Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals from Pluralsight

Discover the transformative power of decentralized systems. This course will teach you the skills needed to navigate the world of Bitcoin and blockchain and explore the endless possibilities of decentralized technology.

With the rise of decentralized systems like Bitcoin and blockchain, it's crucial for professionals to have a deep understanding of these technologies. In this course, Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals, you’ll learn the skills needed to navigate the world of Bitcoin and blockchain and explore the endless possibilities of decentralized technology. First, you’ll explore the fundamentals of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Next, you will discover how Bitcoin and blockchain can be used to create a decentralized system, how transactions are validated and secured, and the advantages and disadvantages of using decentralized systems. Finally, you’ll learn how to evaluate the security and privacy of decentralized systems. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of Bitcoin and decentralized technology needed to navigate the world of decentralized systems and continue your journey into this promising technology.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Introducing Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology

Understanding Blockchain Fundamentals

Exploring Cryptography and Security in Bitcoin

Executing Bitcoin Transactions

Networking and Node Types

Mining Bitcoin and Proof-of-Work

Contextualizing Consensus Mechanisms and Forks

Understanding Privacy and Anonymity in Bitcoin

Reviewing the Future of Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores Bitcoin and blockchain, which are highly relevant in present-day finance and business

Taught by Tommy van Schaik, who is recognized for work in cryptocurrency

Develops skills for navigating the world of Bitcoin and blockchain

Covers topics like proof-of-work, consensus mechanisms, and privacy in Bitcoin

Examines the future of Bitcoin and decentralized technology

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals with these activities:

Review basic cryptography concepts

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Understanding cryptography is essential for understanding Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Reviewing basic cryptography concepts will help you build a stronger foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Review the concepts of encryption, decryption, and hashing.
Learn about different types of encryption algorithms.
Learn about different types of hashing algorithms.
Practice using cryptography tools and libraries.

Read the book "Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies"

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies. Reading this book will help you gain a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.

View Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A... on Amazon

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Purchase the book "Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies".
Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Complete the exercises and assignments that are included in the book.

Follow online tutorials on specific Bitcoin or blockchain technology topics

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There are many online tutorials available that can help you learn more about specific Bitcoin or blockchain technology topics. Following these tutorials will help you deepen your understanding of the material and learn new skills.

Browse courses on Bitcoin

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Find online tutorials on specific Bitcoin or blockchain technology topics that you want to learn more about.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
Complete the exercises and assignments that are included in the tutorials.
Ask questions in the forums or discussion boards if you need help.

Four other activities

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Practice solving Bitcoin transaction puzzles

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Solving Bitcoin transaction puzzles is a great way to practice the skills you'll learn in this course. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of how Bitcoin works and how to use it securely.

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Find a website or online resource that offers Bitcoin transaction puzzles.
Solve the puzzles using the concepts you've learned in this course.
Compare your solutions to the correct answers.
Repeat steps 2-3 until you can consistently solve the puzzles correctly.

Join a Bitcoin or blockchain technology study group

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Joining a Bitcoin or blockchain technology study group will provide you with the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other students. This will help you deepen your understanding of the material and stay motivated.

Browse courses on Bitcoin

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Find a Bitcoin or blockchain technology study group in your area or online.
Attend the study group meetings regularly.
Participate in the discussions and activities.
Help other students with their learning.

Create a demo of a blockchain application

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Put the concepts you'll learn into practice by building a simple blockchain application. This will help you solidify your understanding of blockchain technology and gain hands-on experience.

Browse courses on Blockchain Development

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Research different blockchain technologies and select one to use.
Design the architecture of your application.
Develop the application.
Test and debug the application.
Deploy the application.

Write a blog post about a specific aspect of Bitcoin or blockchain technology

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Writing a blog post about a specific aspect of Bitcoin or blockchain technology will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others. This will also help you develop your writing and communication skills.

Browse courses on Bitcoin

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Choose a specific aspect of Bitcoin or blockchain technology to write about.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post that is clear, concise, and informative.
Publish your blog post on a website or blog.
Promote your blog post on social media.

Career center

Learners who complete Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Blockchain Developer

As a Blockchain Developer, you will need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course provides a comprehensive overview of these topics. You will learn about the history of Bitcoin, the underlying technology of blockchain, and the different ways that blockchain can be used to create decentralized systems. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Blockchain Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

Decentralized Application Developer

Decentralized Application Developers design and build applications that run on blockchain networks. These applications are not controlled by any single entity, and they offer a number of advantages over traditional applications. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Decentralized Application Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Decentralized Application Developer

Researcher

Researchers study the latest developments in Bitcoin and blockchain technology. They may publish their findings in academic journals or work for companies that are developing new blockchain-based technologies. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Researcher in the field of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.

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Trader

Traders buy and sell cryptocurrencies for profit. They may use technical analysis or fundamental analysis to make trading decisions. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Trader of cryptocurrencies.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use their knowledge of financial markets to make investment recommendations. They may specialize in a particular asset class, such as cryptocurrencies. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Financial Analyst with a specialization in cryptocurrencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, build, and maintain software applications. Some Software Engineers specialize in developing blockchain-based applications. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Software Engineer with a specialization in blockchain development.

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Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial data. They may use these models to develop trading strategies or to assess the risk of different investments. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Quantitative Analyst with a specialization in cryptocurrencies.

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Digital Asset Manager

Digital Asset Managers are responsible for managing the digital assets of their clients. These assets can include cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other digital collectibles. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Digital Asset Manager.

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Cryptocurrency Analyst

Cryptocurrency Analysts study the cryptocurrency market to identify investment opportunities. They use their knowledge of Bitcoin and blockchain technology to evaluate the potential of different cryptocurrencies. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Cryptocurrency Analyst.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and other technical products. Some Technical Writers specialize in writing documentation for blockchain-based technologies. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Technical Writer with a specialization in blockchain technology.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. Some Product Managers specialize in developing blockchain-based products. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Product Manager with a specialization in blockchain technology.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital. They may also advise companies on mergers and acquisitions. Some Investment Bankers specialize in the cryptocurrency industry. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as an Investment Banker with a specialization in cryptocurrencies.

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Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists invest in early-stage companies. Some Venture Capitalists specialize in investing in blockchain-based companies. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Venture Capitalist with a specialization in blockchain technology.

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AI Engineer

AI Engineers design and build artificial intelligence systems. Some AI Engineers specialize in developing AI systems for the financial industry. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as an AI Engineer with a specialization in the financial industry.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve problems. Some Data Scientists specialize in using data to analyze the financial markets. The Bitcoin and Decentralized Technology Fundamentals course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start a career as a Data Scientist with a specialization in the financial markets.

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