# Crypto Reading List

By [Baikal](https://paragraph.com/@baikal) · 2022-07-29

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Building Blocks and Basics
--------------------------

**WTF is the blockchain?** — understanding the problem it solves before defining it by Mohit Mamoria [https://hackernoon.com/wtf-is-the-blockchain-1da89ba19348](https://hackernoon.com/wtf-is-the-blockchain-1da89ba19348)

\*\*Ever wonder how bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) actually work? \*\*from 3Blue1Brown [https://youtu.be/bBC-nXj3Ng4](https://youtu.be/bBC-nXj3Ng4)

\*\*How the bitcoin protocol actually works \*\*by Michael Nielsen [http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works/](http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works/)

\*\*Ethereum in 25 minutes \*\*by Vitalik Buterin [https://youtu.be/66SaEDzlmP4](https://youtu.be/66SaEDzlmP4)

**How does Ethereum work, anyway?** — how it functions at a technical level, without complex math by Preethi Kasireddy [https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/how-does-ethereum-work-anyway-22d1df506369](https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/how-does-ethereum-work-anyway-22d1df506369)

\*\*Decrypting crypto, from bitcoin and blockchain to ICOs \*\*by Alex Rampell [https://a16z.com/2017/12/08/summit-crypto-alex-rampell/](https://a16z.com/2017/12/08/summit-crypto-alex-rampell/)

**An introduction to crypto** by Linda Xie [https://a16z.com/2018/05/04/intro-to-crypto/](https://a16z.com/2018/05/04/intro-to-crypto/)

**Cryptographic hash function** — what they are, properties of, etc.\*\* \*\*by Khan Academy [https://youtu.be/0WiTaBI82Mc](https://youtu.be/0WiTaBI82Mc)

**Basic primer on blockchain** — ledger basics, why it matters by Chris Berg, Sinclair Davidson, and Jason Potts [https://medium.com/@cryptoeconomics/the-blockchain-economy-a-beginners-guide-to-institutional-cryptoeconomics-64bf2f2beec4](https://medium.com/@cryptoeconomics/the-blockchain-economy-a-beginners-guide-to-institutional-cryptoeconomics-64bf2f2beec4)

**Basic terminology for Ethereum** — from gas to dapps (distributed apps) by Matt Condon [https://medium.com/@mattcondon/getting-up-to-speed-on-ethereum-63ed28821bbe](https://medium.com/@mattcondon/getting-up-to-speed-on-ethereum-63ed28821bbe)

**A basic glossary of terms** — a few short and simple definitions [https://tangelo.co/insights/blog/techs-must-have-reference-guide-to-blockchain-and-cryptocurrency](https://tangelo.co/insights/blog/techs-must-have-reference-guide-to-blockchain-and-cryptocurrency)

**Crypto Glossary: Cryptocurrencies & Blockchains** — key concepts and terms to know that relate to NFTs (cryptography, proof of stake, more) by Alex Pruden and Sonal Chokshi [https://a16z.com/2019/11/08/crypto-glossary/](https://a16z.com/2019/11/08/crypto-glossary/)

**Beginner’s guide series on cryptoassets (series)** — from ethereum to litecoin by Linda Xie <[https://medium.com/@linda.xie/beginners-guide-series-on-cryptoassets-d897535d887](https://medium.com/@linda.xie/beginners-guide-series-on-cryptoassets-d897535d887) \]([https://medium.com/@linda.xie/beginners-guide-series-on-cryptoassets-d897535d887](https://medium.com/@linda.xie/beginners-guide-series-on-cryptoassets-d897535d887))

Foundations (& History)
-----------------------

\*\*Bitcoin whitepaper (2009): A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System \*\*by Satoshi Nakamoto [https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf)

\*\*Ethereum whitepaper (2013+): A Next-Generation Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform \*\*by Vitalik Buterin et al [https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper](https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper)

**The Byzantine Generals Problem (1982)** by Leslie Lamport, Robert Shostak, and Marshall Pease [https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/\\~luca/cs174/byzantine.pdf](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/%5C~luca/cs174/byzantine.pdf)

\*\*The Agoric papers series (1988) \*\*by Mark Miller and K. Eric Drexler [https://agoric.com/references/#aos](https://agoric.com/references/#aos)

\*\*The idea of smart contracts (1997) \*\*by Nick Szabo [http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/rob/Courses/InformationInSpeech/CDROM/Literature/LOTwinterschool2006/szabo.best.vwh.net/idea.html](http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/rob/Courses/InformationInSpeech/CDROM/Literature/LOTwinterschool2006/szabo.best.vwh.net/idea.html)

\*\*Why bitcoin matters (2014) \*\*by Marc Andreessen [https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/why-bitcoin-matters/](https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/why-bitcoin-matters/)

\*\*Bitcoin’s academic pedigree (2017) \*\*by Arvind Narayanan and Jeremy Clark [https://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3136559](https://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3136559)

Key Concepts
------------

\*\*Beyond the bitcoin bubble \*\*by Steven Johnson [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/magazine/beyond-the-bitcoin-bubble.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/magazine/beyond-the-bitcoin-bubble.html)

\*\*Crypto tokens: A breakthrough in open network design \*\*by Chris Dixon <[https://medium.com/@cdixon/crypto-tokens-a-breakthrough-in-open-network-design-e600975be2ef](https://medium.com/@cdixon/crypto-tokens-a-breakthrough-in-open-network-design-e600975be2ef) \]([https://medium.com/@cdixon/crypto-tokens-a-breakthrough-in-open-network-design-e600975be2ef](https://medium.com/@cdixon/crypto-tokens-a-breakthrough-in-open-network-design-e600975be2ef))

\*\*Crypto tokens and the coming age of protocol innovation \*\*by Albert Wenger <[http://continuations.com/post/148098927445/crypto-tokens-and-the-coming-age-of-protocol](http://continuations.com/post/148098927445/crypto-tokens-and-the-coming-age-of-protocol) \]([http://continuations.com/post/148098927445/crypto-tokens-and-the-coming-age-of-protocol](http://continuations.com/post/148098927445/crypto-tokens-and-the-coming-age-of-protocol))

\*\*Fat protocols \*\*by Joel Monegro <[https://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols](https://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols) \]([https://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols](https://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols))

\*\*Cryptocurrencies, app coins, and investing in protocols \*\*Olaf Carson-Wee, Chris Dixon, and Sonal Chokshi [https://a16z.com/2017/04/03/cryptocurrencies-protocols-appcoins/](https://a16z.com/2017/04/03/cryptocurrencies-protocols-appcoins/)

\*\*Getting applications into people’s hands \*\*Juan Benet and Chris Dixon [https://a16z.com/2017/09/14/networks-protocols-labs-tokens/](https://a16z.com/2017/09/14/networks-protocols-labs-tokens/)

**Blockchain: what is it good for?** — including smart contracts by Ed Felten [http://freedom-to-tinker.com/2018/02/26/blockchain-what-is-it-good-for/](http://freedom-to-tinker.com/2018/02/26/blockchain-what-is-it-good-for/)

\*\*How the U.S. government used blockchain to fight fraud \*\*by Kathryn Haun <[https://youtu.be/507wn9VcSAE](https://youtu.be/507wn9VcSAE) \]([https://youtu.be/507wn9VcSAE](https://youtu.be/507wn9VcSAE))

\*\*Bitcoin network effects \*\*by Elad Gil [http://blog.eladgil.com/2017/12/bitcoin-network-effects\_11.html](http://blog.eladgil.com/2017/12/bitcoin-network-effects_11.html)

**Keepers: workers that maintain blockchain networks** — when designed correctly, tokens can act like rocket-fuel for driving network effects by incentivizing desired behaviors by Ryan Zurrer [https://medium.com/@rzurrer/keepers-workers-that-maintain-blockchain-networks-a40182615b66](https://medium.com/@rzurrer/keepers-workers-that-maintain-blockchain-networks-a40182615b66)

**The quiet master of cryptocurrency** — Nick Szabo in conversation with Naval Ravikant by Tim Ferris [https://tim.blog/2017/06/04/nick-szabo/](https://tim.blog/2017/06/04/nick-szabo/)

\*\*Why crypto tokens matter \*\*Fred Ehrsam and Chris Dixon [https://a16z.com/2017/09/28/cryptocurrencies-networks-tokens/](https://a16z.com/2017/09/28/cryptocurrencies-networks-tokens/)

**What are cryptonetworks and why are tokens fundamental?** — with full deck by Nick Grossman [https://www.nickgrossman.xyz/2018/cryptonetworks-and-why-tokens-are-fundamental/](https://www.nickgrossman.xyz/2018/cryptonetworks-and-why-tokens-are-fundamental/)

\*\*Why it’s hard to “get” bitcoin: the blockchain spectrum \*\*by Dhruv Bansal [https://blog.unchained-capital.com/blockchain-spectrum-806847e1c575](https://blog.unchained-capital.com/blockchain-spectrum-806847e1c575)

**Money, blockchains, and social scalability** by Nick Szabo [http://unenumerated.blogspot.com/2017/02/money-blockchains-and-social-scalability.html](http://unenumerated.blogspot.com/2017/02/money-blockchains-and-social-scalability.html)

\*\*What do we mean by “blockchains are trustless”? \*\*by Preethi Kasireddy <[https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/eli5-what-do-we-mean-by-blockchains-are-trustless-aa420635d5f6](https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/eli5-what-do-we-mean-by-blockchains-are-trustless-aa420635d5f6) \]([https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/eli5-what-do-we-mean-by-blockchains-are-trustless-aa420635d5f6](https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/eli5-what-do-we-mean-by-blockchains-are-trustless-aa420635d5f6))

**Why decentralization matters** — from eras of the internet to cryptonetworks by Chris Dixon [https://medium.com/@cdixon/why-decentralization-matters-5e3f79f7638e](https://medium.com/@cdixon/why-decentralization-matters-5e3f79f7638e)

**The meaning of decentralization** — but what does that actually mean? nuances, depth by Vitalik Buterin [https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/the-meaning-of-decentralization-a0c92b76a274](https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/the-meaning-of-decentralization-a0c92b76a274)

**Quantifying decentralization** — we must be able to measure blockchain decentralization before we can improve it by Balaji Srinivasan and Leland Lee [https://news.earn.com/quantifying-decentralization-e39db233c28e](https://news.earn.com/quantifying-decentralization-e39db233c28e)

**The truth about blockchain** — framework for adoption to help big company executives understand state of development; strategic investments; challenges, resources, processes to facilitate adoption by Marco Iansiti and Karim Lakhani [https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-truth-about-blockchain](https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-truth-about-blockchain)

**The slow death of the firm** by Nick Tomaino [https://thecontrol.co/the-slow-death-of-the-firm-1bd6cc81286b](https://thecontrol.co/the-slow-death-of-the-firm-1bd6cc81286b)

**Vitalik Buterin, creator of Ethereum** — Unchained: big ideas from the worlds of blockchain and cryptocurrency by Laura Shin [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unchained-big-ideas-from-worlds-blockchain-cryptocurrency/id1123922160](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unchained-big-ideas-from-worlds-blockchain-cryptocurrency/id1123922160?mt=2&i=399418045)

\*\*Mental models for understanding tokens \*\*Nick Tomaino and Chris Dixon [https://a16z.com/2018/01/21/mental-models-tokens-crypto-trends/](https://a16z.com/2018/01/21/mental-models-tokens-crypto-trends/)

**Hard forks, soft forks, defaults, and coercion** — illustrating fork types, benefits, addressing criticisms by Vitalik Buterin [https://vitalik.ca/general/2017/03/14/forks\_and\_markets.html](https://vitalik.ca/general/2017/03/14/forks_and_markets.html)

Governance
----------

**An overview of governance in blockchains** — introduction slides to a working paper by Odysseas Sclavounis and Nic Carter [https://www.docdroid.net/ddz6VzP/overview-governance-blockchains-nc-zcon.pdf](https://www.docdroid.net/ddz6VzP/overview-governance-blockchains-nc-zcon.pdf)

**Governance deep dive** — slides from Blockchain at Berkeley [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10cLFnYaR0r58DyPVYwMgJq3nJOFVkO02hxJf1hxGnJ0/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10cLFnYaR0r58DyPVYwMgJq3nJOFVkO02hxJf1hxGnJ0/edit?usp=sharing) by Alexandra Tran and Steven Elleman

**The myth of the irrational token holder** — why blockchain governance doesn’t fit squarely into any existing model by Kathleen Breitman <[https://medium.com/@kathleenbreit/the-myth-of-the-irrational-token-holder-c12438709afd](https://medium.com/@kathleenbreit/the-myth-of-the-irrational-token-holder-c12438709afd) \]([https://medium.com/@kathleenbreit/the-myth-of-the-irrational-token-holder-c12438709afd](https://medium.com/@kathleenbreit/the-myth-of-the-irrational-token-holder-c12438709afd))

**Blockchain governance/ governance 101** — talk from Ethereum Foundation at BeyondBlock Taipei 2017 by Vlad Zamfir [https://youtu.be/9RtSod8EXn4](https://youtu.be/9RtSod8EXn4)

**Blockchain governance** — design components, approaches, suggestions by Fred Ehrsam [https://medium.com/@FEhrsam/blockchain-governance-programming-our-future-c3bfe30f2d74](https://medium.com/@FEhrsam/blockchain-governance-programming-our-future-c3bfe30f2d74)

**Against on-chain governance** — refuting (and rebuking) the above post by Vlad Zamfir [https://medium.com/@Vlad\_Zamfir/against-on-chain-governance-a4ceacd040ca](https://medium.com/@Vlad_Zamfir/against-on-chain-governance-a4ceacd040ca)

**On-chain vote buying and the rise of dark DAOs** — on on-chain voting and governance by Philip Daian, Tyler Kell, Ian Miers, and Ari Juels [http://hackingdistributed.com/2018/07/02/on-chain-vote-buying/](http://hackingdistributed.com/2018/07/02/on-chain-vote-buying/)

**Thoughts on governance and network effects** Luke Duncan [https://blog.aragon.one/thoughts-on-governance-and-network-effects-f40fda3e3f98](https://blog.aragon.one/thoughts-on-governance-and-network-effects-f40fda3e3f98)

**Notes on blockchain governance** by Vitalik Buterin [http://vitalik.ca/general/2017/12/17/voting.html](http://vitalik.ca/general/2017/12/17/voting.html)

**Tezos position paper** — a self-amending crypto-ledger \*\* \*\*by Arthur and Kathleen Breitman [https://www.tezos.com/static/papers/position\_paper.pdf](https://www.tezos.com/static/papers/position_paper.pdf)

**An Overview of Cosmos Hub Governance** — how a proposal is submitted, how deposits are collected, how the voting happens and how the final outcome is determined by Felix Lutsch [https://blog.chorus.one/an-overview-of-cosmos-hub-governance/](https://blog.chorus.one/an-overview-of-cosmos-hub-governance/)

Privacy and Security
--------------------

**Privacy on the blockchain** [](https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/01/15/privacy-on-the-blockchain/)by Vitalik Buterin [https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/01/15/privacy-on-the-blockchain/](https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/01/15/privacy-on-the-blockchain/)

**Securing smart contracts (series)** — 6 Solidity vulnerabilities and how to avoid them from Loom [https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-secure-your-smart-contracts-6-solidity-vulnerabilities-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-1-c33048d4d17d](https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-secure-your-smart-contracts-6-solidity-vulnerabilities-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-1-c33048d4d17d) [https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-secure-your-smart-contracts-6-solidity-vulnerabilities-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2-730db0aa4834](https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-secure-your-smart-contracts-6-solidity-vulnerabilities-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2-730db0aa4834)

\*\*Ethereum smart contract best practices \*\*by ConsenSys Diligence [https://consensys.github.io/smart-contract-best-practices/](https://consensys.github.io/smart-contract-best-practices/)

**Town Crier: an authenticated data feed for smart contracts** by Fan Zhang, Ethan Cecchetti, Kyle Croman, Ari Juels, and Elaine Shi [https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/168.pdf](https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/168.pdf)

\*\*Devcon3 panel on formal verification \*\*Phil Daian, Everett Hildenbrandt, Yoichi Hirai, and Loi Luu, moderated by Reto Trinkler [https://youtu.be/DrDIcirrhWM](https://youtu.be/DrDIcirrhWM)

**What are zk-SNARKs?** by Jay Graber [https://z.cash/technology/zksnarks.html](https://z.cash/technology/zksnarks.html)

**Introduction to zero-knowledge proofs** — Zero Knowledge podcast episode 21, examples and underlying concepts by Fredrik Harrysson and Anna Rose [https://www.zeroknowledge.fm/21](https://www.zeroknowledge.fm/21)

**Understanding zero-knowledge proofs** — a summary based on the above episode of Zero Knowledge (with Fredrik Harrysson and Anna Rose) by Nicole Zhu [https://blog.goodaudience.com/understanding-zero-knowledge-proofs-through-simple-examples-df673f796d99](https://blog.goodaudience.com/understanding-zero-knowledge-proofs-through-simple-examples-df673f796d99)

**Zk-SNARKs: under the hood** **(series)** — assumes basic knowledge of zk-SNARKs (zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge) by Vitalik Buterin [https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/zk-snarks-under-the-hood-b33151a013f6](https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/zk-snarks-under-the-hood-b33151a013f6)

**STARKs, part I: proofs with polynomials** — general-purpose technology that can be used for all sorts of use cases ranging from verifiable computation to privacy-preserving cryptocurrency by Vitalik Buterin [https://vitalik.ca/general/2017/11/09/starks\_part\_1.html](https://vitalik.ca/general/2017/11/09/starks_part_1.html)

**Scalable, transparent, and post-quantum secure computational integrity** — on transparent zk-SNARKs (zk-STARKs) as a solution to the tension between personal privacy and institutional integrity by Eli Ben-Sasson, Iddo Bentov, Yinon Horesh, and Michael Riabzev [https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/046.pdf](https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/046.pdf)

**Succinct non-interactive zero knowledge for a von Neumann Architecture** by Eli Ben-Sasson, Alessandro Chiesa, Eran Tromer, and Madars Virza [https://eprint.iacr.org/2013/879.pdf](https://eprint.iacr.org/2013/879.pdf)

Scaling
-------

**Blockchains don’t scale** — not today, at least… but there’s hope by Preethi Kasireddy [https://hackernoon.com/blockchains-dont-scale-not-today-at-least-but-there-s-hope-2cb43946551a](https://hackernoon.com/blockchains-dont-scale-not-today-at-least-but-there-s-hope-2cb43946551a)

**The decentralized-consistent-scale (DCS) triangle** — on the “trilemma” of scalability, tradeoffs between decentralized, consistent, or scalable by Trent McConaghy [https://blog.bigchaindb.com/the-dcs-triangle-5ce0e9e0f1dc](https://blog.bigchaindb.com/the-dcs-triangle-5ce0e9e0f1dc) 

**Models for scaling trustless computation** — on the “trilemma” of scalability, tradeoffs between safety, scalability, and decentralization of block production by Kyle Samani [https://multicoin.capital/2018/02/23/models-scaling-trustless-computation/](https://multicoin.capital/2018/02/23/models-scaling-trustless-computation/)

**What are zk-SNARKs and why do they matter? (a fable)** — a tale of Ethereum scalability by Eric Gorski [https://blog.gnosis.pm/the-parrot-and-the-viper-a-tale-of-ethereum-scalability-3d121df3de87](https://blog.gnosis.pm/the-parrot-and-the-viper-a-tale-of-ethereum-scalability-3d121df3de87)

**Platform currencies may soon be obsolete** — here is my claim: within 5 years the biggest cryptocurrency by market cap will be an application token by Aleksandr Bulkin [https://blog.coinfund.io/platform-currencies-may-soon-be-obsolete-78d9b263d902](https://blog.coinfund.io/platform-currencies-may-soon-be-obsolete-78d9b263d902)

**The importance of layer two** — an HTTP of bitcoin and blockchains by Elizabeth Stark [https://youtu.be/3PcR4HWJnkY](https://youtu.be/3PcR4HWJnkY)

**What is the Lightning Network and how can it help bitcoin scale?** by Elizabeth Stark [https://coincenter.org/entry/what-is-the-lightning-network](https://coincenter.org/entry/what-is-the-lightning-network)

**Making sense of Ethereum’s Layer 2 scaling solutions: state channels, Plasma, and Truebit** by Josh Stark [https://medium.com/l4-media/making-sense-of-ethereums-layer-2-scaling-solutions-state-channels-plasma-and-truebit-22cb40dcc2f4](https://medium.com/l4-media/making-sense-of-ethereums-layer-2-scaling-solutions-state-channels-plasma-and-truebit-22cb40dcc2f4)

**On managing tradeoffs between Layer 1 and Layer 2 innovations** by Vitalik Buterin [https://vitalik.ca/general/2018/08/26/layer\_1.html](https://vitalik.ca/general/2018/08/26/layer_1.html)

**Scaling Tezos** — scaling with recursive SNARKs (succinct non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs of knowledge) by Arthur Breitman [https://hackernoon.com/scaling-tezo-8de241dd91bd](https://hackernoon.com/scaling-tezo-8de241dd91bd)

**Ethereum Foundation research initiatives** — primary topics in both pure and applied research\*\* \*\*by Ethereum Foundation [http://notes.eth.sg/CwIwZgbAjADAxgUwLQEMUIKxOCsWCcIEwShAHCgEwJj4qyVA](http://notes.eth.sg/CwIwZgbAjADAxgUwLQEMUIKxOCsWCcIEwShAHCgEwJj4qyVA)

\*\*Ethereum scalability research and development subsidy programs \*\*by Vitalik Buterin [https://blog.ethereum.org/2018/01/02/ethereum-scalability-research-development-subsidy-programs/](https://blog.ethereum.org/2018/01/02/ethereum-scalability-research-development-subsidy-programs/)

\*\*A beginner’s guide to Ethermint \*\*by Tendermint [https://blog.cosmos.network/a-beginners-guide-to-ethermint-38ee15f8a6f4](https://blog.cosmos.network/a-beginners-guide-to-ethermint-38ee15f8a6f4)

\*\*Construction of a plasma chain 0x1 \*\*by David Knott [https://blog.omisego.network/construction-of-a-plasma-chain-0x1-614f6ebd1612](https://blog.omisego.network/construction-of-a-plasma-chain-0x1-614f6ebd1612)

\*\*Accounts, transactions, gas, and block gas limits in Ethereum \*\*by Hudson Jameson [https://hudsonjameson.com/2017-06-27-accounts-transactions-gas-ethereum/](https://hudsonjameson.com/2017-06-27-accounts-transactions-gas-ethereum/)

\*\*Interplanetary linked computing: separating Merkle Computing from blockchain computational courts \*\*by Simon de la Rouviere [https://media.consensys.net/interplanetary-linked-computing-separating-merkle-computing-from-blockchain-computational-courts-1ade201ecf8a](https://media.consensys.net/interplanetary-linked-computing-separating-merkle-computing-from-blockchain-computational-courts-1ade201ecf8a)

\*\*Ethereum sharding: overview and finality \*\*by Hsiao-Wei Wang [https://medium.com/@icebearhww/ethereum-sharding-and-finality-65248951f649](https://medium.com/@icebearhww/ethereum-sharding-and-finality-65248951f649)

Consensus
---------

**What it means to have consensus in a distributed system** — brief basics of distributed systems and distributed “consensus” by Preethi Kasireddy [https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/lets-take-a-crack-at-understanding-distributed-consensus-dad23d0dc95](https://medium.com/@preethikasireddy/lets-take-a-crack-at-understanding-distributed-consensus-dad23d0dc95)

\*\*Decentralization in bitcoin and ethereum \*\*by Adem Efe Gencer, Soumya Basu, Ittay Eyal, Robbert van Renesse, and Emin Gün Sirer [http://hackingdistributed.com/2018/01/15/decentralization-bitcoin-ethereum/](http://hackingdistributed.com/2018/01/15/decentralization-bitcoin-ethereum/)

\*\*A proof of stake design philosophy \*\*by Vitalik Buterin [https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/a-proof-of-stake-design-philosophy-506585978d51](https://medium.com/@VitalikButerin/a-proof-of-stake-design-philosophy-506585978d51)

**Delegrated proof of stake: Features and tradeoffs** by Myles Snider [https://multicoin.capital/2018/03/02/delegated-proof-stake-features-tradeoffs/](https://multicoin.capital/2018/03/02/delegated-proof-stake-features-tradeoffs/)

**Seeking consensus on consensus** — DPOS (delegated proof of stake) and the Two Generals’ problem by Ian Grigg [https://steemit.com/eos/@iang/seeking-consensus-on-consensus-dpos-or-delegated-proof-of-stake-and-the-two-generals-problem](https://steemit.com/eos/@iang/seeking-consensus-on-consensus-dpos-or-delegated-proof-of-stake-and-the-two-generals-problem)

\*\*Consensus Compare: Casper vs. Tendermint; Tendermint BFT vs. EOS dPoS \*\*from Tendermint [https://blog.cosmos.network/consensus-compare-casper-vs-tendermint-6df154ad56ae](https://blog.cosmos.network/consensus-compare-casper-vs-tendermint-6df154ad56ae) [https://blog.cosmos.network/consensus-compare-tendermint-bft-vs-eos-dpos-46c5bca7204b](https://blog.cosmos.network/consensus-compare-tendermint-bft-vs-eos-dpos-46c5bca7204b)

\*\*Ethereum Casper 101 **by Jon Choi** [**https://medium.com/@jonchoi/ethereum-casper-101-7a851a4f1eb0**](https://medium.com/@jonchoi/ethereum-casper-101-7a851a4f1eb0) \*\* \*\*The history of Casper  (series) \*\*by Vlad Zamfir [https://medium.com/@Vlad\_Zamfir/the-history-of-casper-part-1-59233819c9a9](https://medium.com/@Vlad_Zamfir/the-history-of-casper-part-1-59233819c9a9)

\*\*Inflation and participation in stake-based token protocols \*\*by Doug Petkanics [https://medium.com/@petkanics/inflation-and-participation-in-stake-based-token-protocols-1593688612bf](https://medium.com/@petkanics/inflation-and-participation-in-stake-based-token-protocols-1593688612bf)

Cryptoeconomics, Cryptoassets, and Investing
--------------------------------------------

**Making sense of cryptoeconomics** — the term and the concept by Josh Stark [https://hackernoon.com/making-sense-of-cryptoeconomics-5edea77e4e8d](https://hackernoon.com/making-sense-of-cryptoeconomics-5edea77e4e8d)

**A crash course in mechanism design for cryptoeconomic applications** — understanding the basic fundamentals of cryptoeconomics\*\* **from BlockChannel** \*\*[https://medium.com/blockchannel/a-crash-course-in-mechanism-design-for-cryptoeconomic-applications-a9f06ab6a976](https://medium.com/blockchannel/a-crash-course-in-mechanism-design-for-cryptoeconomic-applications-a9f06ab6a976)

**The security token thesis** — when a broad array of assets moves to blockchain records of ownership (represented by tokens) by Stephen McKeon [https://hackernoon.com/the-security-token-thesis-4c5904761063](https://hackernoon.com/the-security-token-thesis-4c5904761063)

**Cryptoasset valuations** — a theory and framework for evaluating by Chris Burniske [https://medium.com/@cburniske/cryptoasset-valuations-ac83479ffca7](https://medium.com/@cburniske/cryptoasset-valuations-ac83479ffca7)

**An (institutional) investor’s take on cryptoassets** by John Pfeffer [https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/john-pfeffer/An+Investor%27s+Take+on+Cryptoassets+v6.pdf](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/john-pfeffer/An+Investor%27s+Take+on+Cryptoassets+v6.pdf)

**Comments on the above (tweetstorm)** — network effects?; programmability as feature of money by Kyle Samani [https://twitter.com/KyleSamani/status/943277077037506560](https://twitter.com/KyleSamani/status/943277077037506560)

**On value, velocity, and monetary theory** — a new approach to cryptoasset valuations by Alex Evans [https://medium.com/blockchannel/on-value-velocity-and-monetary-theory-a-new-approach-to-cryptoasset-valuations-32c9b22e3b6f](https://medium.com/blockchannel/on-value-velocity-and-monetary-theory-a-new-approach-to-cryptoasset-valuations-32c9b22e3b6f)

**On the quantity theory of money for tokens** — take from a former research officer at Federal Reserve Bank (Minneapolis) by Warren Weber [https://blog.coinfund.io/the-quantity-theory-of-money-for-tokens-dbfbc5472423](https://blog.coinfund.io/the-quantity-theory-of-money-for-tokens-dbfbc5472423)

**On medium-of-exchange token valuations** by Vitalik Buterin [http://vitalik.ca/general/2017/10/17/moe.html](http://vitalik.ca/general/2017/10/17/moe.html)

\*\*Understanding token velocity \*\*by Kyle Samani [https://multicoin.capital/2017/12/08/understanding-token-velocity/](https://multicoin.capital/2017/12/08/understanding-token-velocity/)

\*\*A process for evaluating new tokens **by Nick Tomaino** \*\*[https://thecontrol.co/our-process-for-evaluating-new-tokens-4627ed97f500](https://thecontrol.co/our-process-for-evaluating-new-tokens-4627ed97f500)

**Token classification framework** — a multi-dimensional tool for understanding and classifying crypto tokens by Thomas Euler [http://www.untitled-inc.com/the-token-classification-framework-a-multi-dimensional-tool-for-understanding-and-classifying-crypto-tokens/](http://www.untitled-inc.com/the-token-classification-framework-a-multi-dimensional-tool-for-understanding-and-classifying-crypto-tokens/)

**On cryptocurrency communities** by Nick Tomaino [https://thecontrol.co/on-cryptocurrency-communities-f592b5ce6b0b](https://thecontrol.co/on-cryptocurrency-communities-f592b5ce6b0b)

\*\*Fat protocols are not an investment thesis \*\*by Jake Brukhman [https://blog.coinfund.io/fat-protocols-are-not-an-investment-thesis-17c8837c2734](https://blog.coinfund.io/fat-protocols-are-not-an-investment-thesis-17c8837c2734)

\*\*Skin-in-the-game coins **by Ryan Selkis** [**https://medium.com/tbis-weekly-bits/skin-in-the-game-coins-da0afdfdc650**](https://medium.com/tbis-weekly-bits/skin-in-the-game-coins-da0afdfdc650) \*\*

Fundraising and Token Distribution
----------------------------------

**Thoughts on tokens** by Balaji Srinivasan [https://news.earn.com/thoughts-on-tokens-436109aabcbe](https://news.earn.com/thoughts-on-tokens-436109aabcbe)

\*\*Funding the evolution of blockchains \*\*by Fred Ehrsam [https://medium.com/@FEhrsam/funding-the-evolution-of-blockchains-87d160988481](https://medium.com/@FEhrsam/funding-the-evolution-of-blockchains-87d160988481)

\*\*The bitcoin model for crowdfunding \*\*by Naval Ravikant [https://startupboy.com/2014/03/09/the-bitcoin-model-for-crowdfunding/](https://startupboy.com/2014/03/09/the-bitcoin-model-for-crowdfunding/)

**How to make bonding curves for continuous token models** — a novel token distribution mechanism for building healthy communities, a technical primer by Slava Balasanov [https://blog.relevant.community/how-to-make-bonding-curves-for-continuous-token-models-3784653f8b17](https://blog.relevant.community/how-to-make-bonding-curves-for-continuous-token-models-3784653f8b17)

**Separating the staking token from the fee token** — introducing the Photon (the Hard Spoon explained) by Tendermint [https://blog.cosmos.network/cosmos-fee-token-introducing-the-photon-8a62b2f51aa](https://blog.cosmos.network/cosmos-fee-token-introducing-the-photon-8a62b2f51aa)

**Explanation of DAICOs** by Vitalik Buterin [https://ethresear.ch/t/explanation-of-daicos/465](https://ethresear.ch/t/explanation-of-daicos/465)

\*\*The SAFT Project \*\*[https://saftproject.com/](https://saftproject.com/)

**Regulatory environment and considerations** — updates and explainers from Coin Center [https://coincenter.org/our-work](https://coincenter.org/our-work)

Decentralized Exchanges
-----------------------

\*\*State of decentralized exchanges, 2018 \*\*by Nathan Sexer [https://media.consensys.net/state-of-decentralized-exchanges-2018-276dad340c79](https://media.consensys.net/state-of-decentralized-exchanges-2018-276dad340c79)

**Networked liquidity** — projects solving the chicken and egg problem\*\* \*\*by Radar Relay [https://medium.com/radarrelay/networked-liquidity-2030d85af897](https://medium.com/radarrelay/networked-liquidity-2030d85af897)

**List of decentralized exchanges** — of cryptocurrencies and tokens (does not yet include column for degree of decentralization) [https://github.com/PYMERVAL/decentradexchange](https://github.com/PYMERVAL/decentradexchange)

Stablecoins
-----------

\*\*Stablecoins: A holy grail in digital currency \*\*by Nick Tomaino [https://thecontrol.co/stablecoins-a-holy-grail-in-digital-currency-b64f3371e111](https://thecontrol.co/stablecoins-a-holy-grail-in-digital-currency-b64f3371e111)

\*\*An overview of stablecoins \*\*by Myles Snider [https://multicoin.capital/2018/01/17/an-overview-of-stablecoins/](https://multicoin.capital/2018/01/17/an-overview-of-stablecoins/)

\*\*The search for a stable cryptocurrency \*\*by Vitalik Buterin [https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/11/11/search-stable-cryptocurrency/](https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/11/11/search-stable-cryptocurrency/)

\*\*Maker for dummies: a plain English explanation of the Dai stablecoin \*\*by Gregory DiPrisco [https://medium.com/cryptolinks/maker-for-dummies-a-plain-english-explanation-of-the-dai-stablecoin-e4481d79b90](https://medium.com/cryptolinks/maker-for-dummies-a-plain-english-explanation-of-the-dai-stablecoin-e4481d79b90)

Cryptoeconomic Primitives and Crypto Goods: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Cryptocollectibles, Token Curated Registries (TCRs), and Curation Markets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**The emergence of cryptoeconomic primitives** — definitions and building blocks of a token-based economy by Jacob Home [https://medium.com/@jacobscott/the-emergence-of-cryptoeconomic-primitives-14ef3300cc10](https://medium.com/@jacobscott/the-emergence-of-cryptoeconomic-primitives-14ef3300cc10)

**Token lexicon** — buzzwords related to curation markets and collectibles by Billy Rennekamp [https://medium.com/@billyrennekamp/token-lexicon-b4ed9a4ce363](https://medium.com/@billyrennekamp/token-lexicon-b4ed9a4ce363)

\*\*Smart media tokens \*\*from Steemit [https://smt.steem.io/smt-whitepaper.pdf](https://smt.steem.io/smt-whitepaper.pdf)

\*\*Digital pets that don’t die \*\*by Elaine Ou [https://elaineou.com/2017/12/03/digital-pets-that-dont-die/](https://elaineou.com/2017/12/03/digital-pets-that-dont-die/)

**Will cryptocurrencies be the art market’s next big thing?** by Scott Reyburn [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/arts/cryptocurrency-art-market.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/arts/cryptocurrency-art-market.html)

\*\*Digital collectibles and the weird future of “digibles” \*\*by Josh Stark [https://hackernoon.com/digital-collectibles-and-the-weird-future-of-digibles-f75f4bf0f9aa](https://hackernoon.com/digital-collectibles-and-the-weird-future-of-digibles-f75f4bf0f9aa)

**Cryptocollectibles are XLNT, but nobody knows what’s next** by Matt Condon\*\* \*\*[https://medium.com/xlnt-art/cryptocollectibles-are-xlnt-but-nobody-knows-whats-next-a7892b311637](https://medium.com/xlnt-art/cryptocollectibles-are-xlnt-but-nobody-knows-whats-next-a7892b311637)

**Rare pepe** — what happens when you combine a crypto-asset with a meme and a trading card by Fred Wilson [http://avc.com/2017/05/rare-pepe/](http://avc.com/2017/05/rare-pepe/)

**Introducing curation markets** — trade popularity of memes and information (with code!) by Simon de la Rouviere [https://medium.com/@simondlr/introducing-curation-markets-trade-popularity-of-memes-information-with-code-70bf6fed9881](https://medium.com/@simondlr/introducing-curation-markets-trade-popularity-of-memes-information-with-code-70bf6fed9881)

**Curation markets (tweetstorm)** — summary and implications of by Fred Ehrsam [https://twitter.com/FEhrsam/status/958388803655184386](https://twitter.com/FEhrsam/status/958388803655184386)

**Early UIs for curation markets (tweetstorm)** — categories and some projects using markets to curate human readable information by Jesse Walden [https://twitter.com/jessewldn/status/958733889643696128](https://twitter.com/jessewldn/status/958733889643696128)

**Making token curated registries (decentralized production of high-quality lists) work in practice** — voting is the mechanism at the center, but information environment matters too by Alex Tabarrok [https://medium.com/wireline/when-can-token-curated-registries-actually-work-%C2%B9-2ad908653aaf](https://medium.com/wireline/when-can-token-curated-registries-actually-work-%C2%B9-2ad908653aaf)

**Token curated registries** — a more formal but less-than-mathematical view of token-curated registries by Mike Goldin [https://medium.com/@ilovebagels/token-curated-registries-1-0-61a232f8dac7](https://medium.com/@ilovebagels/token-curated-registries-1-0-61a232f8dac7)

**Token curated registry design patterns** — design thinking and use case exploration for these building blocks of decentralized applications based on fungible tokens and digital scarcity by Matt Lockyer [https://medium.com/coinmonks/token-curated-registry-tcr-design-patterns-4de6d18efa15](https://medium.com/coinmonks/token-curated-registry-tcr-design-patterns-4de6d18efa15)

**Token curated registries that don’t work** — TCRs are a holy grail of decentralized computing (all about trustless systems), but have a number of subtle but significant problems by Aleksandr Bulkin [https://blog.coinfund.io/curate-this-token-curated-registries-that-dont-work-d76370b77150](https://blog.coinfund.io/curate-this-token-curated-registries-that-dont-work-d76370b77150)

**Token curated registry design flaws** — why blockchain needs reputation by Slava Balasanov [https://blog.relevant.community/tcr-design-flaws-why-blockchain-needs-reputation-c5771d97b210](https://blog.relevant.community/tcr-design-flaws-why-blockchain-needs-reputation-c5771d97b210)

\*\*Building ‘Google for the economic web’ on the Ethereum blockchain **by Maciej Olpinski** \*\*[https://blog.userfeeds.io/building-google-for-the-economic-web-on-the-ethereum-blockchain-de27cb3d23b](https://blog.userfeeds.io/building-google-for-the-economic-web-on-the-ethereum-blockchain-de27cb3d23b)

Developer Tutorials, Practical Guides, and Maker Stories
--------------------------------------------------------

**Learn to code Ethereum dapps by building your own game** — designed for beginners to Solidity (even if you’ve never coded with Solidity before) [https://cryptozombies.io/](https://cryptozombies.io/)

\*\*How to code your own cryptokitties-style game on Ethereum \*\*by James Martin Duffy [https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-code-your-own-cryptokitties-style-game-on-ethereum-7c8ac86a4eb3](https://medium.com/loom-network/how-to-code-your-own-cryptokitties-style-game-on-ethereum-7c8ac86a4eb3)

**Learning Solidity** — commit-reveal voting by Karl Floersch [https://karl.tech/learning-solidity-part-2-voting/](https://karl.tech/learning-solidity-part-2-voting/)

\*\*The hitchhiker’s guide to smart contracts in Ethereum \*\*by Manuel Araoz <[https://blog.zeppelin.solutions/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-smart-contracts-in-ethereum-848f08001f05](https://blog.zeppelin.solutions/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-smart-contracts-in-ethereum-848f08001f05) \]([https://blog.zeppelin.solutions/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-smart-contracts-in-ethereum-848f08001f05](https://blog.zeppelin.solutions/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-smart-contracts-in-ethereum-848f08001f05))

**Introduction to zk-SNARKs with examples** — an overview of zk-SNARKs from a practical viewpoint Christian Lundkvist [https://media.consensys.net/introduction-to-zksnarks-with-examples-3283b554fc3b](https://media.consensys.net/introduction-to-zksnarks-with-examples-3283b554fc3b)

**zkSNARKs: driver’s ed** — practical beginner’s guide to creating, proving, verifying in contracts by Joseph Stockermans [https://github.com/jstoxrocky/zksnarks\_example](https://github.com/jstoxrocky/zksnarks_example)

**Epicenter** — a trove of interviews with many different blockchain project leads [https://epicenter.tv/episodes/](https://epicenter.tv/episodes/)

**The Ceremony** — Radiolab podcast featuring story of Zcash with Morgen Peck, Peter Todd, Peter Van Valkenburgh, Zooko Wilcox; by Molly Webster and Matt Kielty [http://www.radiolab.org/story/ceremony/](http://www.radiolab.org/story/ceremony/)

Other Resources – Newsletters/ Updates
--------------------------------------

**Token Daily** — place to share/discover news, launches/ product updates, articles, discussions, and deep-dive Q&As with experts by Soona Amhaz, Ari Paul, Ryan Selkis, Dennis Stücken, Erik Torenberg, Ben Tossell, Linda Xie, et al [https://www.tokendaily.co/type/deep-dive](https://www.tokendaily.co/type/deep-dive) [https://www.tokendaily.co/type/launches](https://www.tokendaily.co/type/launches) [https://www.tokendaily.co/type/discussions](https://www.tokendaily.co/type/discussions)

**Week in Ethereum News** — tracking developments in the Ethereum ecosystem by Evan Van Ness [http://www.weekinethereum.com/](http://www.weekinethereum.com/)

**The Control** — on the entrepreneurs, projects and protocols that are putting control of power in the hands of the people by 1confirmation [https://www.getrevue.co/profile/control](https://www.getrevue.co/profile/control)

**Token Economy** — tracking new developments in distributed ledger tech by Stefano Bernardi and Yannick Roux [https://tokeneconomy.co/](https://tokeneconomy.co/)

**Proof of Work** — projects and progress in crypto, also a view from China by Eric Meltzer [https://tinyletter.com/proofofwork/archive](https://tinyletter.com/proofofwork/archive)

**The Defiant** — daily newsletter “decrypting” the intersection of blockchain and finance by Camila Russo [https://thedefiant.substack.com/](https://thedefiant.substack.com/) 

Other Resources – Courses
-------------------------

\*\*Cryptocurrency (2018) \*\*by Susan Athey and Kathryn Haun [http://explorecourses.stanford.edu/search?view=catalog&filter-coursestatus-Active=on&q=MGTECON%20515:%20Cryptocurrency&academicYear=20172018](http://explorecourses.stanford.edu/search?view=catalog&filter-coursestatus-Active=on&q=MGTECON%20515:%20Cryptocurrency&academicYear=20172018)

\*\*Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies (2015) \*\*by Arvind Narayan, Joseph Bonneau, Edward Felten, Andrew Miller [https://piazza.com/princeton/spring2015/btctech/home](https://piazza.com/princeton/spring2015/btctech/home)

\*\*Advanced topics in computer science: Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies (2014) \*\*by Arvind Narayan [http://randomwalker.info/teaching/fall-2014-bitcoin/](http://randomwalker.info/teaching/fall-2014-bitcoin/)

\*\*A graduate course in applied cryptography (2017-2018) \*\*by Dan Boneh and Victor Shoup [http://toc.cryptotextbook.net/home](http://toc.cryptotextbook.net/home)

---

*Originally published on [Baikal](https://paragraph.com/@baikal/crypto-reading-list)*