Blockchain QuickStart Guide: Explore Cryptography, Cryptocurrency, Distributed Ledger, Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, Smart Contracts and dApps

by Amit Johri, Dr. Kalpesh Parikh

Length: 246 pages
Edition: 1
Language: English
Publisher: BPB Publications
Publication Date: 2022-03-21
ISBN-10: 939139244X
ISBN-13: 9789391392444
Sales Rank: #8772066 (See Top 100 Books)

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Adopt distributed technology to deliver immutable data ownership solutions

Key Features

Understand how Blockchain is the backbone of bitcoin and smart contracts.
Complete coverage across distributed systems, blockchain frameworks, smart contracts and wallet.
Includes use-cases and current trends on the adoption of blockchain across different business models.

Description

This book is about developing a comprehensive understanding of blockchain, how it works and can benefit the functioning of the organization. This book exposes you to blockchain technology and illustrates how to leverage it to create value.

First, you should have a working grasp of cryptography, cypher modes, digital signatures, and digital certificates, all of which are thoroughly covered in the first chapter of this book. By gradually introducing you to Distributed Ledger Technology, you can start understanding blockchain. After that, you’ll become acquainted with fundamental blockchain concepts like consensus models, algorithms, and procedures. You’ll learn about blockchain platforms such as Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric that enable the development of DApps, DeFi applications, and systems driven by blockchains. Additionally, concepts such as smart contracts, the Ethereum virtual machine, accounts, wallets, GAS, and mining are explained briefly and simplified. The book analyses current blockchain developments, various blockchain as a Service (BaaS) platforms and helps you to gain a better grasp of the technology.

Throughout the book, you will understand multiple blockchain principles, procedures, tools, and platforms required to begin developing blockchain-based business networks.

What you will learn

Acquaint yourself with the blockchain’s application cases and primary benefits.
Consensus models, distributed networks, and cryptography techniques are well-understood.
Recognize how smart contracts and cryptocurrencies work.
Familiarize yourself with the HyperLedger Fabric and Ethereum.
Examine the Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, platform, user interfaces, infrastructure, and network.

Who this book is for

This book is intended for prospective blockchain developers, technical consultants, and anybody who is interested in learning and exploring the principles of blockchain technology, including the distributed systems, networking, cryptography, and smart contracts. Having prior knowledge around IT systems would be preferred.

Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
Acknowledgement
Preface
Errata
Table of Contents
1. Cryptography – The Basics
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Introducing cryptography
        Strength of cryptography
    Requirement of cryptography
    Cryptography techniques
        Decryption
    Cipher modes
        Symmetric ciphers
        Asymmetric ciphers
        Block ciphers
        Stream ciphers
        Digital signature
        Working of digital signatures
        Creating a digital signature
        Digital signature classes
        Uses of digital signature
    Hash functions
        Use of hash functions in blockchain
        Hash function security for blockchain
    Digital certificates
    Conclusion
    Keywords
    Questions
        Solutions
2. Understanding Distributed Ledger Technology and Blockchain
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Introducing distributed ledger technology and blockchain
        A comparison of blockchain and distributed ledger
        Distributed ledger technology and blockchain benefits
        Blockchain formation
        Blockchain specialty
    Blockchain types—public, private, hybrid, and consortium
    Ownership/transaction/order integrity
    Conflict and its resolution
    Fork
        Fork types
    Journey of blockchain
    Blockchain versions
    Blockchain 3.0
    Security connect
    Benefits
    Limitations
    Conclusion
    Terminologies used
    Questions
3. Consensus Models in Blockchain
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Consensus models
    Algorithms of consensus
    Consensus models protocol names
        Seive
        Ripple
        Unique node lists (UNL)
        Stellar
        Paxos
        Raft
    Mechanism of consensus
    Method of consensus
    Proof-of-work
    “Mathematical puzzle” – What it is?
    Implementation of this algorithm in blockchain
    PoW consensus algorithm – disadvantages
    Proof of stake
    Conclusion
    Key terminologies
    Questions
4. Cryptocurrency
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
        Evolution of money
        Introducing cryptocurrency
        Different views in different countries
        Volume and scale of transaction
    What is a crypto exchange?
    Cryptocurrency—wallet types
    Cryptocurrency ATM
        Ethereum cryptocurrency
        Feature of Ethereum
        Taking ahead from PoW to PoS
        Ethereum challenges
        Bitcoin applications
    Conclusion
    Questions
    Key terminologies
5. Ethereum, Smart Contract, and dApps
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Introducing Ethereum
    Programming languages for Ethereum
        Ethereum virtual machine
        Layers of Ethereum platform
    Accounts and wallets—a comparison
    GAS—The unit for costing
    The rising ETH gas fees—an issue leading to the rise of Layer 2 protocols—polygon
    Mining and its steps
    The block structure
    ETH
    Smart contract
    Decentralized App (dApp)
        Solidity to create cryptocurrency in Ethereum
    Conclusion
    Key terms
    Questions
6. Hyperledger Fabric
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Conclusion
    Keywords
    Questions
7. Blockchain Trends
    Introduction
    Structure
    Objectives
    Blockchain trends
    VMWare blockchain
    Protocols that follow consensus models—Algorand
    Newer roles—Solana, Avalanche, Cardano, Celo, and Flow
    Major players
    National Strategy on Blockchain
        SWOC analysis
    International scenario
        National scenario
            Suggestions from public consultations
            List of potential applications
            Strategies and outcomes targeted for the next five years
            National blockchain framework
    Conclusion
    Keywords
    Questions
Index