Blockchain technology has captured the minds of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy wonks all over the world. Major media outlets report on the rise and fall of Bitcoin and Ethereum tokens daily. Billions of dollars are flowing into blockchain startups in some form. Large-scale cyber intrusions against crypto exchanges, newly smart machines with wallets, and even semi-autonomous supply chains are capturing the imaginations of enterprises everywhere. But, how well do you really understand the technology, economics and business of blockchain?

In Basics of Blockchain, the authors combine decades of experience into a cohesive collegiate level guide to help you understand the technology at its most basic level, and internalize the economics and business of building companies in the era of decentralized computing. While the technology may sound complicated, the job for students and business leaders is understanding how to drive value and success by adopting Web 3 technologies like blockchain.

Bettina Warburg is one of the 1st speakers on blockchain for TED and WIRED, reaching 5 mil+ viewers. Tom Serres is a Silicon Valley veteran and record-holder for the largest-ever online Series A back in 2012 for his first startup, Rally. He was named Forbes most promising CEO under 35. Together, they founded Warburg Serres – a boutique fund focused on blockchain and the decentralization of trade – and manage Animal Ventures, a research and advisory firm specializing in portfolio development, education, and prototyping. They are accomplished entrepreneurs, researchers, speakers, investors, and adjunct professors at UT at Austin.

Bill Wagner has decades of experience in academia. He holds the position of Assoc. Chair of Accounting and Information Systems at Villanova University. He is an expert on MIS and course development covering topics on Enterprise Systems, Mobile Applications, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics. Bill received the Meyer award for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship award for Excellence.

This book covers the following concepts:

• Blockchain Fundamentals: From origins to the modern computing stack
• The Technology Behind Blockchain: Web 3 and the economy
• Bitcoin and Crypto-assets: CryptoKitties and ERC20 Tokens
• Ethereum and Smart Contracts: Tutorials, Virtual machines, and autonomous organizations
• Project Management and Use Cases: Lean prototyping methods and corporate Dapps
• The Future of Blockchain: Quantum-resistant blockchains, AI/ML, and society

“Tom Serres is one of Silicon Valley’s best.”

— Eric Ries, Founder of Long Term Stock Exchange & author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way

“Bettina and Tom are a rare combination of natural entrepreneurship, strong academic research, and a futuristic mindset. We consider them amazing thinkers and great thought-leaders in the blockchain space over the years.”

— Fabian Vogelsteller (Inventor of the ERC20 Standard) & Marjorie Hernandez, Co-Founders of Lukso.io

“Bettina’s talk about blockchain is one of the most insightful and clear explanations of this new technology that I’ve seen. The tech is abstract and exotic, but she makes it concrete and familiar.”

— Kevin Kelly, founding Executive Editor of Wired Magazine and author of The Inevitable

“Tom and Bettina are early pioneers in the world of Blockchain, and have been active participants in its transformation from a series of fringe ideas to mainstream adoption.They have been a huge help to growing the community at large.”

— Dominic Williams, Founder of Dfinity