MIT Media Lab
Cryptocurrency
Learn how to critically assess the viability of any cryptocurrency project
Start date
24 February 2021
Enroll by 16 February 2021
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, Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan
“I think this technology might have the power to be a revolution in the financial industry.” – Neha Narula, Director of the Digital Currency Initiative, MIT Media Lab
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
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.
Is this course for you?
This course is designed for anyone seeking a working knowledge of the latest cryptocurrency developments and the skills to assess the viability of crypto projects, and is especially applicable to executives exploring new organizational needs. The program is relevant to both financial services and IT professionals aiming to gain a competitive advantage within their sector, by understanding how crypto is actually being applied. Professionals and entrepreneurs from wide-ranging industries, who are seeking future growth or new opportunities, will also benefit from a comprehensive understanding of cryptocurrency and the environment in which it operates.
During this course, you will be provided with the information, knowledge, and frameworks to deepen your understanding of cryptocurrencies from a business perspective. You’ll also explore blockchain technology, how cryptocurrencies operate, and what value they offer in organizational contexts.
You will not be given cryptocurrency investing advice, or investment or financial advice of any nature.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
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.
Is this course for you?
This course is designed for anyone seeking a working knowledge of the latest cryptocurrency developments and the skills to assess the viability of crypto projects, and is especially applicable to executives exploring new organizational needs. The program is relevant to both financial services and IT professionals aiming to gain a competitive advantage within their sector, by understanding how crypto is actually being applied. Professionals and entrepreneurs from wide-ranging industries, who are seeking future growth or new opportunities, will also benefit from a comprehensive understanding of cryptocurrency and the environment in which it operates.
During this course, you will be provided with the information, knowledge, and frameworks to deepen your understanding of cryptocurrencies from a business perspective. You’ll also explore blockchain technology, how cryptocurrencies operate, and what value they offer in organizational contexts.
You will not be given cryptocurrency investing advice, or investment or financial advice of any nature.
What will set you apart
Knowledge of cryptocurrency, its limitations, capabilities, and the way it functions within the economic environment.
The skills to holistically assess a crypto project by understanding cryptocurrency within its broader context.
The ability to evaluate the economic implications of cryptocurrency.
An understanding of the evolution of money and how Bitcoin and blockchain technology operate in moving value via the internet.
A comprehensive overview of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, crypto markets and exchanges, smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and initial coin offerings (ICOs).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
Get course brochure
What past students
think
Mark Montoya
Chief Data Officer, Government Blockchain Association
The MIT Cryptocurrency course was excellent in content, pace, hosts, guest speakers, interactive discussions, and exercises. I have been working with blockchain and cryptocurrency technology for six years now and this course has increased my knowledge ten-fold. I greatly enjoyed the class, especially recent trends among central banks and global policy. I’d recommend this program to individuals that have been in this space for sometime and those curious about what this revolution is all about.
Course Conveners
Gary Gensler
Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan School of Management, Senior Advisor to the Director, MIT Media Lab, and Co-Director, MIT FinTech@CSAIL
Neha Narula
Director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab
About the certificate
Learn about cryptocurrency and earn an official 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 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.
Get a course brochure
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter, a 2U, Inc. brand, is an online learning expert with over 10 years' experience in developing high-quality online short courses from the world’s leading universities. We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required for the workplace of the future. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need.
Students are supported at every stage of the learning journey, enabling them to thrive professionally through increased relevance, competence, and confidence. 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 FAQ, 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 see the list of university partner login pages here.
