Blockchain and Cryptography Overview (Coursera)

Offered by SkillUp EdTech,
Blockchain and Cryptography Overview (Coursera)

The Blockchain and Cryptography Overview course is a part of the Certified Blockchain Security Professional (CBSP) Exam Prep Specialization and introduces you to fundamental cryptographic principles. You will gain insight into concepts such as hash functions in blockchain, core components and advantages of blockchain, and assumptions and challenges in blockchain security. You will also learn about core blockchain concepts, highlight security measures against prevalent threats, and comprehend consensus security challenges while exploring well-known algorithms like Proof of Work and Proof of Stake.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the purpose of hash functions and public key cryptography in blockchain security.
  2. Explore the fundamentals of blockchain technology, including blocks, chains, and network security, and identify and encounter basic threats.
  3. Analyze the security of Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) and alternative consensus methods.

The courses in this specialization are designed for individuals interested in blockchain security and cybersecurity and are suitable for both coding and non-coding professionals.
This course is part of the Certified Blockchain Security Professional (CBSP) Exam Prep Specialization.

What you'll learn

  • Describe the purpose of hash functions and public key cryptography in blockchain security.
  • Explore the fundamentals of blockchain technology, including blocks, chains, and network security, and identify and encounter basic threats.
  • Analyze the security of Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and alternative consensus methods.

Syllabus

Cryptography and Blockchain Basics
This module will cover the cryptography basics of blockchain, like hash functions and digital signatures using public key cryptography. The module also introduces you to the core components and advantages of blockchain and the assumptions and challenges in blockchain security, such as the vulnerability of losing private keys and different types of wallets. Finally, you will also learn about the factors influencing blockchain risk appraisal.

Consensus: Backbone of Blockchain Technology
In this module, you will learn about blockchain fundamentals, its promises, and the security essentials. From understanding the basics to recognizing potential threats, this module provides a concise overview, setting the stage for deeper insights into blockchain technology.

Basics of Blockchain Security and Smart Contracts
In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of blockchain security and smart contracts. You will gain insight into key concepts such as user safety, node and network safety, and an overview of smart contracts. The module also delves into the security aspects of smart contracts and the process of auditing them.

Peer-Reviewed Assignment
This is a peer-review assignment based on the concepts taught in the Blockchain and Cryptography Overview course. In this assignment, you will be able to explain the various consensus mechanisms and highlight the security measures that can be implemented to protect the blockchain networks.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Blockchain Basics (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Blockchain Basics (Coursera)

This first course of the Blockchain specialization provides a broad overview of the essential concepts of blockchain technology – by initially exploring the Bitcoin protocol followed by the Ethereum protocol – to lay the foundation necessary for developing applications and programming. You will be equipped with the knowledge needed to create nodes on your personal Ethereum blockchain, create accounts, unlock accounts, mine, transact, transfer Ethers, and check balances.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
La Disrupción del Blockchain (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Austral

La Disrupción del Blockchain (Coursera)

Muchas personas ya conocen al bitcoin, la moneda digital que en pocos años pasó de valer unos pocos centavos a miles de dólares. Pero esto es sólo la punta del iceberg de un fenómeno mucho más grande. El blockchain, la tecnología en la que se basa el bitcoin, tiene el potencial de disrumpir los negocios, las finanzas, las leyes y hasta los gobiernos.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Web Connectivity and Security in Embedded Systems (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Web Connectivity and Security in Embedded Systems (Coursera)

In this course, we will explore several technologies that bring modern devices together, facilitating a network of connected things and making devices internet enabled. We will discuss rules, protocols, and standards for these devices to communicate with each other in the network. We will also go through security and privacy issues and challenges in cyber physical systems (CPS). We will explore measures and techniques for securing systems from different perspectives. Possible attack models are introduced and solutions to tackle such attacks are discussed. Moreover, some basic concepts related to privacy in cyber physical systems are presented.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
An Introduction to Logic for Computer Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Leeds

An Introduction to Logic for Computer Science (Coursera)

Logic plays a fundamental role in computer science. This course is designed to equip you with a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of logic and their relevance in the field of computer science. In this course, you'll explore proposition logic and discover its practical applications in problem-solving, algorithm design, and the development of intelligent systems. By engaging in hands-on exercises, exploring real-world examples, and participating in discussions, you'll develop strong logical reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Nov 16th 2026
2 Weeks
Introduction to Supply Chain Finance & Blockchain Technology (Coursera) Coursera
New York Institute of Finance

Introduction to Supply Chain Finance & Blockchain Technology (Coursera)

What is Supply Chain Finance? How does Blockchain apply? In this course, you’ll learn about an emerging set of solutions within trade finance implemented by financial institutions, leading corporate buyers and their trading partners all over the world known as Supply Chain Finance. You’ll learn about the key enablers in Supply Chain Finance and recognize the key challenges in the current market that are responsible for the growing interest in Supply Chain Finance.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
How Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets can master the Blockchain Technology (Coursera) Coursera
University of Cape Town

How Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets can master the Blockchain Technology (Coursera)

In this course, you will gain a thorough understanding of the blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, including an introduction to the necessary foundations in cryptography. The course will discuss blockchain as a distributed ledger and introduce distributed consensus as a mechanism to maintain the integrity of the blockchain. The other revolutionary technologies that are changing the world as we speak are artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will learn about the three major types of AI algorithms: supervised and unsupervised machine learning, as well as reinforcement learning.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
New Technologies for Business Leaders (Coursera) Coursera
Rutgers University

New Technologies for Business Leaders (Coursera)

This introductory course is developed for high-level business people (and those on their way) who want a broad understanding of new Information Technologies and understand their potential for business functions (e.g. marketing, supply change management, finance). This is not a course for people looking for guidance on how to become a deep technical expert or implement these technologies.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cryptography and Information Theory (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Cryptography and Information Theory (Coursera)

This course combines cryptography (the techniques for protecting information from unauthorized access) and information theory (the study of information coding and transfer). More specifically, the course studies cryptography from the information-theoretical perspectives and discuss the concepts such as entropy and the attacker knowledge capabilities, e.g., Kerckhoff's Principle. It also contrasts information-theoretic security and computational security to highlight the different train of thoughts that drive the cryptographic algorithmic construction and the security analyses.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to Blockchain (Coursera) Coursera
Pohang University of Science and Technology - POSTECH

Introduction to Blockchain (Coursera)

Before diving into an in-depth study of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies, this course can provide high-level explanations and practical examples that can be easily understood and applied by individuals who do not have a blockchain background. These explanations will relate to blockchain and cryptocurrency concepts and how they can be utilized in real-world scenarios.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Transacting on the Blockchain (Coursera) Coursera
INSEAD

Transacting on the Blockchain (Coursera)

Today, large intermediaries establish trust in our economy and control the movement, storage, and allocation of money and assets. The status quo, however, is rife with inefficiencies. In this course, we’ll address the many challenges of the status quo and discuss how cryptoassets, smart contracts, new identity systems, and new financial business models can help overcome them.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Blockchain Scalability and its Foundations in Distributed Systems (Coursera) Coursera
The University of Sydney

Blockchain Scalability and its Foundations in Distributed Systems (Coursera)

Blockchain promises to disrupt industries once it will be efficient at large scale. In this course, you will learn how to make blockchain scale. You will learn about the foundational problem of distributed computing, consensus, that is key to create blocks securely. By illustrating limitations of mainstream blockchains, this course will indicate how to improve the technology in terms of security and efficiency. In particular, this course will help you: understand security vulnerabilities of mainstream blockchains; design consensus algorithms that tolerate attacks, and; design scalable blockchain systems.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cyber Security Fundamentals (Coursera) Coursera
University of London

Cyber Security Fundamentals (Coursera)

This course is intended to provide a general introduction to key concepts in cyber security. It is aimed at anyone with a good general knowledge of information and communications technology. The nature, scope and importance of cyber security are explained, and key concepts are justified and explored. This includes examining the types of threat that cyber security must address, as well as the range of mechanisms, both technological and procedural, that can be deployed.

Nov 15th 2026
3 Weeks