Technical Concepts
Technical concepts and principles underlying blockchain technology, cryptography, and decentralized systems.
Introductory
- Application Programming Interface (API)
We've discussed the concept of and how developers use it to manage complexity and collaborate effectively.
3 min readUpdated 2023-01-09 - Array (Data Structure)
Let's start with some data - let's just pick 30 random words from the BIP-39 list (the words used for your seed phrases).
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-16 - Computer Science
Foundational computer science concepts including data structures, programming paradigms, and computational theory.
1 min readUpdated 2025-10-03 - Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Bond A that pays $100 in 1 week Bond B that pays $200 in 1 year
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Finance
Fundamental concepts in finance including valuation, markets, derivatives, and capital management.
1 min readUpdated 2025-10-03 - Oracle
: blockchains cannot pull in or push out data to any external system (by design).
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-11 - Turing Completeness
To understand The World Computer you have to understand the Proto-Computer: .
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07
Intermediate
- Abstraction
Let's say you're a developer working for an e-commerce retailer who sells fruit.
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-09 - Arbitrage
Arbitrage - an opportunity to secure a guaranteed profit by identifying and exploiting an information discrepancy.
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Background and Context
To understand generational changes, you need to have a generational perspective. So, let's start from the beginning...
6 min readUpdated 2022-12-08 - Blockchain
Core blockchain and cryptocurrency concepts including consensus, economic incentives, and decentralized systems.
1 min readUpdated 2025-10-03 - Credible Neutrality
Let's start with a hypothetical. Let's say you walk into a casino.
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-24 - Cryptography
Cryptographic primitives and techniques including hashing, digital signatures, elliptic curves, and zero-knowledge proofs.
1 min readUpdated 2025-10-03 - MEV Example
is the opportunity to secure a guaranteed profit by identifying and exploiting an information discrepancy.
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-08 - Ethereum Gas
Note - On August 5, 2021 Ethereum executed the which, among other things, overhauled how gas works on Ethereum.
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-14 - Liquidity
Practical definition of Money: Money is a system of value that facilitates the exchange of goods in an economy.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Market Making
refers to the efficiency or ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price.
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Maximum Extractable Value (MEV)
This article aims to give you a theoretical understanding of MEV in relation to the real-world activities that look a lot like MEV.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-08 - Options
Options are a contract between two parties to buy/sell an asset (in the future) using a fixed price and date.
2 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Perpetual Futures
(perps) were a concept developed in the 90s but not really tried until released crypto perps in 2016.
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Power Law
Consider a square with sides of length X. An increase in side length results in:
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Reserve Currency
Has the depth and to allow for reliable and efficient international transactions Can be freely and easily exchanged for other currencies ...
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Settlement
Settlement is the "final step in the transfer of ownership, involving the physical exchange of securities or payment".
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Stack (Data Structure)
Let's start with some data - let's just pick 30 random words from the BIP-39 list (the words used for your seed phrases).
4 min readUpdated 2023-01-17 - Vectors
A vector is a concept used to convey quantities that cannot be expressed by a single number.
2 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Virtual Machines
The way I think of a computer is it's a machine that provides a platform for the (incredibly) quick and efficient calculation of math.
6 min readUpdated 2022-12-07
Advanced
- Byzantine Fault Tolerance
The Byzantine Generals Problem was introduced by an .
5 min readUpdated 2023-01-09 - BLS Digital Signatures
support the basic properties of digital signatures: proof that the:
3 min readUpdated 2023-01-09 - Blockchain Bridges
Ethereum is the World Computer, a single, globally shared computing platform that exists in the space between a network of 1,000s of computers (nodes).
5 min readUpdated 2023-01-11 - commit
This is part 1 of a 3 part series on KZG Commitments. Here are links to part 2, part 3 and the summary article.
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Commitment Schemes
Let's say you have a large amount of data that, for whatever reason, is private.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Core Concepts1 min readUpdated 2023-01-23
- Crypto-Economics and PoS
Ethereum is the World Computer, a single, globally shared computing platform that exists in the space between a network of 1,000s of computers (nodes).
5 min readUpdated 2023-01-22 - Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
When you divide two integers, sometimes the result is not an integer (eg has a reminder). is a branch of math that is focused on the reminder.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Digital Signatures
Applying a takes data (of arbitrary contents and size) and reduces it to a unique, compact string.
5 min readUpdated 2023-01-08 - Elliptic Curve Cryptography
Before we begin, a quick note.
6 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Elliptic Curve Pairings
This is part of a series on elliptic curve cryptography and its applications for Ethereum.
6 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Polynomial Erasure Codes
It is possible to ; you can (relatively) quickly and easily find the equation of said polynomial through a process known as the .
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Hash Functions
The purpose of a hash function is to transform any amount of data into a compact, uniform value.
2 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - KZG Commitments
Elliptic curve cryptography looks unapproachable, but it's totally understandable with a decent amount of high school algebra.
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-08 - Merkle Tree
Applying a takes data (of arbitrary contents and size) and reduces it to a unique, compact string.
3 min readUpdated 2023-01-12 - open
This is part 2 of a 3 part series on KZG Commitments. Here are links to part 1, part 3 and the summary article.
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - PCS Trusted Setup
This is part of a series on elliptic curve cryptography and its applications for Ethereum.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Polynomial Commitments
Applying a takes data (of arbitrary contents and size) and reduces it to a unique, compact string.
3 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Polynomial Encoding
A polynomial is an equation made up of one or more groups of terms that are combined together with addition or subtraction.
4 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Merkle Tree Scaling
Applying a takes data (of arbitrary contents and size) and reduces it to a unique, compact string.
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - verify
This is part 3 of a 3 part series on KZG Commitments. Here are links to part 1, part 2 and the summary article.
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Verkle Tree
A is creates a commitment that is anchored to a piece of data.
6 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Working Capital
Alright, let’s talk product manufacturing cycles. At a super high level, here’s one one cycle looks like:
5 min readUpdated 2022-12-07 - Zero-Knowledge Proof
In America, citizens don't have ID numbers... and yet we live in a society that necessitates them.
3 min readUpdated 2023-03-31