Free MOOC on Mastering Web3:

BLOCKCHAIN, CRYPTOCURRENCIES, NFTs, AND THE METAVERSE

This rigorous 12-week online course, developed and delivered by the Institute for the Future (IFF) at the University of Nicosia, empowers you to confidently navigate the evolving landscape of Web3 technologies. Move beyond the hype and develop a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the Metaverse, gaining the knowledge and skills to engage critically with these transformative innovations.

NEXT INTAKE: September 2025

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TOP REASONS to register for the

FREE MOOC on Mastering Web3

World’s 1st Web3 MOOC

The largest and longest-running course on crypto and blockchain, active since 2014.

Global Community & Expert Guidance

Join 145,000+ students from 120+ countries and learn from leading Web3 experts.

Blockchain-Issued Certificate

Earn a verifiable certificate recognized globally.

Hands-On Learning & Practical Skills

Master Web3 through interactive labs, tutorials, and real-world projects like wallet creation and NFT minting.

Taught by Antonis Polemitis, Prof. George Giaglis, Punk6529 and industry experts

Gain practical and theoretical knowledge across 12 weeks, covering everything from Bitcoin and Ethereum fundamentals to advanced Web3 topics and trends

Course Description

Led by Professor George Giaglis, UNIC CEO Antonis Polemitis, and Web3 thought leader Punk6529, this course equips you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to thrive in the dynamic world of Web3.

You will gain a deep understanding of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, from the fundamentals of this revolutionary technology to the intricacies of Bitcoin and Ethereum. You’ll explore the history, mechanics, and future applications of digital currencies, as well as the power of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and their impact on digital ownership across art, gaming, virtual real estate, and more. You will also delve into the concept of the Metaverse, unpacking its potential to revolutionize digital experiences and economies, and examining the role of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs in shaping these virtual worlds.

What truly sets this MOOC apart is its dedication to hands-on learning. Weekly tutorials and interactive exercises bridge theory and practice, empowering you to build real-world Web3 skills. You’ll also benefit from live Q&A sessions with leading experts, gaining direct access to valuable knowledge and guidance, and join a thriving network of over 145,000 students from more than 120 countries who share your passion for Web3.

Successfully complete the course and receive a blockchain-issued Certificate of Accomplishment from the University of Nicosia, a pioneer in digital currency education.

Course

Outline

The course spans 12 weeks. There is one live Q&A session each week, which is also recorded for students to watch at their own time.

Students can complete optional hands-on exercises each week. Upon course completion, students who take and pass a final quiz will be awarded a blockchain-verifiable Certificate of Accomplishment, issued by the University of Nicosia.

This MOOC offers a deep dive into the foundational concepts covered in UNIC’s MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency and MSc in Metaverse programmes. While the MOOC provides a comprehensive introduction, the MSc programmes delve deeper with specialized modules, research opportunities, and advanced assessments tailored for postgraduate study.

Session Session Theme Instructor
1. Introduction to Web3, Bitcoin, and Ethereum Antonis Polemitis
2. Bitcoin: How It Works George Giaglis
3. Ethereum: How It Works George Giaglis
4. Security and Privacy in Web3 George Giaglis
5. Tokenization in Web3 Lambis Dionysopoulos
6. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) George Giaglis
7. NFTs: Fundamentals and Applications Punk6529
8. The Metaverse: Foundations and Opportunities Punk6529
9. DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) and Decentralized Social Media George Giaglis
10. Web3 and Digital Identity George Giaglis
11. Advanced Topics in Web3 George Giaglis
12. The Future of Web3: Blockchain, AI, and Trends Punk6529

What You Will Learn

After completion of the course students are expected to be able to:

1

Understand the Fundamentals of Web3, Bitcoin, and Ethereum: Learn the basics of Web3 and blockchain technology. Set up a Bitcoin wallet (e.g., Electrum) and an Ethereum wallet (e.g., MetaMask), conduct simple Bitcoin transactions, and interact with Ethereum dApps to understand the principles of Bitcoin as digital gold and Ethereum’s use of smart contracts.

2

Gain Practical Skills in Digital Transactions and Security: Explore digital wallets, including hardware wallets (e.g., Ledger, Trezor), and configure multi-signature wallets like Gnosis Safe. Understand key management through Shamir Secret Sharing, optimise transaction fees, construct raw transactions, and explore security tools like Zcash and Monero.

3

Analyze Bitcoin and Ethereum Technologies: Deep dive into Bitcoin’s mining, node roles, and the UTXO model. Write and deploy a simple smart contract on the Ethereum testnet using Solidity. Compare Bitcoin’s Proof of Work and Ethereum’s Proof of Stake, along with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and their scalability solutions.

4

Explore Blockchain Applications and DeFi: Understand multisignature transactions and smart contract deployment. Participate in a DeFi protocol on a testnet, providing liquidity, staking tokens, and taking loans. Study key protocols like Aave and Uniswap to grasp the essentials of decentralized finance.

5

Examine NFTs and the Metaverse: Learn how to mint an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain and explore NFT marketplaces like OpenSea and Rarible. Understand their applications in various sectors such as art, gaming, and digital ownership. Create an avatar and engage in basic building on metaverse platforms like Decentraland and OnCyber.

6

Understand DAOs and Digital Identity in Web3: Study the governance and operation of DAOs, such as MakerDAO and Aragon. Participate in setting up a DAO and understand governance tokens. Set up a digital identity using ENS and explore Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) frameworks like Sovrin.

7

Evaluate Tokenization and Its Impact in Web3: Understand the concept of tokenization and how it transforms digital assets, securities, and real-world assets into blockchain-based tokens. Explore its applications in creating liquidity, fractional ownership, and new financial instruments, and assess the benefits and challenges of tokenizing various asset classes within the Web3 ecosystem.

8

Explore Advanced Topics and Future Web3 Trends: Learn about forks, SegWit, the Lightning Network, and using bridges for Layer 2 transactions. Understand blockchain convergence with AI, IoT, and emerging trends that will shape Web3’s future.

Meet Your Instructors

Antonis Polemitis
Antonis Polemitis
CEO, University of Nicosia

Mr. Polemitis is co-teaching the introductory MOOC on the programme.

Mr. Polemitis is the CEO of the University of Nicosia and also serves as a Director on the coordinating Board of the University. He is an adjunct faculty member and leads the industry advisory committee for the University on digital currency.

Mr. Polemitis is also the Managing Partner of Ledra Capital and has led investment and operational responsibility at the firm. He is responsible for investment and portfolio management of all Ledra investments in the areas of higher education, technology, and financial services.

He was previously a partner in the private equity practice of Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman), where he consulted to private equity firms and merchant banks, and at ACG, a multi-billion dollar private investment fund, where he led the business process outsourcing and higher education practice. Over the course of his career, he has been a principal or advisor for transactions in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and India, ranging from multi-billion dollar industrial buyouts to early stage venture capital.

Mr. Polemitis holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School where he graduated with highest distinction as a Baker Scholar, and a B.S. from Indiana University in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, and International Studies where he graduated with highest distinction as a Wells and Chancellor’s Scholar.

Prof. George Giaglis
Prof. George Giaglis
Executive Director, Institute For The Future, University of Nicosia

Professor George M. Giaglis is the Executive Director of the Institute for the Future at the University of Nicosia (UNIC). He teaches UNIC’s MOOC Introduction to Web3 and has been instrumental in designing the curriculum of the world’s first academic programs in this space: MSc in Blockchain & Digital Currency and MSc in Metaverse Systems, both offered by UNIC. He has worked with institutional and corporate clients, including the European Commission and the European Central Bank, on blockchain and technology monitoring projects, and is a member of Meta’s Advisory Council at Reality Labs. He has published 12 books and more than 150 scientific papers and is the Chief Editor of the Blockchain Technologies section at the Frontiers in Blockchain journal.

Punk6529
Punk6529

Punk6529 is among the world’s foremost collectors, investors and thought leaders in the NFT space, well-known for his extensive tweetstorms on NFTs and decentralization. 6529 is a leading advocate of the “open metaverse” – namely that the architecture of the metaverse should be decentralized and interoperable and, specifically, that NFTs could serve in this role.

6529 is active in several key areas: a) the 6529 Museum is a very extensive NFT museum, with a particular focus on generative art; b) 6529 Capital is a leading asset manager in the NFT space, and c) OM, which is building an open, decentralized metaverse.

Lambis Dionysopoulos
Lambis Dionysopoulos

Lambis is a member of the research and teaching team at the University of Nicosia. He has also served as the research Lead at the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum.