Complete Technical Guide to Bitcoins?

[RobertHannah89]

Hey guys,

I was wondering is any of you know if there is a complete technical guide to bitcoins: Like... maybe a book or PDF or something I can buy.

I have been reading the Wiki, but then I have to read specific random articles instead of an organised document with chapters etc. Do you know what I mean? The Wiki is pretty good, but lots of details are left out. I'm a cryptography/ theoretical computer science buff and I would love to understand the mechanics of it all -- I read about cryptography in my spare time... It's fascinating!

Hope to hear back!

Rob

[DeathAndTaxes]

If you haven't read it I recommend starting with Satoshi's paper:

http://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf

To answer you question no such thing exists.   It would be a useful thing to have and I would even donate towards one.  There is a lot of information which is currently difficult to find.  A "compendium" of sorts would be awesome.

[RobertHannah89]

Oh wow! Thank you. I would certainly consider donating as well.

Part of the reason that I wanted something is because I am considering doing a PhD in cryptography/ applied mathematics. I think that bitcoins are just the beginning. There is an incredible array of possibilities in cryptography.

Anyone interested/ knowledgable should read chapter 12 of this (Protocols): http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~mihir/papers/gb.pdf
Many of the protocols could be implemented to allow various transactions/ guarantees of security: oblivious transfers, simultaneous contract signing, zero-knowledge proofs. You could fashion protocols for credit-default swaps, bonds, everything...

[Stephen Gornick]

These explain some as well:

 - http://www.gwern.net/Bitcoin%20is%20Worse%20is%20Better
 - http://blog.ezyang.com/2011/06/the-cryptography-of-bitcoin/