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<!-- Learn About XRP content -->
        <h3>Learn More About XRP</h3>
      <p></p>
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      <p></p>
      <p></p>
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      <p></p>
      <h2>What is a blockchain?</h2>
      <h1>Infrastructure for today's digital economy</h1>
      <p>A blockchain is a distributes ledger/database that's structured as
        sequential lists (or blocks) of transactions. Each new list includes
        the fingerprint of the previous list, linking them into an irreversible
        chain.

        These lists of transactions or blocks are broadcaststed to the
        network and verified by a set of computer (nodes). After a block is
        verified by all nodes, the transactions cannot be altered or deleted,
        making it a secure and trusless system.

        Now, let's go through an analogy that paints a clearer picture of why
        blockchains are useful.
      </p>
      <h1>A simple blockchain analogy - community begginings</h1>
      <p>Long ago, the families that founded our community had to trade
      with each other to get the resource they needed. The milkman would
      trade milk for the farmer's eggs, the hunter would trade meat for the
      tailor's clothes, and so on.
      <br>
      <br>

      The condfidence and trust between the craftsmen and farmers in our
      community began to grow, so they would make promises and IOUs. "I
      will give you two chickens now, and in return, you will give me six
      eggs next week."

      <br>
      <br>

      But with so many promises being made, it became hard to keep track
      of who owed what to whom. So our community came up with a system to
      keep records of everyone's credits-we appointed a "Leder-Keeper"
      to keep track of all the promises made between the traders.

      <br>
      <br>

      This system worked well for a while, but the Leder-Keeper soon began to
      manipulate the system for his own benefit. He would charge a fee for every
      promise made, accept bribes to change the terms of agreements, and so on.
      This couldn't continue.

      <br>
      <br>

      The community worked tirelessly to create a new system-one where
      EVERYONE had thier own ledger. This public ledger system saw all trades
      occur at the community square, where each trade was recorded on a ledger
      held by each family.

      <br>
      <br>

      Every Sunday, the entire community would gather togeter to compare
      ledgers and make sure everything tallied up. Sometimes, one family's
      ledger would contain different information from the rest of the
      community. In this case, we would compare all ledgers to reach a
      consensus on which infomation was correct.

      <br>
      <br>

      With everyone in the community having their own copy of the ledger, it
      became impossible for one person to manipulate the system. The community
      had finally found a way to trade fairly and securely.

      <br>
      <br>

      The same principle applies to blockchain. it is a decentralized and
      distributed system that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof
      transactions. In a block-chain, real world assets can be represented
      as well as currencies, the most common application.
      </p>
      <h1>What does it mean to be distributed and decentralized?</h1>
      <p>
        <br>
        <br>

        A blockchain is decentralized because there is no central authority
        that controls the network. Instead, the network is powered by a global
        community of users who work together to verify and approve tranactions.
        Anyone can join and paticipate in a public blockchain.

        <br>
        <br>

        Distributed means that the ledger is not stored on one central location
        that can be hacked or manipulated. Instead, it is spread out across
        multiple computers (nodes) around the world.
      </p>
      <h1>What are the benefits of these traits?</h1>
      <p>
        <br>
        <br>
        The fact that blockchain technology is decentralized and distributed makes
        it incredibly trustless. Essentially, we aren't foreced into trusting
        the actions of a central authority that can be corrupted.

        <br>
        <br>

        There is also an increase in security because there no central point
        of failure that can be targeted by hackers. Plus, because every
        transaction is approvided by the global community of users, it becomes
        very difficult to tamper with.

        <br>
        <br>

        This is in direct contrast to a centralized system, where a single
        entiry can cancel transactions, manipulate data, or bring the entire
        system to a halt. A centralized system is also much more vulnerable to
        outages because if the central enity goes dowm, the entire system does
        as well.
      </p>


      <h4>Lesson 2: What is a cryptocurrency?</h4>
      <p>
        <br>
        <br>

        A cryptocurrency is a digital asset that uses cryotography to secure and
        verify transactions. Cryptocurrency can be used in many of the same
        ways as traditional fiat currencies, such as means for exchange, of for
        investment purposes
        <br>
        <br>
        But unlike fiate currencies that are issues and controlled by central
        banks, most cryptocurrencies are goverened in a decentralized manner
        by communities and blockchain protocols.
        <br>
        <br>
        Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in
        2009. It was soon followed by other cryptocurrencies that shared many
        of Bitcoin's characteristics but also unique features of their own.

        For example, in 2011, the XRP token (built on the XRP Ledger) was
        created to provide a more sustainable and efficient alternative to
        bitcoin.

        <h2>How do cryptocurrencies work with blockchains?</h2>
        <br>
        <br>
        <p>Cryptocurrences are assets that exist on a blockchain. Public
        blockchains are decentralized and immutable ledgers that serve as a
        a historical record of all transactions on the network. Each blockchains
        has its own rules, protocols and tokenomics.

        If the cryptocurrency or digital asset token is a train, the blockchain
        protocol is the track that it's running on. In other words, the
        blockchain protocol is the technological and cryptographic foundation
        for how digital assets are built and transactions are logged.
        <br>
        <br>

        For example, let's say Jane want to send one Bitcoin to John.

        <br>
        <br>
          <ol>
            <li>First, she creates a transaction on the Bitcoin network that
            includes John's public key (or address) and the amount of Bitcoin
            she wants to send him.</li>

            <li>This transaction is then broadcast to the decentralized network
            of computers that power the Bitcoin netowrk.</li>

            <li>These computers, called miners, verify the transctions by solving
            complex mathematical puzzles.</li>

            <li>Once the transaction is verified, it is added as "block" to the
            Bitcoin network's blockchain and Jane's transaction is complete.</li>

            <li>The entire process happens in a matter of minutes and all
            transactions are publicly verifiable.</li>
          </ol>

          <br>
          <br>

          This is just one example of how a cryptocurrency transaction can work
          with a blockchain. There are many different types of blockchains and
          cryptocurrencies, each with its own set of rules and protocols.

          <br>
          <br>

          Cryptocurrences can be kept safe using a cryptocurrency wallet.
          Unlike a physical wallet, your cryptocurrency doesn't actually live
          inside the wallet. Instead, your wallet stores your private key,
          which is used to speak to the blockchain and access your
          cryptocurrency.

          </p>

        <h2>Other types of digital assets and tokens</h2>

        <p>
          <br>
          <br>
          There are many other types of digital assets/tokens that exist on
          their own blockchain protocols. In fact, through tokenization,
          almost anything can be turned into a digital asset/token.
          <br>
          <br>
          Tokenization is the process of converting a physical asset, such
          as art or real estate, into a digital token that can be stored on a
          blockchain. Tokenization allows for the fractional ownership of
          assets and provides a way to seamlessy transfer the ownership of
          digital assets on a blockchain.
          <br>
          <br>
          Let's take a look at some other types of digital assets or tokens:
          <br>
          <br>
          <h3>Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)</h3>
          <p>
            <br>
            <br>
            NFTs are tokens that represent a unique asset, such as a piece of
            digital art or a collectible. They are called non-funguble
            because each asset is unique and cannot be replaced by another
            identical token. For example, there can only be one Mona Lisa
            painting, and it's the same with NFTs.

          </p>

          <h3>Security tokens (STOs)</h3>
          <p>
            <br>
            <br>
            Security tokens are digital assets that confirm ownership rights,
            such as equity in a company. These tokens usually give investors
            access to a company's profits and can be traded on a secondary
            markets. STOs are regulated by governments and must comply with
            securities laws.
          </p>

          <h3>Stablecoins</h3>
          <p>
            <br>
            <br>
            Stablecoins are digital assets that are pegged to a stable asset,
            such as the US dollar. The purpose of stablecoins is to provides a
            way to store value on a blockchain without the volatility that is
            typically associated with cryptocurrencies.
            <br>
            <br>
            It's vital that all stablecoins are backed by the stable asset they
            are pegged to. For example, a USD-backed stablecoin should have
            $100 worth of USD in reserve for every $100 worth of Stablecoins
            that are in circulation

          </p>
        </p>
      </p>


      <h2>Lesson 3: How do transactions work on a blockchain?</h4>
      <h3>Deciding on one chain of events</h3>
      <p>
        <br>
        Just like any community, nothing is perfect. Before we dive into
        the ways that transactions work on different blockchains, let's
        summarize the downside of some of the most common:
        <br>
        <br>
        Proof of work - requires computing power to propose new transactions.
        This slows down the transactions process and consumes a lot of energy,
        but makes it very difficult to counterfeit.
        <br>
        <br>
        Proof of stake - requires pledging cryptocurrency to propose new
        transactions, which gives advatage to wealthy participants.
        <br>
        <br>
        XRPL consensus mechanism - requires that the majority of nodes (80%) be
        honest as they collabratively add new transactions, which is why the
        reputation of these nodes matter.
        <br>
        <br>
        Proof of work, proof of stake, consensus
        <br>
        <br>
        In a decentralized ledger, there is no one central figure that confirms
        transactions. Instead, the entire netowkr must work together to decide
        which transactions should be accepted and allowed to flow through the
        ledger. This process is called consensus. Think of the ledger as a book
        and consensus as pre-established agreements on how to write new pages.

        <br>
        Consensus can be achieved through various mechanisms, with the most
        common being proof-of-work (PoW) and poof-of-stake (PoS). The XRP
        Ledger uses a unique consensus mechanism, now known as the XRPL
        Consensus Mechanism.
        <br>
        Now that we've gone over the basics of how transactions work on a
        blockchain, let's test your knowledge.


        </p>
        <h2>Lesson 4: What is a smart contract?</h4>
        <h3>Adding code to manual payments</h3>
        <p>
          <br>
          Smart contracts are digital contracts that execute autoomatically
          when certain conditions are met. Stored on a blockchain, Smart
          contracts are tamper-proof and cannot be changed or deleted.
          <br>
          <br>
          They were first proposed by Nick Szabo in 1994, but they didn't gain
          prominence until the release of Ethereum blockchain in 2015.
          In the context of our community, smart contracts can build trust
          between traders, reduce costs, and speed up transactions.
          <br>
          <br>
          Smart contracts could be used to enforce a pre-established agreement
          around carbon credit usage within the community. For example, once
          a community member accumulates a certain number of carbon credits
          (e.g., by planting trees or installing solar panels), one tokenized
          ounce of gold is granted from the community treasury to that
          individual's account automatically. A lot less bureaucracy!
          <br>
          <br>
          In another example, a smart contract could record the live temperature
          inside a milk storage facility. If the temperature exceeds a certain
          threshold, the milk could automatically become void for safety
          reasons. As all records are recorded onto the blockchain where they
          cannot be tampered with by the milk supplier, the community has full
          transparency into the conditions of their milk. There's no need for
          a middleman to check the milk and approve the transactions- the smart
          contract does it automatically.
          <br>
          <br>
          <h2>Do you need smart contracts to build on a blockchain?</h3>
          <br>
          <br>
          Not always. The majority of developers don't need to write smart
          contracts to interact with a blockchain. However, some may need them
          to improve the functionalities that a blockchain offers, depending
          on which one they are building on.
          <br>
          <br>
          The XRP Ledger does not have native smart contracts, but there are
          different ways developers can add these functionalities to it.
          <br>
          <br>
          <h3>Hooks</h3>
          <br>
          <br>
          Hooks are small pieces of code that allow logic to be executed before
          and/or after XRPL transactions. For example, if X occurs, then execute
          Z. We take a closer look at hooks in the 'Intro to new Innovations on
          the XRPL' module.

          Note that Hooks are not yet live on the XRP Ledger and are in the
          proposal stage for now.


          </p>
        <h4>Intro to new innovations on the XRPL</h4>
          <h3>Key takeaway</h3>

          <ul>
            <li>With its democratic amendment process for adding or removing features through validator voting, the XRPL is continuously evolving.
            </li>
            <li>Hooks would allow for smart-contract like functionality, while maintaining the speed and efficiency of the XRPL network.</li>
            <li>Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) would allow unique assets to be tokenized and traded on the XRPL.</li>
            <li>Sidechains allow for experimentation with ledger-level code changes in a way that can interact with the XRPL.</li>
          </ul>
          <br>
          <br>

          <h4>Exciting ways that the XRPL is evolving</h4>
          <br>
          <br>
          The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is powered by a global community of builders,
          developers, creators, validators, and innovators. As such, the XRPL
          is constantly evolving with new innovations that align with the values
          of decentralization, security, sustainability, and scalability.
          <br>
          <br>
          New features are added to the XRPL through the amendment process,
          which uses the core consensus process of the network to approve any
          changes by showing continuous support before those changes go into
          effect. An amendment requires 80% support for two weeks before it is
          applied.
          <br>
          <br>
          Check out three initiatives to expand the XRPL below that have the
          community excited.
          <br>
          <br>
          <h3>Hooks</h3>
          <br>
          <br>
          Hooks is a proposal that would add smart contract functionality to
          the XRPL if it is accepted. Hooks are small pieces of code that allow
          logic to be executed before and/or after transactions.
          <br>
          <br>
          Example: a bank could add a hook to only accept payments from a specific list of addresses to ensure that it only receives money from known entities in order to be
          compliant with regulations.
          <br>
          <br>
          More info about hooks can be found here: <a href="https://xrpl-hooks.readme.io/">https://xrpl-hooks.readme.io/</a>
          <br>
          <br>
          <h3>NFTs</h3>
          <br>
          <br>

          You've probably heard of NFTs-they are all the rage these days. With the now approved NonFungibleTokensV1_1 amendment, anyone is now able to mint, trade, or burn NFTs (and more) on the XRP Ledger Mainnet, as well as test code on the Testnet or Devnet.
          <br>
          <br>

          The NFT-Devnet is a test network running experimental code to support NFTs natively on the XRPL. Here, developers can experiment with advanced features before they become active on the Mainnet (XRPL).
          <br>
          <br>

          The great thing about NFTs on the XRPL is that they're built on top of the existing infrastructure, which makes them secure, as well as economically and environmentally sustainable.
          <br>
          <br>

          In the next course, you can learn how to mint and trade NFTs on the XRPL.

          <br>
          <br>
          <h3>Sidechains</h3>
          <br>
          <br>
          A sidechain is a separate network that runs in parallel to the main network (XRPL).
          Sidechains are connected to the main network through a two-way peg, which allows for assets to be moved back and forth between the two networks with ease.
          <br>
          <br>
          Once fully developed, businesses will be able to use sidechains to create their own custom ledger while still interoperating with the XRPL.
          <br>
          <br>
          More info about sidechains can be found here:
          <a href="https://opensource.ripple.com/docs/xls-38d-cross-chain-bridge/cross-chain-bridges/">https://xrpl.org/federated-sidechains.html#federated-sidechains</a>

          <h3>Additional resources</h3>
          <ul>
          <li><a href="https://xrpl-hooks.readme.io/">XRPL Hooks: Smart Contract proposal for the XRP Ledger</a></li>
          <li><a href="https://xrpl.org/non-fungible-tokens.html">Documentation: NFT Conceptual Overview</a></li>
          <li><a href="https://opensource.ripple.com/docs/xls-38d-cross-chain-bridge/cross-chain-bridges/">Documentation: Federated Sidechains</a></li>
          </ul>
        </p>
      </p>

      <h3>Lesson 5: What's the difference between web 2.0 and web 3.0 development?</h3>
      <h2>Moving from centralized to decentralized</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      Building on web 3.0 offers new challenges and opportunities that are different from those in web 2.0.

      <br>
      <br>
      With blockchain technology, developers can create decentralized applications that are secure, transparent, and not controlled by any single entity.
      <br>
      <br>
      Let's look at how the web has evolved over the years and what makes web 3.0 so different.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Web 1.0</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      Representing the first version of the internet, web 1.0 saw the development and release of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. People could now get the information they needed with just a few clicks.
      <br>
      <br>
      Web pages were static and there was little in the way of content contribution or user interaction, which is why web 1.0 is sometimes referred to as the 'read-only' web era.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Web 2.0</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      The second generation of the web brought us social media, blogs, and other user-generated content. It became possible for users to create their own content and share it with the world, which is why this time is coined as the 'social web' era.
      <br>
      <br>
      Web pages became more dynamic and personalization became possible with the advent of cookies, which allowed websites to store information about user preferences.
      <br>
      <br>
      While users could now interact with content, they were still limited to doing so within the confines of centralized applications. Their data wasn't owned by them and they had little control over how it was used.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Web 3.0</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      The next generation of the web is being built on the blockchain. With blockchain,

      developers can create decentralized applications that don't require a central server or

      third-party service. This allows for a more secure and resilient web that isn't reliant on

      any single point of failure. And the apps share a common backend. Developers are

      excited about this new architecture as it allows ownership and tracking of digital items
      across distinct applications.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Web3's decentralized application development</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      While web 1.0 allowed us to read content and the emergence of web 2.0 allowed anyone to create their own content, web 3.0 actually enables these creators to OWN
      their content.
      <br>
      <br>
      Web applications have traditionally been centralized. This means that there is a central server that stores all of the data and manages all of the computations. The client, or user, interacts with this central server to access the information or application.
      <br>
      <br>
      With decentralized applications, there is no central server. The data and computations are distributed among many different nodes in the network.
      <br>
      <br>
      Not only does this make the application more secure (since there is no single point of failure), but it also opens up new possibilities for how data is stored and shared, as well as how users can monetize their content.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Popular use cases: payments, decentralized finance, gaming, NFTs</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      The emergence of web 3.0 has led to the development of use cases that were simply
      not possible with traditional web technologies.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Payments in decentralized finance (DeFi)</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      With blockchain, we can now send and receive payments without the approval of a central authority, like a bank or government. This enables peer-to-peer transactions that are fast, cheap, and secure.
      <br>
      <br>
      Blockchain has also enabled the development of decentralized finance protocols, which allow users to lend, borrow, manage, and trade cryptocurrencies without the need for a centralized intermediary.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Gaming</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      Blockchain introduces a more decentralized gaming experience where players have full ownership of their in-game assets. These assets can be traded or sold on secondary markets, giving players real-world value for their time and effort.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>NFTs</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique digital assets that are stored on the blockchain.
      NFTs can be used to represent anything from digital art to in-game items. As such, they are changing the way we think about ownership and value in the digital world.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>How can my skills as a developer translate to blockchain/web3.0?</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      If you're a developer, you may be wondering how your skills can translate to the blockchain and web 3.0 spaces. The good news is that there is a lot of overlap between the two, and your skills are in high demand.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>What programming languages are used in web 3.0?</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      The exact skills you need depend on the blockchain you want to build on, as well as the specific application you want to build. For example, if you're interested in developing smart contracts, you'll need to be proficient in a specific smart contract programming language like Solidity or Rust.
      <br>
      <br>
      Developing on Ethereum requires knowledge of its unique programming language, Solidity. However, if you're more interested in building decentralized applications (dApps), you can use a variety of programming languages to do so.
      <br>
      <br>
      A key difference between Ethereum and the XRPL is that the latter doesn't use smart contracts. This means that developers who want to build on the XRPL can do so with a wider range of programming languages.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Key differences in development</h3>
      <br>
      <br>

      Although they are different, the foundation remains the same-they are basically

      websites or apps on the internet. So if you know how to design a sleek website on web

      2.0, you're in a great position to do the same on web 3.0. The front-end will require the

      same skills and effort, but while web 2.0 apps rely on centralized servers for the

      backend, web 3.0 apps use an open public infrastructure as the backend. Other

      important differences lie in how data is handled.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Authentication</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      Usually, you would handle passwords and login information on a centralized server.
      With web 3.0, authentication is done using the same cryptographic keys that are use to send transactions on a blockchain. Data is stored directly on the blockchain and other public networks, enabling out of the box interopability.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Traceability</h4>
      <br>
      <br>
      Blockchain data is immutable, meaning every transaction is recorded and cannot be changed.
      <br>
      <br>
      If you're a developer who believes that there is a better, faster, more secure architecture for internet apps where users are in control of their digital property, web
      3.0 development is for you.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Lesson 6: How does blockcahin technology improve payments?</h2>
      <h3>Enabling easy and reliable transaction validation</h3>
      <br>
      <h4>Key takeaway</h4>
      <p>Blockchain helps solve the problems with payments:</p>
      <ul>
        <li>How do you pay people directly without middlemen and extreme fees?</li>
        <li>How do you determine who can access your funds?</li>
        <li>How do you avoid accidentally spending the same money twice?</li>
      </ul>
      <br>
      <br>
      Blockchain is changing the way we interact with money and value. Just like in our community analogy, blockchain removes the need for a central authority to oversee how we transfer value. This means that payments can be processed much faster, and at a lower cost.
      <br>
      <br>
      But what protects the money if all the code is open source? The value lies in public and private keys, as well as the digital wallets used to store currencies.
      <br>
      <br>
      These cryptographic inventions are a big part of the solution that enable anyone, anywhere to hold, send and receive digital assets-and money-at global scale. With the help of these cryptographic keys, payment instructions can be digitally signed, so validators in blockchain networks can validate the authenticity of transactions.
      <br>
      <br>
      Let's take a look at public keys, private keys, and digital wallets in more detail.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Public Key</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      This is a unique alphanumeric code that acts as your public address on the blockchain.
      It's like your bank account number-anyone can see it and send funds to it but only the person who knows the private key associated with the public key is able to move funds
      from it.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Private Key</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Similar to a password, your private key is a unique code that proves ownership of your public key. It's what allows you to access your funds and make transactions. It's important to keep the key safe and secure, as anyone with access to it can sell your assets.
      <br>
      <br>
      Many types of private keys exist, including the following:
      <br>
      <ul>
        <li>64 digit hexadecimal code</li>
        <li>Mnemonic phrase</li>
        <li>QR code</li>
      </ul>
      <br>
      <br>
      The mathematical formula to generate private and public keys is open source, so how does no one else have the ability to create the same key? Generating a new private key requires "randomness." Randomness can be represented as a string of random bits, and normally software like wallets will obtain these from the operating system.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Wallets</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      A digital wallet is like a physical wallet, but instead of storing cash or cards, it stores your private and public keys. As such, your assets don't actually live inside your wallet. but rather on the blockchain itself - the wallet just provides a way to access your assets.
      <br>
      <br>
      There are many different types of wallets available, including:
      <br>
      <br>
      <ul>
        <li>Paper wallets</li>
        <li>Desktop wallets</li>
        <li>Hardware wallets</li>
      </ul>
      <br>
      <br>
      Each has its own set of features and security considerations, so it's
      important to choose one that's right for you.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>How is blockchain changing the financial system?</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      Here are a few key ways that blockchain is changing the game for payments:
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Banking the unbanked</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Perhaps one of the most exciting uses of blockchain technology is its potential to reach people who are 'unbanked' or 'underbanked? These are the people who don't have access to traditional banking services, which often leaves them excluded from the global economy.
      <br>
      <br>
      With blockchain, anyone with a mobile phone can send and receive payments via their digital wallet. This is a gamechanger for the estimated 1.7 billion people who are unbanked and nearly 2 billion more that are considered underbanked.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Higher speeds and lower costs</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Traditional payment systems can take days to process international payments and can incur hefty fees. Blockchain-powered payments can be processed quickly and for a fraction of the cost of traditional payments.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Increased security</h3>
      Traditional payments can have data leakage and fraud. Information is kept on centralized servers, which means hackers have a single point of attack and are incentivized to attempt a breach.
      <br>
      <br>
      Information on the blockchain is distributed across a network of nodes, making it much harder to hack. Additionally, each transaction is encrypted and wallets can only be accessed with a private key.
      <br>
      <br>
      This increased security is a game-changer for the payments industry, which has been struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving threats posed by hackers.
      <br>
      <br>
      These are just a few of the ways that blockchain is changing the game for financial services. With its potential to reach the unbanked, as well as its increased security and efficiency, it's no wonder that more and more institutions and individuals are turning to this innovative technology.
      <br>
      <br>
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Lesson 7: Introduction to decentralized Finance (DeFi)</h2>
      <h3>Making peer-to-peer trading scale</h3>
      <br>
      <h4>Key takeaway</h4>
      <p>Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is one of the fastest-growing areas in the blockchain and decentralized web space. It involves removing the middleman in traditional financial tools.</p>
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>What is decentralized finance?</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Decentralized finance is an umbrella term for various protocols and financial instruments that are built on distributed ledger technology (DLT), such as blockchain.
      <br>
      <br>
      DeFi protocols aim to provide an open, decentralized infrastructure for financial applications. This infrastructure is designed to be accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, regardless of location, identity, or wealth.
      <br>
      <br>
      DeFi has many advantages compared to centralized financial systems, including:
      <br>
      <br>
      <ul>
        <li>Improved security and resilience thanks to its decentralized infrastructure</li>
        <li>Absence of fees like that of banks and other financial institutions</li>
        <li>Increased transparency</li>
        <li>Greater access to financial services for unbanked individuals</li>
      </ul>
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>What's been built in the DeFi space already?</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      In the short time that DeFi protocols have been around, a great deal of progress has been made. Here are some of the most popular use cases and protocols in the space:
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Lending and borrowing</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Anyone can borrow or lend digital assets using decentralized lending and borrowing protocols. You can connect to lenders and borrowers directly, without having to provide funds or personal information to an intermediary.
      <br>
      <br>
      MakerDAO is one of the most popular protocols in this space. The protocol allows users to collateralize digital assets and then borrow against them.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Liquidity providing</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Liquidity providers (LPs) earn fees by supplying money to decentralized exchanges like Automated Market Makers (AMMs). LPs provide this liquidity by holding an equal value of two different assets in a "liquidity pool?"
      <br>
      <br>
      LPs are rewarded with a portion of the trading fees that are generated when users trade the assets in the liquidity pool. Pancakeswap and Uniswap are two of the most popular protocols for liquidity provisioning.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Asset Management</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      Asset management protocols integrate with a variety of DeFi projects to automate the

      task of constantly tracking investments for price movements, rebalancing, liquidations,

      and rate changes. Yearn.finance is a protocol that provides "smart vaults" for digital

      assets. These vaults automatically invest users' funds in the highest-yielding protocols

      and strategies, so that users can earn the maximum possible return when yield farming
      (using DeFi to earn interest on digital assets).
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Potential for growth in DeFi</h2>
      <br>
      <br>
      One area of finance that can be improved by DeFi is the derivatives market, which is estimated to be worth over $1 quadrillion —10x the size of the global stock market.
      <br>
      <br>
      The DeFi derivatives market has only just begun to take off, with dYdx leading the way.
      The Total Value Locked (TVL) in the DeFi derivative market currently sits at just over $3 billion. While this may not sound like a lot, this is a growth of roughly 200% in just a few years.
      <br>
      <br>
      With the launch of new protocols and platforms, we can only expect this growth to continue. It's not hard to imagine that the DeFi derivatives market could one day be worth trillions of dollars.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Lesson 8: Trending topics: Tokenization and NFTs</h2>
      <h3>Unique digital assets</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>What is an NFT?</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      NFTs are non-fungible tokens, which means that each token is unique and not interchangeable. This is in direct contrast with fungible tokens, like bitcoin, which are all worth the same and can be interchanged.
      <br>
      <br>
      A good example of a non-fungible asset is a house. You see, each house is unique-it has a unique location, size, amenities, etc. You can't just swap one house for another and expect it to be the same.
      <br>
      <br>
      NFTs take things one step further by the tokenizing an asset, like the house in our example. Tokenization is a broad term that describes the process of creating a digital token that represents another asset.
      <br>
      <br>
      You may have also heard of "minting" in relation to NFTs. This is the act of creating a new NFT and publishing it to the blockchain, where it can be sold on an NFT marketplace.
      <br>
      <br>
      Now that we know what an NFT is, let's take a look at the brief history of this space.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>The history of NFTs</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      The first big NFT craze came with the rise of CryptoKitties in late 2017.
      <br>
      <br>
      Cryptokitties is an Ethereum-based game that allows players to breed, trade, and collect virtual cats. Each cat is an NFT, which means that each one is unique, with its own set of characteristics.
      <br>
      <br>
      The popularity of Cryptokitties even led to the Ethereum network becoming congested, with transactions taking days to confirm, as well as gas prices becoming exorbitantly high.
      <br>
      <br>
      This craze also led to widespread interest in the underlying technology. Projects started popping up that tokenized all sorts of assets, from arthouse digital art to in-game items.
      <br>
      <br>
      Fast forward to 2022, and the NFT space has reached mainstream popularity.
      Celebrities are getting in on the action, major corporations are minting their own NFTs, and the prices of some assets have reached astronomical levels.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Functional NFTs - use cases</h3>
      <br>
      There's more to NFTs than just cool pieces of digital art. In fact, NFTs can be used for a variety of purposes beyond art and collectibles. Let's take a look at some potential use cases for NFTs.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Real estate</h4>
      <br>
      NFTs can be used to prove ownership, transfer deeds, fractionalize ownership, and make the buying/selling process more transparent.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Identify verification</h4>
      <br>
      NFTs can be used as birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, and more. This would help to reduce fraud and make it easier to verify someone's identity.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Academic credentials</h4>
      <br>
      NFTs can be used to represent academic credentials like degrees and transcripts. In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise for paper certificates to become a thing of the past,
especially as NFTs are immutable and easy to store.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Receipts</h3>
      <br>
      NFTs can be used to show that you paid for something, giving a unique identifier for
that payment. One example of this could be for carbon credits. Tokenized carbon
credits can help prove that someone paid to support the environment, and that no one
is double dipping on that payment.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h2>Lesson 9: Trending topics: Gaming</h2>
      <h3>Digital assets for digital worlds</h3>
      <br>
      <br>
      It's no secret that the gaming industry is a massive global market, worth an estimated $300 billion in 2022. But what you may not know is that blockchain and crypto are changing the game-no pun intended.
      <br>
      <br>
      Blockchain enables a new level of transparency, trust, and decentralization in the gaming industry. And that's just the beginning. Below are three ways blockchain and crypto are changing the world of gaming.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>Play-to-earn</h3>
      <br>
      Let's say you're a gamer and you're pretty good at it. Wouldn't it be great to earn some money just by playing the games you love? With blockchain, that's now possible.
      <br>
      <br>
      This is known as "play-to-earn,", and it's a model that's being adopted by more and more gaming platforms. In a play-to-earn game, players can earn in-game tokens for completing tasks and goals.
      <br>
      <br>
      These tokens can then be used to buy in-game items, traded with other players, or even exchanged for other cryptocurrencies. This offers gamers a financial incentive to keep playing and progressing in the game.
      <br>
      <br>
      <h3>In-game assets (NFTs)</h3>
      <br>
      In the past, when you bought a digital item in a game-like a sword or a piece of armor
      —you didn't actually own it. The item existed only in the game itself and you couldn't take it with you or sell it to someone else.
      <br>
      <br>
      Now, in-game assets can be stored on the blockchain as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
      This means that they are unique, immutable, and can be traded or sold just like any
      other asset.
      <br>
      <h3>Creator eceonomy</h3>
      <br>
      Traditionally, the gaming industry has been dominated by a few large companies. But with blockchain, power is shifting to the creators-the people who actually invest their time and energy into making games.
      <br>
      <br>
      Using blockchain, game developers can create their own in-game currencies, raise funds through crowdfunding, and build entire economies around their games. This allows them to retain full ownership and build a strong community.
      <br>
      <br>
      It also creates a more level playing field, making it easier for small developers to compete with the big names in the industry.
      <br>
      <br>
      Let's take a look at some of the games and platforms that are leading the charge in this new world of gaming:
      <br>
      <br>
      <h4>Axie Infinity</h4>
      <br>
      Axie Infinity sees players breeding, battling, and collecting fantasy creatures called Axies. As NFTs, these Axies can be traded, sold, or bred with other Axies to create new generations of creatures.
      <br>
      <br>
      Players can also earn SLP tokens-the native currency of Axie Infinity-for completing in-game tasks. These tokens can be used to buy in-game items or exchanged for other cryptocurrencies.
      <br>
      <br>

      CryptoKitties
      Cryptokitties is one of the first and most popular blockchain games. As we mentioned in the previous lesson on NFTs, you could argue that it triggered the NFT craze.
      In CryptoKitties, players can breed, collect, and trade digital cats. These cats are stored as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning they can be bought, sold, or traded just like any other asset.
      <h4>Forte</h4>
      <br>
      Forte is a blockchain platform that provides funding and infrastructure for game developers. The platform offers a number of services, including in-game currency creation, crowdfunding, and payment processing.
      <br>
      <br>
      So whether you have an idea or you're already deep in development, Forte can help you bring your game to life and help you tap into the growing world of blockchain gaming.
      <br>
      <h4>CryptoKitties</h4>
      <br>
      Cryptokitties is one of the first and most popular blockchain games. As we mentioned in the previous lesson on NFTs, you could argue that it triggered the NFT craze.
      <br>
      <br>
      In CryptoKitties, players can breed, collect, and trade digital cats. These cats are stored as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning they can be bought, sold, or traded just like any other asset.
      <br>