Description

IMPORTANT:

• This is a hands-on course with several coding sessions
• Intermediate programming knowledge very welcome (PY, R)
• ECON, STAT, IT background very welcome
• Students are expected to bring their laptop (MacOS) or have an available workstation to perform the hands-on lab exercises (iCloud)
• Knowledge of version-control systems is necessary (We will use Github, so if you are not familiar with Git functionality, please look into some tutorials and try it out before the class. Some links on GitHub are given below)

1. GitPro book https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2
2. Git & GitHub Crash Course for Beginners video https://youtu.be/SWYqp7iY_Tc
3. Git & GitHub Crash Course for Beginners https://youtu.be/RGOj5yH7evk
4. GitHub Desktop 2.0 https://youtu.be/S7f8qJscmRE (GitHub Desktop - it is some sort of an interface to use git functionality without using command line/terminal)
5. Deep Dive into Git (intermediary level talk) https://youtu.be/dBSHLb1B8sw

• Study CRIX, thecrix.de
• Study Quantlet, quantlet.de. 

Course Description

Cryptocurrency refers to a type of digital asset that uses a distributed ledger (or blockchain technology) to enable decentralised but secure transactions. Although the technology is widely misunderstood, many central banks are considering launching their own national cryptocurrency. In contrast to most data in financial economics, detailed data on the history of every transaction in the cryptocurrency complex are freely available. Furthermore, empirically-oriented research is just beginning. Some examples  are  

- Lendoit runs a blockchain-based P2P-Lending platform
- Meet BiPS – This P2P Loans ‘Stablecoin-Plus’ Crypto Beats Facebook’s Libra Off The Mark
- PWC announced a blockchain auditing services
- European Central Bank: In search for stability in crypto-assets: are stablecoins the solution?

This presents an extraordinary research opportunity for academia. We provide some insights into the mechanics of cryptocurrencies, describing summary statistics and focusing on potential future research avenues in financial economics. 

Course Objectives

You will get insights into the area of one of the most demanded digital technologies. Practically relevant knowledge of methods and presentation skills will be trained. The use of GH and quantlet.de guarantees compliance with reproducibility and transparency. 

You will learn how to work in a competitive team and advance your skills in PY. Modern viz-tools will upgrade your current statistical data analytics platform.

You will experiment with Blockchain Applications and Cryptocurrencies. Invited guest researchers will evaluate your projects (data, code, presentation). Visit the BRC Blockchain Research Center, blockchain-research-center.de, partners in Berlin!

Possible Projects:

• GAN’s for CRIX
• Bitwala Projects, e.g. liquidity of cryptos
• Sentiment: Market acceptance, ICOs, smart contract
• Systematic review for BC tech
• Factors driven crypto-markets
• Statistics of issued and vanished CC Tokens and Exchanges
• Alternative Banking (e.g. P2P Lending)
• AI in Finance (e.g. Robo Advisory)
• Rethinking traditional approaches (e.g. Smart Derivative Contracts)
• Opinion target detection of crypto news (Sentiment analysis related topic)

Further Literature to inspire your project:

• Blockchain, FinTechs and their relevance for international financial institutions
• Blockchain-Based Token Sales, Initial Coin Offerings, the Democratization of Public Capital Markets
• Bitcoin-ETFs
• Dynamic Network Perspective of Cryptocurrencies
• Dynamic Topic Modelling for Cryptocurrency Community Forums
• How to create a Blockchain
• ICO Returns
• Cryptofinance
• Disruptive Blockchain Technology in Finance
• Illegal Activities using Cryptos
• Mining Pool Concentration
• Megatrend Digitalisation - Is Bitcoin outshining Gold?

Feel free to find further inspiration in quantlet.com