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Duke University

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Infrastructure

Decentralized Finance: The Future of Finance is a set of four courses taught by Campbell R. Harvey (Professor of Finance at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research) that focus on decentralized finance (DeFi). In this first course, we begin by exploring the origins of DeFi and take a broad historical view from the earliest barter economies, such as the first peer-to-peer exchanges of bartering, to present day. The course also looks at historical examples of money having value even though it is not officially backed. We then focus on the key infrastructure components: blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, oracles, stablecoins and decentralized applications (or dApps). This includes discussion of the mechanics of the Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains including cryptographic hashing. Next, we focus on the specific problems that DeFi is designed to solve: inefficiency (costly, slow, and insecure today), limited access (1.7 billion are unbanked), opacity (we need to trust regulators to monitor banks and the regulators have mixed records), centralized control (financial system is oligopolistic imposing higher fees than we would have in a competitive market) and lack of interoperability (it is difficult to move funds from one financial institution to another today). The course closes by exploring many of the myths about the crypto space.

Status: Data Integrity
Status: Interoperability
BeginnerCourse6 hours

Featured reviews

NS

4.0Reviewed May 28, 2022

I personally would prefer a little bit more challenging tests and more of practical work.However, I really enjoyed the course and are planning to continue.

JP

5.0Reviewed Jul 29, 2022

G​reat introduction for a novice or someone that already has crypto knowlegable. A bit intermeidate with finance concepts, I recommend having some introductory knowledge.

FS

5.0Reviewed Jul 14, 2022

An excellent and much recommended course for beginners! Helped me understand the basics of blockchain technology and its operations. Definely enrolling for more courses from Mr. Campbell.

CK

4.0Reviewed Feb 11, 2022

This is a great intro class to DeFi. If you are in finanace, this is a must take class. The pofessor knows what he is talking about, the pace is perfect for me, and the content is rich.

BG

5.0Reviewed Jan 26, 2022

Loved the way Professor Harvey explains the newly minted ideas in DeFi space. Excellent course.Indeed, the future is DeFi. Let the wealth (?) spread across the globe, evenly!

CL

5.0Reviewed Sep 27, 2022

G​reat overview without diving the technical details associated with the crypto technology. Strong focus on application and how DeFi addresses the major pain points associated with Cefi.

TN

5.0Reviewed Apr 12, 2022

Great introduction into DeFi, the professor walks us through key definitions, a bit of history, potential applications and common misunderstandings about this space. Good launching pad to dive deeper

AG

5.0Reviewed Nov 4, 2021

A good part 1 of the overall course! It's hard to find consolidated knowledge of DeFi browsing on Twitter, so this is very useful to understand the full scope of the field.

DW

5.0Reviewed May 7, 2022

After developing my own token with a group of friends i decided to know and to learn the theory. excellent explanation from a to z. highly recommended to all who want to make invesment in crypto.

SR

4.0Reviewed May 13, 2022

T​he course covers the very basics of Blockchain tech and DeFi in an easy to understand manner. It will allow you to better understand commentary on cryptomarkets in the popular media.

CW

5.0Reviewed Jan 14, 2022

Brilliant intro of Prof Campbell Harvey. Coming from traditional finance degree in Econometrics and Finance, he bridges in a excellent way the centralized with the decentralized finance.

UM

5.0Reviewed Dec 13, 2021

The course largely follows the instructor's book albeit with an easier to follow introduction. As such, this first course is an overview and it gets us ready for the information to follow.

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