Courses of Study 2022-2023 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Courses of Study 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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CS 5433 - Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and Smart Contracts


     
Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: a good level of programming experience—specifically, the ability to deal with challenging programming tasks—familiarity with common algorithms and data structures, and an understanding of basic concepts in discrete mathematics. Offered in New York City at Cornell Tech.

A. Juels.

Viewed variously as a niche currency for online criminals and a technological threat to the financial industry, Bitcoin has fueled mythmaking, financial speculation, and real technological innovation. We will study both Bitcoin and the technological landscape it has inspired and catalyzed. Topics will include: the mechanics of consensus algorithms, such as Proof of Work and Byzantine Consensus, and their role in blockchains and cryptocurrencies; cryptographic tools employed in cryptocurrencies, including digital signatures algorithm and zero-knowledge proofs; the evolution and mechanics of Bitcoin and its ecosystem; smart contracts; and special topics, such as trusted hardware in blockchain-based systems, smart contracts and real-world contract law, and cryptocurrencies and crime. Grading will be based on homework assignments and a final exam.



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