Blockchain Technology: Smart Contracts, Web3 and Decentralized Applications

By Prof Mankirat Kaur

In October 2008, an anonymous author using the name Satoshi Nakamoto circulated a nine-page paper describing "a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash." Few readers could have imagined that this short document would launch a new field of computer science, a trillion-dollar asset class, and a global movement to rethink how trust is established on the internet. Less than two decades later, blockchain technology underpins digital currencies, programmable financial markets, digital collectibles, supply-chain records, identity systems and central-bank experiments around the world.
Yet for many students and professionals, blockchain remains confusing. Popular coverage swings between hype and dismissal, while technical material is scattered across white papers, specifications, blog posts and fast-changing documentation. This book was written to bridge that gap: to provide a single, coherent and rigorous introduction that takes readers from first principles to building real decentralised applications.
Approach. The book follows a layered approach. It begins with the problem blockchains solve and the cryptographic tools they use, moves through architecture and consensus, examines Bitcoin and Ethereum in depth, and then devotes substantial attention to smart contracts - their design, programming in Solidity, security and testing. Later chapters cover tokens, the Web3 development stack, complete dApp development, decentralised finance, scalability and layer-2 rollups, enterprise blockchains, alternative smart-contract platforms such as Solana, Move-based chains and Cardano, zero-knowledge proofs and interoperability, DAOs and governance, the convergence of blockchain with IoT, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, and real-world applications together with the regulatory landscape. Every concept is explained before it is used, and every chapter combines theory with practice.
Features. To make the subject engaging and accessible, the book includes: Nearly one hundred figures and diagrams, including gate-level circuits for the SHA-256 Boolean functions, arithmetic circuits for zero-knowledge proofs, state machines, sequence diagrams and architecture diagrams;More than 130 tables that compare technologies, summarise parameters and organise key facts;Numerous complete code listings in Solidity, JavaScript, Python and Go, written for current tool versions such as Solidity 0.8.24+, OpenZeppelin Contracts v5, ethers.js v6, Hardhat and Foundry;Worked numerical examples on mining difficulty, attack probabilities, gas fees, AMM pricing, impermanent loss and loan health factors;A full-stack crowdfunding dApp built step by step, and five further hands-on projects with extension challenges and an assessment rubric;Chapter summaries, key-term lists and review questions with programming, design and research exercises;A glossary and a quick-reference appendix for Solidity and development tools.Audience. The book is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students of computer science, information technology, electronics and allied disciplines, and for software engineers, financial professionals, entrepreneurs and policy makers who want a thorough understanding of the technology. Familiarity with basic programming is helpful; no prior knowledge of cryptography or blockchain is assumed. Instructors can use Chapters 1-8 for a one-semester introductory course and Chapters 9-22 for an advanced course or laboratory.
A note on change. Blockchain evolves rapidly, so the book emphasises enduring principles - why designs work, what trade-offs they make and how to reason about security. Facts about networks and regulations reflect the position in 2026. The code is for learning and has not been audited; never deploy contracts holding real value without professional review.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HP8CLG4D
• ISBN13: 9798165286490
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"