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Blockchain Applications in Fintech

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Blockchain Applications in Fintech

Instructors: Don Tapscott

1,500 already enrolled

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain how blockchain transforms key financial functions, from payments to identity, compliance, and tokenization.
Evaluate real-world blockchain use cases and assess their risks, benefits, and fit for fintech applications.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

21 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 3 modules in this course

This course provides business professionals with a strategic understanding of how blockchain is reshaping the financial services industry. You'll begin by building a solid foundation in blockchain fundamentals, including how digital assets, smart contracts, and decentralized systems work. Next, you’ll explore how blockchain is powering the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi), offering new models for asset exchange, identity, and compliance—while addressing long-standing inefficiencies in traditional financial infrastructure. Finally, you’ll examine how blockchain is being applied across fintech, from stablecoins and securities tokens to decentralized insurance, global payments, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in blockchain economics. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to evaluate real-world blockchain use cases, assess risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions about integrating blockchain-based solutions in financial contexts.

Module details

What exactly is blockchain, and why does it matter for the future of finance? In this module, you'll explore the core building blocks of blockchain systems and how they underpin the emerging Web3 ecosystem. You'll learn how blockchain establishes trust without intermediaries, how digital assets and smart contracts work, and what design principles shape blockchain architecture. By the end of this module, you’ll have a solid foundation in blockchain infrastructure and a clear understanding of how these technologies are setting the stage for innovation in fintech.

What's included

6 videos6 readings5 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 37 minutes

Course Introduction3 minutes
What is Web3?8 minutes
Digital Assets (Tokens)7 minutes
Example: How a Bitcoin Transaction Works8 minutes
Smart Contracts5 minutes
Blockchain Design Principles and Challenges7 minutes

6 readingsTotal 105 minutes

The Rise of Web360 minutes
Digital Assets (Tokens)5 minutes
Blockchain Demo (Optional)10 minutes
Smart Contract Use Cases5 minutes
Blockchain Design Principles10 minutes
Blockchain Implementation Challenges15 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 56 minutes

The Rise of Web310 minutes
Steps of a Bitcoin Transaction10 minutes
Blockchain Fundamentals3 minutes
Blockchain Design Principles and Challenges3 minutes
Web3 and Blockchain Fundamentals30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 5 minutes

Smart Contracts5 minutes

This module examines how blockchain is driving the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) - a movement that is transforming the foundations of the global financial system. We'll examine how blockchain is being used to address long-standing inefficiencies in the global financial system—from costly settlement delays to fragmented identity verification. You’ll gain insight into how tokenization, distributed identity systems, and smart contracts power decentralized alternatives to traditional financial infrastructure. With attention to regulatory and business implications, this module equips you to critically evaluate the opportunities and limitations of blockchain and DeFi within the evolving fintech landscape.

What's included

12 videos7 readings9 assignments

12 videosTotal 85 minutes

Six Inefficiencies in Financial Services9 minutes
The Rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi): The Golden Eight Part 14 minutes
The Rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi): The Golden Eight Part 24 minutes
Tokenization5 minutes
Safeguarding the Physical-Digital Interface5 minutes
Distributed, Self-sovereign Identity Systems6 minutes
Blockchain Identity Applications5 minutes
Intro to Blockchain Regulation12 minutes
Fundamental Questions9 minutes
Regulatory Principles11 minutes
Business Considerations7 minutes
Technology Considerations6 minutes

7 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Six Inefficiencies in Financial Services10 minutes
The Rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)10 minutes
Tokenization10 minutes
Safeguarding the Physical-Digital Interface10 minutes
Distributed, Self-sovereign Identity Systems20 minutes
Blockchain Regulation10 minutes
Design Considerations for Blockchain in Fintech10 minutes

9 assignmentsTotal 110 minutes

Six Inefficiencies in Financial Services 10 minutes
The Rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)10 minutes
Tokenization10 minutes
Safeguarding the Physical-Digital Interface10 minutes
Identity on a Blockchain 15 minutes
Fundamental Questions 5 minutes
Regulatory Principles10 minutes
Design Considerations for Blockchain in Fintech10 minutes
Blockchain Transformations of Financial Services30 minutes

In this final module, we move from theory to practice. You’ll explore real-world use cases of blockchain in fintech, including stablecoins, securities tokens, decentralized insurance, and international payments. You’ll also examine how AI is shaping blockchain-based economic models, from adaptive tokenomics to dynamic incentive systems. Through case studies and applied frameworks, this module equips you to analyze blockchain’s role in driving new business models and creating smarter, more inclusive financial services.