Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies From Proliferation to Utility

The State of the Technology & The True Business Potential 

Course Description

This course covers blockchains, cryptocurrencies, distributed ledgers, tokens, and related technologies as well as the business, economic, philosophical paradigm shifts that have been taking place since the “mining” of the first Bitcoin “block” on January 3, 2009.   This course not only explains blockchains and cryptocurrencies from a holistic point of view, but it does so with the aim to incite a critical thinking approach to learning and understanding the state of these technologies and their true potential for deploying applications in private industry and government.  While the course is presented from a centrist point of view, it offers thought-provoking discussion on the pro’s and con’s, the hype and speculation, as well as the prevalent dogmatic beliefs surrounding the entire blockchain ecosystem.    The primary focus of the course is to enable participants to learn more than “just” the fundamentals such that they are able to decouple preconceived ideas and biases with the ultimate goal of making sound decisions surrounding blockchain projects, initiatives, and investments.  

Course Outline

Module 1:  The Origin of Cryptocurrencies

• The History of Cryptocurrencies
• The Bitcoin Whitepaper in 2008
• The Start of Bitcoin in 2009
• The Early Alternatives to Bitcoin
• Key Concepts of Peer-to-Peer, Immutability, Trust, and Disintermediation 
• The Double Spending Problem
• The Byzantine Generals Problem
• How Digital Currency Will Change the World
• Do Cryptocurrencies Have Intrinsic Value
• US Dollar vs Bitcoin – Which is More Promising
• A Philosophical Movement and a Technological Breakthrough 

Module 2:   Bitcoin Fundamentals

• What is Bitcoin
• What is Blockchain
• What is a Distributed System
• What is a Decentralized System
• What is a Block
• What is a Hash
• What is Cryptography
• What is a Merkle Tree
• What is Mining
• Who are Miners
• What is a Node
• What is a Nonce
• What is a Blockchain Consensus Protocol
• What are Forks in a Blockchain
• Who are Bitcoin Stakeholders
• What is a Distributed Ledger
• What are Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs)
• What is the Current State of Bitcoin 

Module 3:   Skeptics & Believers of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain

• Who Are Some of the Better-known Bears or “Skeptics”, What Are They Saying, And Why Have They Taken Skeptical or Generally Negative Stances on This Asset Class and Related Technologies.
• Paul Krugman
• Nouriel Roubini
• Warren Buffett
• Charlie Munger
• Bill Gates
• Joseph Stiglitz
• Robert Shiller
• others

• Who Are Some of the Better-known Bulls or “Believers” And What Are They Saying, And Why Do They Promote And Have Generally A Positive Outlook Regarding this Asset Class and Related Technologies.
• Brian Armstrong
• Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss
• Naval Ravikant
• Michael Novogratz
• Chris Dixon and Katie Haun
• Vitalik Buterin
• Jimmy Song
• others

Module 4:   Crypto Currency Proliferation 

• Top 10 Decentralized Cryptocurrencies
• Types of Cryptocurrencies
• Cryptocurrency Bubbles
• What Makes a Good Cryptocurrency
• Percentage of Americans that Own Bitcoin
• How Many Cryptocurrencies Are There
• Cryptocurrency as Legal Tender
• “Virtual Currencies” and Taxation
• Worldwide Market Capitalization of Cryptocurrency Versus Other Asset Classes
• The Conversion Funnel
• The Adoption Gap
• How to Acquire Bitcoin or Other Crypto
• Types of Cryptocurrency Wallets
• Cryptocurrency Exchanges
• Which Coins/Tokens Are Here for the Long Run

Module 5:   Utility

• Applications and Use Cases of Blockchains
• Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Platforms
• The Blockchain Killer App
• The 2^ndWave of Killer Apps
• The Oracle Problem and Smart Contracts
• How “Blockchain” is Meaningless
• The 3^rdWave of Killer Apps
• What is Up and Running
• Regulation of Cryptocurrency Around the World
• Use Cases in Business and Private Industry
• Use Cases in Government
• Methodologies for Deploying Blockchain

 

Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies from Proliferation to Utility - Course Syllabus.

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Gustavo A. Calderón Instructor BIO

Gustavo A. Calderón founded his company, Acquisition Workforce, Inc. (AWi) on January 20, 1998 following an experience-rich 13-year career with Bechtel, Andersen Consulting, James Martin & Co, and Ernst & Young.  AWi’s initial focus was to help organizations turn around large, troubled, and complex IT projects. Today, in addition to excelling in Program Management, AWi has developed deep expertise in Business Process Improvement, Business Analysis, Cost Estimation, Performance Based Acquisition, Acquisition Support Services, Freedom of Information Act, Capital Planning, Independent Verification and Validation, and Risk Management. AWi also has a robust training practice covering the aforementioned disciplines.

In addition to his three decades of experience in management consulting, advisory services, customer-serving roles, and spearheading two consumer retail entrepreneurial ventures, Gustavo also enjoys speaking at International symposiums on entrepreneurship. Gustavo has also been teaching for thirty years to a myriad of audiences in university, corporate, and government settings project management, business, technology, the entire curriculum of the Federal Acquisition Certification Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM), entrepreneurship, and more recently Blockchain and related technologies. A sample of Gustavo’s industry and government clients include:

AAA CDC DHS DOI EDS FBI FDA

FDIC General Dynamics GSA HHS Honeywell IRS NIST

NSF Pitney Bowes PTO SAIC Travelers UMUC Verizon

In the spirit of continuous improvement and to better serve the acquisition life cycle needs of his clients, Gustavo expanded the company's capabilities to include consulting and training support in Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Gustavo maintains a high level of physical fitness in order to push his athletic limits in telemark skiing, bicycle racing, running marathons, and competing in IRONMAN triathlons.

Gustavo has also been featured in “Profiles in Success.” A series of publications designed to inspire current and future small-business owners, this collection of profiles highlights personal stories and words of wisdom from a diverse group of business leaders in and around the Washington D.C. area.   You can access Gustavo’s Profile in Success at http://bernhardtwealth.com/Profiles/CalderonGustavo.pdf

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