This course is part of the Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce Specialization

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Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce SpecializationINSEAD

About this Course

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This course discusses the limitations of the Internet for business and economic activity and explains how blockchain technology represents the way forward. After completing this course, you will be able to explain what blockchain is, how it works, and why it is revolutionary. You will learn key concepts such as mining, hashing, proof-of-work, public key cryptography, and the double-spend problem. You’ll be able to describe seven design principles for blockchain technology, and the challenges facing the people developing it. 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.

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Course 1 of 4 in the

Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 33 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

How blockchain works, and how trust is established in a pre- and post-blockchain world
Nine types of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, protocol tokens, NFTs, stablecoins, securities tokens, governance tokens, and CBDCs
What smart contracts are, the phases of a smart contract deal cycle, and various examples and applications of smart contracts
Blockchain design principles, and challenge areas associated with implementing blockchain technology

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 1 of 4 in the

Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 33 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Don Tapscott

Adjunct Professor

104,446 Learners

16 Courses

Alex Tapscott

Instructor

104,255 Learners

15 Courses

Offered by

INSEAD

As one of the world's leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

7 hours to complete

The Second Era of the Internet

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.

7 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 59 min), 7 readings, 6 quizzes

12 videos

Specialization Overview7mCourse 1 Welcome from FedEx3mInstructor Introduction8mModule 1 Overview2mThe Internet of Information7mIn Search of the Trust Protocol6mWhat is Blockchain?5mPractitioner Perspective: Andreas Wallendahl, Head of Strategic Initiatives at ConsenSys1mPractitioner Perspective: Rob Carter, Executive VP and CIO, FedEx40sAchieving Trust in the Digital Age7mHow Blockchain Works7mRecap of Module 12m

7 readings

The Internet of Information10mIn Search of the Trust Protocol10mWhat is Blockchain?30mAchieving Trust in the Digital Age20mHow Blockchain Works30mBlockchain Demo20mReview of Module 120m

6 practice exercises

The Internet of Information30mIn Search of the Trust Protocol / What is Blockchain30mAchieving Trust in the Digital Age30mHow Blockchain Works30mThe Second Era of the Internet15mSteps of a Blockchain Transaction15m

Week2

Week 2

6 hours to complete

Blockchain Design Principles

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.

6 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 69 min), 8 readings, 6 quizzes

12 videos

Module 2 Overview2mIntro to Blockchain Design Principles3mPrinciple 1: Networked Integrity8mPrinciple 2: Distributed Power5mPractitioner Perspective: Rob Carter, Executive VP and CIO, FedEx1mPrinciple 3: Value as Incentive8mPrinciple 4: Security8mPrinciple 5: Privacy9mPrinciple 6: Rights Preserved8mPrinciple 7: Inclusion7mPractitioner Perspective: Julie Maupin, Director of Social Impact & Regulatory Affairs at IOTA Foundation2mRecap of Module 22m

8 readings

Principle 1: Networked Integrity20mPrinciple 2: Distributed Power10mPrinciple 3: Value as Incentive15mPrinciple 4: Security30mPrinciple 5: Privacy10mPrinciple 6: Rights Preserved30mPrinciple 7: Inclusion20mReview of Module 215m

6 practice exercises

Principle 1: Networked Integrity30mPrinciple 2: Distributed Power30mPrinciple 3: Value as IncentivePrinciple 4: Security30mPrivacy, Rights, and Inclusion30mBlockchain Design Principles30m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Digital Assets

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).

4 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 70 min), 11 readings, 4 quizzes

12 videos

Module 3 Overview7mCryptocurrencies5mProtocol Tokens5mNon-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)5mStablecoins6mSecurities Tokens6mGovernance Tokens5mExchange Tokens5mNatural Asset Tokens4mCentral Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)4mModule 3 Recap4mDigital Wallets (Optional)8m

11 readings

Cryptocurrencies10mProtocol Tokens10mNon-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)10mStablecoins10mSecurities Tokens10mGovernance Tokens10mExchange Tokens10mNatural Asset Tokens10mCentral Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)10mReview of Digital Assets15mDigital Wallets (Optional)10m

4 practice exercises

Cryptocurrencies, Protocol Tokens, and NFTs10mStablecoins, Securities Tokens, and Governance Tokens10mExchange Tokens, Natural Asset Tokens, and CBDCs10mDigital Assets30m

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Smart Contracts

4 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 50 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes

11 videos

Module 4 Overview2mWhat Are Smart Contracts?6mPractitioner Perspective - Rolf Hoefer: Smart Contracts1mSmart Contract Phases7mSmart vs. Traditional Contracts5mSmart Contracts and Law7mPractitioner Perspective - Andreas Wallendahl: Smart Contracts1mSmart Contract Application Areas9mPractitioner Perspective: Rob Carter, Executive VP and CIO, FedEx1mSmart Contract Strategies & Best Practices for the Organization4mRecap of Module 42m

4 readings

Smart Contracts10mSmart vs. Traditional Contracts15mSmart Contract Application Areas20mReview of Smart Contracts15m

5 practice exercises

What Are Smart Contracts?30mSmart Contract Phases30mSmart vs. Traditional ContractsSmart Contracts and Law30mSmart Contracts30m

Week5

Week 5

4 hours to complete

Public, Private, and Consortium Blockchains

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 be protected in both public and private ledgers using both procedural and technological methods.

4 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 50 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes

13 videos

Module 5 Overview2mThe Benefits of Shared Knowledge3mHow Much is Too Much Transparency3mCentralized vs. Distributed Ledgers2mPublic vs. Private Ledgers5mPractitioner Perspective: Rolf Hoefer, Keyless Technologies1mPractitioner Perspective: Andreas Wallendahl, Head of Strategic Initiatives at ConsenSys1mTransparency as a Strategic Risk3mTransparency as a Strategic Asset6mUsage of Multiple IDs3mZero Knowledge Proofs4mImplementation in Public vs. Private Blockchains7mRecap of Module 51m

4 readings

Intro to Transparency15mPublic vs. Private Ledgers20mApproaches to Privacy in Blockchains10mReview of Module 520m

5 practice exercises

Intro to Transparency30mPublic vs. Private Ledgers30mTransparency as a Risk and Asset10mApproaches to Privacy in Blockchains30mPublic and Private Ledgers30m

Week6

Week 6

9 hours to complete

Blockchain Implementation Challenges

9 hours to complete

16 videos (Total 62 min), 11 readings, 10 quizzes

16 videos

Module 6 Overview1mOvercoming Showstoppers4mChallenge 1: The Technology is Not Ready for Prime Time6mChallenge 2: The Energy Consumed is Unsustainable6mChallenge 3: Governments Will Stifle or Twist It7mPractitioner Perspective: Oleg Fomenko, Co-Founder at Sweatcoin1mPractitioner Perspective: Will Harborne, Director of Operations at Ethfinex1mChallenge 4: Powerful Incumbents of the Old Paradigm Will Usurp It5mChallenge 5: The Incentives are Inadequate4mChallenge 6: Blockchain is a Job Killer3mChallenge 7: Governing the Protocols4mPractitioner Perspective: Rob Carter, Executive VP and CIO, FedEx1mChallenge 8: Distributed Autonomous Agents3mChallenge 9: Privacy3mChallenge 10: Criminals Will Use It3mReasons Blockchain Will Fail or Implementation Challenges?2m

11 readings

The Technology is Not Ready For Prime Time20mThe Energy Consumed is Unsustainable20mGovernments Will Stifle or Twist It15mPowerful Incumbents of the Old Paradigm Will Usurp It10mThe Incentives are Inadequate15mBlockchain is a Job Killer15mGoverning the Protocols10mDistributed Autonomous Agents15mPrivacy20mCriminals Will Use It15mBlockchain Implementation Challenges15m

10 practice exercises

The Technology is Not Ready For Prime Time30mThe Energy Consumed is UnsustainablePowerful Incumbents of the Old Paradigm Will Usurp It30mThe Incentives are Inadequate30mBlockchain is a Job Killer30mGoverning the Protocols30mDistributed Autonomous Agents30mPrivacy30mCriminals Will Use It30mBlockchain Implementation Challenges30m

About the Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce Specialization

Global commerce has grown in complexity and magnitude over millennia, but its processes remain relatively unchanged. Enter blockchain—the Internet of Value. For the first time in human history, individuals and organizations can manage and trade their assets digitally, peer to peer. This four-course Specialization introduces you to the world of blockchain technology for global commerce—explaining what blockchain is, how it works, and why it is revolutionary. You will learn about various categories of digital assets and the ways they can be transacted on a blockchain. You will learn how blockchain is disrupting global supply chains, including how it will transform the practices of operations, logistics, procurement and purchasing, transportation, customs and border control, trade finance and insurance, manufacturing, and inventory management—making the whole network more adaptable and responsive to demand fluctuations and crisis. You will also learn about industry consortia and the idea of coopetition—a strategy of cooperating with competitors for defined purposes to cultivate a new economic ecosystem that benefits all participants.

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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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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Introduction to Blockchain for Global Commerce

About this Course

What you will learn