Introduction to FinTech from edX

Over the past decade emerging technologies, paired with massive changes in regulations, have driven an unprecedented transformation of finance around the world. This process is happening more rapidly in China and Asia than anywhere else. This course is designed to explore FinTech fundamentals and help make sense of this wave of change as it happens.

New players such as start-ups and technology firms are challenging traditional players in finance, bringing democratization, inclusion and disruption. Companies engaged in social media, e-commerce, and telecommunications, as well as, companies and start-ups with large customer data pools, creative energies, and technical capacities, have brought competition to the existing financial infrastructure and are remaking the industry.

These transformations have not only created challenges but also unprecedented opportunities, building synergies with new business and regulatory models, particularly in emerging markets and developing countries. To meet these changes, 21st-century professionals and students must be equipped with up-to-date knowledge of the industry and its incredible evolution. This course - designed by HKU with the support of SuperCharger and the Centre for Finance, Technology and Education - is designed to enable learners with the necessary tools to understand the complex interaction of finance, technology and regulation.

In this course, through a series of video lectures, case studies, and assessments you will explore the major areas of FinTech including, beginning with What is FinTech before turning to Money, Payment and Emerging Technologies, Digital Finance and Alternative Finance, FinTech Regulation and RegTech, Data and Security, and the Future of Data Driven Finance, as well as, the core technologies driving FinTech including Blockchain, AI and Big Data. These will set the stage for understanding the FinTech landscape and ecosystem and grappling with the potential direction of future change.

What's inside

Learning objectives

The major areas in fintech, including money and payment, digital finance and alternative finance
Major technological trends, including cryptocurrencies, blockchain, ai and big data
Fintech regulation and regtech
The fundamental role of data and security in data-driven finance
Businessand regulatory implications of technology for the financial industry

How regulations and regtech are applied
Ways to analyse and evaluate what is driving technology innovation in finance
How new technology impacts economies, markets, companies,and individuals
**

The major areas in fintech, including money and payment, digital finance and alternative finance
Major technological trends, including cryptocurrencies, blockchain, ai and big data
Fintech regulation and regtech
The fundamental role of data and security in data-driven finance
Businessand regulatory implications of technology for the financial industry
How regulations and regtech are applied
Ways to analyse and evaluate what is driving technology innovation in finance
How new technology impacts economies, markets, companies,and individuals
**

Syllabus

Module 1 What is FinTech?

FinTech Transformation

FinTech Evolution 1.0: Infrastructure

FinTech Evolution 2.0: Banks

FinTech Evolution 3.0 & 3.5: Startups and Emerging Markets

Industry Showcase: Collaboration between Financial Institutions and Startups

FinTech Typology

Emerging Economics: Opportunities and Challenges

From too-Small-To-Care to Too-Big-To-Fail

Introduction to Regulation

Industry Showcase: The Future of RegTech and 6 Technologies Impacting It

Module 2 Payments, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain

Individual Payments

Developing Countries and DFS: The Story of Mobile Money

Developing Countries and DFS: Regulation of Mobile Money

RTGS Systems

The ABCDs of Alternative Finance

Building a New stack

Cryptocurrencies

Industry Showcase : Introduction to Digital Asset Market

Industry Showcase : Stablecoins

Industry Showcase : Legal and Regulatory Implications of Cryptocurrencies

Industry Showcase : Behavior Analysis and Valuation of Cryptocurrencies

What is Blockchain?

Industry Showcase: The Benefits from New Payment Stacks (Applications of Ripple)

Module 3 Digital Finance and Alternative Finance

A Brief History of Financial Innovation

Digitization of Financial Services

FinTech & Funds

Industry Showcase: How AI is Transforming the Future of FinTech

Industry Showcase: Ensuring Compliance from the Start: Suitability and Funds

Crowdfunding - Regards, Charity and Equity

P2P and Marketplace Lending

The Rise of Chinese TechFins - New Models and New Products

What is an ICO?

Module 4 FinTech Regulation and RegTech

FinTech Regulations

Evolution of RegTech

RegTech Ecosystem: Financial Institutions

RegTech Ecosystem: Startups

RegTech Startups: Challenges

RegTech Ecosystem: Regulators

Industry Showcase: Use Case of AI in Smart Regulation and Fraud Detection

Regulatory Sandboxes

Smart Regulation

Redesigning Better Financial Infrastructure

Module 5 Data & TechFin

History of Data Regulation

Data in Financial Services

Industry Showcase : Application of Data Analytics in Finance

European Big-Bang: PSD2 / GDPR / Mifid2

Industry Showcase : PSD2: Open Banking API Will Help Startups

Industry Showcase : Methods of Data Protection: GDPR Compliance and Personal Privacy

Digital Identity

Change in mindset: Regulation 1.0 to 2.0 (KYC to KYD)

AI & Governance

New Challenges of AI and Machine Learning

Data, Metadata and Differential Privacy

Data is the New Oil: Risk of Breach

Industry Showcase : Cybersecurity Industry Update

Case Study 1: Revolut

Case Study 2: Alibaba

Case Study 3: Aadhaar

Case Study 4: Credit Karma

Case Study 5: Digibank

Conclusion to Case Studies

FinTech Big Trends - Looking Forward

Module 6 The Future of Data-Driven Finance

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides foundational understanding in FinTech for professionals and students

Examines the influence of regulators on FinTech companies

Covers essential technologies shaping the FinTech landscape including cryptocurrency and blockchain

Features industry experts and practitioners as instructors

Provides insights into the role of Big Data and Data Security in finance

Requires familiarity with basic financial and technological concepts

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to FinTech with these activities:

Revise basic concepts of computer science and data structures

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Strengthen your understanding by refreshing the fundamentals of computer science and data structures, which are essential for FinTech.

Browse courses on Computer Science

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Review textbooks or online resources on computer science concepts.
Practice solving coding problems and implementing data structures.
Attend a refresher course or workshop to reinforce your knowledge.

Design an infographic on the impact of digital finance in developing economies

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Reinforce your understanding of how digital finance impacts developing economies by creating a visually appealing infographic.

Browse courses on Digital Finance

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Research and gather data on the topic.
Identify key insights and trends.
Choose a design tool and template.
Create visuals, charts, and graphs to represent the data.
Write concise and clear text to explain the findings.

Attend a FinTech hackathon or workshop

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Immerse yourself in a hands-on environment, collaborate with others, and showcase your FinTech skills at a dedicated event.

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Research and identify relevant FinTech hackathons or workshops.
Register and prepare for the event.
Participate actively in the challenges or discussions.
Network with other attendees and industry professionals.

Five other activities

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Create a comparative analysis report on different payment platforms

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Deepen your understanding of payment platforms and their key features by conducting a comparative analysis.

Browse courses on Fintech

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Identify the key criteria for comparison, such as fees, security, and features.
Select a range of popular payment platforms.
Gather data and analyze the platforms based on the defined criteria.
Create a comprehensive report summarizing the findings.
Present your report to peers or industry professionals for feedback.

Resolve a bug in the cryptocurrency

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Reinforce your understanding and coding ability of blockchain by resolving bugs in available open-source cryptocurrency projects.

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Pick a cryptocurrency project from a popular repository like Github.
Explore the codebase and identify a bug or issue.
Fix the bug by proposing a pull request with your solution.
Collaborate with the project maintainers to get your fix merged.

Develop a mobile banking application prototype

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Gain practical experience by designing and prototyping a mobile banking application, applying your knowledge of FinTech.

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Define the app's purpose, target audience, and features.
Design the user interface and user experience (UI/UX).
Develop the application's backend functionality.
Test and iterate on the prototype.

Contribute to an open-source project related to FinTech

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Deepen your understanding of FinTech by actively contributing to open-source projects and collaborating with the community.

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Identify an open-source project related to FinTech.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify a feature or improvement you can contribute.
Create a pull request with your proposed changes.
Engage in code reviews and discussions with the project maintainers.

Host a study group to discuss future trends in FinTech

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Enhance your comprehension by leading a discussion among peers, exchanging ideas, and presenting your perspectives on the future of FinTech.

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Gather a group of interested individuals.
Choose a topic related to future trends in FinTech.
Prepare a presentation to initiate the discussion.
Facilitate the discussion, encouraging participation from all members.
Summarize the key points and insights gained from the session.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to FinTech will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical modeling to analyze and solve financial problems. They are often responsible for developing and implementing trading strategies, and advising portfolio managers on investment decisions. This course is a great foundation for those looking to work as a Quantitative Analyst because it provides a strong foundation in FinTech, which is changing the way financial data is analyzed and used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Blockchain Developer

Blockchain Developers design, develop, and test blockchain applications. They may work in a variety of industries, including finance, healthcare, and supply chain management. This course is a great foundation for those looking to work as a Blockchain Developer in FinTech, as it provides a strong foundation in blockchain technology and an understanding of the FinTech industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

FinTech Entrepreneur

FinTech Entrepreneurs start and run their own FinTech companies. They may develop new financial products or services, or find new ways to use technology to improve the financial industry. This course is a great foundation for those looking to start their own FinTech company, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of how to start and run a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Entrepreneur

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers advise corporations and governments on mergers and acquisitions, and help them raise capital. They often specialize in advising clients in a particular industry. This course is a great fit for those looking to work as an Investment Banker because it provides a comprehensive overview of FinTech, which is transforming the way companies raise capital and how mergers and acquisitions are executed.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Financial Analyst

The role of a Financial Analyst is multifaceted. Some may value companies and make investment recommendations, while others evaluate the risk and returns of loans and investments to help their company or clients make informed financial decisions. This course is a great foundation for those looking to work as a Financial Analyst because it teaches the basics of FinTech, which is revolutionizing the financial industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. They may work in a variety of industries, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. This course is a great foundation for those looking to work as a Software Engineer in FinTech, as it provides a strong foundation in software development and an understanding of the FinTech industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. They may be responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data, and developing machine learning models. This course is a great foundation for those looking to work as a Data Scientist in FinTech, as it provides a strong foundation in data analysis and machine learning, which are essential skills for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

FinTech Educator

FinTech Educators teach about the FinTech industry. They may work in academic institutions or corporate training programs. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a FinTech Educator, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of educational methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Educator

FinTech Policymaker

FinTech Policymakers develop and implement policies that govern the FinTech industry. They may work in government agencies or regulatory bodies. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a FinTech Policymaker, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of policymaking.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Policymaker

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. They work closely with engineers, designers, and marketing teams to ensure that products meet the needs of customers. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a Product Manager in FinTech, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of the product development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Risk Manager

Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. They may work in a variety of industries, including finance, insurance, and healthcare. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a Risk Manager in FinTech, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities for their company. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns, and managing relationships with key clients and partners. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a Business Development Manager in FinTech, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors help individuals and families manage their finances. They may provide advice on investments, retirement planning, and insurance. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a Financial Advisor in FinTech, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of financial planning principles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor

FinTech Consultant

FinTech Consultants advise companies on how to use technology to improve their financial operations. They may also help companies implement new FinTech solutions. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a FinTech Consultant, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of how to consult with clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Consultant

FinTech Researcher

FinTech Researchers study the FinTech industry and develop new theories and models. They may work in academic institutions or research firms. This course may be helpful for those looking to work as a FinTech Researcher, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its key trends, as well as an understanding of research methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Researcher

Introduction to FinTech

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