Book Description

Blockchain is the backbone of cryptocurrencies, with applications in finance, government, media, among other industries. With a legacy of providing technologists with executable insights, this new edition of Mastering Blockchain is thoroughly revised and updated according to the latest blockchain research. Thoroughly updated and with new chapters on Decentralized Finance and solving privacy, identity, and security issues, this is an unmissable read for everyone who wants to gain a deep understanding of blockchain.

Although this book covers the basics, including blockchain’s technical underpinnings, cryptography, and consensus protocols, it doesn’t shy away from advanced topics and practical expertise, such as decentralized application (DApp) development using smart contracts and oracles. Throughout the book, you’ll explore blockchain solutions beyond cryptocurrencies, such as the Internet of Things with blockchain, enterprise blockchains, and tokenization, and gain insight into 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 the potential of this technology in diverse real-world scenarios.

What you will learn

• Grasp the mechanisms behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies
• Understand cryptography and its usage in blockchain
• Become familiar with the theoretical foundations of smart contracts
• Develop DApps using Solidity, Remix, Truffle, and Ganache
• Solve issues relating to privacy, identity, scalability, and security in enterprise blockchains
• Dive into the architecture and development of Ethereum 2.0
• Delve into emerging trends like decentralized finance and NFTs
• Explore various applications, research topics, and future directions of blockchain

Who this book is for

This book is for blockchain enthusiasts from all backgrounds, including business executives who want to leverage new platforms and blockchain investors or students who want to explore this fascinating technology. It is also a useful reference guide for blockchain developers who want to build fast and highly secure transactional applications. Basic knowledge of blockchain and prior experience in any programming language will come in handy, but are not prerequisites.