Description
Introduction of Advanced Cryptography in Blockchain
This course dives into the cryptographic foundations that underpin blockchain networks. Participants will explore advanced cryptographic concepts such as zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, threshold cryptography, and quantum-resistant algorithms. The training emphasizes how these techniques secure blockchain transactions, maintain privacy, and enhance scalability. Real-world use cases demonstrate how advanced cryptography plays a pivotal role in blockchain protocols, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and privacy-preserving applications.
Prerequisites
- Basic Understanding of Blockchain Technology (Transactions, Nodes, and Consensus)
- Knowledge of Cryptographic Basics (Hash Functions, Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryption)
- Experience with Smart Contracts (Solidity or other blockchain programming languages)
- Familiarity with Linear Algebra and Number Theory (Recommended but not mandatory)
Table of Contents
1: Cryptographic Primitives for Blockchain
1.1 Hash Functions and Their Properties (SHA-256, Keccak)
1.2 Digital Signatures (ECDSA, EdDSA)
1.3 Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) in Blockchain Networks
1.4 Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) in Bitcoin and Ethereum (Ref: Quantum Cryptography & Secure Communication)
2: Privacy-Preserving Cryptography
2.1 Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Concepts and Applications
2.2 zk-SNARKs vs zk-STARKs – Trade-offs in Privacy and Scalability
2.3 Homomorphic Encryption: Computation on Encrypted Data (Ref: Data Modelling in Analytics)
2.4 Case Study: ZCash and Tornado Cash for Anonymous Transactions
3: Post-Quantum Cryptography for Blockchain
3.1 Overview of Quantum Computing Threats
3.2 Lattice-Based Cryptography: NTRU, Kyber
3.3 Hash-Based Signatures: Lamport and XMSS
3.4 Preparing Blockchain Networks for the Quantum Era
4: Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and Threshold Cryptography
4.1 Threshold Signatures for Secure Custody Solutions
4.2 Secret Sharing Schemes (Shamir’s Secret Sharing)
4.3 Multi-Party Computation in Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
4.4 Case Study: MPC Wallets and Secure Voting Protocols
5: Cryptographic Protocols for Blockchain Networks
5.1 Merkle Trees and Patricia Tries for Data Integrity
5.2 Commitment Schemes: Pedersen and Bulletproofs
5.3 Oblivious Transfer and Private Information Retrieval
5.4 Hash Time-Locked Contracts (HTLC) for Atomic Swaps
6: Blockchain Security Models and Attacks
6.1 Cryptographic Attacks: Birthday Attack, Collisions
6.2 Man-in-the-Middle and Replay Attacks in Blockchain Networks
6.3 Security Models: Honest Majority and Byzantine Fault Tolerance
6.4 Practical Defenses: Key Management and Cryptographic Audits
7: Hands-on Cryptography in Blockchain Development
7.1 Implementing ZK-SNARKs Using Circom and SnarkJS
7.2 Building a Simple MPC Application for DeFi Transactions
7.3 Creating Merkle Proofs for Off-Chain Data Verification
7.4 Testing Quantum-Resistant Keys with Open-Source Libraries
8: Future Trends and Final Project
8.1 Privacy and Compliance: GDPR and Blockchain Encryption
8.2 Research on Advanced Cryptographic Algorithms (BLS Signatures)
8.3 Hands-on Project: Develop a Cryptographically Secure DApp
8.4 Presentation and Peer Review of Final Projects
Conclusion
Participants will gain a solid understanding of advanced cryptographic techniques and their applications in blockchain ecosystems. By the end of the course, they will have hands-on experience developing secure blockchain solutions using cutting-edge cryptography and will be equipped to address the evolving challenges posed by privacy, scalability, and quantum threats.
Reference
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