Master Smart Contracts

The best smart contracts resources in one place.

This repo is meant to be a single README you can live in while you:

• Read real production contracts
• Jump into docs / audits / talks for each protocol
• Discover libraries, security guides, and learning material

PRs are very welcome – add anything you’ve personally found useful.

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Recommended learning paths

• 1. Smart contract developer path

  • Start: Solidity by Example → CryptoZombies.
  • Then: Solidity Docs + Ethereum Developer Docs.
  • Build: Speed Run Ethereum + Scaffold-ETH.
  • Deepen: EVM Handbook + read real protocol repos from the table above.

• 2. Smart contract security / auditing path

  • Start: Cyfrin Updraft + Secureum.
  • Practice: Damn Vulnerable DeFi + Ethernaut.
  • Read: SWC Registry + Rekt Leaderboard.
  • Deepen: Pick an audit firm (Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin, Consensys) and read full audit reports for 2–3 protocols from this README.

• 3. DeFi protocol designer path

  • Theory: Paradigm research posts + DeFi Developer Roadmap.
  • Case studies: Uniswap v2/v3 whitepapers + Aave, MakerDAO, Curve docs and repos.
  • Practice: Model simple AMMs, lending, and stablecoin systems, then compare to real-world implementations linked above.

• 4. Zero-knowledge & ZK engineer path

  • Start: ZK Learning Path + ZK Whiteboard Sessions.
  • Practice: ZK Hack + basic Circom circuits with SnarkJS.
  • Deepen: Explore one zkEVM (zkSync, Polygon zkEVM, Scroll) and read their docs + contracts.

• 5. Full-stack Web3 / infra path

  • Start: Buildspace or LearnWeb3.
  • Stack: pick Foundry + Hardhat + Ethers.js + Wagmi + Next.js and ship a small dApp using protocols listed above.
  • Infra: use Alchemy, Infura, or QuickNode + The Graph.

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Battle‑tested protocol contracts

Protocol	Type	Repository	Documentation	The Bytecode Episode
Aave	Lending	https://github.com/aave/protocol-v2	Docs	N/A
Ajna	Lending	https://github.com/ajna-finance/ajna-core	Docs	N/A
Art Gobblers	NFT	https://github.com/artgobblers/art-gobblers	Docs	N/A
Balancer V2	DEX	https://github.com/balancer/balancer-v2-monorepo	Docs	N/A
Balancer V3	DEX	https://github.com/balancer/balancer-v3-monorepo	Docs	N/A
Compound	Lending	https://github.com/compound-finance/compound-protocol	Docs	N/A
Conditional Tokens	Token	https://github.com/gnosis/conditional-tokens-contracts	Docs	N/A
Curve	DEX	https://github.com/curvefi/curve-contract	Docs	N/A
EigenLayer	Restaking	https://github.com/Layr-Labs/eigenlayer-contracts	Docs	N/A
MakerDAO	Stablecoin	https://github.com/sky-ecosystem/dss	Docs	N/A
Maple	Lending	https://github.com/maple-labs/maple-core-v2	Docs	Youtube
Merit	Escrow	https://github.com/Merit-Systems/contracts	Docs	Youtube
Sablier V2	Streaming	https://github.com/sablier-labs/evm-monorepo	Docs	Youtube
Seaport	NFT Marketplace	https://github.com/ProjectOpenSea/seaport	Docs	Youtube
🐍 snekmate	Library	https://github.com/pcaversaccio/snekmate	Docs	N/A
Solady	Library	https://github.com/Vectorized/solady	Docs	N/A
Solmate	Library	https://github.com/transmissions11/solmate	Docs	N/A
Synthetix	Derivatives	https://github.com/Synthetixio/synthetix-v3	Docs	N/A
Uniswap V2	DEX	https://github.com/Uniswap/v2-core	Docs	N/A
Uniswap V3	DEX	https://github.com/Uniswap/v3-core	Docs	N/A
Uniswap V4	DEX	https://github.com/Uniswap/v4-core	Docs	N/A
Yearn V3	Yield Farming	https://github.com/yearn/yearn-vaults-v3	Docs	N/A
Morpho Blue	Lending	https://github.com/morpho-org/morpho-blue	Docs	N/A
Lido	Liquid Staking	https://github.com/lidofinance/core	Docs	N/A
Rocket Pool	Liquid Staking	https://github.com/rocket-pool/rocketpool	Docs	N/A
Pendle V2	Yield Trading	https://github.com/pendle-finance/pendle-core-v2-public	Docs	N/A
GMX	Perps / DEX	https://github.com/gmx-io/gmx-contracts	Docs	N/A
Lyra	Options AMM	https://github.com/derivexyz/v1-core	Docs	N/A
Notional	Fixed-Rate Lending	https://github.com/notional-finance/contracts-v2	Docs	N/A
Gearbox	Leveraged DeFi	https://github.com/Gearbox-protocol/core-v2	Docs	N/A
Frax	Stablecoin / LSD	https://github.com/FraxFinance/frax-solidity	Docs	N/A
Spark	Lending	https://github.com/sparkdotfi/sparklend-deployments	Docs	N/A
dYdX V4	Perps	https://github.com/dydxprotocol/v4-chain	Docs	N/A
1inch	DEX Aggregator	https://github.com/1inch/limit-order-protocol	Docs	N/A
Blur	NFT Marketplace	https://github.com/blur-io/exchange	Docs	N/A
Cowswap	DEX Aggregator	https://github.com/cowprotocol/contracts	Docs	N/A
Angle	Stablecoin	https://github.com/AngleProtocol/angle-core	Docs	N/A
Prisma	Liquid Restaking	https://github.com/prisma-fi/prisma-contracts	Docs	N/A
Reserve	Stablecoin / RWA	https://github.com/reserve-protocol/protocol	Docs	N/A
Hyperliquid	Perps	https://github.com/hyperliquid-dex/contracts	Docs	N/A
LooksRare	NFT Marketplace	https://github.com/LooksRare/contracts-libs	Docs	N/A
Aave V4	Lending	https://github.com/aave/aave-v4	Docs	N/A
Panoptic	Options (Uniswap)	https://github.com/panoptic-labs/panoptic-v2-core	Docs	N/A
Venus	Lending	https://github.com/VenusProtocol/venus-protocol	Docs	N/A

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Learn smart contracts (code, courses, and books)

• Solid fundamentals

  • Solidity by Example – short, focused examples.
  • CryptoZombies – gamified intro to Solidity.
  • Solidity Docs – the actual language spec.
  • Ethereum Developer Docs – broader EVM background.
  • Learn Solidity – interactive Solidity course.
  • Ethereum.org Learn – curated learning paths.
  • Speed Run Ethereum – build DeFi dApps step-by-step.
  • Patrick Collins freeCodeCamp – 16‑hour Solidity course.
  • Alchemy Road to Web3 – project‑based Web3 tutorials.
  • Web3 University – curated Web3 learning paths.
  • Pointer.gg Solidity – interactive Solidity challenges.
  • OpenZeppelin Learn – developing smart contracts with OZ.
  • Solidity Bootcamp – structured 3‑month program (Solidity University).
  • Udacity Blockchain with Solidity – intermediate course with collateralized loan project.
  • Hardhat Writing & Testing Tutorial – hands-on contract development.
  • Blockchain Council Smart Contract Roadmap – structured path from beginner to expert.
  • Awesome Solidity (solidity-developer) – curated Solidity resource list.

• DeFi / advanced patterns

  • Paradigm research posts – design‑level thinking about DeFi protocols.
  • Uniswap v3 whitepaper – concentrated liquidity design.
  • OpenZeppelin Contracts Wizard – scaffold common patterns safely.
  • DeFi Developer Roadmap – comprehensive DeFi learning path.
  • DeFiLlama Learn – DeFi protocol explanations.
  • RareSkills Solidity Bootcamp – advanced Solidity training.
  • Aave V3 Technical Paper – lending protocol design.
  • Curve Finance Docs – stableswap AMM mechanics.

• Long‑form content

  • Mastering Ethereum (G. Wood, A. Antonopoulos) – good EVM / protocol background.
  • DeFi and the Future of Finance – more on the finance side of DeFi protocols.
  • Building Ethereum DApps – practical dApp development guide.
  • EVM Handbook – deep dive into EVM internals.

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Fresh DeFi research, newsletters & channels

• Newsletters / written

  • The Defiant – daily DeFi news + explainers.
  • Bankless – DeFi, restaking, L2s, and broader crypto.
  • Blockworks Research – deep dives on newer protocols.
  • The Block – crypto news and research.
  • Messari Research – protocol analysis and reports.
  • Delphi Digital – DeFi and market research.

• Code‑first content

  • Smart Contract Programmer – Solidity patterns and walkthroughs.
  • Cyfrin / Patrick Collins – security‑minded Solidity + audits.
  • OpenZeppelin YouTube – security, audits, and protocol breakdowns.
  • Dapp University – full-stack dApp tutorials.
  • Eat The Blocks – Solidity and Web3 development.
  • Austin Griffith – scaffold-eth and builder content.
  • Finematics – DeFi concepts explained simply.
  • Patrick Collins (freeCodeCamp) – full Solidity courses.
  • Will it Scale – protocol deep dives.
  • The Bytecode (shafu) – protocol walkthrough series.

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Security & auditing resources

• Must‑read

  • SWC Registry – catalog of common smart contract vulns.
  • Ethernaut – gamified Solidity security challenges.
  • Damn Vulnerable DeFi – hands‑on hacking challenges.
  • Consensys Smart Contract Best Practices – classic checklist.
  • OpenZeppelin Security Audits – read real audit reports.
  • Trail of Bits Security Practices – comprehensive security guide.
  • Rekt Leaderboard – learn from past exploits.
  • Immunefi Bug Bounties – see real bug reports and fixes.
  • DeFi Threat Matrix – comprehensive threat model.
  • Smart Contract Security Best Practices – security guidelines.
  • Secureum – security education and resources.
  • Ethereum Security – official security docs.
  • OWASP Smart Contract Security (SCSVS) – industry security verification standard.
  • OWASP SCSTG – Smart Contract Security Testing Guide.
  • OWASP SCS Checklist – interactive verification checklist.
  • Ethereum.org Security Tools Guide – Slither, Echidna, Manticore workflow.
  • Secure Development Workflow – checklist and best practices.

• Vulnerability databases & incident tracking

  • SWC Registry – Smart Contract Weakness Classification.
  • CWE List – Common Weakness Enumeration.
  • Rekt News – post-mortems of major exploits.
  • DeFi Pulse Risk – protocol risk assessments.
  • HackenProof – bug bounty platform with reports.
  • Code4rena – competitive audit platform.

• Security courses & certifications

  • Secureum Bootcamp – comprehensive security training.
  • Cyfrin Updraft – security-focused Solidity course.
  • RareSkills Security Course – advanced security training.
  • Consensys Academy – blockchain security courses.
  • Blockchain Security Alliance – security resources.
  • Encode Club Auditing Bootcamps – security and auditing bootcamps.
  • OpenZeppelin University – security and smart contract courses.
  • Immunefi Academy – Web3 security and bug bounty education.
  • Secureum Epoch CTFs – CTF-style security training.

• Audit firms & reports

  • OpenZeppelin Audits – audit reports.
  • Trail of Bits Audits – security research.
  • Consensys Diligence – audit reports.
  • CertiK – security audits and monitoring.
  • Quantstamp – automated and manual audits.
  • MixBytes – security audits.
  • ChainSecurity – formal verification and audits.
  • Least Authority – security audits.

• Security tools

  • Slither – static analysis.
  • Echidna – property‑based / fuzz testing.
  • Foundry – fast testing, fuzzing, and deployment.
  • Mythril – security analysis framework.
  • Manticore – symbolic execution tool.
  • Medusa – fuzzing framework.
  • Halmos – symbolic testing for Foundry.
  • Certora – formal verification (commercial).
  • Tenderly – debugging and monitoring.
  • 4naly3er – gas optimization analyzer.
  • Scribble – specification language for fuzzing.
  • Diligence Fuzzing – fuzzing guide.
  • Surya – contract analysis tool.
  • MythX – security analysis API.
  • Securify – security scanner.
  • Oyente – static analysis tool.
  • SolidityGuard – multi-tool security auditor (Slither, Mythril, Echidna, Halmos, etc.).
  • Slither API – programmatic Slither analysis and custom detectors.
  • Aderyn – Rust-based static analyzer (Cyfrin); custom detectors, VS Code extension.

• Security monitoring & incident response

  • Forta – decentralized security monitoring.
  • Tenderly Alerts – transaction monitoring.
  • OpenZeppelin Defender – security operations.
  • Pashov's Security Checklist – pre-audit checklist.
  • Incident Response Plan – incident handling.

• Security research & papers

  • Trail of Bits Research – security research blog.
  • Consensys Research – blockchain research.
  • a16z Crypto Security – security insights.
  • Paradigm Security – security research.
  • IACR Cryptology ePrint – cryptography papers.
  • Security Research Papers – curated security papers.

• Formal verification

  • Certora Prover – formal verification tool.
  • K Framework – formal verification framework.
  • KEVM – formal semantics of EVM.
  • Act – specification language for smart contracts.
  • Dafny – verification-aware programming language.
  • Why3 – platform for deductive program verification.

• Security checklists & guides

  • Smart Contract Security Checklist – comprehensive checklist.
  • Security Best Practices – Consensys guide.
  • Pre-Audit Checklist – pre-audit preparation.
  • Security Standards – best practices.
  • DeFi Security Best Practices – DeFi-specific security.

• Bug bounty platforms

  • Immunefi – Web3 bug bounty platform.
  • HackerOne – security platform.
  • Code4rena – competitive audit platform.
  • Sherlock – audit contests.
  • Cantina – security marketplace.

• Security communities

  • Ethereum Security Discord – security discussions.
  • Secureum Discord – security community.
  • Trail of Bits Discord – security tooling community.

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Deep dives by theme

• Restaking / AVS

  • EigenLayer Docs – core restaking + AVS model.
  • EigenLayer whitepaper – design + threat model.
  • Kelp DAO – liquid restaking tokens.
  • Renzo – restaking and AVS infrastructure.

• Perps, options & leverage

  • GMX Docs – perp DEX design and tokenomics.
  • Lyra Docs – options AMM mechanics.
  • Panoptic Docs – perpetual options on Uniswap V3/V4.
  • Synthetix Docs – perps + synthetic assets infra.

• RWA & stablecoins

  • MakerDAO Docs – DAI, vaults, RWA collateral.
  • Frax Docs – FRAX, frxETH, sfrxETH, Fraxlend.
  • Reserve Protocol Docs – RWA-backed stablecoin design.
  • Ondo Finance – tokenized real-world assets.

• Account abstraction & intents

  • ERC‑4337 spec
  • ERC‑4337 Documentation – official AA technical docs.
  • ERC‑6900 (Modular accounts) – modular smart account standard.
  • ERC‑7579 (Minimal modular accounts) – interoperability standard for account modules.
  • StackUp ERC‑4337 docs – practical AA dev guide.
  • Safe (Gnosis Safe) Docs – smart account and modules.
  • Biconomy SDK – AA SDK and paymasters.
  • OpenZeppelin Account Abstraction – OZ AA implementation.
  • Account Abstraction Explained – AA concepts and examples.

• Intents & order flow

  • CoW Protocol Intents – intent-based trading design.
  • CoW Hooks – programmable pre/post-trade actions.
  • ERC-7683 (Cross-chain intents) – cross-chain intent standard.

• L2s & rollups

  • Optimism Docs – OP Stack architecture.
  • Arbitrum Docs – Nitro rollup design.
  • zkSync Docs – zk rollup contracts & architecture.
  • Base Docs – Coinbase L2 (OP Stack).
  • Blast Docs – native yield L2.
  • L2BEAT – L2 comparison and risk analysis.

• Token standards & ERCs

  • ERC-4626 (Vaults) – tokenized vault standard.
  • ERC-5192 (Soulbound) – non-transferable NFTs.
  • EIP-712 (Typed structured data) – human-readable signed messages.
  • Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS) – attestations infrastructure and schemas.
  • Token Lists – community token list standard.

• MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)

  • Flashbots Docs – MEV infrastructure and research.
  • New to MEV? – intro reading list (MEV-Explore, Dark Forest, samczsun).
  • Ethereum is a Dark Forest – Paradigm on MEV risks.
  • Escaping the Dark Forest – samczsun on rescue transactions.
  • MEV-Share Tutorials – limit order and searcher guides.
  • MEV Research Vault – Flashbots resource hub.

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Zero Knowledge (ZK) resources

• Learning ZK fundamentals

  • ZK Proofs Explained – comprehensive ZK proof guide.
  • Why and How zk-SNARK Works – mathematical deep dive.
  • ZK Whiteboard Sessions – ZK concepts explained visually.
  • ZK Proofs: A Primer – beginner-friendly introduction.
  • ZK Learning Path – 0xPARC's structured ZK course.
  • ZK Hack – ZK puzzles and challenges.
  • ZK Podcast – interviews with ZK researchers and builders.

• ZK proof systems

  • Circom – circuit language for zkSNARKs.
  • SnarkJS – JavaScript zkSNARK implementation.
  • Groth16 – efficient zkSNARK construction.
  • PLONK – universal SNARK with trusted setup.
  • STARKs – transparent proofs (no trusted setup).
  • Halo2 – PLONKish proving system.
  • Nova – recursive SNARKs.

• ZK libraries & frameworks

  • Circom – circuit compiler.
  • SnarkJS – JavaScript zkSNARK toolkit.
  • Arkworks – Rust ZK proof libraries.
  • Bellman – Rust zkSNARK library.
  • gnark – Go ZK proof library.
  • Noir – ZK DSL by Aztec.
  • Leo – ZK programming language.
  • Risc0 – ZK virtual machine.

• zkEVMs & zk-rollups

  • zkSync Era – zkEVM rollup.
  • Polygon zkEVM – EVM-equivalent zk-rollup.
  • Scroll – zkEVM rollup.
  • Linea – zkEVM by Consensys.
  • Taiko – based rollup with zk proofs.
  • Starknet – STARK-based L2.
  • Aztec – private smart contracts.

• Privacy-preserving smart contracts

  • Aztec Protocol – private DeFi on Ethereum.
  • Tornado Cash – private transactions (reference only).
  • Semaphore – anonymous signaling.
  • Zexe – decentralized private computation.
  • Zcash – privacy-focused cryptocurrency.

• ZK development tools

  • Circom Compiler – compile circuits.
  • Circomlib – circuit templates.
  • Powers of Tau – trusted setup ceremony.
  • Circom Snarkjs Template – starter project.
  • Hardhat Circom – Hardhat plugin for Circom.
  • Circomkit – Circom development toolkit.

• ZK research & papers

  • Zcash Protocol Spec – Zcash technical spec.
  • ZK Proofs Research – academic ZK research hub.
  • IACR ePrint – cryptography research papers.
  • ZK Research Papers – curated ZK papers.
  • Vitalik's ZK Posts – ZK explanations.

• ZK in production

  • zkSync Contracts – zkSync smart contracts.
  • Polygon zkEVM Contracts – Polygon zkEVM.
  • Starknet Contracts – Cairo smart contracts.
  • Aztec Contracts – Aztec Noir contracts.

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Standards, libraries & tooling

• Standards

  • EIPs – ERC‑20, ERC‑721, ERC‑1155, ERC‑4626, ERC‑4337, etc.
  • OpenZeppelin Contracts – reference implementations.
  • OpenZeppelin Contracts API – canonical API reference for OZ primitives.

• Libraries

  • Solmate – gas-optimized building blocks.
  • Solady – optimized utilities.
  • 🐍 snekmate – gas-optimized library.
  • PRBMath – fixed-point math library.
  • ABDK Math – advanced math.
  • String Utils – string manipulation.
  • DateTime Library – date/time utilities.
  • Merkle Tree – Merkle proof verification.
  • Enumerable Set – efficient set operations.
  • Compact Merkle Multiproofs – batch Merkle verification.
  • Solidity Bytes Utils – bytes manipulation.
  • Multicall3 – aggregate multiple contract calls.

• Tooling

  • Foundry – forge/cast/anvil.
  • Hardhat – development environment.
  • Brownie – Python-based framework.
  • Truffle – legacy but still used.
  • Scaffold-ETH – quickstart dApp template.
  • Scaffold-ETH Hardhat – Hardhat version.
  • Waffle – testing framework.
  • DappTools – Unix-style dev tools.
  • Chisel – Solidity REPL (Foundry).
  • Remix – browser-based IDE.
  • Sourcify – contract metadata verification.

• Testing & debugging

  • Foundry Book – comprehensive Foundry guide.
  • Hardhat Docs – official Hardhat documentation.
  • Forge Std – standard library for Foundry.
  • Tenderly Debugger – transaction debugging.
  • Hardhat Console – interactive debugging.
  • Ethereum Debugging – debugging guide.

• Gas optimization

  • Gas Optimization Techniques – comprehensive guide.
  • Gas Golfing Guide – extreme optimization.
  • Gas Station Network – meta-transactions for gasless UX.
  • 4naly3er – automated gas reports.
  • GasBad – gas efficiency comparison for Solidity libraries.

• Deployment & infrastructure

  • OpenZeppelin Defender – secure operations platform.
  • Hardhat Deploy – deployment plugin.
  • Hardhat Upgrades – upgradeable contracts.
  • Multicall – batch multiple calls.
  • Create2 – deterministic contract addresses.
  • Etherscan Verify – contract verification.

• Design patterns & best practices

  • Solidity Patterns – common design patterns.
  • Sol2uml – generate UML diagrams from Solidity.
  • Proxy Patterns – upgradeability patterns.
  • Diamond Pattern – modular upgradeable contracts.
  • Minimal Proxy (EIP-1167) – gas-efficient clones.
  • Reentrancy Patterns – prevention strategies.
  • Access Control Patterns – role-based access.

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Additional resources

• Community & forums

  • Ethereum Stack Exchange – Q&A for Ethereum devs.
  • Solidity Forum – official Solidity discussions.
  • r/ethdev – Ethereum development subreddit.
  • Ethereum Research – research discussions.
  • CryptoDevHub – community and resources.
  • Fellowship of Ethereum Magicians – EIP discussion forum.

• Newsletters & blogs

  • Week in Ethereum News – weekly Ethereum updates.
  • Ethereum Foundation Blog – official updates.
  • Vitalik's Blog – Ethereum co-founder's thoughts.
  • 0xResearch – DeFi research and analysis.

• Code examples & templates

  • OpenZeppelin Contracts – battle-tested contracts.
  • Scaffold-ETH Examples – dApp templates.
  • Solidity Examples – official examples.
  • Awesome Solidity – curated Solidity resources.
  • Solidity Koans – TDD-style Solidity exercises.
  • Foundry Template – minimal Foundry starter.

• EVM & low-level

  • EVM Opcodes – interactive opcode reference.
  • EVM Playground – test EVM bytecode.
  • Yellow Paper – Ethereum protocol spec.
  • EVM Deep Dives – EVM internals.
  • Solidity Memory Layout – memory/storage layout.

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Blockchain development resources

• Blockchain fundamentals

  • Ethereum Whitepaper – original Ethereum vision.
  • Bitcoin Whitepaper – foundational blockchain paper.
  • Mastering Bitcoin – comprehensive Bitcoin guide.
  • Blockchain Basics – Ethereum intro.
  • How Ethereum Works – Ethereum stack.
  • Blockchain Explained – basic concepts.

• Consensus mechanisms

  • Proof of Stake – PoS explained.
  • Proof of Work – PoW explained.
  • Byzantine Fault Tolerance – BFT concepts.
  • Casper FFG – Ethereum's PoS protocol.
  • Tendermint – BFT consensus engine.
  • HotStuff – BFT consensus algorithm.

• Cryptography fundamentals

  • Applied Cryptography – classic crypto book by Bruce Schneier.
  • Cryptography I (Coursera) – Stanford crypto course by Dan Boneh.
  • Cryptography II (Coursera) – advanced Stanford crypto course.
  • Introduction to Cryptography – cryptography basics.
  • Crypto101 – free cryptography course.
  • Cryptography Stack Exchange – Q&A for cryptography.
  • IACR – International Association for Cryptologic Research.

• Hash functions & hashing

  • Hash Functions – hashing in blockchain.
  • SHA-256 – Secure Hash Algorithm 256.
  • Keccak-256 – Ethereum's hash function.
  • Blake2 – fast cryptographic hash function.
  • Poseidon Hash – ZK-friendly hash function.
  • Merkle Trees – Merkle tree structures.
  • Merkle Proofs – Merkle proof tutorial.
  • Patricia Trie – Ethereum's state tree.

• Digital signatures & ECDSA

  • Digital Signatures – ECDSA and signatures.
  • ECDSA Explained – ECDSA overview.
  • ECDSA in Ethereum – Ethereum signatures.
  • BLS Signatures – Boneh-Lynn-Shacham signatures.
  • Schnorr Signatures – Schnorr signature scheme.
  • EdDSA – Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm.
  • Signature Aggregation – signature aggregation.

• Elliptic curve cryptography

  • Elliptic Curve Cryptography – ECC basics.
  • ECC Explained – ECC primer.
  • Secp256k1 – Bitcoin/Ethereum curve.
  • Curve25519 – high-speed ECC curve.
  • BN254 – pairing-friendly curve.
  • BLS12-381 – ZK-friendly curve.
  • Elliptic Curve Visualizer – interactive ECC visualization.

• Encryption & symmetric cryptography

  • AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) – symmetric encryption.
  • ChaCha20 – stream cipher.
  • Poly1305 – message authentication code.
  • ChaCha20-Poly1305 – authenticated encryption.
  • Encryption Modes – block cipher modes.

• Public key cryptography

  • RSA – Rivest-Shamir-Adleman.
  • Diffie-Hellman – key exchange protocol.
  • ECDH – Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman.
  • Public Key Infrastructure – PKI concepts.

• Zero-knowledge proofs (see ZK section)

  • ZK Proofs Explained – comprehensive ZK guide.
  • Why and How zk-SNARK Works – mathematical deep dive.
  • ZK Learning Path – structured ZK course.
  • See "Zero Knowledge (ZK) resources" section for more.

• Cryptographic libraries

  • OpenSSL – cryptographic library.
  • Libsodium – modern crypto library.
  • Bouncy Castle – Java/C# crypto library.
  • Crypto++ – C++ crypto library.
  • TweetNaCl – minimal crypto library.
  • Noble – JavaScript crypto library.
  • secp256k1 – Bitcoin's crypto library.
  • Circom – ZK circuit compiler.

• Cryptography in blockchain

  • Ethereum Cryptography – crypto in Ethereum.
  • Bitcoin Cryptography – crypto in Bitcoin.
  • Cryptographic Primitives – blockchain crypto primitives.
  • Random Number Generation – randomness in PoS.
  • VRF (Verifiable Random Function) – verifiable randomness.
  • Commitment Schemes – cryptographic commitments.

• Cryptography research & papers

  • IACR ePrint Archive – cryptography research papers.
  • Crypto Conference – IACR conferences.
  • CRYPTO – annual crypto conference.
  • EUROCRYPT – European crypto conference.
  • ASIACRYPT – Asian crypto conference.
  • Real World Crypto – applied cryptography conference.

• Cryptography books

  • Applied Cryptography by Bruce Schneier – comprehensive crypto book.
  • Introduction to Modern Cryptography by Katz & Lindell – modern crypto theory.
  • Cryptography Engineering by Ferguson, Schneier, Kohno – practical crypto.
  • The Code Book by Simon Singh – history of cryptography.
  • Understanding Cryptography by Paar & Pelzl – crypto textbook.

• Cryptography tools & implementations

  • Hash Calculator – online hash calculator.
  • ECDSA Signature Tool – signature generation.
  • Elliptic Curve Calculator – ECC calculator.
  • Crypto Playground – crypto challenges.
  • Cryptohack – cryptography challenges.
  • Factoring Challenge – RSA factoring.

• Post-quantum cryptography

  • NIST Post-Quantum Crypto – PQC standardization.
  • Post-Quantum Cryptography – PQC overview.
  • Lattice-Based Crypto – lattice cryptography.
  • Hash-Based Signatures – hash-based crypto.
  • Code-Based Crypto – code-based cryptography.

• Network protocols & P2P

  • Ethereum P2P – Ethereum networking protocol.
  • LibP2P – modular P2P networking stack.
  • Gossip Protocols – gossip protocol basics.
  • Kademlia DHT – distributed hash table.
  • Ethereum Wire Protocol – ETH protocol spec.

• Node operation & infrastructure

  • Running an Ethereum Node – node setup.
  • Geth – Go Ethereum client.
  • Erigon – efficient Ethereum client.
  • Nethermind – .NET Ethereum client.
  • Besu – Java Ethereum client.
  • Reth – modular Rust Ethereum execution client.
  • Node Monitoring – monitoring guides.
  • MEV-Boost – MEV infrastructure.

• Blockchain architecture

  • Ethereum Architecture – system architecture.
  • State Management – blockchain state.
  • Transaction Lifecycle – tx processing.
  • Block Structure – block anatomy.
  • Gas & Fees – gas mechanism.
  • Storage – contract storage.

• Cross-chain & interoperability

  • Chainlink CCIP – cross-chain infrastructure.
  • Wormhole – cross-chain messaging.
  • LayerZero – omnichain interoperability.
  • Axelar – cross-chain communication.
  • Hyperlane – permissionless interoperability protocol.
  • IBC Protocol – Inter-Blockchain Communication.
  • Polkadot XCM – cross-consensus messaging.

• MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)

  • Flashbots – MEV research and infrastructure.
  • MEV-Boost – MEV infrastructure for validators.
  • MEV Research – MEV explained.
  • MEV-Share – MEV sharing protocol.
  • EigenPhi – MEV analytics.
  • MEV-Boost Relay List – relay infrastructure.

• Oracles & data feeds

  • Chainlink – decentralized oracle network.
  • Pyth Network – price oracle network (pull model, 400ms updates).
  • Pyth EVM Integration – integrate Pyth in EVM contracts.
  • Pyth Chainlink Migration – migrate from Chainlink to Pyth.
  • UMA – optimistic oracle.
  • API3 – first-party oracles.
  • Band Protocol – cross-chain oracle.
  • Tellor – decentralized oracle.

• Blockchain research & papers

  • Ethereum Research – research forum.
  • Vitalik's Blog – Ethereum co-founder's research.
  • a16z Crypto Research – crypto research.
  • Paradigm Research – protocol research.
  • ArXiv Cryptography – latest crypto papers.
  • Blockchain Research Papers – curated papers.

• Blockchain infrastructure & APIs

  • Alchemy – blockchain API and infrastructure.
  • Infura – Ethereum API service.
  • QuickNode – blockchain infrastructure.
  • Ankr – Web3 infrastructure.
  • Moralis – Web3 development platform.
  • Thirdweb – Web3 development framework.
  • Pinata – IPFS pinning service.
  • The Graph – decentralized indexing protocol.

• Blockchain explorers & analytics

  • Etherscan – Ethereum block explorer.
  • Blockscout – open-source explorer.
  • Dune Analytics – blockchain analytics platform.
  • Nansen – on-chain analytics.
  • Etherscan API – blockchain data API.
  • Tenderly – transaction simulation and monitoring.
  • OpenChain – on-chain analytics.

• Blockchain testing & simulation

  • Ganache – personal blockchain for testing.
  • Hardhat Network – local Ethereum network.
  • Anvil – local testnet node.
  • Foundry Cheatcodes – testing utilities.
  • Tenderly Forks – fork mainnet for testing.
  • Alchemy Fork – fork mainnet.

• Blockchain monitoring & alerting

  • OpenZeppelin Defender – security operations.
  • Forta – decentralized security monitoring.
  • Tenderly Alerts – transaction monitoring.
  • PagerDuty for Blockchain – incident management.
  • Grafana Blockchain Dashboards – monitoring dashboards.

• Multi-chain development

  • Chainlink CCIP – cross-chain infrastructure.
  • Wormhole – cross-chain messaging.
  • LayerZero – omnichain interoperability.
  • Axelar – cross-chain communication.
  • Hyperlane – permissionless interoperability.
  • Multichain – cross-chain router.
  • Socket – cross-chain infrastructure.

• Blockchain data & indexing

  • The Graph – decentralized indexing.
  • Subgraph Studio – subgraph development.
  • Alchemy SDK – blockchain SDK.
  • Ethers.js – Ethereum library.
  • Web3.js – Ethereum JavaScript API.
  • Viem – TypeScript Ethereum library.
  • Wagmi – React Hooks for Ethereum.

• Blockchain wallets & key management

  • MetaMask – browser wallet.
  • WalletConnect – wallet connection protocol.
  • Web3Auth – authentication infrastructure.
  • Safe (Gnosis Safe) – smart contract wallet.
  • Ledger – hardware wallet.
  • Trezor – hardware wallet.
  • Key Management – account management.

• Blockchain scaling solutions

  • Polygon – scaling solution.
  • Arbitrum – optimistic rollup.
  • Optimism – optimistic rollup.
  • Base – OP Stack L2.
  • zkSync – zk-rollup.
  • Starknet – STARK-based L2.
  • Scroll – zkEVM rollup.

• Blockchain governance

  • OpenZeppelin Governor – governance contracts.
  • Compound Governor – governance system.
  • Aragon – DAO framework.
  • Snapshot – off-chain voting.
  • Tally – on-chain governance platform.

• Blockchain standards & specifications

  • EIPs – Ethereum Improvement Proposals.
  • ERC Standards – token and contract standards.
  • BIPs – Bitcoin Improvement Proposals.
  • Ethereum JSON-RPC – RPC specification.
  • Ethereum ABI – Application Binary Interface.

• Alternative blockchain ecosystems

  • Solana – high-performance blockchain.
  • Cosmos – internet of blockchains.
  • Polkadot – heterogeneous multi-chain.
  • Avalanche – platform for custom blockchains.
  • Near Protocol – developer-friendly blockchain.
  • Sui – next-gen blockchain platform.
  • Aptos – Move-based blockchain.
  • Cardano – research-driven blockchain.
  • Tezos – self-amending blockchain.
  • BNB Chain – BSC and BNB Greenfield.

• Tokenomics & economics

  • Token Engineering – token design framework.
  • Tokenomics Design – token economics guide.
  • Mechanism Design – protocol design.
  • Token Distribution – distribution strategies.
  • Vesting Schedules – vesting implementations.
  • Token Standards Comparison – token standard overview.

• Blockchain storage solutions

  • IPFS – InterPlanetary File System.
  • Arweave – permanent storage.
  • Filecoin – decentralized storage network.
  • Storj – decentralized cloud storage.
  • Swarm – Ethereum storage.
  • Pinata – IPFS pinning service.
  • NFT.Storage – NFT storage service.

• Blockchain identity & reputation

  • ENS (Ethereum Name Service) – decentralized naming.
  • Unstoppable Domains – blockchain domains.
  • Ceramic – decentralized identity.
  • Spruce ID – self-sovereign identity.
  • BrightID – proof of unique humanity.
  • Worldcoin – proof of personhood.
  • Gitcoin Passport – identity verification.

• Blockchain gaming & NFTs

  • ERC-721 – NFT standard.
  • ERC-1155 – multi-token standard.
  • OpenSea API – NFT marketplace API.
  • Rarible Protocol – NFT protocol.
  • Immutable X – NFT scaling solution.
  • Enjin – blockchain gaming platform.
  • Polygon Gaming – gaming on Polygon.

• Blockchain education & courses

  • Ethereum.org Learn – Ethereum learning hub.
  • CryptoZombies – Solidity course.
  • Buildspace – Web3 project-based learning.
  • Pointer – Web3 development courses.
  • LearnWeb3 – Web3 developer education.
  • Questbook – Web3 learning platform.
  • Alchemy University – blockchain education.
  • Consensys Academy – blockchain courses.

• Blockchain events & conferences

  • ETHGlobal – Ethereum hackathons.
  • Devcon – Ethereum developer conference.
  • ETHDenver – Ethereum conference.
  • Consensus – blockchain conference.
  • Ethereum Community Conference – European Ethereum conference.
  • Solana Breakpoint – Solana conference.
  • Polkadot Decoded – Polkadot conference.

• Blockchain metrics & analytics

  • DeFiLlama – DeFi TVL and analytics.
  • DeFiPulse – DeFi analytics.
  • Token Terminal – crypto fundamentals.
  • Glassnode – on-chain analytics.
  • Santiment – crypto market intelligence.
  • Messari – crypto research and data.
  • CoinGecko – cryptocurrency data.
  • CoinMarketCap – crypto market data.

• Blockchain compliance & regulation

  • Chainalysis – blockchain compliance.
  • Elliptic – crypto compliance.
  • TRM Labs – blockchain intelligence.
  • CipherTrace – crypto compliance.
  • OFAC Sanctions – sanctions compliance.
  • FATF Guidance – crypto regulation guidance.
  • SEC Crypto Framework – SEC guidance.

• Blockchain performance & optimization

  • EVM Performance – EVM optimization.
  • Gas Optimization – gas saving techniques.
  • Storage Optimization – storage efficiency.
  • Batch Operations – transaction batching.
  • State Channels – off-chain scaling.
  • Sidechains – sidechain solutions.

• Blockchain development frameworks

  • Truffle Suite – development framework.
  • Embark – dApp framework.
  • Buidler – task runner (now Hardhat).
  • Scribe – smart contract documentation.
  • Sourcify – contract verification.
  • Ethernal – blockchain explorer for devs.

• Blockchain testing strategies

  • Testing Best Practices – testing guide.
  • Property-Based Testing – property testing.
  • Integration Testing – integration tests.
  • Fork Testing – fork-based testing.
  • Invariant Testing – invariant testing.
  • Differential Testing – differential fuzzing.

• Blockchain documentation tools

  • NatSpec – Solidity documentation.
  • Docusaurus – documentation framework.
  • GitBook – documentation platform.
  • Mintlify – documentation builder.
  • Scribe – smart contract docs generator.

• Blockchain communities & forums

  • Ethereum Discord – Ethereum community.
  • Solidity Discord – Solidity community.
  • Foundry Discord – Foundry community.
  • Hardhat Discord – Hardhat community.
  • Web3 Builders – builder community.
  • Developer DAO – developer community.

• Blockchain podcasts & media

  • Bankless – DeFi and crypto podcast.
  • Unchained – crypto podcast.
  • The Defiant – DeFi podcast.
  • Epicenter – blockchain podcast.
  • Zero Knowledge – ZK podcast.
  • a16z Crypto – crypto podcast.

• Blockchain job boards & careers

  • Crypto Jobs List – crypto job board.
  • Web3.career – Web3 jobs.
  • Crypto Jobs – blockchain jobs.
  • Remote3 – remote Web3 jobs.
  • CryptoJobs – blockchain careers.

How to use this repo

• Browsing: scroll through the protocol table, pick a protocol, and deep‑dive into its repo + docs.
• Learning: pair a learning resource with a protocol implementation (e.g. read lending docs + Aave code).
• Security practice: pick a vuln from SWC, solve Ethernaut and Damn Vulnerable DeFi, then look at real protocol code.
• Building: use the tooling section to set up your dev environment, then reference design patterns and libraries.

If you have a favorite link, thread, paper, or repo – add it here.

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Contributing

• Open a PR: add a row, setion, or resource you’ve actually used and recommend.
• Keep it high signal: no SEO spam, no random Medium posts.
• Format: keep tables and headings consistent with the current style.

License

do whatever you want ser – but stars and PRs are appreciated :)