You've probably heard of blockchain or cryptocurrencies quite a lot lately. It's hard to deny - or even escape - the frenzy around this technology. In fact, you might be interested in dipping your toes into it yourself and becoming a blockchain expert. But there’s a catch (there’s always a catch). Understanding the architecture behind blockchain isn’t an easy feat for most outside the IT space, and trying to wrap your head around advanced cryptography and complex technological jargon can feel quite intimidating at first. So, if you’re one of the undeterred, either out of curiosity or because you’re looking to level up your career, then it might be worth just diving head-on. We've put together a list of the best blockchain courses, from beginner to advanced, to help you learn the tech skills of the future and stay in the know.
Best Blockchain Courses 2022
For those who prefer a self-paced approach, here are the best beginner level blockchain courses to master the basics of computer science, applications of blockchain, the workings of Bitcoin and Ethereum, programming, smart contract use and development of decentralized applications.
1. Blockchain A-Z™: Learn How To Build Your First Blockchain - Udemy
A straightforward introduction to blockchain with a heavy focus on practical aspects and real-world applications, this course makes a perfect starting point for students looking to rapidly gain expertise. It's aimed at those who want to start a career in blockchain and crypto and also for the enthusiasts who just want to have a deeper understanding. The modules are built so that skills can be applied to extensive blockchain-related issues. Students will have the opportunity to have a real-world impact. This course includes a blockchain certification.
Main topics include:
- Creating a Blockchain
- Understanding cryptocurrency transactions
- Learning about Smart Contracts
- Creating your own currency
Instructors: Hadelin de Ponteves, Kirill Eremenko
Duration: approx. 14.5 hours
User Rating: 4.6/5
Prerequisites: High school mathematics level and basic Python knowledge is advantageous
2. Academy Blockchain: Foundations And Use Cases - Coursera, Consensys Academy
Described as “the definitive introduction to blockchain for both the developer and non-developer audience”, this course provides a thorough first look at the technology, from the blockchain basics to concrete applications. However, unlike other more technical courses, it does not place much focus on Blockchain development. As such, this course is the perfect option for those who would rather have a light dive before getting into the more technical side of blockchain.
Lessons are split into four modules:
- Blockchain Foundations
- The Technical Side
- Blockchain in Use
- Bitcoin and Ethereum, Ethereum, Smart Contracts, Cryptocurrency Tokens, Wallets and the Marketplaces and Implications on Traditional Businesses
The course is taught by ConsenSys, a reputed blockchain software development company. Coursera offers a specialization course that might also interest you.
Duration: approx. 10 hours to complete
User Rating: 4.7/5
3. Blockchain Fundamentals – Pluralsight
A short and straight to the point introduction to blockchain, this course is designed to give you actionable tools to create your own blockchain contracts and distributed applications, all in less than three hours. It's a solid option for the time-conscious and no-fuss students who would rather dive right into the nitty-gritty of blockchain development.
Instructors: Jan-Erik Sandberg
Duration: 2.5 hours
User Rating: 4.5/5
Prerequisites: Learners should have basic understanding of programming languages
4. Blockchain Fundamentals Professional Certificate - Berkeley University
This is an introductory program that covers both non-technical and technical aspects of Blockchain, with an emphasis on real-life applications and practical knowledge on how to build on the Ethereum blockchain while creating smart contracts along with Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus algorithm. This course is ideal for learners who are looking to boost their background and show that they have a thorough understanding of the industry. Main areas of focus include synthesizing blockchain solutions, working with Ethereum, smart contracts and Dapps and understanding the mechanics of Bitcoin and real-life applications.
The course is split into two blocks:
- Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies
- Blockchain Technology
Instructors: Nadir Akhtar, Mengyi (Gloria) Wang, Rustie Lin
Duration: 3 months (3-5 hours/week)
Requirements: this course is specifically designed for students from all backgrounds
5. Python And The Blockchain Technology - Udemy
Another great introduction combines Python and blockchain concepts with a theoretical and practical deep dive. Topics are explored starting from the very basics building up to concrete Python use exercises. A real-world assignment is given to students to help enhance their portfolio.
The following concepts are also covered under this program:
- Data Types and REPL
- Variables, Strings, and Lists
- Loops and Conditionals
- Complex Data Structures
- Handling Errors and HTTP requests
Instructor: John Bura
Video: 13 hours
User Rating: 4.6/5
Requirements: no experience required
6. Learn The Basics of Blockchain with Python – Codecademy
For those with a technical background, this Codecademy course is the go-to program. Building on a basic understanding of Python libraries, students will learn about the structure and properties of Blockchain and practice with interactive simulations. Upon completing the course, you'll know how to build a small blockchain library in Python, including a blockchain class and a Block class, work with functionalities to add blocks, create hashes and verify the chain.
Duration: 2 hours
Prerequisites: None (but some basic Python experience is welcomed)
7. Build a Blockchain & Cryptocurrency using Python - Udemy
If the technical side of blockchain (and using Python in particular) is not your strong suit, we've got you covered. This course for the average beginner focuses on covering everything from scratch to make sure that you'll be able to create a real-world project at the end of your lessons. Python developers will also find some benefits in signing up for the course as they'll have plenty of opportunities to practice their development abilities and broaden their horizons.
Duration: 17.5 hours
Prerequisites: Basic understanding of Python, JavaScript, CSS and HTML
Rating: 4.7/5
Instructor: Dr. Zakwan Jaroucheh
8. Blockchain and FinTech: Basics, Applications, and Limitations - University of Hong Kong / edX
This course is all about getting key concepts right: cryptographic components of a blockchain, platform variations, knowing what types of applications best fit the characteristics of blockchain and understanding limitations to the technology. While it might be more theoretical than some of the other courses on this list, it provides invaluable knowledge to those who are aiming at taking it slow for now and eventually upgrading their skills in the future.
Instructor: Siu Ming Yiu
Prerequisites: The course aims at targeting a wide audience
Duration: Estimated 6 weeks (3–4 hours per week)
9. Blockchain & Bitcoin Fundamentals - Udemy
Another great Udemy course to gain proficiency across Bitcoin and distributed ledger technology concepts. It provides a detailed breakdown of digital tokens, smart contracts, mining and much more. The program has consistently ranked as one of the best introductory courses on blockchain and is currently a bestseller on Udemy.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to know:
- What blockchain technology is
- Understand what Bitcoin is and how it works
- Know and use key vocabulary and concepts commonly used when discussing blockchain and Bitcoin in business situations.
Instructor: George Levy
User Rating: 4.5/5
Prerequisites: No need for prior blockchain technology knowledge
Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
10. Blockchain essentials - Cognitive Class
Here’s a course that provides a solid foundation in understanding the technology behind blockchain. Since it only takes three hours to complete, it's also a great option for those who want to have a quick overview of the technology, the overall industry and specific use cases. In addition, it features a lab assignment and a demo where students are taught to set up the Hyperledger Composer Playground and transfer assets in a blockchain network. The course is a cutdown version of another Cognitive Class course - Blockchain Foundations for Developers. This program is taught by IBM employees.
When you finish this course, you'll be able to understand:
- Blockchain and distributed ledger systems in a business environment
- Important concepts and key use cases of blockchain for business
- How assets can be transferred in a blockchain network
- The role of Linux Foundation's Hyperledger project
Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
Prerequisites: none
11. Blockchain Specialization - Coursera
The Blockchain Specialization on Coursera is a great option for those newbies wanting to get a full picture of this decentralized ledger technology, with some understanding of smart contracts and its most popular programming language Solidity.
This educational track consists of four courses: Blockchain Basis, Smart Contracts, Decentralized Applications, and Blockchain Platforms. The curriculum is provided by the University of Buffalo in collaboration with the State University of New York. The teacher behind this specialization is Dr. Bina Ramamurthy is a Teaching Professor at the University at Buffalo, Computer Science and Engineering Department.
By the end of this specialization, students will benefit from:
- A solid understanding of blockchain and cryptocurrency
- An advanced knowledge of smart contracts and their use cases
- An in-depth overview of dApp design and development processes
Duration: 4 months (approximately)
Prerequisites: Basic programming languages HTML, Javascript
12. The Basics of Blockchain: Ethereum, Bitcoin, & More
This introductory course to blockchain and the world of cryptocurrencies is authored by Dr. Bill, Tom Serres, and Bettina Warburg, co-founders of Animal Ventures. Their company has a proven record for building enterprise-level blockchain applications for Fortune 100 firms.
As you would expect, this course is a must for those interested in learning about the business applications of this technology as well as digital currencies. The course is an increasingly popular choice on Udemy for beginners in this field. While the course doesn’t get too much into technicals, it’s a useful, well-structured introduction to blockchain, smart contracts, and the economic and technical principles behind them.
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 3.5 hours (approximately)
View course
Top Blockchain Courses For Developers
Blockchain courses are becoming a hot commodity and more professionals are turning to a specialization and certifications to boost their career prospects. For those already comfortable with the ins and outs of basic blockchain and cryptocurrency concepts, then here's a list of best blockchain courses that will take you to the next level, with practical lessons, real-life applications and concrete skills to face the new world of technology head on.
1. Blockchain Certification Training Course – Edureka
This Blockchain course features an introduction to basic concepts of Blockchain and related platforms - Ethereum, Hyperledger and MultiChain. Student will be taught through hands-on tasks and demonstrations how to become proficient in the Ethereum ecosystem, develop smart contracts using Remix IDE and Solidity, use the Multichain platform to setup a private blockchain platform and test networks with Truffle, TestRPC and Web3.js. At the end of this training program, you'll also be able to understand Bitcoin transactions and the mechanics of storing and mining. As a course geared through practical applications, it has three capstone projects focused on developing a property transfer via Smart Contracts, creating an online jewelry application with Solidify and building a Blockchain-based KYC prototype. Given how hands-on this program is, this course (certification) is ideal for those with a technical background including:
- Software Developers
- Project Managers
- Solution Architects
- Support Professionals
- Product Managers
Duration: 5-6 weeks
Prerequisites: knowledge of object-oriented programming languages and basic Networking and Linux knowledge. Some understanding of Javascript and web3.js is also advantageous.
2. Blockchain Developer Nanodegree Certification – Udacity
The fundamentals of the blockchain platform, creating of own blockchain, securing a digital asset using Blockchain identity are some of the concepts that are explored in this course. The modules of the course are as follows:
- Blockchain Fundamentals
- Ethereum Smart Contracts, Tokens and Dapps
- Blockchain Architecture
- Dapp with autonomous smart contracts and oracles
Prerequisites: Learners must be comfortable with object-oriented programming and have experience with developing web apps in JavaScript.
Duration: 4 months (10 hours per week)
3. Become a Blockchain Developer with Ethereum and Solidity
If you're looking to advance your practical skills and learn how to use Ethereum and Solidify to create smart contracts, then this is the course you've been looking for. Lessons are structured to help you build a solid foundation in all Blockchain concepts, train key areas and advance your proficiency with real-life examples. The program focuses on:
- Blockchain overview
- Developing a distributed application
- The fundamentals of the Solidity smart contract language
- Deploying a decentralized app to various Ethereum instances
- How to use the Truffle build and testing framework
You'll also learn about decentralized application development along with deployment of different Ethereum instances, including main net, private chain, testrpc, test chain, among others. Moreover, this course will also help you in learning the right techniques of using different tools for development, testing, and releasing the applications on multiple platforms.
Prerequisites: Learners should have basic knowledge of software applications, backend, frontend or both. Basic understanding of a programming language like Javascript is an advantage.
Duration: 17 hours (approximately)
4. Certified Blockchain Developer – Blockchain Council
As demand for blockchain developers soars, this is a great option for advanced learners looking to take their career to the next level. This course includes exhaustive training and in-depth practical knowledge of blockchain technology. Several other topics are touched upon in detail in this program, including public vs private blockchain, multichain concepts in detail, Ethereum, Hyperledger, Stellar, and Corda.
Duration: 8 hours (self-paced)
5. Become a Blockchain Developer - Educative
Another great course to learn the ropes of blockchain development comes from Educative, an interactive platform that allows users to learn as they run code in their browsers. Like other courses, this one has an in-depth approach, starting from basic cryptography concepts all the way to deploying chaincode and creating your own application. Other features include an exploration of IBM's Hyperledger Fabric technology and management of fabric user identities using wallets. What makes this a choice worth considering, besides the extensive topics covered, is the fact that it’s a text-based course with live-code support.
Duration: 6 hours (approximately)
6. Learning Blockchain Development with EOS and C++ (Udemy)
C++ developers might want to have a look at upping their skills in blockchain technology designing and learning the dApp ecosystem.
7. Best Blockchain Course for Business by The Linux Foundation (edX)
Business and financial services professionals might want to take note of one of the best blockchain courses which focuses on how to understand blockchain development and leverage its opportunities. Starting from basic applications, the program gradually increases in the complexity of the challenges, exploring real-life scenarios across a range of industries. There are plenty of hands-on assignments and opportunities to put theory into practice, including tasks to develop apps on Hyperledger Sawtooth and Hyperledger Fabric.
Upon completing the course, you'll be comfortable:
- Describing business Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies to varied audiences
- Understanding the impact of Blockchain and potential for change
- Demonstrating immediate blockchain use cases in technology, business, and enterprise products and institutions
- Dealing with current Hyperledger projects and cross-industry use cases
8. Enterprise Blockchain Professional Certification - 101 Blockchains
Leaning toward corporate blockchain implementation and understanding of real-world demands, this course is for learners looking to get more than just technical knowledge. Learn about blockchain and how to practically engage with companies and executives, and how best match their needs with immediately effective solutions. 101 Blockchains is trusted by organizations like IBM, Cisco, and Cognizant and this certification is sure to boost your credentials.
The course has the following breakdown:
- Module 1: Blockchain Technology Fundamentals
- Module 2: Enterprise Blockchain Platforms
- Module 3: Blockchain in Trade Finance
- Module 4: Blockchain Applications
- Module 5: Blockchain Use Cases
Duration: 4 weeks (3-4 hours per week)
9. Ethereum Development Course — Blockchain at Berkeley
Leaders of established blockchain startups including Consensys, BlockApps, Virtue Poker and UJO Music have pooled their experience to design this course that sets out to turn you into a solid developer of secure Decentralized Applications (dApps) on Ethereum. This is an ideal option for those interested in developing DApps and having an in-depth guide on how to get started.
The course is comprised of four modules of full-stack programming on the Ethereum Blockchain:
Module 1: Developer Environment Setup and Hello World
Module 2: Solidity In-Depth
Module 3: Advanced Dapp Development
Module 4: Security and Attacks Vectors
10. CryptoZombies and Space Doggos
Closing this list, are two courses that are likely to please learners who don't favor a rigid approach to learning about blockchain and cryptocurrencies. CryptoZombies and Space Doggos offers interactive courses on how to learn Solidity, giving you an edge in learning how to write smart contracts and master some blockchain development basics. As a more entertaining option than others mentioned before, you will be able to build your own blockchain application while having fun designing a space dog or a zombie army.
Check out Space Doggos
And CryptoZombies
- Ethereum and Solidity: The Complete Developer's Guide
If you’ve been reading the course descriptions above, by now you’re well aware that learning Solidity is a certainly a must for aspiring blockchain programmers. And this course by San Francisco-based engineer Stephen Grider should definitely be among your top alternatives. This training program will introduce you to necessary topics such as Metamask, Semantic UI, and React, giving you unique insights to learn the back-end and front-end programming basis of smart contracts. Needless to say, this course is very much focused on Ethereum and its broad applications.
Once you complete this course, you’ll master the following concepts:
- Smart Contracts
- Solidity programming
- Arrays, Mappings, and Structs
- Ethereum App Architecture
- Campaign Contract Design
- Ethereum Project Infrastructure
- Blockchain front-end
Prerequisites: Understanding of NPM, Javascript, PC command-lines
Duration: 24 hours (approximately)
In short
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies aren't going anywhere. And as the trend keeps gaining traction, upgrading skills to keep pace with the times has become a necessity, or at least a consideration to have in mind for those wanting to be prepared for the demands of the new world. Blockchain professionals, and developers in particular, are fast becoming the most in-demand workers and a new generation is already mastering Blockchain and adding it as valuable competence to their skillset. Finding the right courses and certifications can help you gain a competitive edge and make sure you aren’t missing out on any opportunities. Hopefully, this list of best blockchain courses will serve you well in your deep dive into Blockchain and the many possibilities of the technology.
