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Blockchain Basics and Applications: Introduction to Bitcoin

In this course we deep dive into the market leader in blockchain implementations - Bitcoin.

Smartphone with Bitcoin chart on-screen among piles of Bitcoins

  • Duration

    4 weeks

  • Weekly study

    0 hours
Overview
Requirements
Educators

In this course we look at mining of bitcoins, bitcoin transaction workflows, bitcoin payment verifications and forks. Bitcoin block pools are studied also. We look at how bitcoin blocks are implemented, the concept of candidate, blocks and how space is managed when block pools are are eliminated. We look at Merkle Roots and electrum wallets. Finally we study how mining pools are created and implemented using GPUs or CPUs and FPGAs.

What topics will you cover?

  • Mining Bitcoin
  • Bitcoin Transaction Workflow
  • Payment Verification and Forks
  • Bitcoin Technologies and Pools

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore how reclaiming disc space is implemented in Bitcoin
  • Describe Bitcoin transaction pools
  • Describe Bitcoin hashes, headers and links
  • Demonstrate how unspent transactions are implemented in bitcoin
  • Discuss Merkle Roots and how they arise
  • Identify how Blockchain Forks arise in practice
  • Compare and contrast GPU Mining and CPU Mining
  • Discuss how Bitcoin mining pools work in practice

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at IT professionals in employment in Republic of Ireland registered companies. To qualify for direct entry they must have a Level 8 Honours Degree (2.2) or higher in Computer Science, Computing, Computer Applications or a related discipline. Applicants without these entry requirements (e.g., Level 7 degree or lower than an Honours 2.2 in a Level 8 degree) may be considered if they can demonstrate previously obtained competence equivalent to the entry requirements.

Who will you learn with?

Alan Smeaton

I'm Professor of Computing for +20 years, I work in media analysis, developing machine learning & AI for analysing image & video and I have particular interest in using computing to support our memory

Who developed the course?

Dublin City University

Dublin City University is a young, dynamic and ambitious Irish university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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