Few people understand what the blockchain really is, but banks, financial institutions, Information Technology (IT) organizations, consultants and even the general public are all abuzz about understanding blockchain technology and how it is going to revolutionize finance.

Bitcoin (BTC). Blockchain. Cryptocurrencies. Initial coin offerings. These are terminologies that everyone’s talking about, but what do these terms really mean?

This course provides clear definitions and analogies for understanding blockchain technology. It will also define Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain, and initial coin offerings, and highlight promising use cases for the technology as a whole. 

Our aim is to create an understanding of what the blockchain is and how it works, in as non-technical a manner as is possible, so the language we are going to use is removed from the “techno-speak” that currently surrounds the subject, but sufficiently technical so as not to lose the critical elements and features of the process. 

It’s hard to remove blockchain from Bitcoin, so we are going to start with Bitcoin as we work towards understanding blockchain technology’s potential. To complete our journey we will clarify the distinctions between distributed ledger technology and the blockchain, and highlight where these technologies have an application – and where they do not.

We are going to break our journey down into five component parts 

  1. What is Bitcoin (BTC)? 
  2. What is Blockchain and how does it work? 
  3. The Mechanics of Blockchain
  4. Ethereum – what is it and how it fits into the picture
  5. Initial Coin Offerings, and
  6. Value Creation in the Blockchain

If you are a finance, technology or related professional or if you have any interest in understanding blockchain, Bitcoin, etc., you will greatly benefit from this course.

Learning Objectives
  • Discover the underlying principles behind the blockchain and bitcoin.
  • Identify the different components and understanding blockchain process.
  • Explore the blockchain and its processes that make it a key component of bitcoin. 
  • Discover how and where the use of the blockchain can create value. 
  • Explore critical issues such as altcoins, distributed ledger technology, Ethereum, initial coin offerings and smart contracts.
  • Recognize the differences between blockchain and bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. 
Last updated/reviewed: August 19, 2023
132 Reviews (504 ratings)

Reviews

5
Anonymous Author
The course was an excellent explanation of Bitcoin, it's relation to blockchain technology and potential other uses for blockchain technology. It included enough detail for understanding but was also in a form that someone with a limited understanding of blockchain technology beneifited from the discussion. Thanks.

4
Member's Profile
First off audio quality was low, making it hard to hear what the lecturer is saying. While the course was interesting, students would probably stop listening in the first 30 minutes when they hear that Bitcoin can only process 20 transactions every 10 minutes with electricity usage that is the same as Ecuador. (e.g. all this sounds like a really dumb idea) Also with the advent of quantum computing, it seems like this entire blockchain notion would simply fall apart (there will be enough cheap computing power to simply break any blockchain).

5
Member's Profile
I absolutely loved everything about this course: its gentle, avuncular approach to the basic concepts, moving towards increasing levels if complexity with real-world applications. I am so excited to learn much more about how I can incorporate blockchain into my career whether in consulting or in auditing. Mr. Epstein's delivery is excellent and I could listen to him for hours! Very well done!

4
Member's Profile
The content was good, and provided great examples of the block chain use. For the value creation of block chain I would have liked more details on the specific functions, rather than taking about what entities are generally doing. It also would have been nice to understand more of the potential drawbacks, or how users are decentivized from colluding against the block chain.

5
Member's Profile
I felt like this lesson was implemented to sell me on the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology rather than a lesson on blockchain. I just wanted to learn the basics of blockchain. Additionally, Ethereum was also spelled as Etherium several times in the slides. I am assuming Ethereum is the correct spelling. The instructor may want to change this.

3
Anonymous Author
The course was a helpful introduction to the concepts behind digital currency and the underlying blockchain technology. However, the breadth of the course was so extensive that it was unable to concentrate more in-depth on the concepts behind digital currency and how these currencies actually function as mediums of exchange, like more standard currencies.

5
Member's Profile
My understanding of blockchain technology and its potential uses increased after listening to Mr. Epstein's lecture. The illustrations he used to explain the technology was very helpful. I have watched several blockchain seminars from different platforms and instructors. Mr. Epstein's presentation was one of the most clear and simple to understand.

4
Anonymous Author
The course provided a comprehensive yet accessible overview of blockchain and bitcoin. Supporting materials were also helpful. The course could be improved by summarizing the material in the value creation in blockchain e.g. by just discussing one example in each area and awarding 2.6 CPE (given the length of the presentation 2hrs 11 mins / 50 mins)

5
Member's Profile
Great, simplistic explanation of Blockchains and some of the ramifications, which could be enormous in how it revolutionizes the centralized banking and financial systems. More accounting and finance personnel need to understand Blockchain poses huge changes to the finance industry and at least have a basic understanding of how it works.

3
Member's Profile
Overall the course is ok. I agree with some reviews that it lacks substance and the slides have lots of useless noise in it, and dont provide good details, definitions and/or concepts. Dont need 90 slides for only 2 credits if in reality only 30 can somewhat be useful especially when taking the final test.

3
Member's Profile
I think it's tough to understand...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3
Anonymous Author
This is such a strange topic for me. It is hard to create a tangible understanding of the concept of cryptocurrency and I'm not sure I'm much better off as a result of this course. I would say it may be user error, but I will continue to try to understand.

4
Anonymous Author
Course offered a great overview of Blockchain technologies and there applications. Was able to demonstrate the broad change coming that will be brought about by Blockchains. Gave easy to understand explanation of how a Blockchain functions.

4
Anonymous Author
The course explains the origin of blockchain and how it was tied to Bitcoin and provided many examples of blockchain use, which go far beyond cryptocurrencies. I feel like I have a better understanding of both Bitcoin and Blockchain now.

4
Anonymous Author
Personally, I haven't heard much about Blockchain and Bitcoin until recently. I've taken a few courses on this subject matter and prefer the other instructor. I felt this course and instruction wasn't as clear as the others I've taken.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent course!!! The presenter has made tremendous efforts to throw as much information as possible within the two-hours span. His knowledge in the subject is commendable as well and that is reflected in the presentation as well.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a really good course if you don't have a clue about Bitcoin and Blockchain. I also took the Cryptocurrency 101 - Understanding the Concepts course, these two courses have enlightened my understanding of these new concepts.

5
Member's Profile
Instructor does a terrific job explaining components of whole bitcoin transaction process, including the how's and whys. Very easy to understand what is usually not explained well in other "tutorials" I have read. Most informative.

5
Member's Profile
Instructor appears to be very knowledgeable about the subject and presents this complex subject in a clear, easily understandable manner. I also appreciated his unbiased arguments regarding the pro's and con's of cryptocurrency.

5
Member's Profile
I didn't know anything about crypto currency until taking this course. The instructor starts at the very basics of crypto and explains how is it use. There are different types of crypto. I'm not sure I'm ready to invest in it.

5
Member's Profile
A great course explained in an understandable way. However, at times I had a problem understanding the speaker. I am not sure if this is because of problems with the recording or the accent of the instructor.

4
Anonymous Author
Excellent class, but a bit overwhelming. It could be split between understanding Blockchain and applications and developments of blockchain. Topics are explained well, there are just too many at one time.

5
Anonymous Author
This course covered a great deal of information. However, I feel like I need to read more on the subject to fully understand. Also, it would be beneficial to know which questions were missed on the exam.

4
Member's Profile
Interesting course that explains major crypto currencies and the block chain better than I previously understood. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

3
Member's Profile
The subject is complex and could be approached from different angles, however, merging technical, financial, bureaucratic and organizational aspects all into 2hrs course make it all to hard to digest.

4
Anonymous Author
informative. the information was a little bit dry, but a goof start to someone who was no background in blockchain. Also information could be updated with all of the new relevant alt coins out there.

3
Anonymous Author
This is a complicated topic but a lot of this course dealt with examples on where it's used as opposed to what the technology is all about, and at times was repetitive in what certain terms were.

5
Anonymous Author
I had been hearing about this in the news for a while but never had the best understanding of the key concepts. This course was great for that and would definitely recommend.

5
Member's Profile
Mr. Epstein is one of the most knowledgeable speakers that I have viewed on Illumeo. The course provides an excellent overview of both current and future uses of blockchain.

5
Member's Profile
Informative and clarifying overview of the blockchain. I especially liked learning about the blockchain projects being developed throughout several different industries.

4
Anonymous Author
very detailed about blockchain and bitcoin. this would be beneficial for someone working in cryptocurrency industry or just want to know beginning knowledge about it.

5
Anonymous Author
Blockchain and crypto have always been hard for me to understand. But this class brought me up to speed on the basics and gave me a good foundation to learn more.

4
Anonymous Author
Good examples in beginning. Started to zone out near end when all the different organizations were being listed. Would have liked to see a simple ethereum example.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent explanation of a complex topic in understandable, non-technical language. Slides presentation very helpful in combination with the instructor dialogue.

5
Anonymous Author
This course was extremely helpful. The instructor managed to summarize and explain extremely complex issues and concepts in a way that facilitated understanding.

5
Member's Profile
Great course on understanding blockchain. If you are just learning about blockchain, Bitcoin and other digital assets I would highly recommend this course.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent. I was very impressed at how the instructor was able to explain the complex technical subject matter in a relatively non-technical layman style.

4
Anonymous Author
This topic isn't easy to grasp. Stanley did a great job by in his narrative and spoke in layman's terms. I'm still not there but closer than I was.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a great introduction to blockchain. It is well explained. It also gives great insight into which companies are exploring its possibilities.

5
Anonymous Author
If you do not understand bitcoin & blockchain, you should. Crypto will likely play a large role in the future like the internet did for e-commerce.

5
Anonymous Author
Thorough explanation of bitcoin and the blockchain for anyone who has no actual understanding of cryptocurrency. Glossary is useful for key points.

5
Anonymous Author
Everyone should take this course. Stanley does a great job explaining the technology of blockchains and digital currencies in layman's terms.

5
Member's Profile
Great course. Provides a good introduction to a complicated subject matter. I look forward to referencing the supporting materials in the future.

4
Member's Profile
Mr. Epstein capably explains this very ethereal topic with confidence and ability. This is an excellent primer on the subject of the Blockchain.

4
Member's Profile
Needs to get more technical (i.e. should provide more details about blockchain architecture, proof-of work vs proof-of stake mechanisms, etc.).

5
Anonymous Author
This was a helpful course to understand more in-depth the way that Blockchain works and how it relates to digital currencies besides bitcoin.

5
Member's Profile
Informative with respect to coverage and real life examples. More comprehensive and detailed in explanation. Instructor is very effective.

3
Anonymous Author
I am still skeptical of bitcoin, however, I see a variety of uses in blockchain if it truly holds upto not being susceptible to hackers.

5
Anonymous Author
I much appreciated how the instructor uses illustrations and examples to make it easy for newbies like myself to follow the discussion.

3
Anonymous Author
A mile wide and an inch deep, good course for someone brand new to blockchain, but could have been condensed and shortened quit a bit.

5
Member's Profile
A very good course for both people new to blockchain and those who have a solid understanding already to help reinforce understanding

4
Anonymous Author
Didn't like the long drawn out list of use blockchain use cases at the end. It was a superficial list. Could have had more depth.

5
Anonymous Author
Good course, although supporting materials contradict some of the definitions and info provided in the videos. Needs to be synced up.

4
Member's Profile
Solid overview of blockchain technology. I felt the course was a bit too broad and lacked a sense of cohesion between modules.

5
Anonymous Author
Very informative class. The examples made the key concepts easier to grasp and the layout of the course was easy to follow.

5
Member's Profile
Stanley is a baller, shot-caller. A very well done course and introduction to understanding blockchain technology. Thanks!

5
Member's Profile
Really good course on crypto-currency and blackchain applications. Well explained uing laymens terminology and examples.

4
Member's Profile
Very clear and engaging! The materials were relevant and contributed to the achievement of the learning objectives.

4
Anonymous Author
Not granular enough, test is generic and can be passed from just reading a buzzfeed article about the same subject.

3
Anonymous Author
Provides some useful information but also spends a lot of time on things not necessary to understanding blockchain.

4
Anonymous Author
Excellent course. Thank you! However requiring 50 characters to pump up your product to others is a bit shady.

4
Anonymous Author
This was a good overview of Bitcoin and Blockchain. It was helpful to learn of all the possible applications.

5
Member's Profile
Helpful high level understanding of blockchain and possible future (and current) applications. Very enjoyable.

3
Anonymous Author
This course was an interesting course about understanding the blockchain. Thanks for the informative course.

5
Anonymous Author
The course covered the stated learning objectives. The examples used help with understanding the concepts.

4
Anonymous Author
This course provides a solid basic foundation to understanding blockchain technology and it’s potential.

4
Member's Profile
One of the most informative courses I have taken on this subject. Detaied. I liked the teaching style.

4
Anonymous Author
This was a great intro to blockchain. I'm looking forward to learning more details about blockchain tech!

5
Member's Profile
Very involved difficult concepts to understand. I thought the materials could have been better organized.

4
Member's Profile
This course regarding Blockchain was very informative. The materials were easy to follow and understand.

3
Member's Profile
PDF doesn't help much with exam. Please provide better PDF. There are probably better courses out there.

5
Member's Profile
Course provided a nice blend of technical and general details about blockchain and digital currencies.

5
Anonymous Author
Superb course. Very comprehensive coverage of various topics and dimensions of blockchain technology.

4
Anonymous Author
Great information and informative. I think the examples applied well to the audience. Paced well.

5
Anonymous Author
I enjoyed this class. It provides a lot of information in a field that I know very little about.

5
Member's Profile
The course was a great introduction to explain blockchain and how its distinction from bitcoin.

5
Member's Profile
Mr. Epstein is engaging and knowledgable and explained the concepts in a way I could understand

5
Anonymous Author
Great easy-to-follow examples! Instructor was able to make an abstract concept understandable.

5
Anonymous Author
Understanding the Blockchain is a great course. I learned a lot from this course. Well done!

5
Anonymous Author
I liked this course... bitcoin blockchain and other terms explained well. slides are helpful.

5
Member's Profile
Thank you for a baseline knowledge of this technology that is becoming more and more common.

5
Member's Profile
Good course covering the basics of block chain. Recommended for those new to the concept.

5
Anonymous Author
I appreciated the common sense approach to describing blockchain and its many possible uses.

5
Anonymous Author
This course served as a great introduction to understanding blockchain and cryptocurrency.

5
Anonymous Author
Great overview of a complicated topic that we should all be familiar with going forward.

5
Anonymous Author
Great overview of the topic, very thorough in its explanation, especially for beginners.

5
Member's Profile
Great class a nice nuanced yet general approach to learning more about this new concept.

3
Anonymous Author
This course was informative. I liked the examples given. More graphics would be helpful.

5
Anonymous Author
This course was very helpful in explaining what a blockchain is and what Bitcoin is.

5
Anonymous Author
Fantastic course. Cleared up a lot of misconceptions I had surrounding the subject

5
Anonymous Author
The speaker is very good at delivering the concept of the blockchain and Bitcoin.

5
Anonymous Author
This course provides lots of great information for the bitcoin/blockchain novice.

3
Member's Profile
To technical for a layperson such as myself. Was expecting more of a 101 course

5
Member's Profile
Well done. Really easy explanation of a complex topic, and very easy examples.

4
Anonymous Author
This is a very confusing topic, but I felt the presenter made a nice overview.

5
Member's Profile
Super interesting and relevant during these crypto times. Enjoyed this course!

5
Member's Profile
Good summary version of the course now to dig into the details going forward.

4
Member's Profile
This was a very detailed course on blockchain. I learned several new things.

5
Member's Profile
Great course introduction into blockchain, bitoin & ethereum. Very useful.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course that provides insight into the basics of blockchain and crypto.

5
Anonymous Author
Very interesting. The topics were thoughtful and explanations were helpful.

4
Member's Profile
An insightful reading for blockchain novices. Informative and beneficial.

5
Anonymous Author
A+ with just the right level of detail for an introduction to blockchain!

4
Member's Profile
Good course. I learned a lot of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

5
Anonymous Author
Excellent corres. Very clear and easy to understand. Love it . Thank you

5
Member's Profile
A good introduction to understanding blockchain and its potential uses.

5
Member's Profile
Very interesting course and beneficial for every person working on IT.

4
Member's Profile
Stated learning objectives were met. Question quality can be improved.

4
Anonymous Author
This was a good overview of a complicated constantly evolving topic.

5
Anonymous Author
Pretty decent set of information regarding the basics of blockchain.

5
Member's Profile
Good explanations of bitcoin and blockchain with practical examples.

5
Member's Profile
This course was very useful in understanding Bitcoin and Blockchain.

5
Anonymous Author
Well presented, easy to follow, not dull. Informative and relevant.

4
Anonymous Author
Informative introductory course on understanding the blockchain.

4
Member's Profile
Good solid overview of the mechanics of bitcoin and blockchain.

5
Member's Profile
This is the best explanation of Blockchain I have come across!

5
Anonymous Author
Good course for novices in this arena. Course well structured.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent. Right level of detail. Very engaging and precise.

4
Anonymous Author
This course was a good introductory to blockchain technology.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course on understanding blockchain. Very interesting!!!

4
Member's Profile
Very useful information on an upcoming and important topic.

5
Anonymous Author
Good overview. Thanks for the course. I would recommend it

4
Anonymous Author
This course helped explain a complex and confusing topic.

3
Member's Profile
Nice intro to Blockchain and Bitcoins. Very interesting.

5
Anonymous Author
Very detailed course on blockchain and digital currency.

5
Anonymous Author
This video was informative with a lot of new terminology

5
Member's Profile
Good overview of blockchain technology. Well organized.

5
Anonymous Author
helpful to understand concept of blockchain and bitcoin

3
Member's Profile
basic course for understanding blockchain and cyrpto

5
Member's Profile
Exam was overly difficult. Material was good though.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent overview of the Blockchain. Very helpful.

5
Member's Profile
Amazing explanation. Very clear articulation.

Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate

No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Course Questions and Answers(2 Questions)
Member's Profile
Member's Profile

Hi Todd. Although the system has indicated that you have a question, no question was received. Could be a tech quirk. Please resubmit and I will be happy to answer you. Regards.

Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Understanding the Blockchain11:01
  What is Bitcoin? Origins6:36
  A Practical Bitcoin Example9:58
  Is Bitcoin really Secure?5:01
  Understanding a Bitcoin Transaction11:41
  What is Blockchain and How Does it Work?11:27
  The Mechanics of Blockchain17:23
  Ethereum - What it is and How it Fits Into the Picture8:02
  Initial Coin Offerings5:11
  Value Creation in the Blockchain12:32
  Value Creation in the Blockchain Continued..24:12
  Course Wrap-Up8:09
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Understanding the Blockchain Full Video2:11:11
Supporting Materials
  Slides: Understanding the BlockchainPDF
  Understanding the Blockchain Glossary/IndexPDF
  Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System by Satoshi NakamotoPDF
REVIEW AND TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam