Anindya Maiti, Ph.D

University of Oklahoma / Graduate

Blockchains & Cryptocurrencies

Consensus, code and incentives: understanding Bitcoin, Ethereum and decentralized applications.

  • CS 5833
  • 3 credits
  • Founding instructor

The course

What we investigate.

Study public Layer 1 blockchains as distributed systems shaped by code, incentives and trust. Connect Bitcoin’s mechanics with Ethereum, smart contracts and decentralized applications, while examining the tradeoffs among security, anonymity, scalability and decentralization.

Learning outcomes

  • Explain how public Layer 1 blockchains combine distributed data structures with social, economic and technical consensus.
  • Analyze security, anonymity and scalability challenges, including tradeoffs with decentralization.
  • Design and implement blockchain-based solutions using consensus mechanisms and secure coding practices.

Connected ideas

The ground we cover.

01

Foundations and Bitcoin

  • Information security and cryptography
  • Distributed consensus and decentralization
  • Bitcoin mechanics
02

Operating a cryptocurrency

  • Storing and using cryptocurrencies
  • Proof-of-work mining
  • Anonymity and privacy
03

Ethereum and applications

  • Proof-of-stake and Ethereum layers
  • The EVM and smart contracts
  • Decentralized applications and token standards
  • Future directions

Spring 2026 / Materials

Textbooks, tools and readings.

Readings, assignments, announcements and offering-specific requirements are available to enrolled students on Canvas.

Open OU Canvas

The Spring 2026 offering used the following suggested texts.

Spring 2026 / Schedule

A path through the semester.

  1. Week 01

    Information security and cryptography foundations

  2. Week 02

    Cryptography, blockchains and cryptocurrencies

  3. Week 03

    Decentralization in Bitcoin

  4. Week 04

    Bitcoin mechanics

  5. Week 05

    Further Bitcoin mechanics

  6. Week 06

    Storing and using cryptocurrencies

  7. Week 07

    Mining in proof-of-work blockchains

  8. Week 08

    Mining processes and challenges

  9. Week 09

    Cryptocurrencies and anonymity

  10. Week 10

    Ethereum and the transition to proof-of-stake

  11. Week 11

    Ethereum’s data availability, consensus and execution layers

  12. Week 12

    The Ethereum Virtual Machine and smart contracts

  13. Week 13

    Building decentralized applications on Ethereum

  14. Week 14

    Ethereum token standards

  15. Week 15

    Future directions for blockchains, cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications

Spring 2026 / Assessment

Learning, put into practice.

50%

In-class quizzes

Six quizzes; the lowest score is dropped.

20%

Labs and programming assignments

Three individual implementation assignments.

30%

Course project

An investigation of a recent topic in blockchains, cryptocurrencies or decentralized applications.

Past offerings

Taught at OU.

Founding instructor.