Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Basics
Bitcoin, Ethereum, wallets, exchanges and staying safe.
Taught by Aarav Shrestha · Trader & Markets Educator
What you'll learn
- Explain how a blockchain uses hashing, blocks and consensus to prevent double spending
- Compare proof of work and proof of stake, and describe what miners and validators do
- Set up a self-custody wallet and back up its seed phrase without a single point of failure
- Choose a crypto exchange, place a buy order and withdraw to your own wallet safely
- Distinguish fiat-backed, crypto-backed and algorithmic stablecoins and their risks
- Recognise common crypto scams and keep the records you need to report gains for tax
About this course
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Basics is a clear, hype-free introduction for anyone who wants to understand Bitcoin, Ethereum and crypto before putting a single rupee, pound or dollar into it. You will learn how a blockchain records transactions, why proof of work and proof of stake keep the network honest, and what smart contracts, tokens and stablecoins actually are. Then the course gets practical: how crypto wallets, private keys and seed phrases work, how to choose and use a crypto exchange, how to move coins safely, and how to spot the scams that cost beginners the most. The final lesson covers crypto tax basics and record keeping so you are not caught out later. No coding or finance background is needed; a few optional Python snippets let curious learners see hashing and mining in action. This course is education, not investment advice.
Course content
7 lessons- 1What a Blockchain Is and Why Bitcoin ExistsThe double-spend problem, shared ledgers, blocks and hashes, and the idea behind Bitcoin.Preview
- 2Consensus: Proof of Work and Proof of StakeHow thousands of strangers agree on one history, and the trade-offs between mining and staking.
- 3Ethereum, Smart Contracts and TokensProgrammable blockchains, gas fees, ERC-20 and NFT standards, and why layer 2 networks exist.
- 4Wallets, Private Keys and Seed PhrasesPublic and private keys, custodial versus self-custody, hardware wallets and backing up a seed phrase.
- 5Using Crypto Exchanges SafelyCentralised and decentralised exchanges, order types, fees, withdrawals and judging an exchange.
- 6Stablecoins and How Crypto Prices MoveFiat-backed, crypto-backed and algorithmic stablecoins, regulation, and what drives crypto volatility.
- 7Avoiding Scams and Handling Crypto TaxThe scams that target beginners, habits that stop them, and the records you need for tax.