Short Course Description
This course will focus on one of the most disruptive technologies of the 21st century -- blockchain. We will begin by outlining the most important innovations in financial technology over the past two decades. We will then present the concept of blockchain, explain the technological fundamentals, discuss various types of blockchain, and focus on the Bitcoin blockchain. We will proceed by discussing various types of crypto assets, and will outline the institutional framework of the crypto market. We will then present the idea of smart contracts, while focusing on the Ethereum blockchain and mentioning other blockchains and cross-chain transfers. Then, we will begin our discussion of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) by focusing on decentralized exchanges (DEXes). We?ll continue by discussing other types of DeFi applications and protocols, such as collateralized and flash loans, derivatives, and tokenization. We will also discuss the risks of DeFi.
This course is an essential introduction to blockchain technology and applications for anyone interested in both the theoretical and practical approaches to blockchain.
The course will feature the following components:
1. Lectures;
2. Simulations of blockchain technology and Decentralized Finance;
3. Guest lectures;
4. Final project involving a proposal of a new application of blockchain technology.
Full syllabus will be available to registered students only
