Overview

This eSeminar is a recorded session of the "Introduction to Virtual Assets" webinar held on 23 January 2025.

This eSeminar covers the VA market landscape, key use cases, risks, and products. It delves into blockchain fundamentals, smart contracts, and the distinctions between centralised and decentralised finance.

Note: While this course is part of the Certification Programme for Virtual Asset Professionals (CVAP) Core Curriculum (Module 1), it does NOT count toward certification if taken as a STANDALONE module. Enrol in the CVAP Core Curriculum to obtain the CVAP certification.

Objective

By completing this course, you will be able to:
a. describe the market landscape and ecosystem of the VA financial market;
b. describe the main types of VA and risks associated with VAs, the common types of VA-related products and services, as well as the market data sources commonly used in the VA asset markets;
c. explain how smart contracts work, their key risks and application areas, and describe smart contracts standards;
d. describe the types and basic features of blockchain, including consensus mechanisms and trust frameworks, and explain how blockchain works for storing records, verifying transactions, and maintaining the integrity and security;
e. describe and compare different types of wallets, including hot wallet versus cold wallets and custodian wallets versus non-custodial wallets;
f. explain the concept of centralised finance and decentralised finance, and factors to consider when deciding whether to use either platform.

Content

1. Overview of VAs
• VAs, market landscape and ecosystem
• Major categories and use-cases of VAs
• Risks of investing in VAs
• VA-related products and services
• VA storage arrangements
• Traditional finance versus decentralised finance
2. The technologies underlying VAs
• Key properties of blockchain and layers of blockchain networks
• Key features of blockchain transactions
• Smart contracts: key risks and standards
• Consensus mechanisms
• Trust frameworks

Who should attend

It is primarily targeted at practitioners carrying out VA-related activities, asset managers, brokers and traders and sophisticated professional investors who may consider investing in virtual assets. It is also applicable to senior management such as responsible officers, managers-in-charge, directors, CIOs, COOs, CEOs of the financial institutions.