LAW-4002 Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and the Law
This course will serve as an introduction to Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency and law. The course will introduce these concepts and related technologies, and will touch on legal and compliance issues implicated by these developments. The class is an introductory level course, so students need no prior understanding of Web3, blockchain, or cryptocurrency in-order-to participate, though it is recommended that students have an interest in learning about these concepts. Class topics will include an introduction to Web3 and what makes it different from Web2, an introduction to blockchain technology, an introduction to Bitcoin, an introduction to Ethereum, and an introduction to the metaverse, non-fungible tokens, and decentralized autonomous organizations. Each class will also introduce legal issues (privacy, intellectual property rights, governance, compliance and securities law) arising with the emergence of each of these concepts. The course will be a minicourse. Ideally, the course would last one week and be worth one credit in a pass or fail format. I will deliver lectures, but the course will also involve substantial opportunities for dialogue in a seminar format. Students who would benefit from this course are those who are seeking to stand out in the Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency job market, students who are looking for exciting areas of the law to potentially consider as a career path, and students simply interested in learning about technological changes in the world. Learning Objectives 1. Students will have a working knowledge of industry concepts such as Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency etc. 2. Students will be able to identify legal issues presented by Web3 technologies. 3. Students will have a sense of careers in Web3 that will make good use of their legal education. 27 Sep 2022