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Andreas Park
This course explores advanced topics in blockchain and DeFi, such as DeFi derivatives, decentralized fund management, and the governance of decentralized protocols. You will learn about derivatives such as perpetual futures created under the Synthetix protocols and exchange-traded-fund (ETF)-like products made under the SetProtocol. We will also discuss the functioning and risks associated with oracles and explore the functioning, fundamental challenges, risks, and opportunities of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/sbyep8/navigating
What's inside
Learning objectives
- An understanding of the mechanisms of defi derivatives, protocols, markets, and oracles linked to borrowing and lending.
- Knowledge of what the potential benefits are of using synthetix as a decentralized futures contract.
- The ability to assess the benefits of decentralized composite assets through the tokensets protocol.
- Skills to investigate the opportunities, challenges, risks and governance of decentralized systems, including decentralized autonomous organizations.
- An understanding of the mechanisms of defi derivatives, protocols, markets, and oracles linked to borrowing and lending.
- Knowledge of what the potential benefits are of using synthetix as a decentralized futures contract.
- The ability to assess the benefits of decentralized composite assets through the tokensets protocol.
- Skills to investigate the opportunities, challenges, risks and governance of decentralized systems, including decentralized autonomous organizations.
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Taught by Andreas Park, who is considered an expert in blockchain and DeFi
Suitable for learners with experience in financial markets who want to explore advanced blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) topics
Delves into the latest developments in blockchain technology and its financial use cases
Examines the risks associated with decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and decentralized finance protocols
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Reviews summary
Deep dive into advanced defi & governance
According to students, "Navigating Decentralized Derivatives and Governance in Blockchain" is a highly relevant and in-depth course for professionals seeking to understand advanced DeFi concepts. Learners find the instructor's expertise evident and praise the clear explanations of complex topics like Synthetix, SetProtocol, oracles, and DAOs. It offers a strong theoretical foundation and is considered essential for career development in this niche. However, a significant portion of learners caution that the course has very high prerequisites and moves at a fast pace, making it unsuitable for beginners or those without a solid blockchain/finance background. Some wished for more hands-on activities and more updated examples given the fast-evolving DeFi landscape.
Needs continuous updates to reflect the fast-evolving DeFi landscape.
"While the topics are cutting-edge, the course feels a bit outdated in terms of recent DeFi trends. Some of the examples seemed a little old."
"I would have liked more updated examples or insights into recent protocol developments, as the DeFi space moves incredibly fast."
Offers strong theoretical understanding, with less hands-on application.
"I was hoping for more hands-on activities or coding examples related to interacting with these protocols. It's more theoretical than practical..."
"While comprehensive, I would have liked more updated examples or insights into recent protocol developments... I suggest including more interactive elements."
"The theoretical grounding is strong, and the instructor makes complex topics understandable."
"It's a good theoretical basis, but perhaps not current enough for today's fast-moving market."
Instructor effectively clarifies complex DeFi concepts.
"The instructor's expertise is evident, and the explanations of DAOs and their governance models were incredibly clear."
"The module on oracles was particularly well-explained, clarifying a complex topic."
"The instructor makes complex topics understandable. This course is definitely for those who already have a grasp of basic blockchain concepts."
Provides comprehensive, cutting-edge knowledge in advanced DeFi.
"Absolutely essential for anyone looking to dive deep into advanced DeFi. The instructor's expertise is evident..."
"Fantastic deep dive into the intricacies of DeFi. The module on oracles was particularly well-explained, clarifying a complex topic."
"The content is cutting-edge and the course does a good job of covering the challenges and risks."
"I really appreciated the deep dive into Synthetix and TokenSets. The content is highly specialized and valuable for my career."
Some sections felt rushed while others were slow or unclear.
"The topics are highly relevant, but the course structure felt a bit disjointed. Some sections felt rushed, while others dwelled too long on basics I already knew."
"The delivery could be improved. Some explanations were unclear, and the assessments didn't always feel aligned with the learning material."
"Informative but dry. The lectures were sometimes hard to follow, and I had to do a lot of external research to fully grasp some topics."
Requires strong prior knowledge in blockchain and finance.
"This course is not for anyone without a PhD in blockchain or finance. The description should clearly state the extremely high prerequisites. Waste of time and money for me."
"I struggled to keep up. The course jumps right into advanced concepts without adequately building up from foundational knowledge."
"I found the pace quite fast at times, especially when covering complex mathematical concepts without enough preliminary explanation."
"It sometimes assumed too much prior knowledge, making it tough for those without a strong computer science or finance background."
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 Navigating Decentralized Derivatives and Governance in Blockchain with these
activities:
Find a mentor who can guide you in your DeFi journey
Show steps
Find an experienced DeFi professional who can provide you with guidance and support.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
-
Network with people in the DeFi industry.
-
Ask for introductions to potential mentors.
Collect resources on DeFi
Show steps
Organize and review a collection of resources that will help you learn about DeFi.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
-
Find resources on DeFi.
-
Organize the resources into a collection.
Synthetix Tutorial
Show steps
Solve a series of progressively harder problems and challenges that require you to apply knowledge about derivatives, markets, and oracles.
Show steps
-
Review the Synthetix documentation.
-
Build a simple Synthetix contract.
-
Deploy the contract to a testnet.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Join a DeFi discussion group
Show steps
Engage with other students and professionals to discuss the latest developments in DeFi.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
-
Find a DeFi discussion group.
-
Introduce yourself and start participating in discussions.
Mentor a student who is new to DeFi
Show steps
Help another student learn about DeFi by sharing your knowledge and experience.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
-
Find a student who is new to DeFi.
-
Meet with the student regularly to answer their questions and provide guidance.
Write a blog post about DeFi derivatives
Show steps
Explain the benefits and risks of DeFi derivatives in your own words.
Show steps
-
Research DeFi derivatives.
-
Write an outline for your blog post.
-
Write the first draft of your blog post.
Design a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO)
Show steps
Demonstrate your understanding of the challenges and opportunities of DAOs by designing your own.
Show steps
-
Research DAOs.
-
Develop a use case for your DAO.
-
Design the structure and governance of your DAO.
Participate in a DeFi hackathon
Show steps
Challenge yourself by building a DeFi project in a competitive environment.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
-
Find a DeFi hackathon.
-
Form a team and brainstorm ideas.
-
Build your DeFi project.
Find a mentor who can guide you in your DeFi journey
Show steps
Find an experienced DeFi professional who can provide you with guidance and support.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Network with people in the DeFi industry.
- Ask for introductions to potential mentors.
Collect resources on DeFi
Show steps
Organize and review a collection of resources that will help you learn about DeFi.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find resources on DeFi.
- Organize the resources into a collection.
Synthetix Tutorial
Show steps
Solve a series of progressively harder problems and challenges that require you to apply knowledge about derivatives, markets, and oracles.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review the Synthetix documentation.
- Build a simple Synthetix contract.
- Deploy the contract to a testnet.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Join a DeFi discussion group
Show steps
Engage with other students and professionals to discuss the latest developments in DeFi.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a DeFi discussion group.
- Introduce yourself and start participating in discussions.
Mentor a student who is new to DeFi
Show steps
Help another student learn about DeFi by sharing your knowledge and experience.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a student who is new to DeFi.
- Meet with the student regularly to answer their questions and provide guidance.
Write a blog post about DeFi derivatives
Show steps
Explain the benefits and risks of DeFi derivatives in your own words.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research DeFi derivatives.
- Write an outline for your blog post.
- Write the first draft of your blog post.
Design a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO)
Show steps
Demonstrate your understanding of the challenges and opportunities of DAOs by designing your own.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research DAOs.
- Develop a use case for your DAO.
- Design the structure and governance of your DAO.
Participate in a DeFi hackathon
Show steps
Challenge yourself by building a DeFi project in a competitive environment.
Browse courses on
DeFi
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a DeFi hackathon.
- Form a team and brainstorm ideas.
- Build your DeFi project.
Career center
Learners who complete Navigating Decentralized Derivatives and Governance in Blockchain will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/sbyep8/navigating
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/sbyep8/navigating
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Effort
2 to 4 hours per week for 3 weeks
Level
Intermediate
Via
edX
Institution
University of Toronto
Instructor
Andreas Park
Language
English
Transcript
English
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