Students
AFIN8016 – Payments, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Di Bu
Cissy Zhan
|
|---|---|
| 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 Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments)
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional practice: DeFi protocol analysis | 30% | No | Week 7 | Group | No | Open AI |
| Formal examination | 40% | No | Exam Period | Individual | No | Observed |
| Professional practice: Blockchain system analysis | 30% | No | 30/10/2026 | Individual | Yes | Open AI |
Professional practice: DeFi protocol analysis
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
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.
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.
Professional practice: Blockchain system analysis
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 30/10/2026
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.
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
|
No prescribed textbook is required. The unit will utilize various library resources, including research papers, book chapters, case studies, etc. All materials will be provided via iLearn or during the lecture. We will supplement the lecture materials with readings from journals and other textbooks. A list of relevant material will be provided via iLearn. |
Unit Schedule
Week 1 | Introduction to the Course!
Week 2 | Undestanding Payment Systems Old + New
Week 3 | Introduction to Blockchain – Decentralized Payments
Week 4 | Decentralized Computing – Enter Ethereum
Week 5 | Tokenized Assets
Week 6 | Stablecoins – decentralized dollars
Week 7 | Exchange architecture for digital assets
Week 8 | DeFi – Decentralized Finance
***MID-SESSION BREAK ***
Week 9 | Hacks, Attacks, Exploits
Week 10 | Privacy and the Dark Net
Week 11 | The future of Cryptocurrencies
Week 12 | The Future of the Financial System
Week 13 | Recap
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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.
- Ask a Study Coach
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
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:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
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 https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk.
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