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This course provides a foundational understanding of blockchain technology, starting with essential cryptographic concepts such as hashing, Merkle trees, and digital signatures. Participants will explore how these principles support blockchain fundamentals, including block construction, transactions, network structure, addresses, wallets, and consensus mechanisms.
The course also introduces the concept of digital tokens, covering token standards like ERC-20 fungible tokens, and an overview of tokenised assets. There will be a particular focus on stablecoins and digital money. By the end of the course, learners will have a well-rounded theoretical and practical understanding of how blockchain systems function and how to evaluate the many innovations in digital money and on-chain finance that may transform financial and payments systems in the coming years.
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
understand core cryptographic concepts like hashing, private keys, and digital signatures
explain how blockchain works as a database, as a payments infrastructure, and as a computer for deploying software (smart contracts)
set up your own wallet and interact with a public permissionless blockchain
create, deploy and interact with smart contracts that create digital tokens
analyse and critique prominent stablecoin smart contracts (USDT, USDC…) and create a simplified version yourself.
Cryptography basics
hashing
Merkle trees
asymmetric cryptography / Digital signatures
Introduction to blockchain
blocks and transactions
network structure
addresses, wallets, keys
consensus
smart contracts
Tokens and digital money
what are tokens?
token standards
comparing digital money
ERC-20: Fungible tokens (hands-on creation)
stablecoins (contract analysis/hands-on creation)
Deputy Director, Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance
With over 15 years of experience as an economist, researcher, and lecturer, I have a deep understanding of the complex interactions between banking, a...
With over 15 years of experience as an economist, researcher, and lecturer, I have a deep understanding of the complex interactions between banking, asset pricing, monetary policy, and financial regulation - in traditional systems and in the rapidly emerging digital asset/crypto space.
As the Deputy Director of the Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance (QCGBF) at King's College London, I lead and support various research projects, publications, events, and collaborations. My work explores classic topics in macroeconomics and finance, but also addresses novel topics such as stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, stress testing, and climate change. I also teach and mentor students, drawing on my experience as an Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and from lecturing at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, and Warwick.
I have consulted for the Bank of England on stress testing and asset pricing models, and am currently a research affiliate on the digital euro and payments at the Central Bank of Ireland. I have published multiple papers in leading academic journals (including the American Economic Review, Journal of Economic Theory, and the Journal of Monetary Economics). I am also a consultant on banking and capital markets for Chainlink Labs.
Payments Specialist / Treasury Analyst
Regulatory Affairs Specialist / Policy Engagement
Risk Manager / Operational Risk Analyst
IT Risk Manager
Cryptography Specialist
Cybersecurity teams
Data Risk Manager
Data Privacy Officer
Product Managers
Innovation Managers
To ensure a smooth and interactive training experience, delegates should be aware that part of the session will involve using a digital wallet. Ahead of the training, joining instructions will be provided with guidance on setting up a wallet and installing the MetaMask app on a mobile device, as well as the MetaMask browser extension.
This preparation is important to participate in key elements of the course.
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