[Ethereum: A Next Generation Smart Contract & Decentralized Application Platform](https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/)

Ethereum: A Next Generation Smart Contract & Decentralized Application Platform

When Satoshi Nakamoto first set the Bitcoin blockchain into motion in January 2009, he was simultaneously introducing two radical and untested concepts. The first is the “bitcoin”, a decentralized peer-to-peer online currency that maintains a value without any backing, intrinsic value or central issuer. So far, the “bitcoin” as a currency unit has taken up the bulk of the pu blic attention, both in terms of the political aspects of a currency without a central bank and its extreme upward and downward volatility in price. However, there is also another, equally important, part to Satoshi’s g rand experiment: the concept of a proof of work based blockchain to allow for public agreement on the order of transactions. Bitcoin as an application can be described as a first-to-file system: if one entity has 50 BTC, and simultaneously sends the same 50 BTC to A and to B, only the transaction that gets confirmed first will process. There is no intrinsic way of determining from two transactions which came earlier, and for decades this stymied the development of decentralized digital currency. Satoshi’s blockchain was the first credible decentralized solution. And now, attention is rapidly starting to shift toward this second part of Bitcoin’s technology, and how the blockchain concept can be used for more than just money. ...

Vitalik Buterin
[Mastering Bitcoin](https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/mastering-bitcoin-3rd/9781098150082/)

Mastering Bitcoin

If you are new to Bitcoin, I highly recommend checking this site: https://learnmeabitcoin.com/ Join the technological revolution that’s taking the financial world by storm. Mastering Bitcoin is your guide through the seemingly complex world of bitcoin, providing the knowledge you need to participate in the internet of money. Whether you’re building the next killer app, investing in a startup, or simply curious about the technology, this revised and expanded second edition provides essential detail to get you started. ...

Andreas M. Antonopoulos, David A. Harding
[Mastering Ethereum](https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/mastering-ethereum/9781491971932/)

Mastering Ethereum

If you’re looking to get started with the Ethereum protocol – or are among the many open source developers, integrators, and system administrators already working with this platform – Mastering Ethereum is the definitive book on the topic. Ethereum represents the gateway to a worldwide, decentralized computing paradigm. This platform enables you to run decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts that have no central points of failure or control, integrate with a payment network, and operate on an open blockchain. With this practical guide, Andreas M. Antonopoulos and Gavin Wood provide everything you need to know about building smart contracts and DApps on Ethereum and other virtual-machine blockchains. ...

Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Dr. Gavin Wood