Building a Blockchain from Scratch with Go — PickAClass
★ 5.0 (1) ⏱ 3h 5m 📚 29 lessons

Building a Blockchain from Scratch with Go

Master the fundamentals of decentralized ledgers and build a secure, functional blockchain application from scratch using modern Go programming techniques.

  • 💬 AI instructor
    Ask about any lesson and get a clear answer instantly, anytime.
  • 🕐 Start anytime
    No schedules or deadlines — learn at your own pace, whenever suits you.
  • 🌐 In English
    Lessons, tasks and certificate — all fully in your language.

About this course

Understanding blockchain technology can feel overwhelming when buried under complex academic papers and buzzwords. The best way to demystify this revolutionary technology is to build it yourself, line by line. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental principles of cryptography, decentralized ledgers, and consensus mechanisms. By writing your own blockchain engine in Go, you will gain a deep, practical understanding of how digital transactions are secured, verified, and distributed across a network without relying on a central authority. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational architecture of blocks, cryptography, and hashing algorithms. - Build a local blockchain ledger from scratch using Go structures and memory management. - Implement a proof-of-work consensus algorithm to secure transactions against tampering. - Create a peer-to-peer transaction model to simulate decentralized transfers. - Apply modern Go practices including Go modules, structured logging, and unit testing to ensure code reliability. - Design a simple command-line interface to interact with your blockchain network. The course begins with core definitions and cryptographic concepts before moving step-by-step into coding your ledger, mining mechanics, and consensus rules. You will progress from writing basic data structures to compiling a fully operational, testable blockchain prototype. This course is designed for aspiring developers and programmers who are new to blockchain technology and want a clear, code-first introduction using Go. No prior blockchain experience is required, though a basic familiarity with Go syntax is helpful. Start reading today to unlock the inner workings of decentralized technology and build your first blockchain from the ground up.

Course contents

6 modules · 29 lessons · 3h 5m

1 Foundations & Environment
Set up the development environment and understand the cryptographic pillars of blockchain.
5 lessons · 33 min
  1. Welcome to the Chain
    Introduction to the course goals and the 'build-to-understand' philosophy.
    6 min
  2. Blockchain Core Definitions
    Defining what a blockchain is beyond the hype: a distributed, immutable ledger.
    7 min
  3. Cryptography 101: Hashing
    Understanding one-way functions and why they are the 'glue' of blockchain.
    7 min
  4. Setting up Go Modules
    Initializing the project structure using modern Go module management.
    6 min
  5. Implementing SHA-256 in Go
    Writing a utility function to generate hashes for any data input.
    7 min
2 The Ledger Architecture
Design the data structures for blocks and the chain, managing them in memory.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. Defining the Block Structure
    Using Go structs to represent a block with a header and data payload.
    6 min
  2. The Genesis Block
    Creating the unique first block that serves as the foundation of the chain.
    6 min
  3. Building the Blockchain Ledger
    Creating a slice-based chain structure to store and link blocks.
    7 min
  4. Memory Management for Ledgers
    Using pointers and efficient slice handling to manage the chain in memory.
    6 min
  5. Validating Chain Integrity
    Writing logic to ensure every block correctly points to the previous hash.
    7 min
3 Transactions & Security
Implement a transaction model and ensure the ledger cannot be tampered with.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. The Transaction Model
    Designing a struct for digital transfers including sender, receiver, and amount.
    6 min
  2. Adding Transactions to Blocks
    Modifying the block structure to hold a collection of transactions.
    6 min
  3. Digital Signatures Concept
    Theoretical overview of how transactions are signed to prove ownership.
    7 min
  4. Preventing Data Tampering
    Demonstrating how changing one transaction breaks the entire hash chain.
    6 min
  5. Simulating P2P Transfers
    Creating a model to simulate sending transactions between different nodes.
    7 min
4 Consensus & Mining
Implement Proof-of-Work to secure the network and regulate block creation.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. The Need for Consensus
    Understanding why decentralized networks need rules to agree on the truth.
    6 min
  2. Proof-of-Work Explained
    The concept of 'computational work' as a barrier to network attacks.
    7 min
  3. Nonce and Mining Difficulty
    Using a nonce and a target prefix to make block creation difficult.
    6 min
  4. Coding the Mining Loop
    Implementing the iterative process of finding a valid hash in Go.
    7 min
  5. Implementing Consensus Rules
    Enforcing rules that only mined blocks with correct difficulty are accepted.
    6 min
5 Professional Tooling
Apply modern Go practices to make the blockchain code reliable and observable.
4 lessons · 25 min
  1. Structured Logging with Go
    Using structured logs to track mining progress and transaction flow.
    6 min
  2. Unit Testing Blocks
    Writing tests to ensure block hashing and creation work as expected.
    7 min
  3. Testing Chain Validation
    Automating tests that attempt to 'hack' the chain and check for failure.
    6 min
  4. Error Handling in Blockchain
    Managing custom errors for invalid transactions or failed consensus.
    6 min
6 Interaction & CLI
Build a user interface and compile the final blockchain prototype.
5 lessons · 31 min
  1. Designing the CLI
    Setting up a command-line interface to interact with the engine.
    7 min
  2. Implementing CLI Commands
    Adding 'mine', 'balance', and 'view-chain' commands to the app.
    6 min
  3. User Interaction Flow
    Connecting the CLI inputs to the underlying blockchain logic.
    7 min
  4. Compiling the Prototype
    Building the final Go binary for a fully operational blockchain node.
    6 min
  5. Beyond the Basics
    Summary of achievements and a look into real-world P2P networking.
    5 min
Final project

The 'GoChain' Prototype

You will assemble all components into a single Go application. You must implement a CLI that allows a user to create transactions, mine them into a block using Proof-of-Work, and display the validated ledger.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
    Add it to your LinkedIn profile
  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
    Stuck on a lesson? Ask your built-in tutor anything, any time.
  • ♾️ Lifetime access
    Come back anytime, no expiry
  • 📱 Phone or computer
    Works anywhere, any device
  • 💸 14-day refund
    No questions asked
  • ⚡ Short & focused
    3h 5m of practical content

Certificate of completion

Every course you complete on PickAClass issues a credential like this — original, with its own code, verifiable by URL, and detailed about what was actually demonstrated.

P
PickAClass
Skills profile · verifiable
Document
Certificate of Mastery
This certifies that
Name Surname
has successfully demonstrated mastery of
Building a Blockchain from Scratch with Go
Skills demonstrated
✓
Behavioral pattern analysis
Foundational
1.2 hrs
✓
Decision-architecture frameworks
Proficient
1.4 hrs
✓
A/B test design
Proficient
1.7 hrs
✓
Behavioral copywriting
Advanced
1.9 hrs
P
PickAClass — Name Surname
Building a Blockchain from Scratch with Go
Page 2 of 2
Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
Skill verification Verified Skill Path
Verify this credential
pickaclass.com/certificates/PCC-2026-X4F7-AP19
Issued under the academic standards of PickAClass. Skill levels reflect assessed performance against the course's competency rubric. This is an original credential of this platform.

Reviews (1)

서아윤 KR
★ 5 · June 14, 2026

I gained a lot from this. The structure made sense, and the examples were relevant. Just needed a little more explanation on a couple of topics.

Write a review

☆☆☆☆☆
You'll be asked to sign in after sending — your draft is saved.

Learners also took

Frequently asked

What do I need to take this course? +

Just a phone or computer with internet. No installs, no special hardware.

How do I pay? +

By card via Stripe. We don’t store card details — Stripe handles them securely.

Can I get a refund? +

Yes — full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.

How long will I have access? +

Forever. Once you purchase, the course is yours to revisit anytime.

Will I get a certificate? +

Yes. On completion you'll receive a certificate you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

Built for learners in
Tech Design Finance Marketing Healthcare Education Hospitality Manufacturing