Blockchain Technology: Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Self-Study Webinar

To help CPAs and other financial professionals understand blockchain technology including its applications, risks, accounting implications, audit considerations, governance requirements, and emerging business uses involving digital assets and distributed ledger technology.

DETAILED LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Identify current trends and statistics influencing blockchain adoption

• Define Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and explain its core characteristic

• Differentiate among public, federated, and private blockchain networks

• Explain how blockchain transactions are validated and recorded

• Recognize key blockchain terminology, including wallets, hashes, mining, and consensus mechanisms

• Describe the role of smart contracts and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)

• Explain the concept of the Economy of Things and machine-to-machine transactions

• Evaluate the relationship between artificial intelligence and blockchain technology

• Identify accounting considerations for crypto assets under ASU 2023-08

• Assess blockchain risks, governance considerations, and audit implications

• Identify the characteristics and use cases of major blockchain platforms, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, and Tron

• Explain the role of miners, nodes, and transaction confirmations in maintaining blockchain security and immutability

• Distinguish among Proof of Work, Proof of Stake, and Proof of Authority consensus mechanisms and evaluate their relative advantages and limitations

• Analyze how blockchain technology can support data integrity, intellectual property protection, transparency, and compliance in AI-enabled environments

• Identify key governance, security, operational, and regulatory controls organizations should consider when implementing blockchain solutions

• Blockchain Statistics
  – Market Value
  – Active Users
  – Key Trends
  – Top Blockchains
• Attributes of a Distributed Ledger
  – Decentralization
  – Consensus mechanisms
  – Transparency and security
  – Distributed data management
• Types of Blockchain
  – Public
  – Federated
  – Private
• Blockchain Anatomy
  – Key terminology
  – Origins
  – Digital cash transaction framework
  – Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
  – Key points in a transaction
  – Miners and transaction validation
• Blockchain Terminologies
  – Bitcoin
  – Ethereum
  – Consensus process
  – Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks
  – Proof of work
  – Proof of stake
  – Proof of authority
  – Second-layer solutions
  – Smart contracts
  – Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)
• Economy of Things
  – Digital tokens
  – Digital notaries
  – Smart contracts
  – Economic device
• Machine-to-machine transactions
• AI and Blockchain
  – Blockchain applications
  – Decentralized AI
  – Autonomous agents and payments
  – Energy and data optimization
  – Data provenance and security
  – Benefits and challenges of AI-blockchain integration
• Accounting Considerations
  – ASU 2023-08
  – Fair value measurement of crypto assets
  – Presentation and disclosure requirements
  – Financial reporting considerations
  – Current GAAP treatment of digital assets
• Fundamentals of DLT Risk
  – Key risk factors
  – Data confidentiality
  – Private key management
  – Scalability and operational risks
  – Regulatory considerations
  – Business continuity and disaster recovery
• Governance and Controls
  – Governance frameworks
  – Oversight responsibilities
  – Data-sharing controls
  – Policies and procedures
  – Interface controls
  – Testing and approval processes
• Blockchain's Future
  – Emerging use cases
  – Enterprise adoption trends
  – AI-enabled blockchain solutions
  – Long-term business and financial reporting implications