Blockchain: The Trust Machine
Go beyond the buzzword. Understand exactly how blockchain technology works at the level of hash functions, Merkle trees, consensus mechanisms, and network architecture.
6 lessons · 1 hr 36 min · beginner
- 1How Blocks Connect: Hashes and Cryptographic LinkingThe cryptographic glue that holds blockchain together — hash functions, the avalanche effect, and why tampering with old blocks is practically impossible.12 min
- 2Consensus: How Strangers Agree on TruthHow thousands of computers worldwide reach agreement without trusting each other — the Byzantine Generals Problem, proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, and what they buy you.14 min
- 3Network Architecture: Nodes, Clients, and SyncHow a blockchain network actually runs — full nodes, light clients, archive nodes, propagation, and what it means to "run a node."12 min
- 4Forks, Upgrades, and Chain ReorganizationHow blockchains evolve — soft forks vs hard forks, the politics of upgrades, and what happens when the chain disagrees with itself.11 min
- 5Cryptography Primitives: The Building Blocks of CryptoA focused tour of the cryptographic primitives that make blockchain possible: public key cryptography, digital signatures (ECDSA vs Schnorr), hash function properties, commitment schemes, and stealth addresses.23 min
- 6What Blockchain CAN'T Do (Honest Limitations)A clear-eyed look at what blockchain technology fundamentally cannot do well, where traditional databases beat blockchains, and how to identify when blockchain is the right tool versus when it is being applied for marketing rather than substance.24 min
Educational only — not financial advice.