Developer

"I've tried probably 5-7 different sites and Educative is easily the best. It perfectly blends explanation with interactivity"

Eric Downs

Musician/Entrepeneur

Hands-on Learning Powered by AI

See how Educative uses AI to make your learning more immersive than ever before.

Instant Code Feedback

Evaluate and debug your code with the click of a button. Get real-time feedback on test cases, including time and space complexity of your solutions.

AI-Powered Mock Interviews

Put your skills to the test in a simulated interview setting. Receive personalized feedback based on your performance. Available in Premium & Premium Plus plans.

Adaptive Learning

At various checkpoints throughout Educative courses, you will be prompted to take a quick assessment. Receive a condensed curriculum tailored to your strengths and skill gaps.

Explain with AI

Select any text within any Educative course, and get an instant explanation — without ever leaving your browser.

AI Code Mentor

AI Code Mentor helps you quickly identify errors in your code, learn from your mistakes, and nudge you in the right direction — just like a 1:1 tutor!

Recommended before starting this course

Course

Everyday Cryptography

Delve into cryptographic principles, explore key encryption methods, authentication, and data integrity techniques, and learn about real-world applications and government policies surrounding information security.

beginner

30 hours

Course

Building a Blockchain from Scratch Using Solidity and Ethereum

Gain insights into blockchain technology foundations, learn about cryptography, explore Ethereum, develop smart contracts, and discover how to set up and run a private blockchain from scratch.

beginner

8 hours

Course

Everyday Cryptography

beginner

30 hour

Course

Building a Blockchain from Scratch Using Solidity and Ethereum

beginner

8 hour

Related Courses and Skill Paths

Course

Become a Blockchain Developer

Gain insights into blockchain technology, delve into cryptography, explore Hyperledger Fabric, and learn to deploy networks, chaincode, and manage user identities through hands-on development.

intermediate

6 hours

Course

Become a Blockchain Developer

intermediate

6 hour

Free Resources

FOR TEAMS

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Unlock this course (and 1,000+ more) for your entire org with DevPath