The financial services industries are changing rapidly with the emergence of financial technology (FinTech) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The objective of the course is to provide students with an overview of FinTech and DeFi and its applications in financial services, such as banking, payments, blockchain, alternative lending, and capital raising. Students are expected to develop a broad understanding of the recent FinTech developments and its effects on different parts of the financial ecosystem. Students will also have hands-on problem-solving experiences that can be useful in FinTech applications and innovation. Topics may include but are not limited to: blockchain and cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, payments, digital banking, alternative lending, and raising capital.
After completing this course, students will be able to:
LO1: Compare and contrast TradFi and DeFi.
LO2: Describe the technologies underlying cryptocurrencies and blockchains.
LO3: Analyze the impact of FinTech and DeFi on traditional banking with an emphasis on developments in payments, digital banking, and alternative lending.
LO4: Understand the effect of DeFi on capital raising.
LO5: Engage in the process of FinTech innovation.