Blockchain: Mathematical Foundations and Financial Applications

3 Credits

Technical and mathematical foundations of blockchain (algorithms, data structures, cryptography) with application to finance. Blockchain properties (immutability, irrefutability), security, consensus (proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, Byzantine consensus). Blockchain governance and trust models. Blockchain and finance: policy, regulation, compliance, systemic risk, relative power of nation-states, the role of central banks, economic justice. Broader impacts in such areas as foreign policy, surveillance and individual freedoms, non-financial applications. Smart contract coding and issues in blockchain software development. Lab experience interacting with a blockchain. Prerequisites: MATH 021 and FIN 125 and ( CSE 007 or CSE 012 or CSE 017 )