(01716430): Blockchian(MEM, Fall 2025)

Time: Saturday 13:00-16:00

Location: Room 301, No.2 Teaching Building, PKU

Class web site: https://huipingsun.github.io/bc202509

Class live: No

Instructor: Huiping Sun (sunhp(at)ss.pku.edu.cn)

TA: Chang Dai

Course Description

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of key aspects within blockchain technology.

From a technical standpoint, we delve into the origins, concepts, and the current state of blockchain technology. We provide an in-depth explanation of fundamental algorithms, encompassing cryptography, peer-to-peer networks, and smart contracts. Additionally, we introduce prominent platforms and critical mechanisms, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Consensus, Security, Privacy and more.

On the non-technical front, we examine the real-world applications, ongoing projects, community dynamics, and the legal landscape surrounding blockchain technology. Furthermore, we introduce concepts like DApp, Web3, DeFi, Stablecoin, RWA, DID, and discuss the challenges, problems, and future trends shaping the trajectory of blockchain technology.

For hands-on experience, this course includes a series of blockchain experiments and projects, providing practical insights into how blockchain operates.

Course Textbook and Reference

Zhong Chen, Huiping Sun. Introduction to Blockchain. People's Posts and Telecommunications Press. 2025.[Textbook]
Avind Narayanan etc. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Princeton University Press. 2016.[Textbook]
Andreas M.Antonopoulos，David A. Harding. Mastering Bitcoin, 3rd Edition. O'Reily. 2023.
Andreas M.Antonopoulos, Gavin Wood. Mastering Ethereum. O'Reily. 2018.
Imran Bashir. Mastering Blockchain - A Technical Reference Guide to the Inner Workings of Blockchain, from Cryptography to DeFi and NFTs, 4th Edition. PACKT. 2023.

Course Schedule

Date	Topics	Readings
September 14	00. Course Overview [Slides]	No
September 14	01. Blockchain [Slides]	Mastering Blockchain (4th Edition). Charpter 1: Blockchain 101. Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. 2008. [Homework] Buterin V. Ethereum. Ethereum: A Next-Generation Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform. 2013. Iansiti M, Lakhani K R. The Truth about Blockchain. Harvard Business Review, 2017, 95(1): 118-127. Sherman A T, Javani F, Zhang H, et al. On the Origins and Variations of Blockchain Technologies. IEEE Security & Privacy, 2019, 17(1): 72-77. CB Insights. What Is Blockchain Technology?. 2023.
September 21	02. Decentralization [Slides]	Vitalik Buterin. The Meaning of Decentralization . Medium. 2017 [Homework] Nathan Schneider. Decentralization: an incomplete ambition. Jornal of Cultural Economy, 2019 Balázs Bodó, etc. Decentralisation: a multidisciplinary perspective. Internet Policy Review, 2021 Christina Ovezik, etc. SoK: A Stratified Approach to Blockchain Decentralization. 28th International Conference on Financial Cryptography and Data Security(FC), 2024 Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Charpter 2: How Bitcoin Achieves Decentralization.
October 19	03. CryptoCurrency [Slides]	TBD
October 26	04. StableCoin & RWA [Slides]	TBD
November 02	05. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) [Slides]	TBD
November 09	06. Web 3.0 [Slides]	TBD
November 16	07. Blockchain for Data & ID [Slides]	TBD
November 23	08. Blockchain for Industry [Slides]	TBD
November 30	09. Blockchain Government [Slides]	TBD
December 07	10. Blockchain Challenges & Future [Slides]	TBD
December 14	11. Project Report	TBD

Course Grading

The grading scheme is as follows:

60% - Coursework (Readings, Quizzes, Reports)
40% - Project

Course Projects

TBD

(01716430): Blockchian(MEM, Fall 2025)

Course Description

Course Textbook and Reference

Course Schedule

Date

Topics

Readings

Course Grading

Course Projects

Course References

Course History