Free Blockchain Courses and Tutorials

Introduction to Learning Blockchain Technology in 2023

Blockchain technology has exploded in popularity and adoption over the last few years. With its ability to enable cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and power the Metaverse, blockchain is transforming numerous industries. As a result, demand for blockchain skills has skyrocketed. Jobs requiring blockchain expertise often pay very lucrative salaries.

However, blockchain is still an emerging technology that can seem daunting to learn for beginners. There remains a huge knowledge gap when it comes to blockchain and confusion over where to start. The good news is there are now more high quality free resources available online for learning blockchain basics all the way up to advanced concepts.

In this 3,500 word guide, we will provide:

• An overview of the importance of blockchain technology
• A curated list of the 12 best free blockchain courses and tutorials online
• Beginner tips for learning blockchain development and programming
• Common blockchain terms and concepts explained
• Guides to understanding major blockchain use cases
• Quizzes to test blockchain knowledge
• Resources for staying up-to-date with the latest in blockchain

This guide aims to be a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to learn blockchain in 2023, understand this game changing technology, and gain in-demand career skills. Let’s get started!

Why Should You Learn Blockchain Technology?

But first, why should you learn blockchain in the first place? What makes this decentralised ledger system such an innovative breakthrough?

In simple terms, blockchain enables peer-to-peer digital transactions to occur without intermediaries. It provides transparency, security, accuracy and automation using cutting edge cryptography, consensus algorithms, and database architecture.

Some major reasons why blockchain is becoming so critical include:

• Trustless Transactions – Blockchain eliminates third party intermediaries. Transactions occur through code between peers directly.
• Enhanced Security – Data on blockchains are secured through advanced cryptographic encryption. This prevents unauthorized changes or corruption.
• Decentralization – Blockchains spread data across distributed networks of computers. This avoids centralized points of failure.
• Immutability – Once data is written to blockchains, it cannot be altered. This creates permanent transparent records.
• Automation – Smart contracts automate complex business processes and agreements on blockchain.

These factors enable exciting new models in finance (DeFi), value transfer (cryptocurrencies), digital ownership (NFTs), governance, data integrity, supply chain traceability and more. Blockchain is driving immense digital transformation.

As blockchain adoption grows exponentially across industries, skilled professionals who understand this technology are in huge demand. Blockchain developer is consistently ranked as one of the hottest emerging jobs. Learning blockchain can lead to abundant opportunities.

12 Best Free Blockchain Courses & Tutorials for Beginners

Now let’s explore some of the best free blockchain tutorials, courses and certifications available online to launch your blockchain learning journey:

1. Blockchain Fundamentals Course by edX IBM

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: ~24 hours over 10 weeks

Overview: This course designed by IBM professionals provides strong blockchain foundations. It covers blockchain use cases, components, development, architecture, security, and more through video lectures and hands-on coding projects.

Key Highlights:

• In-depth modules exploring how blockchain works
• Coding exercises using Node.js and JavaScript
• Real world blockchain application examples
• Certificate of completion upon finishing

Verdict: One of the most comprehensive free blockchain courses from a trusted source like IBM. Highly recommended.

2. Become a Blockchain Developer by Blockchain Council

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: Flexible based on your schedule

Overview: This course focuses on equipping learners with blockchain coding skills using languages like Solidity, JavaScript, Python and Go. Covers subjects like cryptography, Bitcoin mining, Ethereum development, Hyperledger tools and more.

Key Highlights

• 180+ hands-on coding exercises
• 270+ quizzes to test knowledge
• Dedicated Blockchain Career Pathways section
• Job Interview guidance

Verdict: Ideal for gaining practical blockchain dev skills. Chance to get Blockchain Council Certified upon completing assessments.

3. Blockchain Tutorials by Simply Explained

Format: YouTube video tutorials

Duration: Varies from 5-20 minutes per video

Overview: This popular YouTube channel offers a fantastic blockchain basics video course breaking down fundamentals like wallets, mining, transactions, decentralized apps, consensus, and more.

Key Highlights:

• Animated visuals make concepts easy to digest
• Covers both high-level principles and technical details
• Great for visual learners
• Entertaining presentation style

Verdict: One of the best free blockchain video courses for beginners. Gets you up to speed quickly.

4. Blockchain Essentials by Cognitive Class

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: 10 hours

Overview: This course by IBM provides a well-structured introduction to blockchain for business and technical learners. Covers topics like decentralization, cryptography, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger, development tools, security compliance, and more.

Key Highlights:

• Real world business use case examples
• Quizzes to test comprehension
• Infographics and animations
• Downloadable reference glossary

Verdict: Concise course that delivers a solid high-level overview of blockchain technology and applications.

5. Learn Cryptography by Khan Academy

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: Multiple modules of varying length

Overview: Cryptography like hash functions and digital signatures is foundational to blockchain security. This course teaches cryptography concepts clearly with videos and exercises.

Key Highlights:

• Friendly instructors and visuals
• Self-paced modules
• Additional resources for deeper dives
• Opportunity to practice skills

Verdict: Essential cryptography knowledge underpins blockchain. This course gets you up to speed.

6. Blockchain Specialization by University of California Davis

Format: Specialization of 4 online courses

Duration: ~6 months for the full specialization

Overview: This comprehensive Coursera specialization from UC Davis covers blockchain principles, Ethereum development, Hyperledger Fabric, architecture, use cases, security, cryptoeconomics and more.

Key Highlights:

• Created by blockchain experts
• Real world projects and graded assignments
• Flexible self-paced learning
• Shareable Specialization certificate

Verdict: In-depth blockchain specialization from a top global university. Worth investing in.

7. Intro to Blockchain by Udacity

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: ~2 months

Overview: This introductory blockchain course is designed for both developers and business students. It teaches the high-level foundations around blockchain components, systems, use cases, limitations and implications.

Key Highlights:

• Created in partnership with blockchain industry experts
• Covers both business and development aspects
• Opportunity to build practical skills
• Active community of mentors and learners

Verdict: Another solid blockchain 101 course ideal for novices. Udacity’s nanodegree programs offer more advanced options too.

8. Blockchain Explained by Brilliant

Format: Interactive online course

Duration: Self-paced

Overview: This hands-on course aims to demystify blockchain in simple, engaging ways. It allows you to simulate mining blocks, make transactions, explore consensus through interactive visuals and exercises.

Key Highlights:

• Playful, game-like learning format
• Visually represents abstract concepts
• Instant feedback as you progress
• Focused on simplifying blockchain

Verdict: Creative interactive course that makes blockchain fundamentals intuitive and digestible.

9. Blockchain Basics by Daniel Drescher

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: 1-2 hours

Overview: This condensed Udemy course is perfect for busy learners looking to quickly grasp blockchain basics. It provides a high level intro to distributed ledger technology, cryptography, consensus algorithms and more.

Key Highlights:

• Straightforward explanations of key concepts
• Covers both high level landscape and technical aspects
• Short lectures make it easy to digest
• Affordable pricing

Verdict: One of the shortest yet solid blockchain introductions. Efficient starting point.

10. Blockchain Technology Explained by YouTube Channel Simplilearn

Format: YouTube video course

Duration: ~2 hours

Overview: This free YouTube crash course is a good option for visual learners who prefer video. It provides animated explainers of how blockchain works, use cases, development, security, limitations and more.

Key Highlights:

• Visually demonstrates concepts simply
• Covers breadth of topics at a surface level
• Friendly instructors
• Chapters to skip around

Verdict: Quick way to get a broad blockchain overview through video.

11. Introduction to Digital Currencies by University of Nicosia

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: 16 hours

Overview: One of the first university blockchain courses covers Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, decentralization, regulation, risks, payments, wallets, security and other digital currency basics.

Key Highlights:

• Created by blockchain professor Dr. Antonis Polemitis
• Part of University of Nicosia’s respected blockchain program
• Certificate upon completion
• Opportunity to learn from active online community

Verdict: A rare academic introductory course focusing specifically on cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin.

12. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies by Princeton University

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: ~15 hours

Overview: Princeton’s popular Coursera course explores the emergence of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. It examines the technology, policies, risks, and broader impact of decentralized digital money.

Key Highlights:

• Taught by notable Princeton professor Arvind Narayanan
• Covers both economics and technology perspectives
• Programming exercises allow you to simulate Bitcoin mining and transactions
• Shareable certificate upon completion

Verdict: For a deeper dive into Bitcoin and the crypto ecosystem from an Ivy League university.

Tips for Learning Blockchain Programming & Development

Once you have a solid base understanding of blockchain principles, the next step on your learning journey may involve acquiring hands-on development skills. This allows you to start building decentralized applications and solutions on top of blockchain networks like Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, Stellar and others.

Here are some tips for getting started with blockchain development and programming:

• Learn a mainstream programming language like JavaScript, Python, Java or Go. This provides a foundation for writing smart contracts and decentralized code.
• Get familiar with essential data structures and algorithms. This knowledge is useful for effectively storing and accessing data on blockchains.
• Understand database systems and query languages like SQL. Blockchains function as distributed databases.
• Explore blockchain-specific languages like Solidity for writing Ethereum smart contracts. Vyper is another option.
• Experiment with Web3 development frameworks like Web3.js, Ethers.js for accessing blockchain data from web apps.
• Learn best practices for writing secure smart contracts resistant to vulnerabilities.
• Try out developer-friendly blockchain ecosystems like Hyperledger, Cosmos or Polkadot.
• Build toy blockchain apps to get hands-on experience. Recreate mini versions of Bitcoin, digital wallets or other projects.
• Examine source code for leading open source blockchain projects on GitHub to see patterns.
• Attend hackathons and find a development community to collaborate with.

Blockchain programming opens up abundant opportunities but does require patience. Persist through the learning curve to gain breakthroughs!

Glossary of Important Blockchain Terms & Concepts

Like any specialized field, blockchain comes with its own set of unique terminology that you will frequently encounter. Here are concise explanations of some common blockchain words and concepts all beginners should know:

Blockchain – A distributed digital ledger technology that records transactions in immutable blocks. Based on cryptography and decentralization.

Block – Groups of validated transactions on a blockchain contained in cryptographically chained data structures.

Distributed Ledger – A database spread across a peer-to-peer network where each participant maintains a copy. Enables decentralization.

Cryptography – Field of techniques like encryption, hashing, signatures used to secure information and validate identities/transactions on a blockchain.

Consensus – Agreement process that blockchain network nodes follow to validate transactions and add new blocks. Allows decentralized trust.

Node – Network participants that run blockchain software and contain a copy of the ledger. They verify and relay transactions.

Mining – Process where nodes compete computationally to validate transactions, create new blocks and get rewarded with coin.

Smart Contracts – Self-executing code programs stored on blockchain that run automatically when conditions are met. Enable advanced logic.

Wallet – Software application used to store public and private keys and interact with blockchains to manage assets and make transactions.

Public Key Cryptography – Use of key pairs with public keys for identification and private keys for authorization/signatures. Enables security.

Decentralized Application (DApp) – Application built on blockchain that inherits its decentralization, openness and security properties. Can include smart contracts.

Token – Digital assets native to a particular blockchain, often used to incentivize network activity and enable new models. Bitcoin is the first blockchain token.

Gas – Pricing mechanism used on Ethereum to compensate for computational resources required to execute transactions and smart contracts.

Solidity – One of the most popular programming languages used for developing smart contracts on Ethereum and other blockchains.

This covers some of the most common terminology. Make sure to cement your understanding of each concept before advancing as blocks stack up quickly!

Major Blockchain Use Cases and Applications

While blockchain first emerged as the foundation for Bitcoin, developers have extended its capabilities to enable many other disruptive applications across diverse sectors:

Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin demonstrated how blockchains could enable direct peer-to-peer digital transactions. The thousands of cryptocurrencies created since leverage blockchain to transfer value without central banks or intermediaries.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

DeFi uses blockchain and smart contracts to reinvent financial services like lending, derivatives, insurance in open, interoperable protocols outside traditional institutions.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

NFTs use blockchain to provide digital scarcity, verifiable ownership and provenance for unique digital assets like art, collectibles, real estate and more.

Supply Chain Tracking

Blockchains bring visibility and accountability to supply chains, recording the origin, transit and lifecycle of products through open tamper-proof ledgers.

Digital Identity

Self-sovereign digital ID systems built on blockchain allow people to own and control their identity and data. Enables identity portability.

Voting

Through transparency, auditability and accessibility, blockchains offer potential benefits for election and voting systems vulnerable to manipulation.

Healthcare

Blockchains can secure medical records, track pharmaceuticals, facilitate data sharing, enable health surveillance and support healthcare payments.

Real Estate

Tokenizing real estate assets on blockchain promotes liquidity and additional access for more investors through fractional ownership.

This is just a small sample of the problems blockchain can reimagine. Its decentralized trustless architecture opens up possibilities in almost every sector needing innovation.

Assessing Your Blockchain Comprehension

Learning any complex subject involves consistently testing your knowledge. Here are example questions that will force you to draw on the full breadth of blockchain concepts and skills:

1. True or False: Blockchain technology enables decentralized solutions because it spreads data across peer-to-peer networks instead of using centralized servers.

2. What mechanism do blockchains use to reach agreement and validate new transactions/blocks?

A. Proof-of-authority

B. Consensus protocols

C. Multisignatures

D. Notary schemes

3. Which of the following is NOT considered a blockchain node?

A. Miners B. Developers C. Exchanges D. Wallets

4. What programming language would you use to write smart contracts on the public Ethereum blockchain?

A. Python

B. C++

C. Solidity

D. SQL

5. What are the components of a blockchain block? (Select all that apply.)

A. Previous block hash pointer

B. Nonce

C. Transaction data

D. Block height

E. Block reward

6. You are looking to build a decentralized application involving digital assets and automated business logic. What blockchain platform might be best suited for this use case?

A. Bitcoin

B. Monero

C. Ethereum

D. Stellar

7. What is a distinguishing property of blockchain tokens like Bitcoin versus fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar?

8. What are the main disadvantages or tradeoffs when using blockchain technology versus centralized databases?

Being able to correctly answer conceptual and situational questions like these will validate your blockchain understanding on both a surface and deeper level. Test yourself continuously!

Staying Up-To-Date with Blockchain Advancements

Like all leading-edge technologies, blockchain is continuously evolving at a rapid pace. How can you stay current once you have blockchain basics down?

• Subscribe to industry newsletters – Sign up for high signal news roundups from sources like CoinDesk, Blockworks, and Decrypt that cover major developments.
• Follow thought leaders on Twitter – Experts like Andreas Antonopolous, Vitalik Buterin, and Michael Saylor frequently tweet blockchain insights.
• Read technical whitepapers – Research papers from projects like Polkadot and Cosmos explain new blockchain innovations.
• Listen to podcasts – Shows like Bankless, Zero Knowledge, and Blockchain Insider offer in-depth discussions.
• Join forums & communities – Discussing blockchain with other learners accelerates knowledge. r/blockchain