MA 524 - Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Computational Law

The public debate about smart contracts, blockchain, and computational law is filled with alarms and elevated expectations. Blockchain technology gives us the framework to create a shared ledger system where various parties can report their compliance data/documentation, property records may be store, personal identities can be managed, corporate governance may be automated, and decentralized currency may be exchanged. Smart contracts make use of the blockchain to execute, control or document legally relevant events and actions according to the terms of a contract or an agreement. Computational law addresses the automation of legal reasoning to support transactions and compliance. The topics examined in this course will include formalism versus contextualism, form versus context, distributed ledgers, smart contract enforceability, blockchain regulation, and automated compliance.
Units: 3
Grading: Letter Grade