Blockchains & Digital Currencies
People
Course director
Description
Prerequisites
A working knowledge of algebra and basic coding, although no advanced calculus or programming is required.
Description / Program
The course provides the foundations on blockchain technology, from public protocols such as Bitcoin and Ethereum to enterprise solutions, needed to understand and develop business applications. We explain the transition from traditional monetary systems to digital currencies, the use of smart contracts for financial agreements, tokenomics DeFi (Decentralized Finance), Stable Coins, NFTs, CBDCs, the cryptocurrency market,regulatory issues. Several use cases are described.
Requested Material
A set of handouts will be delivered.
The students will use Excel and a user friendly open-source GUI for a Blockchain network (MetaMask).
The internet will be used often also during lectures.
Readings/Textbooks
While some readings will be suggested, there is no required textbook for the course.
Program
Lesson 1: Current Monetary and Payment Systems
- Commercial bank money and deposits. Money creation.
- Correspondent banking, international payments and SWIFT.
- Settlement finality, RTGS, Netting, Reconciliation.
- Central bank money and the TARGET2 example
Lesson 2: Introduction to Cryptocurrencies
- The three pillars of a digital monetary system: ledger, transactions, management
- Internet Technology and Evolution to Web 3
- Distributed Databases and Computing
- Fault-tolerance and Game-theory for Consensus
Lesson 3: Foundations of Blockchain Technology
- Financial cryptography: hashing
- Asymmetric cryptography and Digital signature
- A Cryptocurrency transaction
- Exercises
Lesson 4: Understanding Bitcoin and Alternatives
- Pseudonymity, Scripts, Fees
- Double-spending risk and Proof of Work
- Block Structure and the business of Mining
- Proof of Stake
Lesson 5: Ethereum and Smart Contracts
- From paper contracts to self-executing code
- Ethereum accounts and Smart Contracts
- The creation of Tokens
- Layer 2 and Side Chains
Lesson 6: Hands-on with blockchain and smart contracts
- Wallets and transactions
- Notarization contracts
- Creating Tokens and Atomic swaps
- Exercises
Lesson 7: The Cryptocurrency Market
- Cryptocurrency data
- Project Financing
- The different kinds of cryptos
- Tokenomics
Lesson 8: Beyond Cryptos
- Stable Coins
- NFTs
- Tokenized Deposits
- CBDCs and the Future of Money.
Lesson 9: DeFI
- DEX
- Borrowing and Lending
- Algorithmic Stable Coins
- Decentralized Governance
Lesson 10: Privacy in Blockchains
- Private Blockchains - Design and Motivations
- The private Smart Contracts (R3 CORDA)
- Privacy in Public Blockchains
- Monero and Zcash approaches
Lesson 11: Enterprise Applications
- Tokenization and Company’s money
- IOT and AI applications. Notarization
- Social and Mutual Networks
- Supply Chain. Transparency and Quality Assurance
Lesson 12: Decentralizing Finance
- ERC token standards for stocks and bonds
- Decentralized order books and exchanges
- Transforming Custodians and Depositories
- Digitalizing Trade Finance
Lesson 13: A detailed Case study: advanced financial products
- The current problems of derivatives and collateral
- Smart Contracts as a solution to risks and costs
- Transforming Central Counterparties
- Data providers and oracle technology
Lesson 14: Fiscal, Legal, and Regulatory issues
- Cryptocurrencies and Taxes
- European MICA regulation. The US Howey Test
- Regulating tech. Smart Contracts and the Law
- Cybersecurity
Objectives
The course aims to forge a solid knowledge of cryptocurrencies and the underlying blockchain technology, from foundations to applications. The student will confront practical explanations and exercises giving them the right perspective to understand and employ this innovation in different business areas, with focus on finance.
Teaching mode
In presence
Learning methods
Lessons will be held either with projected slides and on the whiteboard. Few lessons will require an online computer.
Examination information
Students will be evaluated based on an in-class final, consisting of open questions, and/or a project work in the second half of the course
Education
- Master of Science in Economics in Finance, Lecture, 1st year
- Master of Science in Financial Technology and Computing, Lecture, Elective, 1st year