Blockchain For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Book description

Carve out your niche in the exploding world of blockchain technology

Cryptocurrency, NFTs, smart contracts, and ever-more-important business and finance functions—they all run on blockchain. Blockchain For Dummies is the must-have guide to the basics of blockchain. This clear reference breaks down exactly what blockchain technology is, how it’s used across industries, and what it all means for you and your investment portfolio. Learn the latest token standards, emerging tools and platforms, and opportunities that you’ll want to hop aboard. This book demystifies all of it, so you can understand and profit from this major disruptor in the world of finance. Evaluate new ideas and trends, make smarter decisions, and establish your presence on your blockchains of choice.

  • Peek under the hood of the new tech that’s changing finance (and everything else)
  • Learn how blockchain powers cryptocurrency and smart contracts
  • Launch your own blockchain apps on stable platforms
  • Understand and take advantage of blockchain investment opportunities

Investors, financial pros, and technologists who need Blockchain 101 will love Blockchain For Dummies. Exploring blockchain to build your personal portfolio? This book has your essentials.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  5. Part 1: Getting Started with Blockchain
    1. Chapter 1: Introducing Blockchain
      1. Beginning at the Beginning: What Blockchains Are
      2. The Structure of Blockchains
      3. Blockchain Applications
      4. The Blockchain Life Cycle
      5. Consensus: The Driving Force of Blockchains
      6. Blockchains in Use
    2. Chapter 2: Picking a Blockchain
      1. Where Blockchains Add Substance
      2. Choosing a Solution
    3. Chapter 3: Getting Your Hands on Blockchain
      1. Diving into Blockchain Technology
      2. Securing and Exchanging Your Cryptocurrency
  6. Part 2: Developing Your Knowledge
    1. Chapter 4: Beholding the Bitcoin Blockchain
      1. Getting a Brief History of the Bitcoin Blockchain
      2. The New Bitcoin: Bitcoin Cash
      3. Debunking Some Common Bitcoin Misconceptions
      4. Bitcoin: The New Wild West
      5. Mining for Bitcoins
      6. Making Your First Paper Wallet
    2. Chapter 5: Encountering the Ethereum Blockchain
      1. Exploring the Brief History of Ethereum
      2. Ethereum: The Open-Source World Wide Computer
      3. Hacking a Blockchain
      4. Getting Up and Running on Ethereum
      5. Building Your First Decentralized Autonomous Organization
      6. Uncovering the Future of DAOs
      7. Creating Your Own ERC20 Tokens
    3. Chapter 6: Uncovering the Cardano Blockchain
      1. Getting to Know Cardano
      2. Understanding Ouroboros: Cardano’s Blockchain Consensus
      3. Meeting ADA: The Native Token of Cardano
      4. Building Smart Contracts with Marlowe
    4. Chapter 7: Finding the Polkadot Blockchain
      1. Understanding the Polkadot Ecosystem of Specialized Chains
      2. Digging Deeper into Polkadot: The Blockchain of Blockchains
      3. Getting Up and Running on Polkadot
      4. Uncovering Governance on Polkadot
      5. Nominating Your Validators
    5. Chapter 8: Examining the Solana Blockchain
      1. Uncovering Solana
      2. Getting Up and Running on Solana
      3. Building a DAO on Solana
  7. Part 3: Powerful Blockchain Platforms
    1. Chapter 9: Getting Your Hands on Hyperledger
      1. Getting to Know Hyperledger
      2. Identifying Key Hyperledger Projects
      3. Working with Hyperledger Besu
    2. Chapter 10: Applying Microsoft Azure
      1. Bletchley: The Modular Blockchain Fabric
      2. Building in the Azure Ecosystem
      3. Deploying Blockchain Tools on Azure
      4. Getting Started with Chain on Azure
    3. Chapter 11: Getting Busy with IBM
      1. IBM Blockchain Platform
      2. Business Blockchain on Bluemix
      3. Watson’s Smart Blockchain
      4. Building Your Starter Network on Big Blue
  8. Part 4: Industry Impacts
    1. Chapter 12: Financial Technology
      1. Hauling Out Your Crystal Ball: Future Banking Trends
      2. Going International: Global Financial Products
      3. Squeezing Out Fraud
    2. Chapter 13: Real Estate
      1. Eliminating Title Insurance
      2. Mortgages in the Blockchain World
      3. Forecasting Regional Trends
    3. Chapter 14: Insurance
      1. Precisely Tailoring Coverage
      2. Witnessing for You: The Internet of Things
      3. Taking Out the Third Party in Insurance
    4. Chapter 15: Government
      1. Global Regulatory Action
      2. The Smart Cities of Asia
      3. The Battle for the Financial Capital of the World
      4. Securing the World’s Borders
    5. Chapter 16: Other Industries
      1. Lean Governments
      2. The Trust Layer for the Internet
      3. Oracle of the Blockchain
  9. Part 5: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 17: Ten (or So) Free Blockchain Resources
      1. Ethereum
      2. Got Minted
      3. Blockchain University
      4. Bitcoin Core
      5. Blockchain Alliance
      6. Multichain Blog
      7. HiveMind
      8. Smith + Crown
      9. Unchained and Unconfirmed Podcasts
    2. Chapter 18: Ten Rules to Never Break on the Blockchain
      1. Don’t Use Cryptocurrency or Blockchains to Skirt the Law
      2. Keep Your Contracts as Simple as Possible
      3. Publish with Great Caution
      4. Back Up, Back Up, Back Up Your Private Keys
      5. Triple-Check the Address Before Sending Currency
      6. Take Care When Using Exchanges
      7. Beware Wi-Fi
      8. Identify Your Blockchain Dev
      9. Don’t Get Suckered
      10. Don’t Trade Tokens Unless You Know What You’re Doing
    3. Chapter 19: Ten Top Metaverse Projects
      1. Decentraland
      2. The Sandbox
      3. Axie Infinity
      4. MetaStreet
      5. Enjin Coin
      6. Metahero
      7. Star Atlas
      8. Bloktopia
      9. Highstreet
      10. Voxels
  10. Index
  11. About the Author
  12. Advertisement Page
  13. Connect with Dummies
  14. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Blockchain For Dummies, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Tiana Laurence
  • Release date: April 2023
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781394159666