A 5 ECTS micro-credential course consisting of 1 study-unit "DLT5302 - Investments, Securities, Derivatives and Cryptocurrencies"

To apply, select the "DLT5302 Investments, Securities, Derivatives and Cryptocurrencies" study-unit. Get started by accessing this link.

Unlocking Modern Finance: Investments, Securities, Derivatives and Cryptocurrencies

As global finance continues to evolve at breakneck speed, the need to understand both traditional investment frameworks and new digital asset frontiers has never been greater. From stocks and bonds to Bitcoin and decentralised finance, today's investors and professionals must navigate a world where boundaries between financial instruments, markets, and technologies are increasingly blurred. 

This course is designed to give students a firm grounding in the fundamentals of investment and portfolio theory, the mechanics of securities and derivatives markets, and the emerging world of cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets. Across ten carefully curated sessions, you'll explore how financial markets function, how value is determined, how risk is managed - and how innovations like blockchain and tokenomics are reshaping everything. 

With an emphasis on both conceptual clarity and real-world application, this course equips students with the analytical tools to assess investment opportunities, understand market structures, and formulate effective strategies across traditional and crypto-based markets. 

Intended Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Explain the core concepts of financial markets, investment strategies, and risk-return trade-offs. 
• Apply portfolio theory and asset valuation techniques to both traditional and crypto assets. 
• Understand the structure and function or derivative markets and their applications in risk management. 
• Evaluate the economic design of crypto tokens through tokenomics and fundamental analysis. 
• Navigate market microstructure concepts, trader behaviour, and order-driven markets in both centralised and decentralised exchanges. 
• Analyse trading strategies and assess market volatility across a range of asset classes. 
• Critically assess how technologies like blockchain and tokenisation are transforming finance and investment management. 

Target Audience:

• Students of Finance or Economics: Seeking to bridge traditional finance knowledge with digital asset innovation. 
• Aspiring Portfolio Managers and Traders: Wanting to understand both securities markets and crypto strategies. 
• Fintech Professionals and Entrepreneurs: Gaining insight into investment principles, tokenomics, and market dynamics.
• Regulators and Policy Analysts: Exploring how crypto markets interact with traditional market structures. 
• Crypto Enthusiasts and Investors: Wishing to formalise and deepen their knowledge of market behaviour and investment theory. 
• Risk and Compliance Analysts: Understanding how new asset classes alter traditional risk frameworks. 

Session Outline: 

Topic Key Concepts: 

1. Introduction to Finance and Financial Markets: Covers the foundational structure of money and capital markets, and introduces digital assets as a transformative force in finance. 
2. Risk, Return and Portfolio Theory: Explores core investment concepts, including diversification, expected returns, and portfolio construction - with applications to crypto portfolios. 
3. Derivative Markets: From Options to DeFi: Examines futures, options, and swaps alongside emerging crypto derivatives like synthetic tokens and liquidity pools. 
4. Valuation and Tokenomics: Introduces valuation models for traditional securities and how they can be adapted to price crypto assets based on supply, utility, and governance. 
5. Market Structure, Trader Types and Order-Driven Markets: Analyses how exchanges function, the role of different trader types, and how these dynamics differ between traditional and decentralised platforms. 
6. Portfolio Management and Crypto Risk Strategies: Focuses on capital allocation, rebalancing, and risk-adjusted performance metrics, including tailored approaches for volatile crypto markets. 
7. Fundamental Analysis and Tokenomics: Evaluates crypto projects using a framework that includes technology, team, market fit, and economic incentives. 
8. Market Volatility and Risk Management: Unpacks the sources of market swings and provides strategies for hedging, rebalancing, and managing exposure. 
9. Trading Strategies: Traditional and Crypto - Surveys a variety of trading approaches, from technical analysis to yield farming and arbitrage. 
10. Making Smart Investment Decisions in a Changing World: Brings together all course themes to guide students in aligning investment decisions with goals, risk appetite, and emerging trends like ESG and AI. 

Key Quick Facts: 

Application link (select the "DLT5302 - Investments, Securities, Derivatives and Cryptocurrencies" study-unit)

Study-Unit details can be found online.

ECTS Credits: 5

Duration: 10 sessions (Monday to Friday, between 17.00 and19.30)

Dates: October 6 - 17, 2025, weekdays only

Deadline to Apply: 28th September, 2025; applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis

Requirements to Apply: A first degree in relevant disciplines

Fees: 500 Euros 

Location: Online (links will be circulated via email)

Certification: Subject to a successful submission of a final assignment, participants will be awarded a course certificate worth 5 ECTS credits.