Blockchain: Fundamentals, Data Structures and Algorithms for Data Science
A course book and reference on Bitcoin, Ethereum, smart contracts, privacy coins, scalability, decentralized finance, security, and graph based blockchain data analysis.
Why this book
Douglas Adams remarked that technologies invented between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five feel exciting and revolutionary, while anything present at birth feels normal and ordinary. We first started studying blockchain in our thirties and found it new and exciting. A decade later, we teach it with the conviction that it is now part of the natural order of things, and everyone should know the basics.
Blockchain started as a secure, distributed platform without central authorities. Hype has risen and fallen, but the idea remains important. Daily blockchain trading volumes have surged past 120 billion USD in some market snapshots, making blockchain a major financial avenue.
This book takes a holistic view. We cover the building blocks, explain how they interact, and connect systems to the world they operate in, including finance, incentives, and adversarial behavior. We also show how graph theory and graph mining support blockchain technology and data analytics.
Blockchain landscape at a glance
Coins and platforms differ in data structure, purpose, and system properties. The table below gives a compact tour across UTXO, account-based ledgers, and DAG-based designs, plus privacy support, permissioned validation, and public access.
| System | Data structure | Functionality | System properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTXO | Account | DAG | Platform | Cryptocurrency | Privacy enabled | Permissioned | Public | |
| Bitcoin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Litecoin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Zcash | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Dash | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Monero | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Ripple | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Ethereum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| IOTA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | semi | ✓ | |||
Long description of the table
The table compares eight blockchain systems across three dimensions: data structure (UTXO, account, DAG), functionality (platform, cryptocurrency), and system properties (privacy enabled, permissioned, public). Bitcoin and Litecoin use UTXO and are public cryptocurrencies. Zcash, Dash, and Monero add privacy features. Ripple is account based and permissioned. Ethereum is account based, supports both platform and cryptocurrency use, and is public. IOTA uses a DAG and is marked as semi centralized while being public.
Roadmap and teaching style
We teach technology in chronological order. Chapters follow the historical progression of developments rather than technical complexity. For scalability, we introduce layer one advancements such as proof of stake before earlier solutions such as segregated witness. This mirrors how the field evolved and helps readers place each idea in context.
Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and self assessment. The book works as both a course textbook and a reference for independent study.
Suggested reading flow
Description of the reading flow figure
The diagram shows nodes representing chapters connected with arrows that indicate conceptual dependencies. It begins with chapters on the history of digital money and Bitcoin, which lead to Ethereum and Solidity. Ripple, privacy coins, and next generation blockchain topics branch from Ethereum. Analytics chapters depend on data modeling. The security and temporal analysis chapters appear later, indicating advanced topics.
Materials
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Contact
For adoption, feedback, or an instructor copy, email cuneyt.akcora@ucf.edu and include the course number and term.