Suggested by: Coursera (What is Coursera?)
No prior knowledge required
No unnecessary risks
Are you tired of hearing about Bitcoin and blockchains but not really understanding what they are? Have you been curious about how they could potentially impact your finances or career? Look no further than this beginner-level crypto crash course!
Led by award-winning filmmaker Torsten Hoffmann, this visually stunning and non-technical 2 hours and 45 minutes course takes you on a wide-ranging journey into the controversial and complex world of Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (web3.0).
But it’s not just some guy with a webcam showing slides. With his unrivaled access to some of the big brains and egos who shape the industry, augmented by exclusive footage from his two feature documentaries, Hoffmann provides a comprehensive look at the main narratives behind the controversial industry and the big ideas that are developing in its emerging ecosystem.
So what can you expect to learn in this course? Here’s a breakdown of the chapters:
First, Hoffmann explores some other previous technological breakthrough inventions, such as the automobile and the Internet, to provide context for how Bitcoin fits into this timeline.
In this chapter, Hoffmann takes a look back at history to explain how we got to using money created by governments that isn’t backed by anything.
After showcasing footage from Hoffmann’s film, Bitcoin: The End of Money As We Know It, Hoffmann explains how our dollars and euros are actually created and how Bitcoin is a revolutionary new concept.
With simple language and graphics, Hoffmann dives into the blockchain and explains how transactions are processed and stored in an immutable fashion.
Exclusive footage from a secret Bitcoin bunker that holds 10% of all Bitcoins is showcased, with Hoffmann explaining why this scarce digital asset may have value for investors. He then breaks down the big memes and main narratives behind Bitcoin Maximalism.
Hoffmann explains the philosophical differences within the Bitcoin community that led to a split into two separate blockchains and how these two fundamentally different approaches relate to each other.
Expanding from just Bitcoin, Hoffmann introduces the two earliest and most important additions to the crypto ecosystem, Litecoin and Ethereum, and explains how they differ from Bitcoin and why they matter.
Hoffmann walks you through the crazy period from 2017-2018 where many crypto entrepreneurs became billionaires and many investors made and lost fortunes. He explains how to think about investment opportunities in this space and why this new form of fundraising has many upsides.
One of the latest and most important buzzwords in the industry, DeFi is explained with several big ideas and case studies to help you understand why blockchain technology is behind much of the innovation currently disrupting finance and FinTech.
Thousands of owners of cryptocurrencies get scammed out of their coins on a regular basis. Hoffmann breaks down some common tactics used by scammers and lays out some general rules of caution and how to protect your crypto assets.
Expert Dr. Oliver Krause from Untitled INC is recruited to explain the pros and cons of public vs. private chains and introduces the concept of hybrid solutions that are seldomly covered in the press.
Hoffmann explains how the blockchain can be used to store other digital or physical assets and make them tradeable, why it’s such a big deal, and what the main developments in the industry are.
Hoffmann explores the recent development of stablecoins, what they are, and why they matter, discussing some of the main benefits of this unique category of cryptocurrencies in layman’s terms.
A major trend at the moment is the move by central banks to issue their own cryptocurrencies in the form of digitized representations of their national currencies. Hoffmann breaks down the main ideas and motivations behind this current trend and what it means for monetary policy.
Hoffmann shows how the blockchain may be instrumental in decentralizing the Internet and empowering users to have more control of their data and privacy in the future.
This course concludes by summarizing the main narratives covered and providing recommendations of where to look for more content about the topic.
So if you want to get ahead of the game and prepare for the future, this complete crypto crash course is a must. And with the added bonus of two feature documentaries produced over the span of 7 years and on 4 continents, you won’t regret taking this course. Preview it now on Udemy for only $29.99!
