brand-logo sticky brand-logo

Blockchain Business Models

Image
  Course by Cam Harvey and Duke University
Course Features
  • Lectures
    4
  • Duration
    12 Hours
  • Level
    Intermediate
  • Delivery
    Online
  • Audience
    Entrepreneurs
  • Provider
    University

This is an introductory course covering many blockchain concepts with the emphasis on the innovative blockchain technology elements that may have a big impact. During the course there are many technical details intuitively explained using a simple language but it is not a technical Computer Science course.

The course targets anyone curious to learn more details about the blockchain solutions whether for a private use or for business purposes.

There are no prerequisites for the course but having a basic exposure to cryptocurrencies would be helpful.

  • Content

    The course is structured as an overview - technology - applications. The learning material could be described as an extended, relatively detailed explanation of important blockchain concepts. It covers a lot of topics from technical and business domains. For example, during the course one will learn the history, design principles of ciphers, encryption techniques and a checklist for startup business valuations - investment assessments in the context of ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings).

  • Technology

    The course explains main elements of the Bitcoin blockchain and reviews Ethereum as a natural evolutionary extension. A lot of course time is spent on explaining relevant cryptographic blockchain components: ciphers, SHA-256, elliptic curves, hashing, digital signatures, etc.

  • Applications

    There are many good practical tips how to benefit from blockchain technology particularly in the financial domain. The course discusses the purpose of money and how cryptocurrencies fit into this context. Great crypto asset review and ways to invest in, benefit from them. In the context of ICOs (Initial Coin offering), the course hints how to recognize fraudulent cases and how value, asses ICO investment potential. Very useful discussion about main US regulators (SEC, CFTC, IRS and FinCEN) and how they interpret, view cryptocurrencies.

  • Delivery

    The learning material is primarily presented as video lessons containing slides with the main points outlined. Each video lesson ends with a short quiz while graded assignments are available just in the paid version. The course platform provides discussion forums where learners may discuss new concepts, ideas or ask questions.

Blockchain is an emerging and highly disruptive technology that is poorly understood. In this course you will learn what blockchain is and how it can create value by tokenization in cryptocurrencies and in many other practical applications. The applications include: stablecoins (like Facebook’s Libra and JP Morgan’s JPMCoin), machine to machine payments, identity protection, supply chain management (Walmart, Maersk, IBM), secure voting, distributed exchanges, decentralized finance, property transfers, central bank fiat crypto (e.g., Fedcoin and China’s digital Renminbi), dispensing prescription drugs, private records, intellectual property, financial reporting, and media and advertising, to name a few. The goals of the course are to: (i) provide an advanced understanding of the various blockchain technologies; (ii) determine the specific business situations where blockchain technology can be deployed to solve important problems; (iii) select the specific blockchain technology that has the best chance of success for a particular problem; and (iv) detail the risks presented by this new technology.

Leave a comment ...

Your email address will not be published. All the submitted comments will appear on the site after being reviewed by a moderator.