In this chapter, we will introduce the fundamental constitutive elements of blockchain technology, such as distributed ledger, peer-to-peer network topology, and consensus algorithms, all of which will be further explored in depth in the chapters that follow.
These notions are essential to fully understand the aspects of cyber security associated with blockchain technology, especially with regard to identifying possible attack vectors.
In particular, we will cover the following topics in this chapter:
- An introduction to blockchain
- The building blocks of blockchain
- Blockchain network topology
- Establishing trust through consensus algorithms
- Potential threats that affect trust
