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: 15 - 25 July 2019
Faculty of Business and Economics, Peter Merian-Weg 6, S 15

Monday 15 July 2019: 9.30 - 12.00
Tuesday 16 July 2019:  9.30 - 12.00
Wednesday 17 July 2019:  9.30 - 12.00
Thursday 18 July 2019: 9.30 - 12.00

Monday 22 July 2019:  9.30 - 12.00
Tuesday 23 July 2019:  9.30 - 12.00
Wednesday 24 July 2019: 9.30 - 12.00
Thursday 25 July 2019:  9.30 - 12.00

Assessment Details

• 50% proof of work excercise, diestributed on Thursday, 18 July
• 50% take-home exam with essay questions. For more details: see syllabus.

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 (see ADAM Workspace)

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