2025/26: Segurança em Sistemas Informáticos (Computer Systems Security) - 1.o M.EIC

Lab 5: Blockchain Start

Starting with Chain of Blocks

Goal:

Familiarization with Chain of Blocks (Blockchain) technology, mainly the core principles of Bitcoin.
Several paths are proposed based on one's own preference and interests. Each group should choose one option and follow it. The key insights and relevant technical details learned during the work will form the substance of your final report.

Options

The proposed possibilities are:

1. Bitcoin wallet
   • Create a Bitcoin wallet (from the many free offerings that are available on the Internet) and perform some simple, low-cost transactions between group members.
     [Note: this could involve spending some money...]
   • Document the main steps, evaluate the handling process and share your insights.
2. Namecoin analysis
   • Study Namecoin, one of the earliest non-currency Chain of Blocks applications.
     Identify its services and how they are technically implemented on a blockchain.
   • Present your findings, the merits of the application and what you learned.
3. Bitcoin competitors
   • Search the Internet for blockchain-based digital currencies that are viable competitors of Bitcoin.
   • Choose 2 or 3 of those cryptocurrencies and analyze their structural and technical details from an Informatics engineer's perspective, comparing them to Bitcoin's.
   • Present the main results of your analysis, stating the relative advantages and disadvantages of the approaches and the insights you gained.

Reports

Send your concise, but high-value, report via a cryptographically signed, confidential email to jmcruz@fe.up.pt.
[If you have not got a S/MIME digital certificate, from a previous lab, you could set up an OpenPGP account...
The public key for jmcruz@fe.up.pt is on the net: K+(PGP).]