Book Image

Foundations of Blockchain

By : Koshik Raj
Book Image

Foundations of Blockchain

By: Koshik Raj

Overview of this book

Blockchain technology is a combination of three popular concepts: cryptography, peer-to-peer networking, and game theory. This book is for anyone who wants to dive into blockchain from first principles and learn how decentralized applications and cryptocurrencies really work. This book begins with an overview of blockchain technology, including key definitions, its purposes and characteristics, so you can assess the full potential of blockchain. All essential aspects of cryptography are then presented, as the backbone of blockchain. For readers who want to study the underlying algorithms of blockchain, you’ll see Python implementations throughout. You’ll then learn how blockchain architecture can create decentralized applications. You’ll see how blockchain achieves decentralization through peer-to-peer networking, and how a simple blockchain can be built in a P2P network. You’ll learn how these elements can implement a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, and the wider applications of blockchain work through smart contracts. Blockchain optimization techniques, and blockchain security strategies are then presented. To complete this foundation, we consider blockchain applications in the financial and non-financial sectors, and also analyze the future of blockchain. A study of blockchain use cases includes supply chains, payment systems, crowdfunding, and DAOs, which rounds out your foundation in blockchain technology.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)

Non-profit autonomous organizations

Non-profit organizations are institutions that provide goods and services without seeking a profit. These organizations are run by volunteers for a particular cause, with some prime examples being charities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or even any voluntary organization. Although most of these organizations are operated by volunteers, each is controlled by an autonomous institution.

A non-profit project run by an autonomous organization has a lot of limitations and may not always be corruption free. However, they do tend to bring a lot of centralization to the decision-making process, which might lead to a lot of controversies. Likewise, autonomous organizations can be decentralized by introducing blockchain technology to remove any intermediaries in the organization. Decentralization in such organizations provides them with great...