Free MOOC on Blockchain and Digital Assets

BLOCKCHAIN, CRYPTOCURRENCIES, NFTs, AND THE METAVERSE

Build a rigorous, practical understanding of Digital Assets: from Bitcoin and programmable blockchains to DeFi, stablecoins/tokenization, security, and the policy and geopolitical forces shaping the sector. The course is designed to help you move beyond the hype, understand real-world tradeoffs, and engage with Digital Assets critically and confidently.

  • World-leading, first-of-its-kind course since 2014
  • 150,000+ students and counting
  • Taught by Prof. George Giaglis, Punk6529 and Prof. Apostolos Kourtis
  • Industry-led sessions with Ripple and Cardano
  • Introductory and advanced track options

Course Starts September 2026

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TOP REASONS to register for the

MOOC on BLOCKCHAIN AND DIGITAL ASSETS

World’s 1st BLOCKCHAIN AND DIGITAL ASSETS MOOC

The largest and longest-running course on crypto and blockchain, active since 2014.

Global Community & Expert Guidance

Join 150,000+ students from 120+ countries and learn from leading Digital Assets experts.

Blockchain-Issued Certificate

Earn a verifiable certificate recognized globally (Advanced Track).

Industry partner benefits

Upgrade to the Advanced Track and become eligible for Ripple scholarships and 25 Cardano student-access sponsorships for the Advanced Track.

Two Learning Tracks

Begin with the Introductory Track, then continue to the Advanced Track with hands-on labs, tutorials, and projects like wallet creation and NFT minting.

Two Learning Tracks

Introductory Track

Free

  • Core curriculum (Weeks 1–8)
  • Live Q&A + online quizzes
  • Final exam

  • Certificate of Completion

  • Student community access
  • Access during course period

one-time payment

Advanced Track

€199

or BTC / ETH / stablecoin equivalent

Choose your intake
Fall 2026 Upgrade now
Fall starts September 2026

Includes everything in Introductory, plus:

  • Advanced modules (Weeks 9–12)
  • Blockchain-verifiable Certificate of Completion
  • Ripple Scholarship* opportunities

  • 25 Cardano student-access sponsorships for the Advanced Track

  • Daily crypto market briefings
  • Full archive + post-course access
  • Premium community (Discord + networking)

*Five Scholarships covering 50% of MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency tuition.

Exclusive Benefits from Our Partners

5 scholarships for the MSc in
Blockchain & Digital Currency

25 student-access sponsorships for the Advanced Track

  • Programme: Advanced Track of the Free MOOC: Blockchain and Digital Assets
  • Total sponsorship value: Approximately €5,000

Meet Your Instructors

Prof. George Giaglis
Prof. George Giaglis
Short Bio
Prof. Apostolos Kourtis
Prof. Apostolos Kourtis
Punk6529
Punk6529
Garrick Hileman
Garrick Hileman
Jeff Bandman
Jeff Bandman
Dr Lambis Dionysopoulos
Dr Lambis Dionysopoulos
Patrick Tobler
Patrick Tobler
John Greene
John Greene

What you will learn

After completion of the course students are expected to be able to:

1

Describe the Fundamentals of Digital Assets, Bitcoin, and Ethereum: Explain the basics of Digital Assets and blockchain technology. Analyze Bitcoin mining, node roles, and the UTXO model. Explain how Ethereum uses smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Compare Bitcoin’s Proof of Work with Ethereum’s Proof of Stake, including their respective scalability approaches.

2

Gain Practical Skills in Digital Transactions and Security: Explore digital wallets, including hardware wallets (e.g., Ledger, Trezor), and configure multi-signature wallets like Gnosis Safe. Understand key management through Shamir Secret Sharing, optimise transaction fees, construct raw transactions, and explore security tools like Zcash and Monero.

3

Analyze Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Explain how smart contracts enable decentralized finance. Build and deploy a simple smart contract on the Ethereum testnet. Analyze DeFi in relation to traditional finance (TradFi). Outline the DeFi stack and examine key protocols such as Uniswap and Aave. Participate in a DeFi protocol by providing liquidity, staking tokens, and taking loans.

4

Assess NFTs and Digital Ownership: Explain how NFTs function, including token standards, metadata, storage, and provenance. Demonstrate how to mint an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain and list it on marketplaces such as OpenSea and Rarible, and analyze how provenance supports authenticity and digital ownership.

5

Evaluate Tokenization and Stablecoins: Explain how real-world assets and financial instruments are tokenized on-chain. Compare different levels of tokenization, outlining their benefits and main risks. Analyze stablecoin models and explain the mechanisms that support price stability. Explain how Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) function.

6

Interpret Prediction Markets: Analyze how prediction markets use incentives and market mechanisms to aggregate information. Explain how prediction markets are implemented on-chain and compare design choices using case studies such as Polymarket. Assess manipulation and security risks and evaluate common failure points and mitigation strategies.

7

Assess Geopolitics, Regulation, and Policy of Digital Assets: Examine the role of digital assets in sovereignty, sanctions, and strategic competition. Analyze how regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements influence market structure, innovation, and adoption.

8

Explore the Evolution of Digital Assets and Emerging Trends: Explain how blockchains evolve through upgrades and forks. Examine how scaling approaches such as SegWit and the Lightning Network extend Bitcoin. Analyze Layer 2 infrastructure, modular blockchains, and Bitcoin inscriptions. Evaluate emerging trends, including convergence with AI agents and the Internet of Things (IoT).

course

outline

The course offers two learning tracks and spans 12 weeks. It includes recorded lectures, one live Q&A session per week (also available on demand), and optional weekly exercises. Upon course completion, learners who successfully pass the final quiz are awarded a Certificate of Completion in “Introduction to Blockchain and Digital Assets” issued by the University of Nicosia. For participants who upgrade to the Advanced Track, a Blockchain-verifiable Certificate of Completion in “Advanced Topics in Blockchain and Digital Assets” is issued.

This MOOC offers a deep dive into the foundational concepts covered in UNIC’s MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency programme. While the MOOC provides a comprehensive introduction, the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency programme delves deeper with specialized modules, research opportunities, and advanced assessments tailored for postgraduate study.

Session Session Theme Instructor
1. Introduction to Blockchain and Web3 George Giaglis (UNIC)
2. Bitcoin and Digital Money Garrick Hileman
3. Ethereum and Programmable Blockchains Apostolos Kourtis (UNIC), John Greene (Cardano)
4. Digital Wallet Security and Privacy Lambis Dionysopoulos (UNIC)
5. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Lambis Dionysopoulos (UNIC)
6. Prediction Markets Apostolos Kourtis (UNIC) & Lambis Dionysopoulos (UNIC)
7. The Geopolitics of Cryptocurrency Garrick Hileman
8. Tokenization and Stablecoins Lambis Dionysopoulos (UNIC), Ripple
Advanced Track
Weeks 9–12 are exclusive to Advanced Track MOOC learners
9. NFTs and Digital Ownership Punk6529 
10. Regulation and Policy of Digital Assets Jeff Bandman
11. Advanced Topics in Web3 Apostolos Kourtis (UNIC)
12. The Future: Convergence of Blockchain, AI, and IoT George Giaglis (UNIC), Patrick Tobler (Masumi Network)

Course

Description

Led by Professor George Giaglis, Professor Apostolos Kourtis, Garrick Hileman, Jeff Bandman, and digital asset thought leader Punk6529, with industry-led contributions from leading digital asset infrastructure providers including Ripple and Cardano, this course equips learners with the theoretical foundations and practical skills needed to navigate the dynamic world of digital assets.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, progressing from core principles to the technical and economic foundations of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The curriculum examines consensus mechanisms, programmable blockchains, digital wallets and security, decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and digital assets, while also addressing the broader implications of Web3 technologies for digital economies and virtual environments.

The course is structured into two learning tracks: the free Introductory Track (Weeks 1–8) and the Advanced Track (Weeks 1–12).

The Introductory Track covers Web3 fundamentals, including blockchain and digital asset foundations, Bitcoin and Ethereum, consensus models, programmable blockchains, digital wallets and security, decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and digital assets.

The Advanced Track builds on this foundation with advanced modules on NFTs and digital ownership, crypto regulation and policy, blockchain scalability and design trade-offs, and emerging developments, including the convergence of AI and blockchain with Cardano. Advanced Track learners receive a blockchain-verifiable Certificate of Completion in “Advanced Topics in Blockchain and Digital Assets,” extended access to course materials, dedicated networking channels, and eligibility for 50% Ripple scholarships for the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency programme. The Advanced Track is available for €199 as an upgrade from the Introductory Track. You’ll receive more information on how to upgrade after you register.

A strong emphasis is placed on applied learning throughout the course. Quizzes, tutorials, and practical exercises bridge theory and practice, while live Q&A sessions with faculty and industry experts enable direct engagement and guidance. Participants also join a global learning community of over 150,000 learners from more than 120 countries.

This course is designed for professionals, students, and lifelong learners seeking a structured, academically grounded pathway into digital assets, with the flexibility to select the learning track that best aligns with their academic and professional goals.