Introduction

I had a job interview in 2014 where I was asked what is Bitcoin. All I could say back then was that Bitcoin was “Internet Pirate Gold” because of a documentary I had seen on the Silk Road. Fortunately my answer was satisfactory at the time and I got the job. Throughout the next few years I would learn more about the blockchain.

In a nutshell:

• Bitcoin allows for a number to be securely transferred between addresses. The sender subtracts this number from their total and the receiver adds this number to their total. There is a rule that prevents the sender from sending a number larger than their total.

• Ethereum allows for more complex logic to be securely carried out. Various applications can be built and a range of different types of tokens can be created and transferred, such as an NFT.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum use a blockchain for security reasons, however this comes at a huge computing cost and so high fees are needed to complete transactions securely.

Fortunately for us new technology has emerged which allows us to enjoy the security of the blockchain without the high fees. The Polygon Network can do all the complex logic of Ethereum at a fraction of the cost.

Technically, Polygon is a protocol and a framework for building and connecting Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks. Aggregating scalable solutions on Ethereum supporting a multi-chain Ethereum ecosystem.

But this course is for people who want to use blockchain and don’t necessarily want to understand exactly how it works.

Part 1: How to use blockchain

• How to setup a Metamask account - your passport to Web3

• How to connect to the Polygon Network - the best blockchain to begin with

• How to get Matic and Wrapped Ether tokens on Polygon

• How to mint your first NFT on OpenSea

• How to buy your first NFT on OpenSea