Virtual Currencies: A Case Study of Bitcoin
Learn more about Bitcoin and how it is used as an electronic payment system, with this free finance course.
Description
Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that can be used in electronic payment systems. This course will teach you how to install the Bitcoin client on your computer to make Bitcoin payments. You will study MD5 and SHA 256 which are used as cryptographic hash functions. You will also learn the important functions of cryptographic hash functions which include computational efficiency, collision resistance, information privacy, and random generation of output.
A Digital Signature Standard (DSS) is a collection of procedures and standards developed by the U.S. National Security Agency used to generate a digital signature to authenticate electronic documents. This course will discuss the RSA and DSS digital signatures. You will study the keys generated when creating a digital signature, which includes the signing key and verification key. You will learn that the verification key is kept public and the signing key is kept private.
Bitcoin is a decentralized system, meaning no single institution controls the network. This currency model has been increasing in popularity and notoriety for some time, and is unlikely to disappear any time soon. By the end of this course, you will have a much stronger understanding of what Bitcoin is, how it can be used, and what its potential future may hold. This is powerful knowledge in the modern economy, so check out the course today and start learning something really useful.
Modules
Module 1: Introduction to Bitcoin
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Bitcoin - Learning outcomes
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Bitcoin - What is it?
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Bitcoin - Overview
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Bitcoin - Cryptographic hash function
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Bitcoin - Digital signatures
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Bitcoin - Transaction records
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Bitcoin - Proof of work
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Bitcoin - Transaction block chains
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Bitcoin - The money supply
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Bitcoin - The security of transaction block chains
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Lesson summary
Module 2: Introduction to Bitcoin Assessment
Learning Outcomes
After studying this course you will be able to: - Describe how Bitcoin is used as an electronic payment system; - Describe the function of cryptographic hash functions; - Describe how digital signatures and proof of work ensure security; - Describe the importance of transaction block chains and how they are created.
Certification
All Alison courses are free to enrol, study and complete. To successfully complete this Certificate course and become an Alison Graduate, you need to achieve 80% or higher in each course assessment. Once you have completed this Certificate course, you have the option to acquire official Certification, which is a great way to share your achievement with the world. Your Alison Certification is:
Ideal for sharing with potential employers - include it in your CV, professional social media profiles and job applications
An indication of your commitment to continuously learn, upskill and achieve high results
An incentive for you to continue empowering yourself through lifelong learning
Alison offers 3 types of Certification for completed Certificate courses:
Digital Certificate - a downloadable Certificate in PDF format, immediately available to you when you complete your purchase
Certificate - a physical version of your officially branded and security-marked Certificate, posted to you with FREE shipping
Framed Certificate - a physical version of your officially branded and security-marked Certificate in a stylish frame, posted to you with FREE shipping
All Certification is available to purchase through the Alison Shop. For more information on purchasing Alison Certification, please visit our faqs. If you decide not to purchase your Alison Certification, you can still demonstrate your achievement by sharing your Learner Record or Learner Achievement Verification, both of which are accessible from your Dashboard. For more details on our Certification pricing, please visit our Pricing Page.
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This Course has been revised!
For a more enjoyable learning experience, we recommend that you study the mobile-friendly republished version of this course.
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