Given the impact of technological tools and advancements in today’s modern economy, it has become increasingly imperative for business professionals and professional graduate students to have a top-down understanding of some of the most relevant, applicable, and highly technical topics such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and digital tokens (among others). 

This course offers a comprehensive primer for those without any prior technical knowledge on the aforementioned subject matters, with a special focus on theory and practice and covering introductory- to intermediate-level content coverage. We will start by covering the basics and fundamental building blocks of the technological developments and innovations that made distributed systems and digital currencies such as blockchain and Bitcoin, respectively, possible. We will ultimately end the course on more complex topics and the latest research in the field, including the fundamental challenges to our existing economics and financial frameworks and the incumbent firms as well as potential solutions to such matters. 

Please note absence from the first day of class will result in automatic forfeiture of students' registration. Auditing is not permitted (no exceptions). 

R.A. Farrokhnia

Executive Director

R.A. Farrokhnia, a recipient of the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, is an Executive Director at the Dean's Office of "Advanced Projects and Applied Research in Fintech." He also teaches courses at Schools of Business and Engineering; in addition, he is a lecturer and Board Member of the Knight-Bagehot Program at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism...

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