Blockchain Essentials: Core Concepts and Implementations

The book begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of blockchain technology, followed by a review of its types, framework, applications and challenges. Moving ahead, you will learn basic blockchain programming with hash functions, authentication code, and Merkle trees. You will then dive into the basics of bitcoin, including wallets, digital keys, transactions, digital signatures, and more. This is followed by a crash course on Ethereum programming, its network, and ecosystem. As you progress through the book, you will also learn about Hyperledger and put your newly-gained knowledge to work through case studies and example applications.

After reading this book, you will understand blockchain’s underlying concepts and its common implementations.

You will:

• Master theoretical and practical implementations of various blockchain components using Python
• Implement hashing, Merkel trees, and smart contracts using the Solidity programming language for various applications
• Grasp the internal structure of EVM and its implementation in smart contracts
• Understand why blockchain plays an essential role in cryptocurrencies and identify possible applications beyond cryptocurrencies
• Investigate and apply alternative blockchain solutions using Hyperledger, including its integration and deployment
• Explore research opportunities through case studies and gain an overview of implementation using various languages

Dr. Ramchandra Sharad Mangrulkar is a Professor in the Department of Information Technology at Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering in Mumbai, India. He holds various memberships in professional organizations such as IEEE, ISTE, ACM, and IACSIT. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science and Engineering from S.G.B. Amravati University in Maharashtra, and Master of Technology (MTech) degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. Dr. Mangrulkar is proficient in several technologies and tools, including Microsoft’s Power BI, Power Automate, Power Query, Power Virtual Agents, Google’s Dialog Flow, and Overleaf. With over 23 years of combined teaching and administrative experience, Dr. Mangrulkar has established himself as a knowledgeable and skilled professional in his field. He has also obtained certifications such as Certified Network Security Specialist (ICSI – CNSS) from ICSI, UK. Dr. Mangrulkar has a strong publication record with 95 publications including refereed/peer-reviewed international journal publications, book chapters with international publishers (including Scopus indexed ones), and international conference publications.

Dr. Pallavi Vijay Chavan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Technology at Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology, D Y Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, MH, India. She has been in academics since the past 17 years and has worked in the areas of computing theory, data science, and network security. In her academic journey, she has published research work in the data science and security domains with reputed publishers including Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press, and Inderscience. She has published 2 books, 7+ book chapters, 10+ international journal papers and 30+ international conference papers. She is currently guiding 5 Ph.D. research scholars. She completed her Ph.D. from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, MH, India in 2017. She secured the first merit position in Nagpur University for the degree of B.E. in Computer Engineering in 2003. She is recipient of research grants from UGC, CSIR, and University of Mumbai. She is an active reviewer for Elsevier and Inderscience journals. Her firm belief is “Teaching is a mission.”