<p>Blockchain isn’t just a crypto buzzword &#8211; it’s an incredible technology that’s reinventing the financial industry, the Internet, and how business is done.&nbsp; From Bitcoin, which implemented a decentralized financial system, blockchain has expanded to incorporate smart contract platforms that allow decentralized programs to run on top of the blockchain.</p><p>Blockchain will play a critical role in the future of technology, and understanding how it works is essential to participating in the space.&nbsp; The following are some of the best books on blockchain that we recommend if you want to learn more about this revolutionary technology.</p><h1>1) <a href="https://amzn.to/3pMZcBw">Mastering Blockchain</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mastering-Blockchain-243x300.png" alt="Mastering Blockchain Imran Bashir" class="wp-image-1651"/></figure><p><em><a href="https://amzn.to/3pMZcBw">Mastering Blockchain</a></em> by Imran Bashir provides a deep dive into how blockchain technology works under the hood.&nbsp; It describes how each layer of the blockchain infrastructure works independently and how they interoperate to create blockchain systems.&nbsp; With a combination of theory and hands-on exercises with leading blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger, and Quorum, this provides a solid foundation for working with blockchain technology.</p><h1>2) <a href="https://amzn.to/3pMyUPN">Mastering Bitcoin</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mastering-Bitcoin-231x300.png" alt="Mastering Bitcoin Andreas Antonopoulos" class="wp-image-1657"/></figure><p><em><a href="https://amzn.to/3pMyUPN">Mastering Bitcoin</a></em> was written by <a href="https://twitter.com/aantonop">Andreas Antonopoulos</a>, one of the biggest names in the blockchain space.  This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Bitcoin, combining explanations of how Bitcoin works with code samples demonstrating implementation details.  This in-depth guide to Bitcoin is essential to using and working with the Bitcoin platform.</p><h1>3) <a href="https://amzn.to/3MB9y0M">Mastering Ethereum</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mastering-Ethereum-229x300.png" alt="Mastering Ethereum Antonopoulos Gavin Wood" class="wp-image-1659"/></figure><p>Also written by Andreas Antonopoulos, in partnership with Ethereum co-founder <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/gavofyork">Gavin Wood</a>, the book <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3MB9y0M">Mastering Ethereum</a></em> provides an introduction to smart contract platforms.  Ethereum, as the first smart contract platform, is an ideal example of how these systems operate.  This book describes both the theory and the practice of writing smart contracts and implementing distributed applications (DApps) on Ethereum and other smart contract platforms.</p><h1>4) <a href="https://amzn.to/3sUARM1">Build Your Own Blockchain (Management for Professionals)</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Build-Your-Own-Blockchain-198x300.png" alt="Build Your Own Blockchain Daniel Hellwig" class="wp-image-1660"/></figure><p><em><a href="https://amzn.to/3sUARM1">Build Your Own Blockchain</a></em> by Daniel Hellwig, Goran Karlic, and Arnd Huchzermeier teaches the mechanics of how blockchain technology works by walking readers through the process of implementing a blockchain.  It assumes some prior knowledge of the blockchain, so it should follow one of the earlier books.  Given that foundation, the book reinforces and cements an understanding of how blockchain technology really works.</p><h1>5) <a href="https://amzn.to/3sUczBu">Token Economy: How the Web3 Reinvents the Internet</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Token-Economy-207x300.png" alt="Token Economy Shermin Voshmgir" class="wp-image-1661"/></figure><p><a href="https://halborn.com/what-is-web3-the-ultimate-guide/">Web3</a> is the next iteration of the Internet, built on blockchain technology.  <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3sUczBu">Token Economy</a></em> by Shermin Voshmgir explores the promise of Web3, describing its economic impacts and ability to redesign how web applications work.  In contrast to earlier books in this list, this book focuses on the “why” of blockchain technology rather than the “how”.</p><h1>6) <a href="https://kerkour.com/black-hat-rust">Black Hat Rust</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Black-Hat-Rust-227x300.png" alt="Black Hat Rust Sylvain Kerkour" class="wp-image-1662"/></figure><p>While not a book about blockchain, <em><a href="https://kerkour.com/black-hat-rust">Black Hat Rust</a></em> by Sylvain Kerkour, can be an invaluable resource for those wanting to learn more about blockchain security.  Blockchain security testing requires knowledge of how to write scripts and use them to automate information gathering, vulnerability scanning, and other aspects of the security testing process.  This book provides a clear hands-on discussion of how to write offensive security code in Rust that can be applied to securing the blockchain or IT systems in general.</p><h1>7) <a href="https://amzn.to/3sRXz7h">Cryptographic Primitives in Blockchain Technology: A Mathematical Introduction</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cryptographic-Primitives-198x300.png" alt="Cryptographic Primitives Andreas Bolfing" class="wp-image-1663"/></figure><p>Blockchain technology is built on cryptography, which provides it with certain protections and guarantees, such as the immutability of the digital ledger and the authenticity of blockchain transactions.  <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3sRXz7h">Cryptographic Primitives</a></em> by Andreas Bolfing explores how cryptographic primitives are used in blockchain technology.  This understanding of cryptography is crucial to an understanding of how blockchain security works.</p><h1>8) <a href="https://amzn.to/35X8OlV">Serious Cryptography &#8211; A Practical Introduction to Modern Encryption</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Serious-Cryptography-224x300.png" alt="Serious Cryptography Jean-Philippe Aumasson" class="wp-image-1665"/></figure><p>For those wanting to go beyond the basics of cryptography in the blockchain, <em><a href="https://amzn.to/35X8OlV">Serious Cryptography</a></em> by Jean-Philippe Aumasson is an invaluable resource.  Cryptography can be a dense, highly theoretical subject, but this book breaks down key cryptographic concepts in an accessible way.  The information provided in this book is useful for understanding both the fundamental cryptography used in blockchain technology as well as more advanced cryptographic primitives, such as zk-SNARKs.</p><h1>9) <a href="https://amzn.to/3IVVv3V">How to DeFi: Advanced Paperback</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/How-to-DeFi-199x300.png" alt="How to DeFi CoinGecko" class="wp-image-1666"/></figure><p>Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has become one of the biggest and most valuable applications of blockchain technology.  As these platforms and projects revolutionize the financial industry, the <a href="https://amzn.to/3IVVv3V"><em>How to DeFi</em></a> guide by CoinGecko has become an invaluable resource.  The book describes how these protocols work under the hood, how to evaluate protocols, and some of the common causes of DeFi exploits.</p><h1>10) <a href="https://amzn.to/3sSEy4J">Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money</a></h1><figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://halborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Digital-Gold-198x300.png" alt="Digital Gold Nathaniel Popper" class="wp-image-1667"/></figure><p>In <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3sSEy4J">Digital Gold</a></em>, New York Times fintech reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/nathanielpopper">Nathaniel Popper</a> explores the history of blockchain technology and the people behind it.  It tells the stories of some of the main personalities in the blockchain movement and their roles in shaping the technology and encouraging its growth.</p><h2>Securing the Decentralized Ecosystem</h2><p>Blockchain is built on the principles of accessibility and decentralization, allowing anyone to participate in the space and eliminating traditional gatekeepers and centralized authorities.&nbsp; Anyone can build blockchain-based applications and help to revolutionize how finance and other industries operate.</p><p>When building DApps and blockchain projects, security is a major concern.&nbsp; DeFi projects commonly have valuations in the millions, and attacks are commonplace.&nbsp; To learn more about securing your blockchain platform, reach out at halborn@protonmail.com.</p>

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Blockchain security firm Halborn picks the best books on blockchain for those who want to learn more about this revolutionary technology.

Top 10 Books About Crypto, DeFi, and Blockchain Security

<p>Algorand is a public, permissionless blockchain platform.  Its goal is to solve the “blockchain trilemma” by providing decentralization, security, and scalability.  It supports smart contract development and has the goal of achieving rates of 1,000 transactions per second while finalizing blocks within 5 seconds.</p><h2>The Structure of the Algorand Blockchain</h2><p>One of the primary goals of Algorand is to allow rapid transaction processing.  Blockchain platforms like Bitcoin and Ethereum commonly get bogged down, making transactions slow and expensive to perform.</p><p>One of the ways in which Algorand attempts to improve the speed and cost of transactions is by implementing a two-tier platform:</p><ol><li>Layer 1 of the Algorand platform is designed to allow rapid execution of simple operations.  This includes creating Algorand Standard Assets (equivalent to ERC-20 tokens), performing atomic asset swaps, and running simple smart contracts.</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>The second layer of the Algorand platform is designed to support the execution of more complex contracts, such as the ones that would exist in DeFi projects.  These smart contracts take up more resources and can slow the execution of the blockchain platform.  By running these off-chain, Algorand makes normal, Layer 1 operations run more quickly.</li></ol><h2>How Algorand Implements Block Creation</h2><p>Another way in which Algorand achieves its goals of speed, security, and scalability is by using a variation of the Proof of Stake (PoS) algorithm called Pure Proof of Stake (PPoS).  With PPoS, a user only needs to stake a single ALGO token to participate, which is much less than the 32 ETH required by Ethereum 2.0.</p><p>Like all PoS blockchains, Algorand pseudorandomly selects the creator of the next block.  Algorand’s verifiable random function (VRF) is designed to only tell the block creator that they are the one supposed to make the next block.  This protects them against attacks designed to delay the creation of blocks on the blockchain.</p><p>When the chosen block creator builds a block, they include a proof that shows that they are the selected block creator.  This block is then analyzed by a randomly-selected committee of participation nodes.  These nodes check the block for double-spend attacks or other issues and then vote on its validity. If the block is approved, it is accepted and the network moves on to the next block.  Otherwise, the network enters recovery mode, where a new block creator is selected to build the next block.</p><p>Algorand’s PPoS voting process is quick and provides near-instant finalization, enabling it to approve transactions within the desired five-second interval.  </p><p>Algorand also distributes block rewards to all coin holders, rather than just the block creator.</p><h2>Algorand: A More Decentralized Blockchain</h2><p>The original goal of blockchain was to create a fully decentralized financial system.  However, many blockchains have become increasingly centralized as participants create mining pools or acquire large amounts of staked assets.</p><p>Silvio Micali, the Turing Award-winning creator of Algorand, designed it to be a more decentralized system than existing blockchains.  By lowering the price to participate in consensus and decoupling block rewards from block creation, Algorand eliminates many of the incentives to accrue power in the system, encouraging decentralization.  </p><p>This, along with its multi-tier design that supports fast transaction speeds, makes it a potential competitor to other smart contract platforms like Ethereum.</p>

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Cybersecurity firm Halborn provides a quick overview of the Algorand blockchain, a recent competitor to Ethereum.

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