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Who we are

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To begin, we will give you a little background about how this whole class was started:

In December of 2021, Joe/Clara Tsai foundation came to Cornell with a vision: to help spread blockchain education to Brooklyn.

Cornell Blockchain was founded with the goal to help young people learn about blockchain technology, regardless of where they lived, what they studied at school, or what their background was. Cornell Blockchain has had wide success with this goal. We have taught over 200+ students about the fundamentals of blockchain technology, formed the first ever for-credit blockchain class in a university, and were even ranked #1 for blockchain education by Coinbase in 2019.

When confronted with an opportunity to help spread blockchain education to Brooklyn, Cornell Blockchain instantly jumped at the opportunity.

We are now here thanks to the help of Joe/Clara Tsai Foundation and the NY Dept of Education...excited to help teach the next generation Blockchain technology leaders.

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Goals for the Class

Learn the fundamentals of Blockchain technology
Gain exposure to Blockchain career path
Have fun!

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Schedule:

Meet every Tuesday / Thursday @ 5:30pm

Tuesday will be lecture / activity based
Thursday will be review / career development based

Arrival:

Catered Dinner will be served from 5-5:30, so please arrive on time!

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Resources

Slides / Extended Learning:

https://blockchainbootcamp.wixsite.com/2022

Contact:

blockchain@cornell.edu

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Crypto Bootcamp

Blockchain Basics

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The problem blockchain solved

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Blockchain has fundamentally enhanced how we interact on the internet.

The problem blockchain solved

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Have you ever thought about how the internet really works?

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The Internet is simply a platform that connects peoples devices allowing them to interact

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How people connect over the internet without �Blockchain technology

Centralized Systems

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How people connect over the internet without �Blockchain technology

Centralized Systems

2. Decentralized Systems

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Centralized Systems

It is the most popular way the internet connects people together

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Centralized Systems

It is the most popular way the internet connects people together

Connections are made through one central computer (white dot)

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Centralized Systems

Examples of Centralized Systems: Facebook, Google, Instagram, etc.

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Centralized Systems

Are they Safe?

They are safe ONLY when people are able to depend on the central computer (white dot)…

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Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Centralized Systems are fragile because they are dependent on a central computer

Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Example:

In Fall 2021 Facebook’s servers broke... We could not connect with our friends/family on Facebook until the servers were fixed

Problem With Centralized Systems: Dependency

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Pros of Communication in Centralized Systems

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The central figure can create agreement amongst all network participants

Pros of Communication in Centralized Systems

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There can be disagreement between blue, green, purple, red of what is true...

The central authority can establish what is true

Pros of Communication in Centralized Systems

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Pros of Communication in Centralized Systems

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Overview How We Connect on the Internet

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Centralized System
Heavily Dependent on Central Figure
Can Agree on Common Truth

Overview How We Connect on the Internet

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Centralized Systems

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2^nd Way of Communication: Decentralized Systems

Centralized Systems

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Decentralized Systems

Decentralization is another way people are connected on the internet

Decentralized systems, unlike a centralized system, do not rely on a central computer (white dot)

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Pros of Decentralized Systems - Not Dependent on Central Figure

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Pros of Decentralized Systems - Not Dependent on Central Figure

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Pros of Decentralized Systems - Not Dependent on Central Figure

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Decentralized Systems

When you hear “decentralized” think freedom from dependency…

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Decentralized Systems

When you hear “decentralized” think freedom from dependency…

Example: Bikes Around NYC

People do not depend on any central bike rack to ride city bikes.

Bike stations are decentralized and are spread

across the city

People will always be able to ride bikes no

Matter if one bike-station is broken

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Pros of Decentralized Systems

There is no single point of failure!

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Cons of Decentralized Systems

Are they Safe?

Use of decentralized systems are relatively safer than centralized systems because they have no single point of failure

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Cons of Decentralized Systems

Are they Safe?

BUT....

DECENTRALIZED SYSTEMS ARE NOT PERFECT

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Cons of Decentralized Systems

Can’t agree on on a single common truth

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Cons of Decentralized Systems

There can be disagreement between what blue, green, red, purple, and white thinks is true

There is no central authority to establish what is true

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Cons of Decentralized Systems

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The inability for participants in a decentralized system to find common truth is a big con of decentralized systems

Cons of Decentralized Systems

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Byzantine’s General Problem

This problem has a formal name: Byzantine Generals’ Problem

Suppose you are a general in decentralized system, but want to plan a coordinated attack against an enemy with your other generals

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Activity: Act out BGP

Witness how agreeing on a common truth in a decentralized system is difficult

[End of Lecture I]

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Lecture 1 Review

Centralized vs Decentralized
What is the main drawback with decentralized systems?

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Lecture 1 Review

Centralized vs Decentralized
What is the main drawback with decentralized systems?
Byzantine Generals Problem

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Blockchain Solves the “Byzantine General Problem!”

... In other words, the inability to come to a common truth in a decentralized system!

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Without Blockchain… Trust Issues / Can’t agree on common truth

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With Blockchain… Common truth and clear communication

Without Blockchain… Trust Issues / Can’t agree on common truth

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Overview How We Connect on the Internet

Centralized System	Decentralized Systems	Blockchain
Heavily Dependent on Central Figure	Decentralized (Not Dependent on Central Figure)
Can Agree on Common Truth	Can’t agree on common truth

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Overview How We Connect on the Internet

Centralized System	Decentralized Systems	Blockchain
Heavily Dependent on Central Figure	Decentralized (Not Dependent on Central Figure)
Can Agree on Common Truth	Can’t agree on common truth

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Centralized System	Decentralized Systems	Blockchain
Heavily Dependent on Central Figure	Decentralized (Not Dependent on Central Figure)	Decentralized (Not Dependent on Central Figure)
Can Agree on Common Truth	Can’t agree on common truth	Can Agree on Common Truth

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Overview How We Connect on the Internet

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Key Principle #1:�Blockchain Technology is a way of connecting on the internet that �1. is decentralized (does not require a central computer), but �2. can still agree on a common truth

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Now that we know what Blockchain does...��What does a blockchain look like?

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A Blockchain is structured as “chain of blocks”

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Why does a Blockchain look this way?

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