Handbook

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

This course will give you an introduction to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum and decentralised finance (DeFi). The course begins with a brief history of money before outlining the underlying cryptocurrency principles of blockchains. Ethereum and smart contracts are introduced, which form the basis of DeFi applications such as automated market makers, decentralised borrowing and lending markets, stablecoins, on-chain derivatives, DAOs and insurance. The course will also give a brief overview of blockchain scalability (layer 2 solutions), the evolution of fundraising, regulation and implications and applications in traditional finance. The course will involve practical activities with cryptocurrencies, trading on a DEX and creating your own cryptocurrency (ERC20 token).

Conditions for Enrolment

Prerequisite: FINS5512 or in program 8406.

Delivery

Fully online - Standard (usually weekly or fortnightly)

In-person - Standard (usually weekly or fortnightly)

Multimodal - Standard (usually weekly or fortnightly)

Please note that the above delivery information is an indication on how this course may be delivered within the year. Delivery mode(s) for each term can be viewed on other sources such as myUNSW and class timetable site.

This Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

Fees

Type	Amount
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)	$2041
Domestic Students	$4770
International Students	$7020

Disclaimer

Where a fee is displayed as “Not Applicable”, including some Work Experience and UNSW Canberra courses, please contact the relevant Faculty for any enquiry.

Note that the University reserves the right to vary student fees in line with relevant legislation. The fee information is provided as a guide and more specific information about fees, including policy, can be found here.

Commonwealth Supported Students:

Please refer to the information about new Student Contribution band classifications. Note that grandfathering arrangements are applicable for some cohorts of students, and other special arrangements apply for a limited number of programs. The Field of Education displayed on the right-hand side of this page may be applicable in understanding which fee rate will apply to you.

Where a Commonwealth Supported fee is displayed it does not guarantee that such places are available.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

School
School: The academic unit responsible for teaching in disciplines or subject areas (school is part of a faculty).

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Postgraduate

Offering Terms
Depending on the Academic Calendar type, an offering term generally refers to an academic teaching period of between 8-13 weeks in duration.

Term 1, Term 3

Campus

Sydney

Academic Calendar

Field of Education

081101 Banking and Finance

Timetable

Course Outline
This link will take you to UNSW Course Outline website that is first released for all faculties for 2024 academic year. Note that the Handbook publishes course information regardless of whether the course is offered (and therefore has a course outline available), or not.

Cryptocurrency and Decentralised Finance

FINS5547

6 Units of Credit