(01710217): Blockchain Technology and Application (Spring 2026)

Time: Monday 14:00-17:00

Location: 3203, Teaching Building, Daxing

Class web site: https://huipingsun.github.io/bct202603

Class live: No

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

TA: TBA

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, Solana, Scalability, PCN, BFT, 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 Decrentrazation, DApp, Web3, DeFi, Crypto-Economics 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.
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
March 02	00. Course Overview [Slides]	NO
March 02	01. Decentralization [Slides]	Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Charpter 2: How Bitcoin Achieves Decentralization. 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.
March 09	02. Blockchain [Slides]	Introduction to Blockchain [Textbook]. Charpter 1: Blockchain Overview. 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.
March 16	03. Bitcoin I [Slides]	Introduction to Blockchain [Textbook]. Charpter 6: Bitcoin Platform. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 1: Introduction. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 2: How Bitcoin Works. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 4: Keys and Addresses. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 5: Wallets Recovery. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 6: Transactions. Mastering Bitcoin (3nd Edition). Charpter 11: The Blockchain. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Charpter 3: Mechanics of Bitcoin. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Charpter 4: How to Store and Use Bitcoins. Mastering Blockchain (4th Edition). Charpter 6: Bitcoin Architecture. Mastering Blockchain (4th Edition). Charpter 7: Bitcoin in Practice. Bitcoin.org . 2024. Bitcoin Developer Guides @ Bitcoin.org. 2024. [Homework]
March 23	04. BFT [Slides]	TBD
March 30	05. Nakamoto Consensus [Slides ]	TBD
April 06	06. Blockchain Network [Slides ]	TBD
April 13	07. Smart Contract [Slides]	TBD
April 20	08. Ethereum [Slides]	TBD
April 27	09. Blockchain Scalability [Slides]	TBD
May 11	10. Solana [Slides]	TBD
May 18	11. Crypto-Economics [Slides]	TBD
May 25	12. DeFi [Slides]	TBD
June 01	13. Blockchain Security & Privacy [Slides]	TBD
June 08	14. PCN [Slides]	TBD
June 14	15. Blockchain Application [Slides]	TBD
June 20	16. Project Presentations [Slides]	No

Course Grading

The grading scheme is as follows:

60% Readings + Quizzers + Presentations
40% Project

Course Projects

TBD

(01710217): Blockchain Technology and Application (Spring 2026)

Course Description

Course Textbook and Reference

Course Schedule

Date

Topics

Readings

Course Grading

Course Projects

Course References

Course History