IDFEInstitute of Digital Forensic Examiners
IDFE-BASpecialistFree course

Certified Blockchain Analyst

Blockchain analysis on raw data: transaction graphs, clustering heuristics and their limits, token flows and SQL over chain data, proven in a hands-on lab.

Modules
7
Lessons
42
Length
About 8 h
Pace
Self-paced
Languages
EN · ES · PT
Free · about 8 hStart course

Before you start

Detailed prerequisites are published with the first lessons.

Recommended pathBEDFDA·CCBA·CFA recommendation, not a rule: every course and exam is open to anyone, in any order.

How to get the most from it

Short, regular sessions work better than one long read.

  1. 1
    Go in order

    Each lesson builds on the one before, and later modules refer back to earlier ones.

  2. 2
    One module per sitting

    A module is about 20 minutes of reading. Add 10 minutes for the checks and your notes.

  3. 3
    Read the Exam focus box first

    It says what the exam expects from that lesson, so you read with a purpose.

  4. 4
    Answer before you look

    Commit to an answer in each knowledge check, then read the explanation, even when you were right.

  5. 5
    Redraw the diagram

    Every lesson has one diagram that sums it up. If you can sketch it from memory, you have the lesson.

  6. 6
    The cases are fictional

    People and companies in the examples are invented, and some of them come back across lessons.

  7. 7
    Sign in and come back

    Your place is kept and finished lessons are marked, so short sessions add up.

Course content

7 modules · 42 lessons · 5 h 39 min of reading. Each module shows the exam domains it prepares for.

01Reading raw blockchain data6 lessons · 48 minExam domain 01

Prepares for: 01 On-chain data models (UTXO & account) (22%)

  1. 1.1The analyst's view of a blockchain7 min
  2. 1.2Blocks and headers as data8 min
  3. 1.3Raw Bitcoin transactions9 min
  4. 1.4Raw Ethereum transactions, receipts and logs8 min
  5. 1.5Node APIs and data access8 min
  6. 1.6Data quality, normalization and provenance8 min
02UTXO and account models6 lessons · 47 minExam domain 01

Prepares for: 01 On-chain data models (UTXO & account) (22%)

  1. 2.1The UTXO model for analysts8 min
  2. 2.2Script types and address formats8 min
  3. 2.3The account model for analysts8 min
  4. 2.4Reconstructing balances and histories8 min
  5. 2.5Layer 2s, sidechains and bridges as data sources7 min
  6. 2.6Other chain designs analysts meet8 min
03Building transaction graphs6 lessons · 47 minExam domain 02

Prepares for: 02 Transaction graph analysis (17%)

  1. 3.1Transaction graphs: nodes, edges and direction8 min
  2. 3.2Tracing funds forward and backward8 min
  3. 3.3Graph metrics and patterns8 min
  4. 3.4Following value through exchanges and services7 min
  5. 3.5Mixers, CoinJoin and obfuscation in graphs8 min
  6. 3.6Cross-chain tracing8 min
04Clustering heuristics and their limits6 lessons · 47 minExam domain 03

Prepares for: 03 Clustering & entity heuristics (17%)

  1. 4.1What clustering is and why it matters8 min
  2. 4.2The common-input ownership heuristic8 min
  3. 4.3Change detection heuristics8 min
  4. 4.4Account-model heuristics8 min
  5. 4.5Attribution and labeling7 min
  6. 4.6Evaluating cluster quality8 min
05Token, NFT and smart contract flows6 lessons · 49 minExam domain 04

Prepares for: 04 Smart contract & token flow analysis (17%)

  1. 5.1Reading token transfers8 min
  2. 5.2NFTs and multi-token standards8 min
  3. 5.3Decoding smart contract interactions8 min
  4. 5.4DEX swaps and liquidity flows8 min
  5. 5.5Lending, bridges and protocol accounting8 min
  6. 5.6Analyzing exploits and hacks9 min
06Querying chains with SQL6 lessons · 52 minExam domain 05

Prepares for: 05 Analytics tooling & SQL (15%)

  1. 6.1The analytics data stack8 min
  2. 6.2SQL foundations for blockchain tables8 min
  3. 6.3Joins, window functions and CTEs for flows9 min
  4. 6.4Querying UTXO data9 min
  5. 6.5Querying EVM logs and traces9 min
  6. 6.6Performance, cost and reproducibility9 min
07Analytical reporting6 lessons · 49 minExam domain 06

Prepares for: 06 Reporting & visualization (12%)

  1. 7.1From question to hypothesis8 min
  2. 7.2Confidence, uncertainty and language8 min
  3. 7.3Visualizing flows and graphs8 min
  4. 7.4Writing the analytical report7 min
  5. 7.5Data protection, ethics and responsible disclosure8 min
  6. 7.6Case study: an end-to-end investigation10 min

Exam blueprint

The official exam domains and the weights used to draw questions. The modules column shows where the course prepares you for each one.

DomainCourse modulesWeight
01On-chain data models (UTXO & account)22%
02Transaction graph analysis17%
03Clustering & entity heuristics17%
04Smart contract & token flow analysis17%
05Analytics tooling & SQL15%
06Reporting & visualization12%
Total100%

Who it is for

Data analysts, researchers, exchange risk teams and investigative journalists.

Questions

Is the course really free?

Yes. Every lesson is free to read, with or without an account. You only pay if you decide to take the certification exam.

Do I need the course to take the exam?

No. The exam is independent and open to anyone. The course covers every exam domain, with the weights shown under Course content.

Do I get a certificate for finishing the course?

No. Finishing marks the course as complete in your account. The IDFE-BA credential comes only from passing the exam.

Which languages is it in?

English, Spanish and Portuguese. Switch at any time with EN · ES · PT at the top of the page.