Course Information

Course Information
Course Title Code Language Type Semester L+U Hour Credits ECTS
Financial Technologies and Blockchain Applications DEP 503 Turkish Compulsory 3 + 0 3.0 6.0
Prerequisite Courses
Course Level Graduate
Mode of delivery The course may be conducted through face-to-face and/or synchronous online sessions. Course materials are structured around academic articles, policy documents, and technical reports.
Course Coordinator Doç. Dr. Ali ÖZER
Instructor(s) Doç. Dr. Ali ÖZER (Bahar)
Goals The aim of this course is to provide an advanced analytical framework for understanding the theoretical foundations of financial technologies (FinTech), the transformation dynamics of the digital financial ecosystem, and the structural impact of blockchain technology on the financial system. The course examines payment systems, open banking, centralized and decentralized digital monetary structures, crypto-asset economics, smart contracts, tokenization, decentralized finance (DeFi), and the regulatory implications of digital transformation within an integrated perspective. It aims to equip students with the ability to critically evaluate digital financial architectures, interpret the implications of technological innovations for financial stability and policy design, and conceptually analyze blockchain-based applications.
Course Content The course begins with the conceptual evolution of financial technologies and the transformation of digital finance. It examines the digitalization of traditional financial intermediation mechanisms, open banking systems, and the transformation of payment infrastructures. The technical and economic foundations of blockchain technology are analyzed within the framework of distributed ledger structures, consensus mechanisms, and cryptographic security principles. Crypto-asset classifications and token economics are evaluated in terms of store of value, medium of exchange, and governance functions. Smart contracts and programmable finance are discussed alongside decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. In addition, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), financial regulation, anti-money laundering (AML), and know-your-customer (KYC) mechanisms are examined in relation to the digital financial ecosystem. The course also addresses issues such as financial stability, systemic risk, cybersecurity, and data governance from the perspective of blockchain-based financial innovation.
Learning Outcomes
# Öğrenme Kazanımı
1 Analyzes the theoretical foundations of financial technologies and the historical evolution of digital finance.
2 Evaluates digital payment systems, open banking, and the transformation of financial intermediation mechanisms at conceptual and structural levels.
3 Explains and compares the technical components of blockchain technology (distributed ledger structures, consensus mechanisms, and cryptographic principles).
4 Analyzes crypto-asset economics and tokenization processes in terms of their financial functions.
5 Assesses smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications from economic and governance perspectives.
Lesson Plan (Weekly Topics)
Week Topics/Applications Method
1. Week Conceptual framework and historical evolution of financial technologies. Emergence of digital finance, transformation of financial intermediation, and structural effects of technological innovation on the financial system.
2. Week Digital payment systems and transformation of payment infrastructures. Electronic money, mobile payment systems, and the open banking ecosystem.
3. Week Technical foundations of blockchain technology: distributed ledger structures, cryptographic security, and network architectures.
4. Week Consensus mechanisms and network security: Proof of Work, Proof of Stake, and alternative validation models.
5. Week Crypto-asset economics and token classifications. Store of value, medium of exchange, and governance functions.
6. Week Smart contracts and programmable finance. Automation, transparency, and principles of contract design.
7. Week Decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem: lending protocols, decentralized exchanges, and liquidity mechanisms.
8. Week Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their potential implications for monetary policy.
9. Week Financial regulation, compliance mechanisms (AML/KYC), and the legal dimension of digital finance.
10. Week Tokenization and digitalization of assets. Representation of securities on blockchain infrastructures.
11. Week Financial stability, systemic risk, and macroeconomic implications of crypto markets.
12. Week Cybersecurity, data governance, and risk management in blockchain-based systems.
13. Week Global digital finance trends and international comparisons. Emerging market perspectives.
14. Week The future of financial technologies: Web3, digital identity, artificial intelligence integration, and sustainable finance perspective.
*Midterm and final exam dates are not specified in the 14-week course operation plan. Midterm and final exam dates are held on the dates specified in the academic calendar with the decision of the University Senate.
The Matrix for Course & Program Learning Outcomes
No Program Requirements Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
10 With the new economic transformation, the use of financial technologies and multivariate analyses can develop information
Relations with Education Attainment Program Course Competencies
Program Requirements DK1 DK2 DK3 DK4 DK5
PY10 4 4 5 5 5
Recommended Sources
Ders Kitabı veya Notu Ders Kitabı veya Ders Notu bulunmamaktadır.
Diğer Kaynaklar
  • Akkaya, M. (2022). Digital finance. Nobel Publications.
  • Narayanan, A., Bonneau, J., Felten, E., Miller, A., & Goldfeder, S. (2016). Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies: a comprehensive introduction. Princeton University Press.
ECTS credits and course workload
ECTS credits and course workload Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Ders İçi
Class Hours 14 3 42
Ders Dışı
Preparation, After Class Study 14 2 28
Research 14 1 14
Presentation (Preparation) 14 3 42
Practice 14 1 14
Sınavlar
Midterm 1 1 1
Homework 1 6 6
Homework Preparation 1 4 4
Final 1 2 2
Total Workload 153
*AKTS = (Total Workload) / 25,5 ECTS Credit of the Course 6.0