Mastering Bitcoin

Overview

The Mastering Bitcoin Track is the foundational course of Dada Devs, designed to equip African female engineers with the technical knowledge and skills to engage directly with Bitcoin’s open-source ecosystem.

Anchored on Mastering Bitcoin (3rd Edition) by Andreas M. Antonopoulos, the program is structured as a progressive deep dive into the Bitcoin protocol, from keys and transactions to consensus mechanisms, scripting, and second-layer scaling solutions.

Participants are expected not only to understand theory but also to implement concepts, run nodes, interact with Bitcoin Core, and collaborate on GitHub.

Duration: 8 Weeks

The base layer.


Understand Bitcoin at its core, consensus, scripting, and transaction flow. Learn how blocks are built, verified, and broadcast. This track is for engineers who want to speak the language of the protocol, not just use it.

Focus Areas

  • Network architecture and node operation.

  • Keys, scripts, and transactions.
  • Consensus rules and validation logic.
  • Privacy, security, and scalability layers

What You’ll Build

Run a full node. Trace transactions from mempool to block. Simulate consensus.


End with practical fluency in how Bitcoin actually works.

Outcome

Protocol literacy. The foundation for every other track.

Curriculum Schedule

Intro to Cohort:

  • Welcome & orientation
  • Program overview (8 weeks structure)
  • Importance of open source in Bitcoin
  • Tools setup (Bitcoin Core, GitHub, etc.)

A developer trainer is needed for the tools setup, others can be handled through peer learning

What is Bitcoin:

Resource: Intro to Bitcoin & How Bitcoin Works

  • Bitcoin basics, history, Satoshi’s vision
  • Properties of Bitcoin (decentralized, censorship-resistant, borderless)
  • Real-world use cases in Africa

A developer is not required for this section. Can be handled through peer learning.

Resource: Bitcoin Core, Keys & Addresses, Wallets & Transactions

 

Bitcoin Core:

  • Bitcoin Core Development Environment
  • Configuring the Core Build
  • Running a Bitcoin Node

A developer is needed for this session

 

Keys, Addresses, Wallets:

  • Private/public keys, addresses
  • Wallet types (hot, cold, custodial, non-custodial)
  • HD wallets, mnemonics (BIP32, BIP39, BIP44)

A developer is needed for this session

 

Transactions:

  • UTXO model explained
  • Transaction structure: inputs, outputs, digital signatures
  • SegWit overview

A developer is needed for this session

Resources: Authentication & Authorization, Signatures & Fees

Scripting & Smart Contracts:

  • Bitcoin Script basics
  • Common scripts (P2PKH, P2SH, P2WPKH)
  • Multisig, timelocks, HTLCs

     

Privacy & Security:

  • Wallet security & cold storage
  • Threat models (malware, phishing, physical attacks)
  • Privacy techniques (CoinJoin, address reuse)

A developer is a must for this session

Resource: Network & Blockchain

Bitcoin Network:

  • P2P architecture, nodes
  • Network discovery, mempool, propagation
  • Full nodes vs SPV/light clients

A developer will be really great but not mandatory

 

Blockchain Basics:

  • Block structure (headers, Merkle trees)
  • Validation rules, longest chain rule
  • Forks (soft vs hard)

A developer is not mandatory

Resource: Mining & Security

Proof of Work & Mining:

  • Mining process & hardware evolution
  • Difficulty adjustment & incentives (block rewards, fees)

A developer will be great but not required

 

Consensus & Security:

  • 51% attacks, chain reorgs
  • Economic security of Bitcoin
  • Governance & upgrades

A developer is not mandatory

Resource: Second Layer Applications

Lightning Network:

  • Payment channels
  • How Lightning scales Bitcoin
  • Real-world examples in Africa

Bitcoin Ecosystem:

  • Sidechains, testnets, regtest
  • Bitcoin-based applications & integrations
  • Bitcoin culture, politics, financial inclusion

A developer is needed for this session

Project Kickoff:

  • Students form groups/individual projects
  • Define scope: wallet demos, scripts, research papers, Lightning apps

     

Peer Learning Session:

  • Students lead discussions on topics of interest (Git/GitHub, mining in Africa, Bitcoin regulation)

     

Project Development Support:

  • Mentorship check-in
  • Debugging, GitHub submissions

     

Final Project Presentations:

  • Showcase session
  • Peer + mentor feedback
  • Closing reflections & next steps
  • Core Lectures (Mondays/Wednesdays): Delivered by trainers.
  • Peer Learning: Git/GitHub basics, Bitcoin politics, and culture → assigned to study groups.
  • Projects: Encourage hands-on, open-source contributions (small PRs, Lightning experiments, research reports).
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