INSEAD
Introduction to Blockchain Technologies
INSEAD

Introduction to Blockchain Technologies

Don Tapscott
Alex Tapscott

Instructors: Don Tapscott

78,918 already enrolled

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(2,451 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 28 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(2,451 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 28 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

  • The limitations of the Internet for business and economic activity, and how trust is established in a pre- and post-blockchain world

  • Terms such as miner, hash, nonce, proof-of-work, and public key cryptography, as well as the steps of a blockchain transaction

  • Seven design principles for blockchain technology

  • Ten challenges associated with implementing blockchain technology

Details to know

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Assessments

31 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Blockchain Revolution Specialization
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There are 5 modules in this course

The Internet connects billions of people around the world, and is great for communicating and collaborating online. However, because it was built for moving and storing information, and not value, it has done little to change the way we do business. Now, for the first time in human history, two or more parties anywhere in the world can transact and do business peer to peer using the blockchain. In this module we introduce blockchain as “the trust protocol,” and explain how it represents the second era of the Internet. We describe how blockchain technology establishes trust—not through powerful intermediaries, but rather through collaboration, cryptography and clever code.

What's included

13 videos8 readings6 assignments3 discussion prompts

We believe that the next era of the digital economy can be shaped around a set of blockchain design principles, which can be used for creating software, services, reinventing business models, markets, organizations, and even governments. This module frames the blockchain revolution around seven design principles. For each principle we describe a current problem to be solved, identify “blockchain breakthroughs” to these problems, and discuss the implications of these breakthroughs on the digital economy. We hope that these design principles will assist learners in contemplating their roles and their futures in the blockchain revolution.

What's included

12 videos8 readings6 assignments

The advent of blockchain technology forces us to reconsider the upside and downside of public revelation of transactions and contracts. The implementation, application, and possible regulation of distributed ledgers involve choices that will critically affect information disclosure and economic interactions. Whether the ledger is public and permissionless, such as the Bitcoin or Ethereum blockchains, or private and permissioned, such as the Ripple or Hyperledger implementations, in principle transactions on a blockchain have a high native level of transparency. In this module, you will learn how privacy can can be protected in both public and private ledgers using both procedural and technological methods.

What's included

13 videos4 readings5 assignments1 discussion prompt

Although blockchain technology emerged from the open source community, it quickly attracted many stakeholders, each with different backgrounds, interests, and motives. In this module, you will explore the roles and perspectives of nine categories of stakeholders within the blockchain ecosystem, including industry pioneers, venture capitalists, developers, governments, regulators, leaders, and end users.

What's included

8 videos2 readings4 assignments1 discussion prompt

Like every revolutionary technology, the blockchain has its upside and its downside. In this module we discuss ten implementation challenges which must be overcome as we transition to the second era of the Internet. For each challenge, you will also learn about potential solutions and what we can do to ensure the fulfillment of the blockchain’s promise.

What's included

17 videos11 readings10 assignments1 discussion prompt

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.8 (702 ratings)
Don Tapscott
INSEAD
18 Courses136,765 learners
Alex Tapscott
INSEAD
17 Courses136,075 learners

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INSEAD

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