Blockchain, Bitcoin & Cryptocoins: The technology that will revolutionize firms and businesses (2225.YR.013137.1)

General information

Type:	OPT	Curs:	2	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	3 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 2	Francesc Xavier Pérez Corominas	Esade	ENG

There is not any previous knowledge required.

The course lasts four days (30h in total).

Sessions distribution:

- Morning Session: Conceptual teaching and theoretical approach.
- Afternoon Session: Practical approach.

o Discussion on practical cases based in Blockchain and Business.
o Practical cases of how to use and manage Cryptocurrencies, Exchanges, Wallets, etc?
o Final case preparation - groups of 4 to 5 participants

Educate about the possibilities that Blockchain technology opens up in the approaching business environment.

In the late twentieth century, Internet changed the way people and businesses interacted and organized, generating new business models and opportunities, and making many profitable and sustainable businesses obsolete whist generating new business models.

Blockchain technology has the potential to drastically change the way business is conducted in the 21st century. Since its potential is far-reaching, although there is still a high scope to discover in its economy and business' application, the programme aims to broaden the participants' understanding of its potential.

Upon completion of this elective, students will be able to:


Blockchain fundamentals, technology pillars and industry cases

- Understand Blockchain technology fundamentals, capabilities, and limitations.
- Understand how Blockchain works and how is it currently applied to different industries and to improve current business processes.
- Understand the impact in the medium and long term, enabling the participants to foresee new business models and potential disruptions.
- Review different use cases and applications in the businesses that are being carried out successfully in some of the world's leading companies: Samsung, IBM, Carrefour, Facebook, etc
- Discover how the world's leading companies -Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google,..- take advantage of this new technology.
- Develop Case Studies regarding best practices in the field


Bitcoin: origin of the Blockchain technology

- Understand why was Bitcoin the Blockchain Ecosystem' starting point, and its disrupting role as a cryptocurrency in the digital global economy and business environment.


Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: Altcoins, exchanges, wallets & ICO's

- Altcoins: discover the alternative coins (Ethereum, XRP, Stellar, DGB, ?).
- Wallets.
- Exchanges: introduce the related platforms (Coinbase, Bittrex, Binance,..) and learn how to trade and operate with them.
- ICO: Initial Coin Offering as new and alternative way of fundraising.

1. MODUL 1 - Blockchain fundamentals, technology pillars and industry cases

2. MODUL 2 ¿ Bitcoin: the origin of the Blockchain technology

3. MODUL 3 ¿ Cryptocurrencies: Altcoins, Exchanges, wallets, ICO¿s..

Flexible but structured approach in order to achieve the relevant concepts of how Blockchain works and adds value to companies and stakeholders in the morning classes, and practical cases in the afternoon when participants will participate in brainstorming, experiencing and suggesting new approaches to current challenges that could be improved using Blockchain technology.

There is no mandatory handbook for this course. We will present an updated set of cases and readings: materials and references that will provide a good basis for covering the different modules.
During the course, a set of optional readings will be provided too.

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 2	Francesc Xavier Pérez Corominas	Esade