Ethereum and Smart Contracts
Building the foundations of decentralized finance and Web3
Course Overview
Understanding Ethereum's smart contract platform and its applications
This advanced course explores Ethereum, the leading programmable blockchain and smart contract platform that has revolutionized decentralized applications. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of Ethereum's architecture, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), and the Solidity programming language used to create smart contracts.
The course delves into the fundamental principles of decentralized finance (DeFi), examining protocols for lending, borrowing, trading, and yield generation built on Ethereum. We'll analyze the composability of DeFi applications and how they interact to create an open financial system accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Beyond financial applications, we'll investigate non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and the broader Web3 ecosystem. Students will gain practical experience through hands-on development exercises, case studies of successful Ethereum projects, and critical analysis of the technical, economic, and governance challenges facing the Ethereum ecosystem.
Course Modules
Key topics covered throughout the semester
Ethereum Fundamentals and Architecture
Comprehensive exploration of Ethereum's blockchain architecture, consensus mechanisms, and the transition from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. Analysis of Ethereum's roadmap including scaling solutions like rollups, sharding, and layer 2 networks.
Smart Contract Development with Solidity
Introduction to Solidity programming language, smart contract development best practices, and security considerations. Hands-on experience with development frameworks like Hardhat and testing methodologies for robust smart contract implementations.
Decentralized Finance Protocols
In-depth analysis of major DeFi protocols including decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, stablecoins, and derivatives. Examination of yield farming strategies, liquidity provision, and the economics of DeFi governance tokens.
NFTs and Digital Ownership
Exploration of non-fungible tokens, digital ownership paradigms, and the emerging creator economy. Case studies of successful NFT projects across art, gaming, music, and virtual real estate markets built on Ethereum.
Governance and DAOs
Analysis of on-chain governance mechanisms, decentralized autonomous organizations, and token-based voting systems. Examination of successful DAO structures, governance challenges, and the evolution of decentralized coordination.