Blockchain, Cryptoassets, and Decentralized Finance

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Blockchain, Cryptoassets, and Decentralized Finance

This course is part of Blockchain Revolution in Financial Services Specialization

Instructors: Don Tapscott

19,095 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

383 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

383 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Describe seven types of cryptoassets, and explain what it means to “tokenize” an asset
Explain what a smart contract is, as well as various applications of smart contracts
Explore the features of a distributed, self-sovereign identity system
Describe eight core functions of the financial services industry and explain how blockchain will disrupt each of these functions

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

16 assignments

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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This course is part of the Blockchain Revolution in Financial Services Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Today, large intermediaries establish trust in our economy and control the movement, storage, and allocation of money and assets. The status quo, however, is rife with inefficiencies. In this course, we’ll address the many challenges of the status quo and discuss how cryptoassets, smart contracts, new identity systems, and new financial business models can help overcome them. You’ll learn how blockchain technology empowers individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses with the tools they need to help level the playing field and to participate in the value they create. By the end of this course, you’ll learn how and why transacting on the blockchain can help us bring about a future that is faster, fairer, and more distributed than the world we inhabit today.

Blockchain is the first native digital medium for value. Consequently, we are witnessing one of the largest transformations of wealth in human history—from paper-based analog assets to digital ones. In this module, students will learn about nine different kinds of cryptoassets, including cryptocurrencies, protocol tokens, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), stablecoins, securities tokens, governance tokens, exchange tokens, natural asset tokens, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

What's included

14 videos12 readings4 assignments2 discussion prompts

14 videosTotal 84 minutes

Course Introduction6 minutes
Instructor Introduction8 minutes
Module 1 Overview7 minutes
Cryptocurrencies6 minutes
Protocol Tokens6 minutes
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)6 minutes
Stablecoins7 minutes
Securities Tokens7 minutes
Governance Tokens5 minutes
Exchange Tokens5 minutes
Natural Asset Tokens5 minutes
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)5 minutes
Module 1 Recap5 minutes
Digital Wallets (Optional)8 minutes

12 readingsTotal 125 minutes

hypothes.is10 minutes
Cryptocurrencies10 minutes
Protocol Tokens10 minutes
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)10 minutes
Stablecoins10 minutes
Securities Tokens10 minutes
Governance Tokens10 minutes
Exchange Tokens10 minutes
Natural Asset Tokens10 minutes
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)10 minutes
Review of Digital Assets15 minutes
Digital Wallets (Optional)10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Cryptocurrencies, Protocol Tokens, and NFTs10 minutes
Stablecoins, Securities Tokens, and Governance Tokens10 minutes
Exchange Tokens, Natural Asset Tokens, and CBDCs10 minutes
Digital Assets30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Your Goals for This Course10 minutes
Digital Assets10 minutes

In this module, you will learn what smart contracts are and how they work. We will discuss how blockchain-based smart contracts can enable individuals and organizations to reduce transaction costs, minimize the need for third-party intermediaries, and improve productivity, security, and privacy.

What's included

11 videos4 readings5 assignments2 discussion prompts

11 videosTotal 50 minutes

Module 2 Overview2 minutes
What Are Smart Contracts?6 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Rolf Hoefer: Smart Contracts2 minutes
Smart Contract Phases7 minutes
Smart vs. Traditional Contracts5 minutes
Smart Contracts and Law7 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Andreas Wallendahl: Smart Contracts1 minute
Smart Contract Application Areas10 minutes
Practitioner Perspective: Rob Carter, Executive VP and CIO, FedEx1 minute
Smart Contract Strategies & Best Practices for the Organization5 minutes
Recap of Module 22 minutes

4 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Smart Contracts10 minutes
Smart vs. Traditional Contracts15 minutes
Smart Contract Application Areas20 minutes
Review of Smart Contracts15 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

What Are Smart Contracts?30 minutes
Smart Contract Phases30 minutes
Smart vs. Traditional Contracts0 minutes
Smart Contracts and Law30 minutes
Smart Contracts30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

How smart are smart contracts?10 minutes
Leveraging Smart Contracts10 minutes

Accessing large, centralized systems such as email, health insurance, or a bank account requires the provision of various identifiers—for example, government-issued ID cards, self-selected passwords, or biometric data. However, identifier-based systems are problematic—both administratively and philosophically. In this module you will learn about five problems with identifier-based systems and explain how a distributed self-sovereign identity system, deployed on the blockchain, can resolve many of these issues.

What's included

9 videos3 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 40 minutes

Module 3 Overview2 minutes
Introduction to Identity and Identifiers5 minutes
Five Problems With Identifiers8 minutes
Distributed, Self-sovereign Identity Systems6 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Carlos Augier: Identity2 minutes
Blockchain Identity Applications5 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Stephen Tse & Li Jiang: Personal Data1 minute
Managing Health Data on a Blockchain7 minutes
Recap of Identity4 minutes

3 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Distributed, Self-sovereign Identity Systems20 minutes
Reinventing Healthcare on the Blockchain10 minutes
Review of Identity10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 75 minutes

Identity and Identifiers30 minutes
Identity on a Blockchain 15 minutes
Identity30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Identifiers in Your Industry10 minutes
Managing Data with Blockchain10 minutes

There are countless opportunities for blockchain to disrupt or displace traditional centralized business models. In this module, we explore how blockchain technology can support “open networked enterprise” business models through the inclusion of native payment systems, reputation systems, uncensorable content, trustless transactions, smart contracts, and autonomous agents.

What's included

16 videos7 readings4 assignments1 discussion prompt

16 videosTotal 84 minutes

Module 4 Overview2 minutes
Distributed Business Entities10 minutes
The Story of "The DAO"7 minutes
New Business Models Part 19 minutes
New Business Models Part 210 minutes
Practitioner Perspective: Soumak Chatterjee, Partner, Deloitte Canada2 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Yaniv Neu-Ner: Business Model for Counter5 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Oleg Fomenko: Business Model for Sweatcoin3 minutes
What Are DApps?6 minutes
Example: bAirbnb6 minutes
Patents and Blockchain Innovation7 minutes
Practitioner Perspective - Rolf Hoefer: Intellectual Property2 minutes
Payments, Attribution, and Licensing6 minutes
Distributed Ownership4 minutes
Module 4 Recap3 minutes
Course Recap3 minutes

7 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)10 minutes
New Business Models Part 120 minutes
New Business Models Part 230 minutes
DApps20 minutes
Patents and Blockchain Innovation20 minutes
Payments, Attribution, and Licensing20 minutes
Distributed Ownership10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Distributed Business Entities30 minutes
New Business Models30 minutes
DApps30 minutes
New Business Models30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

New Business Models10 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(111 ratings)

Don Tapscott

INSEAD

21 Courses167,956 learners

Offered by

INSEAD

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Reviewed on Jul 25, 2021

This has been very insightful for me. The two instructors certainly took their time explaining the basics of Blockchain, cryptoassets to the understanding of anyone. Thank you.

Reviewed on Jan 25, 2023

It is very elaborate, with clear examples in articulating various objectives around crypto framework

Reviewed on Oct 20, 2021

Its good startup for blockchain courses in coursera. Thanks to all the authors and management teams.

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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

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