Bitcoin and digital assets are increasingly mainstream, but there’s still plenty of people wondering what is crypto and how the underlying blockchain technology works. Over the years the industry has diversified and become undeniably complex. From non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to decentralized finance (DeFi), the space is constantly evolving and difficult to keep up with.
If you’re looking to start from scratch and learn the basics, here are the top three online courses that can help you.
MIT Media Lab Cryptocurrency Course
No other institution commands more respect in the tech community than the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Which is why the MIT Media Lab’s cryptocurrency course is on the top of this list.
This simple online course delves into the basics of blockchain technology, the economics of Bitcoin, the development of decentralized applications or dApps, the macroeconomics of token-based platforms, and the future challenges facing the industry.
Taught by Gary Gensler, Former Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Neha Narula, the Director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, the course extends for six weeks and costs $3,200.
The Complete Cryptocurrency Course: 5 in 1 – Udemy
If the MIT course is too expensive, you could consider the Complete Cryptocurrency Course: 5 in 1 on Udemy. The course walks you through the basics of crypto assets, the best way to buy and store them, and the strategies investors use to create a diversified portfolio of digital assets.
The course goes a step further and also helps you understand the future of cryptocurrencies, the regulatory challenges facing the industry, and the security risks of investing in digital assets. There’s even a short module on identifying fraud and scams.
While the course may not be as prestigious as the MIT one, it includes 213 lectures, 24 hours of video content and sells for a mere $11.99.
Balaji Srinivasan – Coinbase
Sometimes the best ways to learn are completely free, and Balaji Srinivasan’s collection of lectures is certainly proof of that. Srinivasan is one of the most respected figures in the crypto community. After brief stints as the CTO of Coinbase and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Srinivasan co-founded several ventures including Earn.com (acquired by Coinbase), Counsyl (acquired by Myriad), Teleport (acquired by Topia), and Coin Center.
Stanford eCorner collected some of his lectures that serve as a launchpad for newcomers to the industry. They range from a three-minute overview of what is Bitcoin to a 45-minute lecture on building crypto ecosystems.
Takeaway
If you’ve ever wondered what is crypto and how Bitcoin works, these courses should help you get started with the basics.
