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Cryptoassets in Global Context (LAWS90216)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
October
Lecturer
Associate Professor Tatiana Cutts (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | October - Online |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
CSIRO’s Data61 network describes blockchain technology as ‘a revolutionary new approach to database management’ that will prompt ‘significant changes in existing Australian industries’. Yet, despite significant investments of time and money by institutions around the world, we still lack robust proof of social or commercial benefit. 12 years have passed since Bitcoin’s ‘Genesis Block’ was mined, but that foundational use case—digital cash without traditional intermediaries—has not challenged the legacy payments infrastructure. Where blockchain-based assets are used as monetary instruments rather than investments, those transactions are atypical in subject-matter and frequency.
All of this begs the question: if the goal of blockchain technology is to eliminate ‘trusted third parties’, why is that something to aspire to? Is the answer to that question commercial or political? And, most importantly, is it correct? The aim of this subject is to answer these questions, and to do so by situating cryptoassets in their global context—as a matter of law, economics, politics and society.
Principal topics will include:
- Digital money
- From Mesopotamia to M-Pesa
- Local currencies
- Gaming currencies
- Introduction to blockchain technology, cryptoassets and smart contracts
- Blockchain: law and commerce
- Supply chains
- Pseudonymity and disintermediation
- Digital assets and money
- Blockchain: politics and society
- Legal systems and social norms
- Mining pools and coding cores
- Decision-making and accountability
- Digital money and future commerce
- Cashlessness and crime
- Data, identity and money
- Social and economic inclusion
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Grasp and articulate key ideas concerning the theory of money, and identify what is at stake (for countries, companies and consumers) in designing digital currency;
- Understand the rationale of Bitcoin, and the mechanisms by which blind consensus protocols and smart contracts work;
- Isolate legal, political, economic and social challenges to widespread adoption of blockchain technology;
- Draw their own conclusions about whether blockchain technology will and should bring about 'significant changes in existing Australian industries'.
Generic skills
A student who has completed this subject will have developed the following skills:
- Mastery of principal areas of law as they relate to blockchain technology and digital money;
- Expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills for critical and independent thought and reflection in the context of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency;
- Mastery of technical research skills relevant to consumer claims;
- Problem-solving skills, applied to the critical evaluation of new applications and research relevant to the area of blockchain technologies; and
- The ability to expertly communicate specialised and complex information, ideas, concepts and theories relevant to blockchain technologies and digital money in global perspective.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS90169 | Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Law | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Take-home examination
| 9 - 12 December 2022 | 100% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- October - Online
Principal coordinator Tatiana Cutts Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total time commitment 144 hours Pre teaching start date 14 September 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 12 October 2022 to 18 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 19 September 2022 Census date 13 October 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 11 November 2022 Assessment period ends 12 December 2022 October contact information
Lecturer
Associate Professor Tatiana Cutts (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024