This course is part of the Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations Specialization

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Robert Dittmar +1 more instructor

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Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

About this Course

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The sudden rise in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and its subsequent decline, focused the world’s attention on cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. Blockchain technology powers Bitcoin and has been hyped as the next new, transformative technology.
In this course, we first discuss the technical underpinnings of blockchain and review key concepts such as decentralization and consensus algorithms.

We then examine blockchain as an asset and review the dynamics of the cryptocurrency markets.

Finally, we examine blockchain as a business solution, with a focus on understanding business cases in which blockchain does and does not make sense.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

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Course 2 of 4 in the

Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Explain how blockchain works.
Articulate the key technical aspects, such as decentralization and consensus algorithms.
Describe the strengths and weaknesses of cryptocurrency as an asset and a payment mechanism.
Evaluate tradeoffs of blockchain as a business solution.

Skills you will gain

Cryptocurrency
decentralization algorithms
consensus algorithms
Blockchain
blockchain as a business solution

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 4 in the

Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.73/5 (196 Ratings)

Robert Dittmar

Professor of Finance

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

70,696 Learners

4 Courses

Andrew Wu

Michael R. and Mary Kay Hallman Fellow, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations and Finance

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

70,698 Learners

5 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(2,304 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Introduction

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 14 min), 3 readings

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Introduction to Blockchain and Crypto

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 64 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Course Introduction4mIntroduction to Blockchain5mClassifying blockchain technologies7mIdentities on the Blockchain6mBlockchain Data8mBlockchain Network and Data Processing8mBlockchain Consensus: What is it and Why do We Need It?4mBlockchain Consensus: Generic Consensus Models13mPutting the Concepts Together: Reading an Actual Blockchain4m

2 readings

Case Reading: Big Winnings10mCase Reading: Beginning with Blockchain10m

2 practice exercises

Case Discussion Partcipation5mEnd of Module Quiz30m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Blockchain as an Asset

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 65 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

8 videos

Introduction to Bitcoin9mProof-of-work (Mining): Concept4mProof-of-work (Mining): Implementation9mProof-of-work (Mining): Business Models10mExamples of alternative consensus protocols: Proof-of-stake7mIntroduction to Ethereum6mSmart contract: The Concept6mSmart contract: The Application9m

2 readings

Case Reading: Mining for Bitcoin10mCase Reading: Scoping Out Ethereum10m

2 practice exercises

Case Discussion Partcipation5mEnd of Module Quiz30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Blockchain as a Business

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 55 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Blockchain as an asset: Overview of the Cryptocurrency Market8mBuying and Selling Cryptocurrencies: Overview; Wallet & Key Storage13mBuying and selling cryptocurrencies: Using crypto exchanges9mKey crypto risk factors: Exchange risks7mKey Crypto Risk Factors: Supply, Cybersecurity, and Centralization8mCrypto Risk Factors: Utility and Sentiment8m

4 readings

Case Reading: Studying the Cryptocurrency Market10mCase Reading: Risky Business10mCourse Feedback10mKeep Learning with Michigan Online10m

2 practice exercises

Case Discussion Partcipation5mEnd of Module Quiz30m

Reviews

4.7

165 reviews

5 stars
74.33%
4 stars
20.37%
3 stars
4.15%
2 stars
0.62%
1 star
0.50%

TOP REVIEWS FROM BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY EXPLAINED

by ODApr 21, 2020

The information is really valuable. The authors should review some of the sound in the last week, though. I really appreciate the conceptual maps the authors worked on, very useful!

by SHApr 12, 2021

Important addition to the FinTech Specialization. Nice overview with just the right information to build upon. Well presented. Excellent overall.

by CNOct 19, 2020

Great course to get started on block chain and cryptocurrency (especially if you're a tech enthusiast)! I'd give it ten stars if I could.

by AKSep 20, 2022

This course was extremely excellent and I recommend to all my friends to participate in this course. All topics were fully and clearly explained.

View all reviews

About the Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations Specialization

This specialization is intended to familiarize learners with a broad range of financial technologies. While finance has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, the financial industry is changing rapidly in the face of new technology. In the past, at the forefront of innovation in finance were central governments and financial institutions. Today, information technology firms and professionals are leading innovation in the financial industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Explained

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