Introduction to Blockchain Technology (River Publishers Series in Rapids in Computing and Information Science and Technology)

Description

This book explores the fundamentals and applications of Blockchain technology. Readers will learn about the decentralized peer-to-peer network, distributed ledger, and the trust model that defines Blockchain technology. They will also be introduced to the basic components of Blockchain (transaction, block, block header, and the chain), its operations (hashing, verification, validation, and consensus model), underlying algorithms, and essentials of trust (hard fork and soft fork). Private and public Blockchain networks similar to Bitcoin and Ethereum will be introduced, as will concepts of Smart Contracts, Proof of Work and Proof of Stack. Blockchain is an emerging technology that can radically improve transaction security at banking, supply chain, and other transaction networks. It’s estimated that Blockchain will generate $3.1 trillion in new business value by 2030. Essentially, it provides the basis for a dynamic distributed ledger that can be applied to save time when recording transactions between parties, remove costs associated with intermediaries, and reduce risks of fraud and tampering. Cover Half Title Copyright Page Title Page Table of Contents Preface Dedication Acknowledgment About the Author Chapter 1: What is Blockchain? 1.1: What is Blockchain? 1.2: The Five Components of a Blockchain 1.3: Blockchain Programming Languages 1.4: Mechanism of Blockchain Technology 1.5: Blockchain vs. Traditional Database 1.6: The Stack of Blockchain 1.7: Blockchain Tracks 1.8: Challenges Facing Blockchain Technology 1.9: Types of Blockchain Networks Chapter 2: Consensus Protocols 2.1: Types of Consensus Algorithm [2] Chapter 3: Key Blockchain Use Cases 3.1: How Blockchain Can Help Advertising 3.2: Verifying the Authenticity of Returned Drugs 3.3: Transparency and Traceability of Consent in Clinical Trials 3.4: Insurance 3.5: Real Estate 3.6: Energy 3.7: Record Management 3.8: Crowdfunding Chapter 4: Important Topics in Blockchain 4.1: Soft Fork vs. Hard Fork 4.2: Zero-knowledge Proof (ZKP) 4.3: Sharding 4.4: What is Sharding in Blockchain? 4.5: What Is a Smart Contract? Chapter 5: Decentralized Applications – DApps 5.1: Difference Between DApps and Smart Contracts 5.2: Blockchain DApps 5.3: Example: Ethereum DApps References Index