Mastering Blockchain: Distributed ledger technology, decentralization, and smart contracts explained, 2nd Edition

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.

Table of Contents

1. Blockchain 101
2. Decentralization
3. Symmetric cryptography
4. Public key cryptography
5. Introducing Bitcoin
6. Bitcoin Network and Payments
7. Bitcoin clients and APIs
8. Alternative Coins
9. Smart Contracts
10. Etherium 101
11. Further Ethereum
12. Setting up a development environment
13. Development tools and clients
14. Introducing Web3
15. Hyperledger
16. Alternative Blockchain Solutions
17. Blockchain – Outside of Currencies
18. Scalability and Other Challenges
19. Current Landscape and What’s Next