Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and Public Policy

Catalog description

In 2008, a new sector of technological opportunities emerged through the advent of cryptocurrency and blockchain with wide-reaching implications. In this course, we will examine the different types of cryptocurrencies, the underlying technology of blockchain, and the implications they have on public policy. To do so, we will go through a few steps, including a simulation of managing and updating a cryptocurrency portfolio. This will offer a unique opportunity to experience the different types of digital assets, custody solutions for digital assets, and the decentralized nature of the technology that drives data science and tech policies. In addition, you will learn about different types of cryptocurrencies and how they drive financial inclusivity through social policies to reduce inequality. Furthermore, you will analyze the process and operation of Bitcoin mining and its impact on sustainability and environmental policies. Other topics you will examine include blockchain's pseudo-anonymity, decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO), different types of tokens (e.g. non-fungible tokens and stablecoins), central bank digital currencies, the metaverse, and general regulations around the sector. Each of these areas impacts policy, politics, and economics. At the end of the course, you will write a policy paper on cryptocurrency and blockchain, explain the implications it has on public policy, and present your findings in class.