Cryptocurrencies & decentralised ledgers (COMP90088)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery
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AIMS: Cryptocurrencies enable the transfer of value entirely digitally between users, protected solely by cryptography. Modern cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, rely on a public distributed ledger (also called a blockchain) to record who owns what. This subject introduces students to the theoretical foundations of cryptocurrencies from cryptography and distributed systems, as well as practical skills for programming applications which interact with decentralised ledgers. 
 
INDICATIVE CONTENT:  

The subject will be composed of core topics from cryptocurrencies and distributed lectures and will be drawn from a list including:

  • Digital signatures
  • Authenticated data structures
  • Zero-knowledge proofs
  • Decentralised consensus protocols
  • Smart contract programming.

     

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Analyse the use of digital signatures, zero-knowledge proofs and authenticated data structures in the context of cryptocurrency transaction layers
  • Assess the efficiency and security properties of different approaches to decentralised consensus
  • Design and optimise adversarial strategies for consensus protocol participants in various models
  • Implement and deploy decentralised applications (smart contracts) using application-specific programming languages (e.g. Solidity)
  • Measure performance and scalability constraints in different cryptocurrency designs and evaluate their impact on real-world applications including ecological and social tradeoffs of designs.

Generic skills

  • An ability to synthesise information and communicate results effectively
  • An ability to work effectively as a member of a project team
  • In-depth critical and independent thinking and reflection skills
  • An ability to solve problems and communicate solutions both orally and in writing

Last updated: 31 January 2024

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

One of

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
COMP90041 Programming and Software Development
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP10001 Foundations of Computing
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP10002 Foundations of Algorithms
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP20005 Intro. to Numerical Computation in C
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP20003 Algorithms and Data Structures
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP20007 Design of Algorithms
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
COMP90059 Introduction to Programming
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5

Or equivalent subject in computer programming

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 31 January 2024

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

4 written take-home problem sets. 12-16 hours (6-8 hours each). 20% (5% each). Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 2, 3 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 12-16 hours
Weeks 3, 6, 9, 1220%

2 programming projects (likely one each in Java, Solidity). 35-45 hours (15-25 hours each). 30% (15% each). ILOs 3, 4, 5 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 35-45 hours
Week 6, Week 1130%

Group research project on topic of student's choosing with short presentations, 2-3 students per group. 40 hours per student. ILOs 1, 2, 3 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 40 hours
First week of examination period20%

Written final exam, with similar problems to those on problem sets (30%) (1 hour duration). ILOs 1, 2, 3 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 1 hours
During the examination period30%

Last updated: 31 January 2024

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorJoseph Bonneau
    Mode of deliveryDual-Delivery (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising 2 hours of lectures per week (24 hours total) and 1 hour of tutorial per week (12 hours total)
    Total time commitment200 hours
    Teaching period28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022
    Last self-enrol date11 March 2022
    Census date31 March 2022
    Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022
    Assessment period ends24 June 2022

    Semester 1 contact information

    Joseph Bonneau

    joseph.bonneau@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

36 hours, comprising 2 hours of lectures per week (24 hours total) and 1 hour of tutorial per week (12 hours total)

Last updated: 31 January 2024

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    CourseMaster of Computer Science
    CourseMaster of Information Technology
    CourseMaster of Information Systems
  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

    Additional information for this subject

    Subject coordinator approval required

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 31 January 2024