FAQ - Introduction to Bitcoin infrastructure course

The introduction to Bitcoin Infrastructure course is focused on providing students with a solid understanding of the role that nodes and node operators play in the construction of the network. In particular it will focus on the incentives that drive enterprise operators to spend large sums of money to build and operate their infrastructure.

To give you insight into the course, this blog offers you a compilation of insightful questions from our Discord channel - with answers provided by the very individuals who create the course material.

How your business gains by migrating your data system onto blockchain

‘Why would I use this public platform that relies on an infrastructure I don't have control over?’

‘Why would I use a blockchain platform if there are tried and tested data management platforms available?’

‘Why would I choose blockchain if millions of people are using SQL databases?’

‘Why would I go to all the effort of changing the architecture of my system to leverage blockchain if I can get a traditional model up and running in no time at all?’

To tackle these questions, let’s take a look at what architecture and data management processes look like when done on blockchain.

Which Bitcoin infrastructure course is best for me?

If Bitcoin’s infrastructure falls within the purview of your job role or you are one of the enterprise operators who spend large sums of money to build and operate mining infrastructure, this stream will help you position yourself for success.

6 steps to running the Bitcoin network

In section five of the Bitcoin white paper, Satoshi Nakamoto defines a set of instructions that describe the optimal behaviours that a node participating on the network should exhibit.

These nodes are characterised by their work of producing valid blocks, which they then distribute to other nodes and validating their blocks in return. Without nodes performing these tasks, the network will not function.

Nodes take on these important tasks by collating, validating and recording all interactions occurring on the Bitcoin network in real time.

How Bitcoin solves the double-spending problem of the digital economy

The concept of electronic cash isn't new and has been attempted under names like E-Cash, Liberty Reserve, Digicash and others.

And yet, all these projects ran into the same problem: solving the double-spend problem without introducing a trusted third party akin to the existing financial system.

So, what is this double-spending problem and how does Bitcoin solve it?

In this blog, Bitcoin SV Academy curriculum content contributor, Brendan Lee tells you what you need to know.

Clearing up misunderstandings about Bitcoin's decentralisation

The decentralised nature of the Bitcoin network is commonly held forth as one of its primary value propositions and a differentiator that sets it apart from traditional, centralised data management systems.

What is not clearly expressed is the nature of this decentralisation; how the Bitcoin network’s design brings it about, for what purpose, and with which implications.

To clear up this commonly misunderstood concept, we asked Bitcoin Curriculum Specialist, Evan Freeman, to expand on the topic against the backdrop of Bitcoin’s consensus mechanism.