Students

AFIN8016 – Payments, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Professor - Unit Coordinator
Sean Foley
sean.foley@mq.edu.au
4 Eastern Road, Office 526 (Level 5)
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to MFin or MActPrac or MBkgFin or MCom or MBusAnalytics and (ACST6003 or AFIN8014)) or ACCG6003
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The development of Cryptocurrencies, using the fundamentals of cryptography and blockchain, is predicted to have significant impact on banks, financial institutions, governments, economies and business in general. The decentralization of payment networks and the establishment of an ecosystem of various stakeholders results in various benefits and challenges that will influence their adoption and diffusion in the marketplace. This unit examines cryptocurrencies and blockchain and their emergence and role in financial markets. This unit discuss the technical underpinnings of blockchain and key concepts such as decentralization and consensus algorithms. Students will learn how these new financial instruments and technologies are disrupting traditional ways of doing business.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Understand the fundamentals of blockchain and demonstrate knowledge of theoretical crypto-currency concepts and their applications.
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate the use of cryptocurrencies, as an individual and/or group, from a social and economic perspective with regard to regulatory frameworks that govern adoption and use.
  • ULO3: Apply different financial instruments and technology infrastructures including digital currencies and blockchain that facilitate the operation of financial markets.
  • ULO4: Compare and contrast how these new instruments and technologies are disrupting traditional ways of doing business in the financial industry, as an individual and/or group.

General Assessment Information

Late Submission Penalties

If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days. Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

Example 1 (out of 100):

If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

Example 2 (out of 30):

If you score 27/30 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

Extensions

Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration. Need help? Review the Special Consideration page for further details.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Professional practice: DeFi protocol analysis 30% No 26/04/2026 Group No Open AI
Professional practice: Blockchain system analysis 30% No 29/05/2026 Individual Yes Open AI
Formal examination 40% No Exam Period Individual No Observed

Professional practice: DeFi protocol analysis

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 26/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI

The purpose of this assessment is to enable you to develop expertise in a specific DeFi protocol.

You will identify a specific DeFi protocol and produce a research report.

Skills in focus:

  • Collaboration and communication
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Digital skills
  • Discipline knowledge

Deliverable(s): Research report [max 3,000 words] Group assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the fundamentals of blockchain and demonstrate knowledge of theoretical crypto-currency concepts and their applications.
  • Critically evaluate the use of cryptocurrencies, as an individual and/or group, from a social and economic perspective with regard to regulatory frameworks that govern adoption and use.

Professional practice: Blockchain system analysis

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 29/05/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open AI

The purpose of this assessment is to enable you to demonstrate the expertise you have acquired in the unit by analysing a blockchain system.

You will conduct research on a blockchain system and provide insights based on the information obtained.

Skills in focus:

  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Digital skills
  • Discipline knowledge
  • Work readiness

Deliverable(s): Written report [max 2,000 words] Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the fundamentals of blockchain and demonstrate knowledge of theoretical crypto-currency concepts and their applications.
  • Critically evaluate the use of cryptocurrencies, as an individual and/or group, from a social and economic perspective with regard to regulatory frameworks that govern adoption and use.
  • Apply different financial instruments and technology infrastructures including digital currencies and blockchain that facilitate the operation of financial markets.
  • Compare and contrast how these new instruments and technologies are disrupting traditional ways of doing business in the financial industry, as an individual and/or group.

Formal examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate the expertise you have gained in this unit.

You will participate in a 2-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page. You should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips.

Deliverable(s): Formal exam Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the fundamentals of blockchain and demonstrate knowledge of theoretical crypto-currency concepts and their applications.
  • Critically evaluate the use of cryptocurrencies, as an individual and/or group, from a social and economic perspective with regard to regulatory frameworks that govern adoption and use.
  • Apply different financial instruments and technology infrastructures including digital currencies and blockchain that facilitate the operation of financial markets.
  • Compare and contrast how these new instruments and technologies are disrupting traditional ways of doing business in the financial industry, as an individual and/or group.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures to be held on Fridays, 12-2pm - 4WR, 220 Tutorial Room

Workshops directly after, Friday 2-3pm - 4WR, 220 Tutorial Room

 

See iLearn for full details including schedule and semester breaks. 

 

Textbook:

While we do not have a textbook, resources will be provided to you for additional readings and learning materials

 

Unit web page:

Course materials will be available on the learning management system (iLearn). It is essential that you regularly visit the unit’s web page. You will have access to the Unit Guide, announcements, supplementary reading materials, lecture and tutorial materials, and staff consultation hours here.

The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. To access the web page, you need to enter your username and password and use second-factor authentication. You should contact IT Helpdesk if you need any assistance at: at: https://students.mq.ed u.au/support/technology/service- desk

 

Learning and teaching activities:

Classes for AFIN8016 in Session 1 2026 comprise (1) a weekly 120-minute face-to-face on-campus lecture and (2) a weekly 60-minute face-to-face on-campus tutorials. Both are recorded online though in-person attendance is recommended.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.05 of the Handbook