BLOCKCHAIN.AU1

Blockchain Basics

Learn blockchain online at your own pace, from block structure to transactions.

26 Interactive Lessons and 205 topics mapped to the official exam objectives

Beginner Self-paced · 1 year access

26Interactive Lessons

205Topics

01 / Skills you'll get

What you will be able to do

Our blockchain basics course breaks down this revolutionary technology into 25 bite-sized lessons.

Discover why blockchain matters, how it secures transactions, and where it’s transforming industries. From hashing and digital signatures to decentralized ledgers and smart contracts, you’ll explore key pieces that make blockchain powerful…and set its limits as well.

Blockchain Fundamentals: Grasp core concepts like blocks, decentralization, and distributed ledgers without technical jargon.
Industry Applications: Recognize how blockchain applies to finance, supply chains, and other industries.
Security & Integrity: Learn how hashing, digital signatures, and consensus mechanisms prevent fraud.
Limitations: Discover blockchain’s challenges (scalability, energy use) and real-world trade-offs.
Cryptocurrency Basics: Understand how Bitcoin and other digital currencies use blockchain technology.
Thinking Critically About Adoption: Assess where blockchain adds value…and where it doesn’t.

Course Highlights

26 Structured Lessons Comprehensive coverage of core course objectives
1 Year Full Access Self-paced learning accessible anytime on all devices

02 / Lessons & labs

See exactly what you will learn and practice

Download outline (PDF)

Lessons

26 Interactive Lessons · 205 topics

01 Introduction 4 topics

Why Another course About the Blockchain?
What You Cannot Expect from This course
What You Can Expect from This course
How This course Is Organized

02 Thinking in Layers and Aspects 6 topics

The Metaphor
Layers of a Software System
Considering Two Layers at the Same Time
Integrity
Outlook
Summary

03 Seeing the Big Picture 11 topics

The Metaphor
A Payment System
Two Types of Software Architecture
The Advantages of Distributed Systems
The Disadvantages of Distributed Systems
Distributed Peer-to-Peer Systems
Mixing Centralized and Distributed Systems
Identifying Distributed Systems
The Purpose of the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

04 Recognizing the Potential 7 topics

The Metaphor
How a Peer-to-Peer System Changed a Whole Industry
The Potential of Peer-to-Peer Systems
Terminology and the Link to the Blockchain
The Potential of the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

05 Discovering the Core Problem 6 topics

The Metaphor
Trust and Integrity in Peer-to-Peer Systems
Integrity Threats in Peer-to-Peer Systems
The Core Problem to Be Solved by the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

06 Disambiguating the Term 7 topics

The Term
The Usage of the Term in This course
Provisional Definition
The Role of Managing Ownership
The Application Area of the Blockchain in This Course
Outlook
Summary

07 Understanding the Nature of Ownership 8 topics

The Metaphor
Ownership and Witnesses
Foundations of Ownership
A Short Detour to Security
Purposes and Properties of a Ledger
Ownership and the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

08 Spending Money Twice 7 topics

The Metaphor
The Double Spending Problem
The Term
How to Solve the Double Spending Problem
The Usage of Double Spending in This course
Outlook
Summary

09 Planning the Blockchain 5 topics

The Goal
Starting Point
The Path to Follow
Outlook
Summary

10 Documenting Ownership 11 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
A Short Detour to Inventory and Transaction Data
How It Works
Why It Works
Importance of Ordering
Integrity of the Transaction History
Outlook
Summary

11 Hashing Data 7 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
How It Works
Trying It Out Yourself
Patterns of Hashing Data
Outlook
Summary

12 Hashing in the Real World 8 topics

Comparing Data
Detecting Changes in Data
Referring to Data in a Change-Sensitive Manner
Storing Data in a Change-Sensitive Manner
Causing Time-Consuming Computations
Usage of Hashing in the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

13 Identifying and Protecting User Accounts 9 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
A Short Detour to Cryptography
Asymmetric Cryptography in the Real World
Asymmetric Cryptography in the Blockchain
Outlook
Summary

14 Authorizing Transactions 9 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
A Short Detour to Digital Signatures
How It Works
Why It Works
Outlook
Summary

15 Storing Transaction Data 9 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
Transforming a Book into a Blockchain-Data-Structure
The Blockchain-Data-Structure
Storing Transactions in the Blockchain-DataStructure
Outlook
Summary

16 Using the Data Store 7 topics

The Metaphor
Adding New Transactions
Detecting Changes
Changing Data Orderly
Intended vs. Unintended Changes
Outlook
Summary

17 Protecting the Data Store 12 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
A Short Detour to Immutability
How It Works: The Big Picture
How It Works: The Details
Why It Works
The Costs of Manipulating the BlockchainData-Structure
The Immutable Data Store in the Real World
Outlook
Summary

18 Distributing the Data Store Among Peers 9 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
How It Works: The Overview1
How It Works: The Details
Why It Works
Outlook
Summary

19 Verifying and Adding Transactions 11 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
How It Works: The Building Blocks
How It Works: The Skeleton
How It Works: The Details
Why It Works
Dealing with Dishonest Behavior
Outlook
Summary

20 Choosing a Transaction History 11 topics

The Metaphor
The Goal
The Challenge
The Idea
How It Works
Consequences of Selecting One Chain
Threats to the Voting Schema
The Role of the Hash Puzzle
Why It Works
Outlook
Summary

21 Paying for Integrity 6 topics

The Metaphor
The Role of Fees Within the Blockchain
Desirable Properties of an Instrument of Payment for Compensating Peers
A Detour to the Emergence of Cryptographic Currencies
Outlook
Summary

22 Bringing the Pieces Together 5 topics

Reviewing Concepts and Technologies
What Is the Blockchain?
Gaining Abstraction
Outlook
Summary

23 Seeing the Limitations 6 topics

The Challenge
Technical Limitations of the Blockchain
Nontechnical Limitations of the Blockchain
Overcoming the Limitations
Outlook
Summary

24 Reinventing the Blockchain 10 topics

The Metaphor
Conflicting Goals of the Blockchain
The Roots of the Conflicts
Solving the Conflicts
Four Versions of the Blockchain
Consequences
Reviewing the Purpose of the Blockchain
The Usage of the Term Blockchain in the Remainder of This course
Outlook
Summary

25 Using the Blockchain 7 topics

The Metaphor
Characteristics of the Blockchain
Generic Application Patterns
Specific Use Cases
Analyzing Blockchain Applications
Outlook
Summary

26 Summarizing and Going Further 7 topics

The Metaphor
Further Developments and Alternatives
Major Accomplishments of the Blockchain
Possible Disadvantages
The Future
Outlook
Summary

03 / FAQs

Questions before you start

What are the basics of blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that securely records transactions across a network of computers. The basics include:

Blocks & Chains: Data is stored in blocks linked together in a tamper-proof chain.
Decentralization: No single authority controls the network; it’s maintained by multiple participants (nodes).
Cryptography: Uses hashing and digital signatures to ensure security and ownership.
Consensus Mechanisms: Methods like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS) validate transactions.
Smart Contracts: Self-executing agreements (in advanced blockchains like Ethereum).

This course explains all these concepts without complex math or coding, using simple analogies and visuals.

How to learn blockchain as a beginner?

Start with a non-technical foundation before diving into coding or advanced topics:

Take this course: It breaks down blockchain in 25 beginner-friendly steps, using plain language and real-world examples.
Understand key terms: Learn what decentralization, mining, wallets, and NFTs mean at a high level.
Follow industry news: Read about Bitcoin, Ethereum, and real-world blockchain applications.
Experiment with wallets: Try sending/receiving crypto (e.g., Bitcoin or Ethereum) to see blockchain in action.
Explore no-code tools: Platforms like Ethereum’s MetaMask or Blockchain Demo help visualize how transactions work.

This blockchain course for beginners requires no prior tech or finance knowledge.

Does blockchain development require coding?

Not always! It depends on your role:

For basics → This blockchain for beginners course is code-free. You’ll learn concepts, use cases, and how blockchain works without programming.
For blockchain development → Yes, coding is required (e.g., Solidity for Ethereum, Rust for Solana, or Python for blockchain tools).
For non-tech roles (business, marketing, legal) → Understanding blockchain does not require coding, just core principles (covered here).

Learn Blockchain Fundamentals

Learn crypto security, spot scams, and invest smarter because not all that glitters is Bitcoin, but knowing the difference pays.

1 year of full access
Certificate of completion