If the Internet we use today is the Internet of information, blockchain is the Internet of value that can fundamentally disrupt business, economy & society as we know it. The aim of this lecture is to understand the basic principles and game-changing potential of blockchain, smart contracts, tokens, and the cryptoeconomic incentive mechanism behind distributed machine consensus. Furthermore, we will explore some business models, smart contracts, decentralized applications and discuss the basic roles of a token.

About Blockchain

Blockchain, the technology behind Bitcoin, is considered by many to be the driving force of the next generation Internet - the Web3. Blockchain is a game changer that will allow us to distribute trust, creating the basis for a peer-to-peer crypto economy powered by self-enforcing code, and a new token economy building on a fat technology stack, with slim applications on top.

In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of distributed ledger technology and blockchain networks including consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, cryptographic signatures, tokens, decentralized applications, DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations). In your group work, you will present a case study / project concerning the discussed topics. In your individual work, you will finish smaller homeworks which will be presented by students in class.

For this course we expect students to participate in the first introductory unit as it is a prerequisite for the subsequent lectures and students who miss the first lecture will not be able to continue the course.  There is no opportunity to catch up or redo the first unit.

As the type of this class is ‘PI’ students are expected to be present for 90% of the total time. This is true regardless of whether the class will be conducted in distance learning or in presence. For online classes students have to have their camera turned on, be prepared and participate in discussions. Students will be selected by the lecturers to present their homework during the meetings as this course will be based on ongoing collaboration and continuous assessment exercises and quizzes.

When students miss to achieve an attendance rate of 90%, fail to contribute to the exercises or receive a negative grade for the exercises there will be one possibility for each student to present one missed exercise or provide additional work in form of a small project to compensate for the missed attendance or negative exercise.

In general a reasonable cause for missed attendance lower than 90% has to be provided and this reason has to be communicated to the lecturers. 

This course will be run as a combination of lectures, group study, discussions, and presentations. Substantial classroom discussion is encouraged and expected. All students are required to present a case study / project (alone or as part of a group). In addition, there will be a written exam covering the readings provided and items discussed during the course.

This is a weekly PI, where we will deep dive into the theory of the technology in the first two lectures. In the third lecture we will have a written exam covering the contents of the first two lectures to ensure a solid foundation of theoretical and technological concepts for the remainder of the course. Lectures 4, 5 and 6 will start with student presentations of small homework assignments and then cover some more practical areas and research topics. In the final lecture 7 each group will present their project work.

In-class exam in lecture 3: (35%) This exam will include questions from reading materials.

Case Study: (35%)  Combination of group assignment (practical) 

Homework: (20%) Individual work

Ongoing participation: (10%) in-class participation & activity in classroom work.

60% of the maximum of the total number of points and 50% of the maximum points achievable for the exam have to be reached in order to pass.

The following grading scheme is applied:

1: >90 Points

2: >80 Points

3: >70 Points

4: >60 Points

Available places in this class are given based on a "first-come, first-served" principle.

After the registration period is over, still available places will be given to students on the waiting list who have no vaild registration for any other class on this Level of the SBWL.

Students who do not participate in the first session without proper excuse will be deregistered from the class and the next student on the waiting list, will receive it.