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Learn More About Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, NFTs, Legal Issues, Ecological Impacts and the Potential Future of Crypto


Sean Corp, Content Strategist

We’ve all heard the phrases and seen prices, stock performance gains, even athletes accepting their contracts in the form of cryptocurrency. It leaves many doing a double take, others scratching their heads and some to want to get into a new, exciting market. Bitcoin. NFTs. Blockchain. What does it all mean?

The new Teach-Out offered by University of Michigan helps explain and demystify cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and all the key concepts associated with the rising interest and exploding value of cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency: Beyond Bitcoin Teach-Out launched May 1 and will conclude May 31 on online learning platforms Coursera and FutureLearn. As part of the course, learners will understand the mechanisms of cryptocurrency, systems of blockchain, and the process of mining to get a basic understanding of the technology behind this unique digital asset. Expert contributors speak about the societal and ecological impact of cryptocurrencies, offer insights into how cryptocurrency technology may impact people in the future, and recommend steps toward developing the very necessary digital financial literacy.

The course is not designed as a beginners guide to investing and is instead a forum for people interested in learning more about the past, present and future of cryptocurrency, and to discuss with peers concepts like the ecological impact of crypto mining and what the future might look like.

Featured experts in the Teach-Out include U-M professor of finance Robert Dittmar of the Ross School of Business, assistant professor Andrew Wu, assistant professor at Ross with a research focus on machine learning and FinTech innovations such as blockchain, Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation, Diego Zuluaga, an expert on regulation and public policy of financial technology, Hailey Lennon, a cryptocurrency legal consultant, Andrew Parish, a co-founder and president of NFT Glee, which partners with artists, personalities and brands on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and Kristin Bhaumik, associate director of the Office of Financial Aid at U-M.

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