Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency courses by the Digital Currency Initiate
For MIT students and any other local students whose institutions allow transferring credits
MIT taught courses that available for anyone to take for free
Courses designed for business professionals who wish to purchase an executive-style course
Courses at MIT
We have helped shaped courses on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency at MIT. We are happy to share some of the content publicly on Github.
15.217 - Blockchain Lab (Spring 2021)
If you are an MIT, Harvard, or Wellesley student thinking through your Spring semester courses, consider Blockchain Lab! Get Hands-On Experience with Blockchain
Blockchain Lab is a semester-long, project-based course that immerses students in the latest blockchain developments. To see a full list of past projects, visit the DCI website. This semester, we will be focusing on CBDCs in the public and private sector as well as bitcoin. Students work closely with the faculty, as well as researchers and team members at the Digital Currency Initiative to complete projects for participating companies. Past companies include Deloitte, Fidelity, BCG and more. Please reach out to the course TA at clairema@mit.edu if you have any questions on the course. We hope to see you in class this Spring!
15.217 Blockchain Lab (Spring 2020)
Students engage in the latest developments through partnering with DCI member on various projects. As these companies attempt to integrate blockchain technology into viable business models. Course taught by Gary Gensler, Simon Johnson, & Neha Narula
MAS.S67 Blockchain Ethics: The Impact and Ethics of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology (Fall 2019)
In this course, the crucial question we will consider is: How can we positively shape the development of cryptocurrency technology? As a class we will endeavor to address this question by exploring the societal implications of blockchain technology including: cryptography, autonomous code, democratized incentive structures, and the evolution of blockchain communities. In addition to discussing the implications of the technology, students will learn about the context, history, impetus, and culture of blockchain technology, how the technology works, and the ways in which we can shape this technology through the law, societal norms, code, and markets. Course taught by Neha Narula and Rhys Lindmark.
15.235 Blockchain and Money
Explores blockchain technology's potential use - by entrepreneurs and incumbents - to change the world of money and finance. Begins with a review of the technology's initial application, the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, giving students an understanding of the commercial, technical and public policy fundamentals of blockchain technology, distributed ledgers and smart contracts in both open-sourced and private applications. Focuses on current and potential blockchain applications in the financial sector. Includes reviews of potential use cases for payment systems, central banking, venture capital, secondary market trading, trade finance, commercial banking, post-trade possessing, and digital ID. Also explores the markets and regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, other tokens, and crypto derivatives. Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor. Course Taught by Gary Gensler.
15.S68 Blockchain Lab (Spring 2019)
Engages in the latest developments - through DCI member projects - as companies attempt to integrate blockchain technology into viable business models. Course taught by Michael Casey, Gary Gensler, Simon Johnson, & Neha Narula
15.228 B Digital Frontier: Emerging Blockchain Havens (Spring 1st. half semester 2019)
Explore digital frontiers through in depth study blockchain technology environments in Estonia and Switzerland. Course taught by Gary Gensler
15.S04 Crypto Finance (Spring 2nd half semester 2019)
Explore the crypto finance markets - market structure, participants, regulation and dynamics of this relatively new and volatile asset class. Course taught by Gary Gensler, Leonid Kogan, & Antoinette Schoar
15.S12 Blockchain and Money (Fall 2018)
Explores blockchain technology’s potential use - by entrepreneurs & incumbents - to change the world of money and finance. Course taught by Gary Gensler
Blockchain Labs inaugural cycle (Spring 2018)
Engages in the latest developments - through DCI member projects - as companies attempt to integrate blockchain technology into viable business models. Course taught by Michael Casey, Gary Gensler, Simon Johnson, & Neha Narula
6.892: Shared Public Ledgers: Cryptocurrencies, Blockchains, and Other Marvels (Spring 2017)
This course is about the principles and core techniques of shared public ledgers, with an emphasis on Bitcoin and distributed consensus. Topics include Bitcoin, Byzantine agreement, authenticated data structures, Lightning networks, proof of stake, and new techniques to implement a shared public ledger. Course taught by Silvio Micali and Neha Narula.
Free Online MIT Courses
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MAS.S62: Cryptocurrency Engineering and Design (Spring 2019)
Bitcoin and other cryptographic currencies have gained attention over the years as the systems continue to evolve. This course looks at the design of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and how they function in practice, focusing on cryptography, game theory, and network architecture. Future developments in smart contracts and privacy will be covered as well. Programming assignments in the course will give practical experience interacting with these currencies, so some programming experience is required. Course taught by Tadge Dryja and Neha Narula.
15.395 Entrepreneurs without Borders (Fall 2016)
This course examines opportunities and problems for entrepreneurs globally, including Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Linkages between the business environment, the institutional framework, and new venture creation are covered with a special focus on blockchain technology. In addition to discussing a range of global entrepreneurial situations, student groups pick one particular cluster on which to focus and to understand what further development would entail. Classroom interactions are based primarily on case studies. Course taught by Robleh Ali, Michael Casey, Simon Johnson, & Neha Narula
Executive-style Courses
These courses are targeted towards people who want to purchase an executive-style course
Cryptocurrency via Getsmarter.com
This Cryptocurrency online short course from the MIT Media Lab offers you a rigorous perspective and ground truths about crypto assets, exploring its economics, underlying blockchain technology, functionality, challenges, and future potential.
Guided by MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative – as well as crypto industry experts, economists, financial regulators, and internet entrepreneurs – you’ll gain the skills to critically assess the viability of crypto projects, and understand the opportunities and challenges associated with these new technologies.
Taking a comprehensive approach, you’ll explore cryptocurrencies in comparison with traditional finance, and gain insight into how start-ups, financial institutions, big tech, and central banks are responding to its emergence.
In six weeks, you’ll gain insight into blockchain technology and the broader environment in which cryptocurrencies exist. At the end of the program, you’ll be equipped with the critical reasoning skills to analyze the viability of any crypto project.