This course covers digital currencies, blockchains, and related topics in the FinTech area, perhaps the most significant innovation in the financial world since the advent of double-entry bookkeeping centuries ago. The technology appears to represent an existential challenge for major parts of the finance industry. It is now commonly suggested by experts such as McKinsey that commercial banks and stock exchanges may no longer exist, or may become much smaller, within the next 10 to 20 years, with increasing volumes of payments and exchange taking place on a peer to peer basis.

We will begin with a study of the nature of money and legacy payment and banking systems. We will then study the emergence of stateless, cloud-based digital currency systems since 2009. Further lectures will explore threats that blockchain technology poses to incumbent firms and their resulting attempts to co-opt the technology into existing business models. We survey related issues including hacking, “smart contracts,” governance, and emerging regulation.

Dates

Duration: 16 - 26 July 2018
Place: S13, Faculty of Business and Economics, Peter Merian-Weg 6

Monday 16.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Tuesday 17.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 18.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Thursday 19.07.2018: 09.30-12.00

Monday 23.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Tuesday 24.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 25.07.2018: 09.30-12.00
Thursday 26.07.2018: 09.30-12.00

Exam

Evaluation will be based on a take-home exam consisting of essay questions based upon real-world FinTech problems and opportunities as covered by the news media.

Recommended Prerequisites

Solid understanding of business and economics on the BA level.Courses on Bitcoin, Banking Regulations and Monetary Policy on the BA level are helpful.

Course Information

• Course directory
• Syllabus

For further information please contact the <link de studium summer-school internal link in current>Summer School office.