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Blockchain and Digital Assets: the Fundamentals

How a blockchain works, Ethereum and smart contracts, tokens, decentralised finance (DeFi) and Web3.

Who it is for: Everyone who needs to understand the technology behind digital assets

In development: contact us for availability

Modules

What the programme covers

Each Module states what you will be able to do once you have completed it.

01

Blockchain architecture

Explain the components of a blockchain, consensus mechanisms and the life cycle of a transaction, including fees and rewards.

  1. The components of a blockchain and the role of full nodes
  2. Hashing, cryptography and immutability
  3. Public, private and hybrid blockchains
  4. Consensus mechanisms: Proof of Work and Proof of Stake
  5. The life cycle and confirmation of a transaction
  6. Transaction fees, gas and block rewards
  7. Block explorers
  8. Practical guide: reading Ethereum on Etherscan
02

Security, forks and governance

Assess the main attack vectors and design trade-offs of blockchains and explain how networks change and are governed.

  1. The 51% attack
  2. The blockchain trilemma
  3. Hard forks and soft forks
  4. On-chain and off-chain governance
  5. Decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs)
03

Ethereum and smart contracts

Describe how smart contracts and Ethereum work, what drives their costs and value, and how applications are composed.

  1. Smart contracts: what they are and how they work
  2. Ethereum and the move to Proof of Stake
  3. The cost of running smart contracts
  4. Atomic transactions, programmability and composability
  5. What gives Ethereum value
04

Tokens and crypto-assets

Classify coins, tokens and crypto-assets, including stablecoins and NFTs, and recognise the risks of new token issues.

  1. Coins and tokens: the distinction
  2. Crypto-currencies and crypto-assets
  3. Types of token and token standards
  4. Stablecoins: models and functions
  5. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
  6. Altcoins and alternative blockchains
  7. New token issues, memecoins and failures
05

Decentralised finance and Web3

Explain how decentralised finance and token fundraising work, and how Web3 differs from Web2.

  1. Decentralised finance: what it is and how it works
  2. Decentralised exchanges and automated market makers
  3. Measuring DeFi: total value locked and other metrics
  4. The 2022 crisis and the future of DeFi
  5. Web2 and Web3
  6. Raising capital on-chain: ICOs, IEOs, IDOs, launchpads, airdrops and sybil farming
  7. Introduction to tokenomics
All programmesNext programme: Digital Asset Markets, Investment and Wealth Management
Every Module

How the programme works

Each programme is made of Modules that unlock in sequence. A Module combines video lessons, study notes and a quiz, and every programme ends with a final assessment.

A certificate is issued once all lessons are complete and the final assessment is passed. It can be downloaded from your profile and verified online.

Contact

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We will send you the detailed syllabus and show you the platform in a demo.

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