To really understand what is special about Bitcoin, we need to understand how it works at a technical level. We’ll address the important questions about Bitcoin, such as:
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies
Princeton UniversityAbout this Course
170,294 recent views
Learner Career Outcomes
53%
started a new career after completing these courses
47%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
10%
got a pay increase or promotion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 23 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Skills you will gain
Bitcoin NetworkBlockchainsCryptocurrencyBitcoin
Learner Career Outcomes
53%
started a new career after completing these courses
47%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
10%
got a pay increase or promotion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 23 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Offered by
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
4 hours to complete
Introduction to Crypto and Cryptocurrencies
Learn about cryptographic building blocks ("primitives") and reason about their security. Work through how these primitives can be used to construct simple cryptocurrencies.
4 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
6 videos
Welcome1m
Cryptographic Hash Functions18m
Hash Pointers and Data Structures8m
Digital Signatures9m
Public Keys as Identities5m
A Simple Cryptocurrency14m
1 reading
Course Information10m
1 hour to complete
How Bitcoin Achieves Decentralization
Learn Bitcoin's consensus mechanism and reason about its security. Appreciate how security comes from a combination of technical methods and clever incentive engineering.
1 hour to complete
5 videos (Total 74 min)
5 videos
Distributed Consensus13m
Consensus without Identity: the Block Chain17m
Incentives and Proof of Work19m
Putting It All Together18m
1 hour to complete
Mechanics of Bitcoin
Learn how the individual components of the Bitcoin protocol make the whole system tick: transactions, script, blocks, and the peer-to-peer network.
1 hour to complete
6 videos (Total 78 min)
6 videos
Bitcoin Scripts15m
Applications of Bitcoin Scripts14m
Bitcoin Blocks5m
The Bitcoin Network18m
Limitations & Improvements11m
4 hours to complete
How to Store and Use Bitcoins
This week we'll explore how using Bitcoins works in practice: different ways of storing Bitcoin keys, security measures, and various types of services that allow you to trade and transact with bitcoins.
4 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 81 min)
7 videos
Hot and Cold Storage13m
Splitting and Sharing Keys11m
Online Wallets and Exchanges19m
Payment Services8m
Transaction Fees5m
Currency Exchange Markets16m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM BITCOIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES
by MBMar 10, 2018
Great course, a very broad and in-depth overview of concepts surrounding cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin in particular. Would be great to have an update of course; perhaps once the ICO craze is over? (-:
by AGDec 22, 2017
I've gained a strong knowledge of Bitcoin's architecture but wish this course was updated to include the developments of the last two years. A few lectures on alt-coins would have been useful as well.
by LBJan 14, 2017
I find this course prepared very well. There are many perspectives and this course does not concentrate on the technology only. I find this course very helpful. The level is more then just beginner.
by OSSep 17, 2017
I enjoyed the lecture series. As many have stated previously, I do think that the assignments assume a sizeable amount of technological knowledge that is not necessarily cohesive with the lectures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
- The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
- The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
