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Course 3 of 3 Blockchain Technology Applied Specialization

Deep Dive into Cryptography

Go from the cryptographic basics behind blockchain to advanced techniques - zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption and consensus algorithms - and learn to evaluate the protocols that strengthen blockchain security, privacy and performance.

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≈ 13 hours 3 modules Intermediate level English · 7 languages available
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Board Infinity Board InfinityInstructor · 287 courses on Coursera
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12 assignments and real-world blockchain use cases

Certificate included

Shareable on LinkedIn the day you finish

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01 About the course

A deep dive into blockchain cryptography.

Three modules: the fundamentals, the advanced techniques, and cryptography in practice.

3
Modules
Basics to practice
27
Video lessons
Short, concept-led
12
Assignments
Practice and graded quizzes
13h
Total learning time
Self-paced, flexible deadlines

Deep Dive into Cryptography is a comprehensive journey through the essential and advanced cryptographic techniques that underpin blockchain technology. It blends theory with practical application, focusing on critical areas such as zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption and consensus algorithms.

By the end, you can illustrate fundamental cryptographic principles, apply advanced methods to strengthen data security and privacy, and evaluate cryptographic protocols to improve blockchain performance - across 27 short video lessons, 9 readings and 12 assignments.

It's course 3 of Board Infinity's Blockchain Technology Applied specialization on Coursera, for beginners who want the foundations and professionals refining their blockchain security skills.

Inside the course
01Cryptography basics in blockchain≈ 4h 02Advanced cryptography concepts≈ 4h 03Cryptography in practice≈ 4h
02 Who it's for

Built for people responsible for blockchain security.

If you build, secure or design decentralized systems, the course was written with you in mind.

Developers

Blockchain developers

Understand the cryptography underneath the contracts and DApps you build.

Security

Security professionals

Extend your security skills to hash functions, signatures and consensus on-chain.

Students

Computer science students

Get a structured path from cryptography basics to advanced privacy techniques.

Architects

Web3 architects

Evaluate protocols and consensus algorithms to design secure, efficient systems.

03 What you'll learn

Four outcomes. Real blockchain security.

Each module takes you a level deeper, from the building blocks to applying them in real systems.

Module 1

Master the building blocks

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hash functions, public key infrastructure, digital signatures and key management.

Module 1

Choose a consensus algorithm

Compare Proof of Work, Proof of Stake and other consensus mechanisms, and choose the right one for a project.

Module 2

Apply advanced privacy techniques

Zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, multiparty computation and secure messaging protocols.

Module 3

Secure real blockchain systems

Implement encryption, secure on-chain data, weigh privacy coins and regulation, and prepare for quantum computing.

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Choose your primitives

Which encryption, hashing and signature schemes fit your system.

Review your key management

How keys are generated, stored and rotated in your design.

Plan for what's next

Privacy techniques and quantum-era risks, applied to your work.

Aim it at a role

Which blockchain security roles this opens, and what to learn next.

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04 Syllabus

Three modules, from hash functions to quantum readiness.

About 13 hours end to end - 1 week at 10 hours a week, fully self-paced. Every module lists its learning objectives, its content, and what you'll walk out with.

27 videos 9 readings 12 assignments ≈ 13 hours Download full syllabus
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain what cryptography is and why it matters to blockchain
  • Compare symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and explain the role of hash functions
  • Explain public key infrastructure, digital signatures and key management
  • Compare Proof of Work, Proof of Stake and other consensus mechanisms, and choose the right one
What's inside
9 videos61 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments + course check-in110 min
Topics covered
Symmetric vs. asymmetric encryption Hash functions Public key infrastructure Digital signatures Key management Proof of Work & Proof of Stake Other consensus mechanisms Choosing an algorithm
You'll leave with: a solid grounding in the cryptographic building blocks and consensus algorithms every blockchain relies on.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain zero-knowledge proofs and how they're applied and implemented in blockchain
  • Describe homomorphic encryption, its use cases and its practical challenges
  • Explain multiparty computation and secure messaging protocols
  • Analyze cryptographic protocols used in blockchain
What's inside
9 videos61 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments105 min
Topics covered
Zero-knowledge proofs ZKP applications Implementing ZKPs Homomorphic encryption Blockchain use cases Practical challenges Multiparty computation Secure messaging Protocol analysis
You'll leave with: a working understanding of the advanced techniques that add privacy and security to blockchain systems.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Implement encryption techniques and secure data on blockchain
  • Analyze real-world use cases and examples
  • Explain mixing services, privacy coins and anonymous transactions, and their regulatory implications
  • Assess the impact of quantum computing and future trends in cryptographic algorithms
What's inside
9 videos64 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments105 min
Topics covered
Implementing encryption Securing blockchain data Use cases Mixing & tumbler services Privacy coins Regulatory implications Quantum computing Future cryptographic algorithms
You'll leave with: the practical judgment to secure blockchain data today, and to prepare for what quantum computing brings.
05 Tools & skills

Master the techniques that secure decentralized systems.

The four cryptographic toolkits you work through, and the skills you leave with.

Module 1

Hashing & signatures

Hash functions, public key infrastructure and digital signatures behind every transaction.

Module 1

Consensus algorithms

Proof of Work, Proof of Stake and other mechanisms that let a network agree.

Module 2

Zero-knowledge proofs

Proving something is true without revealing the data behind it.

Module 2

Homomorphic encryption & MPC

Computing on encrypted data, and jointly, without exposing private inputs.

Skills you leave with

Twelve concrete capabilities, grouped the way the work actually splits - the fundamentals, the advanced techniques, and applied security.

Fundamentals

The building blocks every blockchain depends on.

  • Symmetric & asymmetric encryption
  • Hash functions
  • Digital signatures & PKI
  • Key management

Advanced techniques

Privacy and security beyond the basics.

  • Zero-knowledge proofs
  • Homomorphic encryption
  • Multiparty computation
  • Cryptographic protocol analysis

Applied security

Putting cryptography to work in real systems.

  • Securing blockchain data
  • Consensus algorithm selection
  • Privacy & regulatory awareness
  • Quantum-era readiness
Certificate

Proof you can link to.

Finish the graded work and Board Infinity issues a certificate through Coursera - with a public verification link and a one-click path onto your LinkedIn profile.

Issued on completion of the graded quizzes. Completes the Blockchain Technology Applied specialization when you've finished all three courses.

On your profile in one click

Add it to your LinkedIn profile, resume or CV, where recruiters actually look.

Anyone can verify it

Its own verification link, so a hiring manager confirms it in seconds.

Earned, not attended

Awarded on graded quizzes in all three modules - it certifies what you know.

Two names on it

Board Infinity as the provider, Coursera as the platform.

06 Career impact

Every blockchain is only as strong as its cryptography. Teams need people who understand it.

These are the roles that build on exactly this skill set.

Where these skills are in demand

Blockchain Security Engineer

Securing on-chain data, keys and transactions - the role this course maps to most directly.

Cryptography Engineer

Implementing encryption, signatures and advanced techniques like ZKPs in real systems.

Blockchain Developer

Building on the cryptographic primitives and consensus mechanisms underneath every chain.

Smart Contract Auditor

Reviewing how contracts and protocols use cryptography, and where they get it wrong.

Privacy Engineer

Applying zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption and MPC to protect user data.

Blockchain Architect

Choosing consensus algorithms and protocols that balance security and performance.

Security Analyst

Assessing cryptographic risk, including what quantum computing means for today's algorithms.

Protocol Researcher

Analyzing cryptographic protocols and emerging algorithms for blockchain systems.

The honest comparison

What you're actually paying for

Every topic in this course exists free somewhere on the internet. Nobody is pretending otherwise. What a course adds is the order you learn it in, the practice that makes it stick, and something to show at the end.

What you get
This course
DIY with free content
A sequenced learning pathBasics → advanced → practice
3 modules that build on each other
Scattered papers, no sequence
Practice with feedbackLearning that sticks
12 practice and graded quizzes
Read, forget, reread
Theory with applicationFrom primitives to real systems
Blockchain use cases in every module
Math-heavy theory with no context
Expert-built contentIndustry knowledge and practice
Board Infinity's industry experts
Comment-section guesswork
Proof for recruitersVerifiable, on LinkedIn
Certificate with verification link
Nothing to show
07 The bigger path

More from the Blockchain Technology Applied specialization.

This course stands on its own - but it's also the final step of a three-course path. Enrolling automatically enrolls you in the specialization.

Course 1

Smart Contracts - Blockchain Technology Applied

Smart contract fundamentals, Solidity development and Ethereum deployment, oracles and security auditing.

≈ 13 hours
View course
Course 2

Hands-on DApp Design and Development Using Web3 Tools

Design and build decentralized applications with Web3 tools, on top of your smart contracts.

≈ 12 hours
View course
You're here Course 3

Deep Dive into Cryptography

Cryptography fundamentals, ZKPs and homomorphic encryption, and cryptography in practice.

≈ 13 hours · 3 modules
Back to top
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Board Infinity runs 270+ courses and 57 specializations on Coursera - browse the full catalogue.

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3 modules · 27 lessons · 12 assignments · free PDF

08 FAQ

Common questions

Everything learners ask before enrolling, answered plainly.

About the course

You'll learn the cryptography that underpins blockchain. Module one covers encryption, hash functions, public key infrastructure, digital signatures, key management and consensus algorithms. Module two covers zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, multiparty computation and secure messaging protocols. Module three covers implementing encryption, securing blockchain data, privacy coins and mixing services, regulation, and the impact of quantum computing.

Coursera lists this as an intermediate-level course. It starts with the definition and importance of cryptography and builds up, so beginners can follow it, while professionals can use the later modules to refine their skills. Familiarity with blockchain basics helps - the first two courses of the specialization cover smart contracts and DApps.

The current enrollment options and price for your region are shown on the Coursera course page. The course is included with a Coursera Plus subscription, and Coursera's financial aid is available for eligible learners. Enrollment also includes the whole Blockchain Technology Applied specialization track.

About 13 hours of total learning across 3 modules of roughly 4 hours each, with 27 video lessons, 9 readings and 12 assignments. Coursera estimates 1 week at 10 hours a week. It's fully self-paced - deadlines flex around your schedule.

Each module has three practice quizzes, one per lesson, and a one-hour graded quiz at the end - 12 assignments in all. A reading after each lesson goes further into topics like public key cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs and the future of cryptography in blockchain.

Yes - this page is Board Infinity's own overview of our course. Enrollment, payment, video lessons, grading and the certificate all happen on Coursera, where the course is hosted. Think of this page as the detailed tour before you head there.

Career & certificate

Yes. Completing the graded quizzes earns you a shareable certificate from Board Infinity, issued through Coursera with its own verification link. You can add it to your LinkedIn profile, resume or CV, and the same completed work counts toward the full specialization certificate.

It supports blockchain security engineer, cryptography engineer, privacy engineer, smart contract auditor and blockchain architect roles, and gives blockchain developers a deeper understanding of the systems they build on.

Two ways. The certificate goes in your LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications section via Coursera's one-click add. Just as valuable is naming what you know: a line like “Studied blockchain cryptography - hash functions, digital signatures, consensus algorithms, zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption” gives interviewers something concrete to ask about.

Yes. The final module looks at quantum computing and blockchain security, future trends in cryptographic algorithms, and how to prepare for what's coming.

This is the final course of the specialization. If you haven't taken them, the first two courses are Smart Contracts - Blockchain Technology Applied (~13 hours) and Hands-on DApp Design and Development Using Web3 Tools (~12 hours). Completing all three earns the specialization certificate.

Want someone reviewing your security design?

Board Infinity 1:1 coaching pairs you with a practitioner while you take the course.

See 1:1 coaching

Understand the math that makes blockchains trustworthy.

Three modules. Thirteen hours. Fundamentals, advanced privacy techniques and real-world security - and a certificate to show for it.

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Deep Dive into Cryptography · by Board Infinity · offered on Coursera

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