PP426 Half Unit
Public Policy for Blockchains and Digital Assets
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Frank Muci Lander
Availability
This course is available on the Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-Columbia), Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-Sciences Po), Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-University of Toronto), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in Data Science for Public Policy, Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
Priority will be given to School of Public Policy students. Students from outside of the School of Public Policy should submit a statement in support of their request.
Deadline for application: 9am on Monday of week 1 of Autumn Term (including requests from School of Public Policy students). We aim to inform students of the outcome of their request by 12noon on Tuesday of week 1 of Autumn Term.
For queries contact: mpa@lse.ac.uk
Requisites
Recommended pre-requisites:
The course has no formal prerequisites, though previous coursework or experience in economics, finance, business, computer science, law or other related fields will be beneficial.
Course content
Public permissionless blockchains and "crypto" assets have attracted massive attention, investment and talent. But what do distributed ledger technologies and the socioeconomic systems that are built on them amount to? What economic or social purpose, if any, do they serve? What are the costs, risks and opportunities associated with this technology, financial infrastructure and purported asset class? Most importantly, how should it be understood and addressed by policymakers?
This course is designed to (1) equip students with a technical, economic, social, legal and historical understanding of the “crypto” phenomenon and (2) develop student understanding of the theoretical frameworks, analytical tools and perspectives necessary to have informed views about how various aspects of this sector are and should be regulated. The course will draw on a variety of sources including academic research, case studies, whitepapers, news reporting, opinion pieces, and online media.
The course is interdisciplinary but emphasizes economic concepts and ideas. It will also have a comparative and international focus. The course will also cover permissioned DLTs and other emerging financial technologies, but the emphasis will be on the permissionless blockchains, the technological underpinning of “crypto.” Students may be interested in the course for a variety of reasons, including general education, as preparation for roles in regulatory bodies, government, finance, or advocacy organizations.
Teaching
33 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
The course will have two 90 minute ‘Harvard style’ lecture/seminars per week. All students taking the course will need to attend both teaching sessions each week. These are interactive sessions where student participation is expected.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce formative outlines for their essay and policy memo in the Autumn Term.
Indicative reading
The course will feature materials from a wide variety of sources, including journal articles, newsletters, blogs, and other online media. Below is a list of key reference materials for the course:
- Arvind Narayanan, Joseph Bonneau, Edward Felten, Andrew Miller, and Steven Goldfeder. 2016. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction. Princeton University Press, USA.
- Robert J. Shiller, 2015. "Irrational Exuberance," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 3, number 10421.
- Levine, Mathew. “The Crypto Story: Where it came from, what it all means, and why it still matters.” Bloomberg Businessweek. October 31st 2022.
- Nakamoto, Satoshi: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (August 21, 2008)
- Buterin, Vitalik: “Ethereum: A Next-Generation Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform.” (January 2014).
Assessment
Memo (60%, 2500 words)
Essay (40%, 1500 words)
The essay will be due during Autumn Term and the policy memo due in the period between Autumn and Winter Terms.
Key facts
Department: School of Public Policy
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 20
Average class size 2024/25: 20
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills