Introduction to Blockchain and Ethereum

These resources will give you a sound understanding of what blockchain technology is, explain a
variety of ways the technology can be applied, introduce you to Ethereum, Ethereum mining, and
Initial Coin Offerings, and highlight the differences between Ethereum and Bitcoin.

Sahil Bhaiwala: Email: sbhaiwala1@gmail.com

What is Blockchain and How Does It Work?

Fundamental explanation of what a blockchain is (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93E_GzvpMA0

**All-encompassing introduction to blockchain and its potential uses (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl8OlkkwRpc

Provides context around blockchain and introduces smart contracts

https://medium.com/humanizing-the-singularity/by-the-end-of-this-article-youre-going-to-
understand-blockchains-in-general-and-ethereum-a-next-e11df6a1d7cf

Highlights general advantages of blockchain and identifies a few use cases

http://internetofagreements.com/files/WorldGovernmentSummit-Dubai2017.pdf

Smart Contracts
For a good foundation on what smart contracts are and how they work
http://www.blockchaintechnologies.com/blockchain-smart-contracts#smart-contract-definition

https://ark-invest.com/research/smart-contracts-work

Use Cases (brief introductions)

Government
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dubai-aims-to-be-a-city-built-on-blockchain-1493086080

ID System/Property Rights
https://hbr.org/2017/05/how-blockchain-could-help-emerging-markets-leap-ahead

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21722869-anti-establishment-technology-faces-ironic-
turn-fortune-governments-may-be-big-backers

Voting
https://www.economist.com/sites/default/files/plymouth.pdf
Financial System
https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/blockchain-technology-could-reduce-investment-banks-
infrastructure-costs-by-30-percent-according-to-accenture-report.htm

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2016/01/11/the-hutchins-center-explains-how-
blockchain-could-change-the-financial-system-part-1/

Music/Art
https://hbr.org/2017/06/blockchain-could-help-musicians-make-money-again

Energy Exchange
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/business/energy-environment/brooklyn-solar-grid-energy-
trading.html

https://hbr.org/2017/03/how-utilities-are-using-blockchain-to-modernize-the-grid

Supply Chain Management

https://hbr.org/2017/03/global-supply-chains-are-about-to-get-better-thanks-to-blockchain

https://www.wsj.com/articles/banks-turn-to-virtual-world-to-modernize-physical-commodities-
trading-1491303623

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-18/wal-mart-tackles-food-safety-with-test-
of-blockchain-technology

IoT/Autonomous Vehicles
https://www.coindesk.com/blockchain-move-self-driving-cars-fast-lane/

Healthcare
https://hbr.org/2017/03/the-potential-for-blockchain-to-transform-electronic-health-records

Science
https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/blockchain-solution-ensures-privacy-of-genomic-data-while-
granting-access-for-medical-research/

Ownership of Data
https://www.fastcompany.com/3054976/mits-new-blockchain-project-enigma-wants-to-let-you-
share-your-data-on-your-terms
 Ethereum Explained

Non-Technical explanation
https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-ethereum/

Helpful Infographic (Image)

https://www.ethereumbitcoins.com/a-beginning-guide-to-ethereum/

More Detailed, Technical Explanation (White Paper)

https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper

Ethereum Mining
Background about what Ether is and what mining means
https://www.ethereum.org/ether

More detail about mining

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ethereum-mining-101-your-complete-
guide_us_58b6e1eee4b02f3f81e44e9f

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)

Intro to ICOs
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanchester/2017/06/12/a-new-way-to-raise-money-the-initial-
coin-offering/#33151e4b5fb5

Explains what tokens are and clarifies the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum
https://coincenter.org/entry/what-does-it-mean-to-issue-a-token-on-top-of-ethereum

Bitcoin vs. Ethereum

Quick summary of the differences
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ameer-rosic-/ethereum-vs-bitcoin-whats_b_13735404.html

There are some good insights on the Ethereum forum itself (technical)
https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/700/what-are-the-differences-between-bitcoin-
blockchain-and-ethereum-blockchain

Additional Material
Good explanation of blockchains path to adoption by two HBS professors
https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-truth-about-blockchain