Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
“Cryptocurrency is a technology that can lead to something new in the decentralized movement of money and value on the internet.” – Gary Gensler, Former Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan
The annualized growth rate of the cryptocurrency market, making it the top-performing asset class of the last decade.
Moneyweb (Jul, 2020).
Through this course, you will learn about cryptocurrency’s capabilities and limitations and its comparison to traditional finance. You will also explore how start-ups, financial institutions, big tech, and central banks are adapting to its emergence. Using real-world examples, you'll learn to think critically about cryptocurrency projects and assess their viability.
This cryptocurrency course covers the essential building blocks of cryptocurrency security, including cryptographic functions such as hash functions and digital signatures, decentralized applications, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Guided by MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative along with industry experts, economists, financial regulators, and internet entrepreneurs, you'll learn to assess the viability of crypto projects and understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the evolution of digital money.
After the six-week course, you'll have a deeper understanding of blockchain technology, smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and the broader environment in which cryptocurrencies exist, enabling you to analyze the viability of a smart crypto project.
Is this course for you?
This online cryptocurrency course is ideal for anyone seeking practical knowledge and skills to assess the viability of cryptocurrency projects, particularly executives exploring new organizational needs. It is also relevant for financial services and IT professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve by understanding how crypto is applied. Professionals and entrepreneurs from diverse industries seeking growth opportunities will also benefit from a comprehensive understanding of cryptocurrency and its operating environment.
The course offers information, knowledge, and frameworks to deepen your understanding of cryptocurrencies from a business perspective. You'll also explore blockchain technology, how cryptocurrencies work, and the value they bring to organizational contexts.
Course overview
Introduction
Through this course, you will learn about cryptocurrency’s capabilities and limitations and its comparison to traditional finance. You will also explore how start-ups, financial institutions, big tech, and central banks are adapting to its emergence. Using real-world examples, you'll learn to think critically about cryptocurrency projects and assess their viability.
This cryptocurrency course covers the essential building blocks of cryptocurrency security, including cryptographic functions such as hash functions and digital signatures, decentralized applications, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Guided by MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative along with industry experts, economists, financial regulators, and internet entrepreneurs, you'll learn to assess the viability of crypto projects and understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the evolution of digital money.
After the six-week course, you'll have a deeper understanding of blockchain technology, smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and the broader environment in which cryptocurrencies exist, enabling you to analyze the viability of a smart crypto project.
Is this course for you?
This online cryptocurrency course is ideal for anyone seeking practical knowledge and skills to assess the viability of cryptocurrency projects, particularly executives exploring new organizational needs. It is also relevant for financial services and IT professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve by understanding how crypto is applied. Professionals and entrepreneurs from diverse industries seeking growth opportunities will also benefit from a comprehensive understanding of cryptocurrency and its operating environment.
The course offers information, knowledge, and frameworks to deepen your understanding of cryptocurrencies from a business perspective. You'll also explore blockchain technology, how cryptocurrencies work, and the value they bring to organizational contexts.
What will set you apart
Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Money, the payment riddle, and cryptocurrency innovation
Module 2
Smart contracts, DApps, and initial coin offerings (ICOs)
Module 3
Cryptocurrency markets, exchanges, and trading
Module 4
The viability of crypto projects
Module 5
A catalyst for change: Responses from finance, tech, and central banks
Module 6
Challenges facing cryptocurrency and the path forward
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Course Conveners
Gary Gensler
Former Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan School of Management; Senior Advisor to the Director, MIT Media Lab; Co-Director, MIT FinTech@CSAIL
Neha Narula
Director of the Digital Currency Initiative, MIT Media Lab
About the certificate
Acquire knowledge on cryptocurrency and earn an official digital certificate from the MIT Media Lab.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.