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Course Detail

Course Name Blockchains and Decentralized Applications
Course Code 26SN635
Program M. Tech. in Cyber Security Systems & Networks
Credits 3
Campus Amritapuri

Syllabus

Syllabus

Blockchains: History, About Blockchain, Need for a Blockchain, Permission-less vs Permissioned Types of Blockchains, Monolithic vs Modular Blockchains, Enterprise Blockchains, Generations of Blockchains 

Cryptography – Introduction, Public Key Cryptography, Cryptographic primitives, Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), Crypto-economics Blockchain Mechanics and Optimizations – Structure, Architecture, GHOST Protocol, Mining/Staking Process, Blockchain Demos, Blockchain Consensus Algorithms (POW, POS, PBFT, DPOS, ZKPs (SNARKs / STARKs) Blockchain IRL – Keys, Storages, Wallets, Account Abstraction, Nodes, Miners/Validators, Incentives, Mining Infrastructure, Mining Pools & Organizations Languages & Tools – Bitcoin Scripting language, Ethereum Smart Contracts using Solidity language with Tools ( Node.js, EVM/zkEVM, Foundry(Forge/Cast), Remix IDE, Ganache, MetaMask, web3.js/ethers.js/Viem)    and Hyperledger Fabric Chaincodes in GO language

Additional topics – Anonymity, Attacks on Blockchain Networks & Wallets, Scaling of Blockchains, Future of Blockchains

Decentralized Applications:  Cryptocurrencies (Internet of Money) – History, Bitcoin, Ethers & Gas (Ethereum Gasper/LMD GHOST & MEV, Rollups/ZK-Rollups, Layer 2, zkSync) and Introduction to Altcoins & Stablecoins

OtherAdditional topics – Forking of Cryptocurrencies, Attack on Digital Assets, Cryptocurrencies for the Masses, Funding Crypto development, how to destroy Cryptocurrencies? Tokenization, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs/Dynamic NFTs – Internet of Assets), Decentralized Finance (DeFi Building Blocks, Automated Market Makers (AMMs), Lending Protocols (Aave), Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs/LRTs)) and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN)

Digital Asset applications – Cryptokitties and Enterprise Real-World applications

Text Books / References
  1. BlockchainTechnology by Chandramouli Subramanian, Asha A George, Abhilash K A and Meena Karthikeyan
  2. Bitcoinand Cryptocurrency Technologies by Arvind Narayanan, Joseph Bonneau, Edward Felten, Andrew Miller, and Steven Goldfeder
  3. MasteringBitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos
  4. Upgrading Ethereum – The Eth2 Book [WIP] 0.3 Edition by Ben Edgington Mastering Ethereum, Building Smart Contracts and dApps by Andreas Antonopoulos and Dr Gavin Wood

Introduction

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in blockchain technology and decentralized application development. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand the evolution, mechanics, and real-world applications of blockchains spanning cryptographic foundations, consensus algorithms, smart contract programming, tokenization, decentralized finance, and enterprise blockchain frameworks while adhering to current industry tools and development practices

Objectives and Outcomes

Course Objectives 

  • To understand the history, architecture, and evolution of blockchain technology including permissioned, permissionless, monolithic, and modular blockchain models.
  • To develop proficiency in blockchain cryptographic primitives, consensus algorithms (PoW, PoS, PBFT, DPoS, ZKPs), and blockchain mechanics.
  • To gain hands-on experience in smart contract development using Solidity (Ethereum) and chaincode in Go (Hyperledger Fabric) with industry tools.
  • To explore decentralized applications (dApps), cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DeFi, DAOs, and DePIN in real-world contexts.
  • To analyze attacks on blockchain networks and digital assets, scaling solutions, and the future direction of blockchain ecosystems.

Course Outcomes

CO Description
CO1 Explore the fundamentals of Blockchain, types and generations of Blockchains, enterprise Blockchains, cryptographic foundations, Blockchain mechanics, optimizations, and consensus algorithms.
CO2 Familiarize with Blockchain in real-life (keys, wallets, nodes, incentives, mining infrastructure), network and wallet attacks, scaling solutions, and the future of Blockchains.
CO3 Understand Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins, and forking mechanisms including hard and soft forks in cryptocurrency ecosystems.
CO4 Explore Ethereum, decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts and related languages and tools, tokenization, NFTs, DeFi, DePIN, and DAOs.
CO5 Explore attacks on digital assets, cryptocurrencies for the masses, funding crypto development, digital asset applications, and enterprise real-world blockchain applications.
CO6 Familiarize with Hyperledger Fabric, Fabric network architecture, chaincode development, and related languages and tools.

Prerequisites: Computer Networks, Cryptography and Network Security ,Fundamentals of Programming

Evaluation Pattern

CO-PO Mapping

Correlation Levels: 3 = High, 2 = Moderate, 1 = Low

CO / PO PO1 PO2 PO3 PSO1 PSO2 PSO3 PSO4
CO1 3 3 2 – 2 2 1
CO2 3 3 3 1 2 1 1
CO3 3 2 – 3 1 – 1
CO4 3 3 3 3 2 – 1
CO5 3 2 3 3 2 1 1
CO6 3 3 3 1 2 1 1

Evaluation Pattern 60:40

Assessment Internal External
Mid Term Exam 20  
Assignments 25  
Project 15  
Final Exam (Written Exam + Lab)   40 (25 for Written Exam + 15 for Lab)

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