Start	19.09.2025
Duration	10 teaching days + final thesis
ECTS	10 ECTS
Cost	CHF 8'900
Language	English
Method	In-person lecture (Zurich)

Crypto Compliance is emerging as a thriving field in the financial sector, witnessing significant demand for further education. This surge is driven by the growing trend of financial institutions offering crypto assets to their clients or receiving fiat proceeds from crypto investments. The University of Zurich is excellently positioned in both research and teaching to address this demand. Therefore, the UZH Blockchain Center and the Institute of Computer Science are launching a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Crypto Compliance in the Autumn semester of 2024. Throughout 10 sessions of the course and a final thesis, participants will acquire the knowledge and practical skills needed to comprehend and effectively apply Crypto Compliance principles in their professional endeavours. The CAS is open to individuals with relevant professional backgrounds and a university degree.

Crypto assets have become a newly emerging asset class in the financial world. In addition to Bitcoin, there are many other crypto assets nowadays that are widely in use. Numerous banks already have direct or indirect exposure to crypto assets. The reasons for banks offering this emerging asset class are diverse, from meeting customer demand and diversifying investment opportunities to embracing technological innovation. The introduction of new technology also raises new challenges and questions to answer. This is why the UZH Blockchain Center is leading the way, looking into how to address the challenges and answer the questions arising from banks’ exposure to crypto assets.

Professionals in the financial industry, possessing a university degree and several years of experience, who exhibit an interest in information technology. The individuals possess a fundamental understanding of Business administration, Law, Compliance, or Economics, and are keen on acquiring a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology, crypto assets, and their compliance-related applications in the financial market.

The CAS in Crypto Compliance is bridging academia and practice in a unique interdisciplinary program. This continuing education program at the University of Zurich is designed to transfer cutting-edge academic knowledge into practical expertise for professionals working at the intersection of technology, law, and compliance. By combining knowledge from computer science, legal regulation, and real-world application, the program equips participants with the tools needed to navigate the fast-evolving crypto and blockchain landscape.

Structured into three interdisciplinary modules over ten course days, the program combines expert-led lectures with dynamic learning formats such as group assignments, practical exercises, and hands-on case studies. These formats ensure that participants not only grasp the concepts but are able to assess and apply them in their daily work.

Participants deepen their understanding through curated background reading and individual course projects, enabling them to implement state-of-the-art approaches in their own professional environments.

Key Topics:

• Blockchain Regulation
• Technical Foundations of Crypto Compliance
• Blockchain Forensics
• Wirtten final paper

• Equip professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills in crypto compliance,
• Enable traditional banks to recognize, address and mitigate risks from (in-)direct crypto exposure,
• Foster a network of experts capable of addressing global regulatory challenges,
• Provide hands-on tools and insights into blockchain analysis to address crypto compliance matters,
• Facilitate compliant, responsible, and sustainable growth of banks’ crypto-asset exposure,
• Bridge the gap between evolving regulations and industry practices.

Our lecturers are leading experts from research and industry with an excellent track record in research and teaching. Guest speakers from the industry also offer an insights into current challenges in the field of technology and management.

For a full list of our lecturers, please visit the dedicated lecturers page.

Structure

The study program is divided into three modules:

1. Regulatory Landscape of Crypto (3 ECTS credits)
2. Technological aspects and Crypto Compliance (3 ECTS credits)
3. Blockchain Forensics (4 ECTS credits)

A total of 10 ECTS  are required in order to successfully complete the CAS. An ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of around 30 hours. Each module is worth 3 or 4 ECTS credits. This comprises attendance time during the course days as well as preparatory and follow-up work.

Teaching language  

Lessons are in English. The course documents are generally in English.

Assessment

Each module concludes with a group assignment that encourages collaboration and the practical application of course content. In the third module, participants have the opportunity to present a case study of their choice in the field of blockchain forensic analysis which allows them to demonstrate their skills through a real-world scenario tailored to their professional interests.

A final written paper (“assignments”) on a selected topic must be completed at the end of the course. Literature research as well as case studies, evaluations and practical studies are possible. Participants opt for a topic during the course of the module following consultation with a lecturer. The work should comprise approximately 15 pages and be written in either German or English.

Course Dates
‍
19 September, 2025

Deadline to apply: 29 August, 2025

Degree

Every successful graduate receives a Certificate of Advanced Studies UZH in Crypto Compliance (10 ECTS credits)

The admission criteria is a University degree at the bachelor’s level as well as basic knowledge in the fields of IT, Law and Economics.

CHF 8'900.-, including course documentation