Teaching

Course elective presentation video, October 2024

FinTech and Blockchain (BMME028) provides an introductory overview of innovations that are central to FinTech in the areas of payment, capital raising, investment, and credit. Although the focus is on blockchain and smart contracts, other important innovations are also covered. The course first lays the foundation that will enable students to understand bitcoin and blockchain and see beyond the hype. Then, the course offers an opportunity to delve deep into the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and analyze tokens and smart contract-based protocols. The course consists of theoretical and practical sessions and typically features several guest speakers from industry.

  • Describe what FinTech is and why it emerged.
  • Explain both fundamentals and economics of bitcoin, blockchain, smart contracts, and DeFi.
  • Analyze the potential and limitations of various blockchain and DeFi use cases.
  • Assess DeFi applications.
Module 1. Introduction to Fintech and Blockchain
Module 2. Bitcoin Primer
Module 3. Technical Analysis
Module 4. Bitcoin’s Challenges
Module 5. Ethereum and Smart Contracts
Module 6. Tokenization
Module 7. DeFi
Module 8. Stablecoins and CBDC
Module 9. DeFi Applications
  • Schär, F., and A. Berentsen (2020). Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Cryptoassets: A Comprehensive Introduction (MIT Press).
  • Di Maggio, M. (2024). Blockchain, Crypto and DeFi: Bridging Finance and Technology (Wiley).
  • Articles referenced in the reading list provided on Canvas.