Cryptography in the Age of Blockchain

In this book, readers will find an exhaustive guide on cryptography for modern blockchain technology. It starts with an understanding of how blockchain trust minimization emerges from cryptographic principles for decentralization, security, privacy, or trust in distributed systems. Starting with an understanding of inadequacies in centralized systems, followed by an introduction to blockchain as a technology for trust minimization. Next is an exposition on attack surfaces, real-life security incidents, and what can be derived from real-life experiences in the area of blockchain.

Learners will have a comprehensive insight into digital signatures, ranging from traditional methods to efficient designs that are used in scalable and privacy-preserving blockchains. The text covers the way digital signatures work in the context of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and business networks, with particular emphasis on efficiency, privacy, anonymity, and accountability. A comprehensive treatment is also given to the integration of blockchains with Internet of Things networks, specifically in resource-constrained networks, fog computing, and privacy-preserving networks. The text offers an in-depth analysis of consensus schemes and their connections between the theories of distributed systems and cryptography. We learn about proof of work, proof of stake, hybrid schemes, and cryptographic primitives that underpin them. A key focus of the book is future readiness. Authors have explored post quantum threats to blockchain security and learn how lattice based, hash based, and hybrid cryptographic schemes can protect systems against quantum adversaries. Migration strategies, enterprise frameworks, and experimental deployments are discussed to bridge theory and practice.

This book is written for undergraduate students, researchers, graduate students, and professionals seeking a deep yet structured understanding of blockchain cryptography. It combines theory, real world examples, and design insights to help you analyze, build, and secure next generation blockchain systems.

Dr. Iraq Ahmad Reshi is an Assistant Professor and researcher in Computer Science and Engineering with a doctorate in CSE. His academic work focuses on blockchain systems, Internet of Things, cryptography, cyber physical systems, and secure smart infrastructures, with particular interest in healthcare and critical applications. With more than 10 publications and majority of them in Q1 or Q2 Journals. His work emphasizes practical system design, security assurance, and deployment oriented research rather than purely theoretical models. Dr. Iraq Reshi is the author and editor of few academic books published with international publishers. These books cover topics related to blockchain security, cryptography, smart systems, and emerging computing paradigms. He actively serves as a reviewer for several reputed Springer and Elsevier journals, contributing to the peer review process in areas such as cybersecurity, blockchain, IoT, and distributed systems. Through his research, editorial work, and academic service, Dr. Iraq Reshi continues to contribute to the advancement of secure, scalable, and dependable computing systems for real world applications.

Dr. Sahil Sholla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora. He earned his PhD in Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Srinagar with a CGPA of 9.3. His doctoral work focused on ethics-aware Internet of Things systems and computational approaches to embed ethical reasoning into smart technologies. His research covers Internet of Things, fog computing, AI ethics, and NLP. He has published extensively in reputed journals such as Cluster Computing, Peer-to-Peer Networking and Applications, and China Communications. His work addresses privacy, security, and ethical design in emerging technologies. He has also co-authored books on blockchain and IoT, including titles with CRC Press and Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Dr. Sholla has contributed to curriculum development by introducing courses on Computational Design of Ethics for both undergraduate and doctoral students. He actively supervises PhD scholars and has guided multiple research scholars to completion. He has delivered expert lectures and keynote talks on AI ethics, IoT, and emerging technologies at leading institutions.