This monograph provides a comprehensive and rigorous exposition of the basic concepts and most important modern research results concerning blockchain and its applications. The book includes the required cryptographic fundamentals underpinning the blockchain technology, since understanding of the concepts of cryptography involved in the design of blockchain is necessary for mastering the security guarantees furnished by blockchain. It also contains an introduction to cryptographic primitives, and separate chapters on bitcoin, ethereum and smart contracts, public blockchain, private blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain applications.This volume is of great interest to active researchers who are keen to develop novel applications of blockchain in the field of their investigatio. Further, it is also beneficial for industry practitioners as well as undergraduate students in computing and information technology.
Author(s): Xun Yi, Xuechao Yang, Andrei Kelarev, Kwok Yan Lam, Zahir Tari
Series: SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 128
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
1 Cryptographic Primitives
1.1 Secret Key Cryptosystems
1.1.1 Secret Key Cryptosystem Model
1.1.2 Advanced Encryption Standard
1.2 Public Key Cryptosystem
1.2.1 Public Key Encryption Model
1.2.2 RSA Encryption Algorithm
1.2.3 Digital Signature Model
1.2.4 RSA Digital Signature Algorithm
1.3 Hash Functions
1.3.1 The Concept of a Hash Function
1.3.2 SHA-1
1.3.3 SHA-2
1.4 Elliptic Curve Cryptography
1.4.1 Elliptic Curves over the Real Numbers
1.4.2 The Group Law
1.4.3 Elliptic Curves over Finite Fields
1.4.4 Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA)
1.4.5 ECDSA Versus RSA
References
2 Bitcoin, Ethereum, Smart Contracts and Blockchain Types
2.1 Bitcoin
2.1.1 Bitcoin Network
2.1.2 Bitcoin Transactions
2.1.3 Blockchain and Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work
2.1.4 Bitcoin Mining
2.2 Ethereum
2.2.1 Ethereum Network
2.2.2 Ethereum Transactions
2.2.3 Ethereum's Proof-of-Work
2.2.4 Ethereum Mining
2.3 Smart Contracts
2.3.1 The Definition of a Smart Contract
2.3.2 How Does a Smart Contract Work?
2.3.3 How to Write a Smart Contract?
2.3.4 What Is a Decentralized Application (DApp)?
2.3.5 Limitations and Future Developments
2.4 Blockchain Types
2.4.1 Permissionless Blockchains
2.4.2 Permissioned Blockchains
2.4.3 Hybrid Blockchains
References
3 Distributed Consensus
3.1 Introduction
3.2 History of Consensus
3.2.1 Byzantine Fault-Tolerant Consensus
3.2.2 Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT)
3.3 An Overview of Blockchain Consensus
3.3.1 The Objective of Blockchain Consensus
3.3.2 Components of Blockchain Consensus Protocol
3.4 Proof-of-Work Consensus Protocol
3.5 Proof-of-Stake Consensus Protocols
3.5.1 Chain-Based PoS
3.5.2 Committee-Based PoS
3.5.3 BFT-Based PoS
3.5.4 Delegated PoS (DPoS)
3.6 Other Blockchain Consensus Protocols
3.6.1 Proof-of-Authority (PoA)
3.6.2 Proof-of-Elapsed-Time (PoET)
3.6.3 Proof-of-TEE-Stake (PoTS)
3.6.4 Proof-of-Retrievability (PoR)
References
4 Cryptocurrencies
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Litecoin: The Silver to Bitcoin's Gold
4.2.1 History
4.2.2 Comparison Between Litecoin and Bitcoin
4.3 Cardano: The Ethereum Killer
4.3.1 History
4.3.2 Token of Cardano: ADA
4.3.3 Consensus Protocol of Cardano: Ouroboros
4.3.4 Comparison Between Cardano and Ethereum
4.4 Algorand: A Blockchain Breakthrough in Speed and Efficiency
4.4.1 History
4.4.2 Token of Algorand: ALGO
4.4.3 Consensus Protocol of Algorand: PPoS
4.4.4 Key Advantages and Innovations
References
5 Blockchain Applications
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Blockchain-Based Electronic Voting
5.2.1 Background
5.2.2 System Design and Protocols
5.2.3 Security Analysis
5.3 Blockchain Applications In Finance, Health, Manufacturing, Energy, Logistics, and Other Areas
5.3.1 Blockchain-Based Finance
5.3.2 Blockchain-Based Health Care
5.3.3 Blockchain-Based Manufacturing
5.3.4 Blockchain-Based Energy
5.3.5 Blockchain-Based Logistics
5.3.6 Other Applications
5.4 Conclusion
References
