Syllabus

Title
6185 IB Business Project: Cryptocurrencies in Global Business - A project with Bitpanda
Instructors
Jelena Graneros, M.Sc.
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
02/18/26 to 02/22/26
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Tuesday 03/03/26 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM TC.4.02
Tuesday 03/17/26 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM D4.0.250
Tuesday 04/07/26 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 04/21/26 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM TC.4.01
Tuesday 05/05/26 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 05/19/26 02:00 PM - 06:30 PM TC.3.11
Contents

This practice-oriented consulting course immerses students in real-world challenges faced by Bitpanda, one of Europe’s three largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Students will act as consultants, working on live business problems at the intersection of compliance, financial crime prevention, and cryptocurrency-related business models.

The course focuses on international business opportunities and risks in the crypto industry, with particular attention to regulatory change, sanctions, AML/CFT, and organized crime risks. Students will engage with current and emerging regulatory topics, gaining hands-on experience with issues that directly affect firms operating in highly regulated and politically sensitive environments.

Working in small consulting teams, students will develop solutions to real-life projects provided by Bitpanda. Projects may address topics such as internationalization strategies, compliance challenges, governance and risk management etc.

The course is conducted in close cooperation with Bitpanda. Student teams receive joint supervision from academic instructors and industry practitioners. Group work is supported by targeted theory inputs, applied methods sessions, and a series of guest lectures.

At the end of the course, student teams will present their consulting solutions directly to Bitpanda, simulating a professional client presentation and receiving structured feedback.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Analyze complex compliance and financial crime risks in cryptocurrency-related business models using relevant international business and regulatory frameworks.
  • Apply compliance concepts, analytical tools, and research methods to real-world consulting problems in highly regulated and international environments.
  • Design and justify structured, evidence-based solutions to practitioner-defined business problems, taking into account regulatory, ethical, and organizational constraints.
  • Develop and present professional consulting outputs, including written reports and oral presentations, tailored to academic and practitioner audiences.
  • Collaborate effectively in diverse teams, demonstrating project management, intercultural communication, and constructive problem-solving skills.
  • Propose innovative and feasible strategies for internationalization, compliance, and risk mitigation in cryptocurrency-related firms.
  • Reflect critically on the challenges of operating in global, politically sensitive, and rapidly evolving regulatory environments.
Attendance requirements

Generally, students must attend all sessions and arrive on time for all sessions. However, students may miss a maximum of one sessions, bearing in mind that participation points cannot be gathered in case of absence.

Attentendace of the first and the last sessions is mandatory. 

Teaching/learning method(s)

Classes are designed to be highly interactive, encouraging active participation and continuous engagement. The course is delivered in a blended learning format: lectures and student presentations take place in person, while coaching and feedback sessions are conducted online.

Assessment

The course grade will be determined as follows:

  • Participation (20%)
  • Mid Term Presentation (30%)
  • Final Presentation (40%)
  • Peer Rating (10%)

As a basic principle, all members of a group receive one grade for the group work. I expect that each group member contributes equally to the project work. The peer-rating is included in the assessment of the individual performance.

Readings

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Last edited: 2025-12-17



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