NFTs AND THE METAVERSE
NEXT START DATE: September/Fall 2024
An open introductory course to NFTs and the Metaverse, delivered on-chain and in the metaverse, taught by UNIC faculty and @punk6529 – a deeply influential thinker on NFTs and the metaverse and one of the largest NFT collectors in the world – along with an incredible array of guest panelists and lecturers.
The course is free to attend. Registration will be made available closer to the intake by minting the course NFT (free + gas). Students who would like a certificate of completion from UNIC pay a small fee.
UNIC will also offer a 1-week starter pre-course on the mechanics of being able to transact on-chain.
Meet Your
Course Instructors
PUNK 6529
Punk6529 is among the world’s foremost collectors, investors and thought leaders in the NFT space, well-known for his extensive tweetstorms on NFTs and decentralization. 6529 is a leading advocate of the “open metaverse” – namely that the architecture of the metaverse should be decentralized and interoperable and, specifically, that NFTs could serve in this role.
6529 is active in several key areas: a) the 6529 Museum is a very extensive NFT museum, with a particular focus on generative art; b) 6529 Capital is a leading asset manager in the NFT space, and c) OM, which is building an open, decentralized metaverse.
PROFESSOR GEORGE GIAGLIS
Professor George M. Giaglis is the Executive Director of the Institute for the Future at the University of Nicosia. He teaches two MOOCs at UNIC: Digital Currency and NFTs & the Metaverse; and was instrumental in designing the curriculum of the world’s first academic programs in this space.
He has also been working with institutional and corporate clients, including the European Commission and the European Central Bank, on blockchain and technology monitoring projects, as well as advisor to a number of technology companies. He has published 12 books and more than 150 scientific papers, and is the Chief Editor of the Blockchain Technologies section at Frontiers in Blockchain.
welcome to
your classroom
The course will take place in specially designed virtual auditoriums inside OM – Punk 6529’s Open Metaverse.
Our goal is to see if we can deliver a course 100% on-chain and in the metaverse. Adjacent to your classroom is the 6529 Museum District, home to one of the leading NFT collections in the world, spread across 20+ galleries, as well as a growing ecosystem of artist and collector galleries in the surrounding areas.
World-renowned
guest lecturers
![Keith Grossman](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Keith-Grossman-2.jpg)
Keith Grossman
President,
TIME Magazine
![Fred Wilson](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Fred-Wilson-1.jpg)
Fred Wilson
Co-Founder and Partner,
Union Square Ventures
![Chris Dixon](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Chris-Dixon-2.jpg)
Chris Dixon
General Partner,
Andreessen Horowitz
![Yat Siu](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Yat-Siu-2.jpg)
Yat Siu
Chairman
Animoca Brands
![Erick / Snowfro](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Erick-Snowfro.jpeg)
Erick / Snowfro
Founder- Art Blocks,
Creator - Squiggle
![Dmitri Cherniak](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Dmitri-Cherniak.jpeg)
Dmitri Cherniak
Generative Artist,
Creator - Ringers
![Claire Silver](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Claire-Silver.jpg)
Claire Silver
AI Artist.
Co-founder of A2 Accelerate Art
![Tyler Hobbs](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Tyler-Hobbs.jpg)
Tyler Hobbs
Generative Artist,
Creator of Fidenza
![Balaji Srinivasan](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Balaji-Srinivasan.jpg)
Balaji Srinivasan
General Partner - a16z
Former CTO - Coinbase
![Reuben Wu](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Reuben-Wu.jpg)
Reuben Wu
Award winning visual artist and music producer
![Gargamel](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Gargamel.jpg)
Gargamel
Co-Founder,
Yuga Labs
![beeple](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/beeple.jpg)
beeple
NFT Artist
![Matt DesLauriers](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Matt-DesLauriers.jpg)
Matt DesLauriers
Generative Artist,
Creator of Subscapes
![Charli Cohen](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/charlicohen.jpg)
Charli Cohen
Founder of RSTLSS
![Bharat Krymo](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Bharat-Krymo-2.jpg)
Bharat Krymo
Decentralization Maxi, NFT Collector, 6529 Capital
![4156](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Punk4156.jpg)
4156
Co-Founder
Nouns
![GMoney](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/gmoney-2.jpg)
GMoney
NFT Collector
Futurist. Disruptor. Ape.
![Helena Sarin](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Helena-Sarin.jpg)
Helena Sarin
Generative and GAN Artist
![BatSoupYum](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BatSoupYum-2.jpg)
BatSoupYum
Asset Manager, NFT Collector, 6529 Capital
![Kevin Rose](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kevin-Rose.png)
Kevin Rose
Founder - PROOF Collective
Partner - True Ventures
![Drift](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Drift.png)
Drift
Artist
Army Special Operations Veteran
![Sam Spratt](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sam-Spratt.jpg)
Sam Spratt
Artist
![Sasha Stiles](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sasha-Stiles.jpg)
Sasha Stiles
Metapoet, Artist, AI Researcher
![Loren Bednar](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Loren-Bednar.jpeg)
Loren Bednar
Generative Artist
![ix_shells](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ix_shells.jpg)
ix_shells
Generative NFT Artist
![AC](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ac-pfp-1.jpg)
AC
Generative Art Collector, Founder, 6529 Capital
![Thomas Bailey](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Thomas-Bailey.jpeg)
Thomas Bailey
General Partner
Road Capital Management
![BonaFideHan](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BonaFideHan.jpg)
BonaFideHan
CEO
Deca
![Rayan Boutaleb](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Rayan-Oncyber.jpg)
Rayan Boutaleb
Founder and CEO.
OnCyber
![Aaron Wright](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Aaron-Wright.jpeg)
Aaron Wright
Co-Founder Tribute Labs
Professor Cardozo Law
![Richerd](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Richerd.jpg)
Richerd
Co-Founder of Manifold
![VonMises](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VonMises-2.jpg)
VonMises
NFT Collector
![Michael Bouhanna](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Michael-Bouhanna.jpg)
Michael Bouhanna
VP, Contemporary Art Specialist & Co-Head of Digital Art, Sotheby's
![Sebastian Fahey](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sebastian-Fahey.jpg)
Sebastian Fahey
Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead Metaverse, Sotheby's
![Misan Harriman](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Misan-Harriman.jpg)
Misan Harriman
Chair of Southbank Centre,
Photographer, Activist
![Blessing Atas](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BLESSING-ATAS-1.jpg)
Blessing Atas
Phone photographer
Visual Art & Storyteller
![Priyanka Patel](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Priyanka-Patel.jpg)
Priyanka Patel
Photographer
Chief Panic Officer & Co-Founder of The Burrow
![Innamodja](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Innamodja.png)
Innamodja
Artist at SuperRare,
Founder of Code Green and NFT Factory Paris, Head of Philanthropy
@worldofwomennft
![Giannis Sourdis](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Giannis-Sourdis-1.jpg)
Giannis Sourdis
NFT Curator at M0NA,
Co-founder of Amplify Global and Couch Heroes
![Michael J Casey](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Michael-J-Casey.jpg)
Michael J Casey
Chief Content Officer,
CoinDesk
![Artnome](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Artnome-1.jpg)
Artnome
CEO and Cofounder of ClubNFT.com and RightClickSave.com
![Jeff Bandman](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-Bandman.jpg)
Jeff Bandman
Principal - Bandman Advisors, Industry Associate - University of Nicosia
![Eliana Torres](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Eliana-Torres.jpg)
Eliana Torres
Intellectual Property law | blockchain + Web3 Lawyer
![Anika Meier](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Anika-Meier.jpg)
Anika Meier
Digital Art Writer and Curator
![Micol Ap](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Micol.jpg)
Micol Ap
Founder & CEO at VerticalCrypto Art
![Deborah Quazzo](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Deborah-Quazzo.jpg)
Deborah Quazzo
Managing Partner,
GSV Ventures
![Claire Zau](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Claire-Zau.jpg)
Claire Zau
Vice President,
GSV Ventures
![Kathleen Breitman](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/kathleen-breitman.jpg)
Kathleen Breitman
Co-founder of Tezos
![Robert Scoble](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Robert-Scoble.jpg)
Robert Scoble
Futurist
![Maxim Perumal](https://www.unic.ac.cy/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Maxim-Perumal.jpg)
Maxim Perumal
VR Hardware Developer
Course
Outline
The course takes place over a 12-week period, where each week corresponds to a specific topic or area.
In addition to asynchronous access to course materials and lecture notes, each week there will be a live video session with your instructors, during which course-specific questions will be answered, and/or guest lectures will take place.
WHY take this course
The Metaverse is likely to be the default interaction model for the Internet in the coming decades. It will present tremendous opportunities and challenges across all aspects of society, including business, governance, personal relationships and social goals.
NFTs are the first mechanism that allows intangible/cultural objects to be represented on-chain in an open, interoperable, permissionless and programmable context.
NFTs and the Metaverse course will explore the interaction of these two themes, providing the participant with a good fundamental introduction to both their theory and current applications.
Learning outcomes
Participants who successfully complete the course will have both an initial conceptual overview of the field and a practical ability to interact with emerging applications in this area.
requirements
The course is suitable for students of all backgrounds and professions. Prerequisites for the course include the ability to use Metamask or another web3 wallet, as well as a small amount of ETH (less than $20).
One of the prerequisites for registering for the “Free MOOC: NFTs and the Metaverse”, is the ability to mint an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain.
For those not familiar with Ethereum or NFT minting, UNIC also offers a 1-week free starter pre-course covering the mechanics of being able to transact on-chain in Ethereum.
COURSE PRICING
The NFTs and the Metaverse course is 100% free for everyone to attend.
Upon course completion, successful participants will be able to mint an official “University of Nicosia Certificate of Completion” as an on-chain Ethereum NFT (0.25 ETH plus gas).
UNIC IS THE 1st UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD
TO ACCEPT BITCOIN FOR TUITION PAYMENTS
to offer
crypto and
web3 education
to publish academic diplomas on the blockchain
to publish blockchain-verifiable academic certificates as NFTs
The University of Nicosia (UNIC) has an almost decade-long track record as the leading university in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain, launching the world’s first degree program in cryptocurrency in 2014. The IFF, an integral institute of UNIC, has been pivotal in extending UNIC’s mission, educating over 145,000 students through an array of academic and professional training courses in blockchain & crypto assets, metaverse and forecasting.
Together, UNIC and IFF guide innovation, serving as the academic lead for the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum (a European Commission initiative to accelerate the development of blockchain within the EU) and also was selected to serve on the Technology Advisory Board of the European Central Bank (ECB).
WORLD LEADERS
In Crypto Education and Research
In 2022, UNIC announced the Open Metaverse Initiative (OMI), a new comprehensive initiative focused on the academic, research and policy issues relating to the metaverse, with a particular emphasis on open public systems and standards.
Institute for the future:
Master programmes
UNIC
at a glance
The University of Nicosia (UNIC) is one of the leading comprehensive research-oriented universities in the Mediterranean region, committed to teaching, research and innovation, sustainability, societal engagement and contribution to culture.
#1 in cyprus and Greece*
#155 in the EU
Top 501-600 in the world
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
* Along with one Cypriot and two Greek Universities.