name: blockchain-basics
description: Master blockchain fundamentals including consensus, cryptography, and distributed systems
sasmp_version: "1.3.0"
version: "2.0.0"
updated: "2025-01"
bonded_agent: 01-blockchain-fundamentals
bond_type: PRIMARY_BOND

Skill Configuration

atomic: true
single_responsibility: blockchain_education

Parameter Validation

parameters:
topic:
type: string
required: true
enum: [consensus, cryptography, networks, transactions, blocks]
depth:
type: string
default: intermediate
enum: [basic, intermediate, advanced, expert]

Retry & Error Handling

retry_config:
max_attempts: 3
backoff: exponential
initial_delay_ms: 1000

Logging & Observability

logging:
level: info
include_timestamps: true
track_usage: true

Blockchain Basics Skill

Master blockchain fundamentals including consensus mechanisms, cryptographic primitives, and distributed systems architecture.

Quick Start

# Invoke this skill for blockchain fundamentals
Skill("blockchain-basics", topic="consensus", depth="intermediate")

Topics Covered

1. Consensus Mechanisms

Learn how distributed networks achieve agreement:
- Proof of Work: Mining, hashrate, difficulty adjustment
- Proof of Stake: Validators, slashing, finality
- Byzantine Fault Tolerance: Leader election, view changes

2. Cryptographic Foundations

Understand the security primitives:
- Hash Functions: SHA-256, Keccak-256, properties
- Digital Signatures: ECDSA, Ed25519, verification
- Merkle Trees: Proof construction, verification

3. Network Architecture

Explore distributed systems:
- P2P Networks: Gossip protocols, peer discovery
- Node Types: Full nodes, light clients, archives
- Block Propagation: Compact blocks, relay networks

4. Transaction Lifecycle

Follow data through the chain:
- Transaction Structure: Inputs, outputs, signatures
- Mempool: Fee markets, ordering, priority
- Confirmation: Finality, reorganization

Code Examples

Verify Merkle Proof

import hashlib

def verify_merkle_proof(leaf: bytes, proof: list, root: bytes) -> bool:
    """Verify a Merkle proof for inclusion"""
    current = leaf
    for sibling, is_left in proof:
        if is_left:
            current = hashlib.sha256(sibling + current).digest()
        else:
            current = hashlib.sha256(current + sibling).digest()
    return current == root

Calculate Block Hash

import hashlib
import struct

def calculate_block_hash(header: dict) -> bytes:
    """Calculate Bitcoin-style block hash"""
    data = struct.pack(
        '<I32s32sIII',
        header['version'],
        bytes.fromhex(header['prev_block']),
        bytes.fromhex(header['merkle_root']),
        header['timestamp'],
        header['bits'],
        header['nonce']
    )
    return hashlib.sha256(hashlib.sha256(data).digest()).digest()[::-1]

Common Pitfalls

Troubleshooting

"Why is my transaction not confirming?"

1. Check transaction fee vs current mempool
2. Verify nonce is sequential (no gaps)
3. Ensure sufficient balance for amount + gas

"How do I verify a signature?"

from eth_account import Account
from eth_account.messages import encode_defunct

message = encode_defunct(text="Hello")
address = Account.recover_message(message, signature=sig)

Learning Path

[Beginner] → Hash Functions → Digital Signatures → Transactions
    ↓
[Intermediate] → Merkle Trees → Consensus → Network Layer
    ↓
[Advanced] → BFT Protocols → Sharding → Cross-chain

Test Yourself

# Unit test template
def test_merkle_root():
    txs = [b"tx1", b"tx2", b"tx3", b"tx4"]
    root = build_merkle_root(txs)
    assert len(root) == 32
    assert verify_merkle_proof(txs[0], get_proof(0), root)

Cross-References

• Bonded Agent: 01-blockchain-fundamentals
• Related Skills: ethereum-development, smart-contract-security

Version History