What will I actually learn in this blockchain course?

You'll learn how blockchains work, how Bitcoin and Ethereum record and validate transactions, and why decentralized systems can be trusted. It starts with the basics of blocks and transactions, then moves into Ethereum's account model, smart contracts, and the trust rules that keep a chain running. You'll apply that in guided exercises by creating accounts, mining, sending Ether, and checking balances on an Ethereum test chain.

Do I need any background before starting this course?

No, you don't need prior blockchain knowledge to begin. It starts by defining the core ideas, then moves into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the security concepts behind blockchain systems. Some comfort following technical setup steps will help once you start working with a virtual machine image and an Ethereum test chain.

Is this blockchain course beginner-friendly?

Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you're new to blockchain but comfortable working through technical examples. The course explains terms and protocols from the ground up through lessons, readings, demos, and self-checks, then reinforces them with guided Ethereum activities. It may feel more demanding if you want a business-only overview with no setup or transaction work.

How long does it take to complete this course?

Plan on about 15 hours total. At around 8 to 10 hours a week, many learners could finish in about 2 weeks while moving between lessons, readings, quizzes, and guided Ethereum practice. The course includes videos, demos, hands-on exercises, quizzes, and a final assignment.

Are there hands-on exercises, projects, or labs in this course?

Yes, but the hands-on work is guided rather than project-heavy. You'll use a virtual machine image to set up an Ethereum environment, build a test chain, create and unlock accounts, mine, and send Ether, along with block-inspection exercises and quizzes. That practice helps you connect ideas like transactions and consensus to the way a blockchain actually behaves.

What skills and topics are covered in this course?

The course focuses on how blockchain systems are structured, how Bitcoin and Ethereum handle transactions and blocks, and how decentralized networks establish trust. You'll also study the security pieces behind them, especially hashing and public-key cryptography, along with Ethereum's account model and gas. Overall, it gives you a working picture of how blockchain protocols operate and why they remain reliable without a central authority.

What can I actually do after finishing this course?

You should be able to explain how a blockchain validates transactions, links blocks, and maintains trust across a decentralized network. You'll also be able to inspect basic Bitcoin and Ethereum data and carry out simple Ethereum operations, such as creating an account, sending Ether, and checking balances on a test chain. That's a practical scope for one course: understanding the mechanics clearly and completing simple transactions yourself.

Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?

It's more concept-first than hands-on. The course spends more time explaining how Bitcoin and Ethereum work, then uses guided exercises to reinforce that through tasks like setting up a test chain and sending transactions. If you want an open-ended build course, this one will feel more introductory.

Why would I choose this course over other blockchain courses?

This course is a strong choice if you want blockchain explained through both Bitcoin and Ethereum, not just at a surface level. It moves from protocol basics into transactions, trust, security, and Ethereum operations, and it includes guided practice so the ideas don't stay abstract. If you want a clear conceptual grounding with some real interaction on an Ethereum chain, this course is a better fit than options that stay purely high level or jump straight into coding.

Blockchain Basics

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Blockchain Basics

This course is part of Blockchain Specialization

Instructor: Bina Ramamurthy

282,674 already enrolled

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

7,769 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

7,769 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

A learner will be able to recognize foundational concepts of blockchain, and apply these program concepts on the blockchain.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Virtual Machines

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

20 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Blockchain Specialization

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There are 4 modules in this course

This first course of the Blockchain specialization provides a broad overview of the essential concepts of blockchain technology – by initially exploring the Bitcoin protocol followed by the Ethereum protocol – to lay the foundation necessary for developing applications and programming. You will be equipped with the knowledge needed to create nodes on your personal Ethereum blockchain, create accounts, unlock accounts, mine, transact, transfer Ethers, and check balances.

You will learn about the decentralized peer-to-peer network, an immutable distributed ledger and the trust model that defines a blockchain. This course enables you to explain basic components of a blockchain (transaction, block, block header, and the chain) its operations (verification, validation, and consensus model) underlying algorithms, and essentials of trust (hard fork and soft fork). Content includes the hashing and cryptography foundations indispensable to blockchain programming, which is the focus of two subsequent specialization courses, Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications (Dapps). You will work on a virtual machine image, specifically created for this course, to build an Ethereum test chain and operate on the chain. This hands-on activity will help you understand the workings of a blockchain, its transactions, blocks and mining. Main concepts are delivered through videos, demos and hands-on exercises.

Module details

We will introduce and define blockchain, explain the structure and operational aspects of Bitcoin blockchain, and compare different types of blockchains.

What's included

4 videos6 readings5 assignments

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Blockchain Defined: Bitcoin & Blockchain9 minutes
Blockchain Structure6 minutes
Basic Operations4 minutes
Beyond Bitcoin3 minutes

6 readingsTotal 155 minutes

Acknowledgements: Blockchain5 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Bitcoin & Blockchain45 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Blockchain Structure5 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Basic Operations30 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Beyond Bitcoin60 minutes
REQUIRED Quiz Resources and Directions: Blockchain Defined - Week 110 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 47 minutes

Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check2 minutes
Blockchain Defined - Week 130 minutes

We will discuss the innovation of the Ethereum blockchain, review its protocol, and explore the payment model for code execution.

What's included

4 videos5 readings5 assignments

4 videosTotal 17 minutes

Ethereum Blockchain: Smart Contracts6 minutes
Ethereum Structure5 minutes
Ethereum Operations3 minutes
Incentive Model4 minutes

5 readingsTotal 145 minutes

(OPTIONAL) Resources: Smart Contracts30 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Ethereum Structure45 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Ethereum Operations30 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Incentive Model30 minutes
REQUIRED Quiz Resources and Directions: Ethereum Blockchain - Week 210 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Ethereum Blockchain - Week 230 minutes

We will discuss the concept of asymmetric key encryption, define the concept of hashing, and explain techniques that use algorithms to manage the integrity of transactions and blocks in blockchain.

What's included

4 videos5 readings5 assignments

4 videosTotal 21 minutes

Algorithms & Techniques: Public-Key Cryptography7 minutes
Hashing6 minutes
Transaction Integrity3 minutes
Securing Blockchain4 minutes

5 readingsTotal 120 minutes

(OPTIONAL) Resources: Public-Key Cryptography30 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Hashing30 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Transaction Integrity20 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Securing Blockchain30 minutes
REQUIRED Quiz Resources and Directions: Algorithms & Techniques - Week 310 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes

Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check3 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Algorithms & Techniques - Week 330 minutes

We will define elements of trust in blockchain and discuss the Consensus protocol.

What's included

4 videos5 readings5 assignments1 programming assignment

4 videosTotal 17 minutes

Trust Essentials: Decentralized Systems5 minutes
Consensus Protocol3 minutes
Robustness5 minutes
Forks4 minutes

5 readingsTotal 110 minutes

(OPTIONAL) Resources: Decentralized Systems40 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Consensus Protocol40 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Robustness5 minutes
(OPTIONAL) Resources: Forks20 minutes
Blockchain Basics: Key Takeaways5 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Self-Check5 minutes
Trust Essentials - Week 430 minutes

1 programming assignmentTotal 120 minutes

Getting Started with Blockchain Ethereum120 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(2,024 ratings)

Bina Ramamurthy

The State University of New York

9 Courses312,161 learners

Offered by

University at Buffalo

The State University of New York

Learner reviews

5 stars
70.43%
4 stars
22.11%
3 stars
4.68%
2 stars
1.09%
1 star
1.67%

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Reviewed on May 4, 2019

The course is well designed to give you an overview of Blockchain and the basic concepts. What is Smart Contract and other various terminologies and how they play a role in the blockchain. Thanks

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2019

Very nicely arranged course and very informative. Learned a lot in no time. Only hurdle is The Ethereum Virtual machine takes hell lot of time in the Miner step. rest all fine. thanks a lot.

Reviewed on Apr 6, 2022

very good course it starts from basics and provides a amazing learning path , they focus on your self study rasher than spoon feeding like other courses ,which is the best thing of this course .

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