Blockchain Foundations & Smart Contracts

Blockchain Foundations & Smart Contracts

This course is part of From Blocks to Build: Blockchain Dev Essentials Specialization

Instructor: AI CERTs Team

Access provided by IT Education Association

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Blockchain Foundations: Master core blockchain concepts — blocks, consensus, and smart contracts — to build a strong technical base.
Development Skills: Learn to code, deploy, and test blockchain apps using hands-on labs and real industry tools.
Security & Validation: Apply cryptography, wallet setup, and transaction validation to create secure blockchain solutions.
End-to-End Learning: Progress through 3 tracks combining theory, practice, and projects to earn your certification.

Skills you'll gain

Computer Programming Tools
Distributed Computing
Cryptography
Blockchain
Virtual Machines
Application Deployment
Development Environment
Program Development
Secure Coding
Transaction Processing
Skills section collapsed. Showing 9 of 10 skills.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the From Blocks to Build: Blockchain Dev Essentials Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

Start your blockchain developer journey with Track 1: Blockchain Foundations & Smart Contracts, the first course in the From Blocks to Build: Blockchain Dev Essentials specialization. This track teaches the core ideas that make decentralized systems work—distributed ledgers, consensus, transaction mechanics—and brings you inside the Ethereum Virtual Machine to build practical Solidity skills.

You’ll write, test, and deploy smart contracts using Remix IDE and EVM testnets, complete guided coding labs, and check your progress with auto-graded quizzes and hands-on exercises. Lessons focus on reliable contract structure, gas and execution flow, and common pitfalls to avoid when designing on-chain logic. This is the technical foundation: by the end you’ll be able to create EVM-compatible contracts, reason about transaction behaviour, and apply secure coding patterns. Track 1 is the first of three sequential tracks—followed by DApps & Tokenization Tools and Enterprise Blockchain & Auditing—that together form the full specialization. Complete all three tracks, finish the capstone, and pass the final proctored exam to earn the specialization’s industry-recognized certification.

This module covers a quick summary of what the certification is going to cover from start to finish. Here is the brief about the structure of the overall certification: Each of our certifications follows a consistent, multimodal structure to provide a flexible learning experience. The content is available across four formats: eBooks: In-depth written material for focused learning. Audiobooks: Audio version of the eBook, perfect for learning on the go. Podcasts: Engaging audio content to reinforce key concepts. Videos: Modular video chunks, each covering a specific topic. The names of the eBooks, Audiobooks, and Podcasts are the same, ensuring you can seamlessly switch between formats without losing track of the content. Videos are divided into bite-sized modules for easier consumption, and all content across these mediums is consistent, so no matter which format you choose, the information remains the same. This gives you the freedom to learn in the way that works best for you.

What's included

18 videos1 assignment7 plugins

18 videos Total 204 minutes

Course Introduction 6 minutes
Audio Book: Course Introduction 5 minutes
Audio Book: Module 1: Introduction to Blockchain and Smart Contracts 113 minutes
Podcast: Module 1: Introduction to Blockchain and Smart Contracts 18 minutes
1.1 The Origins of Blockchain: From Cypherpunks to Bitcoin’s Genesis Block 6 minutes
1.2 From Bitcoin to Ethereum- The Rise of a Decentralized Ecosystem 3 minutes
1.3 Blockchain Adoption and Its Evolutionary Challenges 5 minutes
1.4 Understanding Blockchain: Foundations, Features, and Functions 5 minutes
1.5 Blockchain Consensus Mechanisms: From Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Burn (PoB) 6 minutes
1.6 Space and Time-Based Consensus Mechanisms 3 minutes
1.7 Beyond Traditional Consensus: PBFT, SBFT, and DAG Architectures 4 minutes
1.8 Understanding Smart Contracts and Their Programming Languages 5 minutes
1.9 Smart Contract Execution and Immutability 3 minutes
1.10 Triggering Transactions and Managing Execution Costs in Smart Contracts 4 minutes
1.11 Extending Smart Contracts: Integration, Upgradeability, and Real-World Applications 5 minutes
1.12 Understanding Bitcoin and Its Core Components 4 minutes
1.13 The Bitcoin Mining Process and Network Mechanics 4 minutes
1.14 Blockchain Identities and Consensus: Wallets, Addresses, and Validation Mechanisms 4 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 1 30 minutes

7 plugins Total 105 minutes

eBook: Module 1: Introduction to Blockchain and Smart Contracts 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Tab 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: True or False 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Hotspot 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Carousel 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Multiple Choice 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Let's Check Your Knowledge 15 minutes

What's included

13 videos1 assignment7 plugins

13 videos Total 152 minutes

Audio Book: Module 2: Ethereum Virtual Basics (EVM) and Solidity Basics 79 minutes
Podcast: Module 2: Ethereum Virtual Basics (EVM) and Solidity Basics 18 minutes
2.1 Ethereum Architecture and Proof of Stake Consensus 6 minutes
2.2 Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) 5 minutes
2.3 Gas Fees and Smart Contracts in Ethereum 5 minutes
2.4 Solidity Programming Language 4 minutes
2.5 Ethereum Wallets and Remix IDE 5 minutes
2.5.1 MetaMask Integration in Ethereum Development 5 minutes
2.6 Smart Contract Development with Remix IDE 5 minutes
2.7 Basic Structure of solidity smart contract 4 minutes
2.8 Frontend Integration with Smart Contracts Using Web3.js, Ethers.js & More 5 minutes
2.9 Understanding Solidity Variables and If/Else Logic 5 minutes
2.10 Strings, Loops, and Arrays in Solidity 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 2 30 minutes

7 plugins Total 105 minutes

eBook: Module 2: Ethereum Virtual Basics (EVM) and Solidity Basics 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Drag and Drop 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: True or False 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Popup 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Problem Statement 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Tab 15 minutes
ACTIVITY: Let's Check Your Knowledge 15 minutes

What's included

9 videos1 assignment9 plugins

9 videos Total 67 minutes

Audio Book: Module 3: Advanced Solidity and Structures 23 minutes
Podcast: Module 3: Advanced Solidity and Structures 13 minutes
3.1 Advanced Solidity – Libraries, Interfaces, and Modifiers 4 minutes
3.2 Interfaces and Modifiers in Solidity 5 minutes
3.3 Structures, Enums, and ABI 4 minutes
3.4 Advanced Solidity – Calldata, Events, and Transfers 4 minutes
3.5 Contract-to-Contract Calls & Address Types in Solidity 5 minutes
3.6 Receive & Fallback Functions and Upgradeable Contracts in Solidity 6 minutes
3.7 Openzepplin Libraries 3 minutes