This book provides a comprehensive introduction to blockchain and
distributed ledger technology. Intended as an applied guide for hands-on
practitioners, the book includes detailed examples and in-depth
explanations of how to build and run a blockchain from scratch. Through
its conceptual background and hands-on exercises, this book allows
students, teachers and crypto enthusiasts to launch their first
blockchain while assuming prior knowledge of the underlying technology.
How do I build a blockchain? How do I mint a cryptocurrency? How do I
write a smart contract? How do I launch an initial coin offering (ICO)?
These are some of questions this book answers. Starting by outlining the
beginnings and development of early cryptocurrencies, it provides the
conceptual foundations required to engineer secure software that
interacts with both public and private ledgers. The topics covered
include consensus algorithms, mining and decentralization, and many
more.
"This is a one-of-a-kind book on Blockchain technology. The authors
achieved the perfect balance between the breadth of topics and the depth
of technical discussion. But the real gem is the set of carefully
curated hands-on exercises that guide the reader through the process of
building a Blockchain right from Chapter 1." Volodymyr Babich,
Professor of Operations and Information Management, McDonough School of
Business, Georgetown University
"An excellent introduction of DLT technology for a non-technical
audience. The book is replete with examples and exercises, which greatly
facilitate the learning of the underlying processes of blockchain
technology for all, from students to entrepreneurs." Serguei
Netessine, Dhirubhai Ambani Professor of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
"Whether you want to start from scratch or deepen your blockchain
knowledge about the latest developments, this book is an essential
reference. Through clear explanations and practical code examples, the
authors take you on a progressive journey to discover the technology
foundations and build your own blockchain. From an operations
perspective, you can learn the principles behind the distributed ledger
technology relevant for transitioning towards blockchain-enabled supply
chains. Reading this book, you'll get inspired, be able to assess the
applicability of blockchain to supply chain operations, and learn from
best practices recognized in real-world examples." Ralf W. Seifert,
Professor of Technology and Operations Management at EPFL and Professor
of Operations Management at IMD
