COMP4541 Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Smart Contracts

Spring Semester, 2024 - 25

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Please go to HKUST Canvas (course link) for the update of slides, assignments, and some announcements.

Week Date Topics Events
1 5 Feb 2025
7 Feb 2025
Course Introduction
Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptography
2 12 Feb 2025
14 Feb 2025
Bitcoin and Its Mechanism Course Add/Drop Due by 15 Feb
3 19 Feb 2025
21 Feb 2025
Bitcoin Scripts and Wallets Dispatch Assignment 1 after class
4 26 Feb 2025
28 Feb 2025
Consensus in the Internet Setting
5 5 Mar 2025
7 Mar 2025
Incentives and Accountability in Consensus Assignment 1 Due by 7 Mar 23:59
Dispatch Assignment 2 after class
6 12 Mar 2025
14 Mar 2025
Ethereum and Its Virtual Machine (EVM)
7 19 Mar 2025
21 Mar 2025
Programming in Solidity Assignment 2 Due by 21 Mar 23:59
Dispatch Assignment 3 after class
8 26 Mar 2025
28 Mar 2025
Common Vulnerabilities in Smart Contracts Dispatch Project during class
 
9 No class this week
10 9 Apr 2025
11 Apr 2025
Stablecoins and Lending Protocols Assignment 3 Due by 11 Apr 23:59
1116 Apr 2025
No class on 18 Apr
Decentralized Exchanges
1223 Apr 2025
25 Apr 2025
Maximal Extractable Value (MEV)
NFT
Dispatch Assignment 4 on 23 Apr
 
1330 Apr 2025
2 May 2025
Payment Channels and State Channels
14 7 May 2025
9 May 2025
Rollups: Optimistic and ZKAssignment 4 Due by 7 May 23:59
Project due by 21 May 23:59
XTo be announcedExam Day (to be announced; arrive early)
Final Exam in Venue to be announced