Date of Conduct:  February 28, 2026 (Saturday)

Course Description:

This course serves as an introductory guide to decentralized technology. It transitions from the inherent weaknesses of traditional trust-based centralized systems—such as single points of failure and limited transparency—to the core principles of blockchain: decentralization, transparency, and immutability. Using Bitcoin as a primary case study, the session explains the technical structures of blocks, hashes, and consensus mechanisms while providing practical frameworks for determining when blockchain is a necessary solution versus when a traditional database is more efficient.

Objectives:

• Define blockchain and identify its primary role as a decentralized way to store data without a single authority in charge.

• Analyze the "trust-based model" of traditional information systems and identify its core vulnerabilities, including risk of misuse and slower accountability.

• Explain the three core principles of blockchain technology: Decentralization (shared control among nodes), Transparency (auditable ledger and open source code), and Immutability (permanent, unchangeable records).

• Differentiate between the fundamental technical structures of a blockchain, including cryptographic hashes (SHA-256), blocks, chains of blocks, and consensus mechanisms.

• Evaluate real-world scenarios (such as government payroll, land titles, or patient records) to determine if blockchain technology is a suitable and realistic solution.

• Recognize current challenges facing the technology, such as scalability trade-offs and regulatory uncertainty, as it continues to evolve.