Graduate course on Bitcoin: theory, practice and protection of financial sovereignty

This graduate-level course offers a deep dive into Bitcoin—blending theory, technical practice, and a strong emphasis on financial sovereignty. Over several weeks, students explore everything from cryptography and consensus to second-layer solutions like Lightning, all while learning how to build and protect decentralized systems resistant to centralized control.

Syllabus and learning goals

The syllabus covers Bitcoin’s protocol design, consensus mechanisms, wallet and key management, applied cryptography, mining economics, mempool dynamics, and fee markets. Significant attention is given to the Lightning Network, privacy-enhancing techniques, and regulatory landscapes. By the end, students will be able to assess technical and economic risks and design solutions that strengthen decentralization.

Teaching methods and practical labs

Learning is hands-on and multidisciplinary: classes mix academic readings, direct source code review, and live labs. Students engage in active learning—signing transactions, running nodes, and testing under real-world conditions—bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.

Technical exercises and forensic training

Lab work includes writing and signing transactions, building scripts, and simulating attacks like chain reorganizations and double-spend attempts. Lightning Network integration—channel management, routing, and privacy evaluation—is also practiced. Forensic modules cover transaction tracing, mempool analysis, and block auditing, giving students the tools to evaluate security, scalability, and privacy in practical scenarios.