ΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΦΗ

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of smart contracts on blockchains, focusing how policy, regulation and standards have evolved around them during the last few years. Participants will gain a solid understanding of blockchain-enabled smart contracts, their historical development and functionality.

The course will cover key features of smart contracts, such as self-execution, immutability, and transparency, while examining practical use cases across various industries, including financial services, supply chains, healthcare, climate change and energy.

Legal and regulatory frameworks governing smart contracts will be discussed and analysed, highlighting the enforceability of smart contracts under existing contract laws, electronic signatures, and the challenges posed by cross-jurisdictional issues. Participants will also explore AML, data privacy, and security considerations crucial to the deployment of smart contracts and the creation and/or issuance of tokens which consist of crypto assets. Furthermore, a focus will be placed on discussing how a risk-based approach should be applied when dealing with crypto asset transactions.

Standardization efforts will be explored and discussed, focusing on the initiatives of various standardization bodies such as ISO and CEN/CENELC and relevant technical standards will be referenced that aim to standardise smart contracts on blockchain and enable harmonisation in their development, deployment and implementation. Interoperability and sustainability will also be discussed.

The course will conclude with an examination of emerging trends, including the future of smart contracts policy, regulation and standardisation, upcoming standards and potential changes in global legal frameworks, and the impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning on smart contracts.

ΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΣΕΜΙΝΑΡΙΟΥ

By the end of the seminar, participants will be able to:

• Explain the fundamentals of blockchain-enabled smart contracts, including their evolution, functionality, and core characteristics such as self-execution, immutability, and transparency.

• Identify and evaluate practical smart contract use cases across key sectors including finance, supply chains, healthcare, energy, and climate-related applications.

• Understand and interpret legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks governing smart contracts, including enforceability, electronic signatures, jurisdictional challenges, AML requirements, data privacy, and security considerations.

• Assess crypto-asset issuance and transactions using a risk-based approach, recognising regulatory expectations and compliance obligations.

• Apply knowledge of international standards and standardisation efforts (ISO, CEN/CENELEC, technical specifications) to support harmonised development, deployment, interoperability, and sustainability of smart contracts.

ΣΕ ΠΟΙΟΥΣ ΑΠΕΥΘΥΝΕΤΑΙ

This course is designed for professionals such as:

1. Legal and Compliance Officers

2. Blockchain and Fintech Developers / Engineers

3. Risk Management and Internal Audit Professionals

4. Regulators and Policy Advisors

5. IT Security and Data Protection Specialists

6. Business Analysts and Project/Innovation Managers

ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΕΣ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ

Seminar Outline

Introduction to Smart Contracts

• Definition of smart contracts
• History and evolution: From Ethereum to current developments
• How smart contracts work: Blockchain technology and decentralized platforms
• Key features: Self-execution, immutability, transparency
• Policy considerations:
  • The role of government and regulatory bodies in shaping smart contract policy
  • Alignment of smart contract implementation with public policy objectives
  • Ethical considerations and societal impact of smart contracts
• Use cases: Financial services, supply chain, healthcare, energy, and more

Legal and regulatory frameworks

• Overview of existing legal frameworks governing smart contracts
• Legal enforceability of smart contracts: Contract law, digital signatures, and dispute resolution
• Cross-jurisdictional challenges: EU, US, and global perspectives
• AML, data privacy, and security considerations for smart contracts
• Standardization efforts (Part I)

Overview of standardization bodies and their initiatives:

• Emphasizing the roles of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and CEN/CENELEC (European Committee for Standardization) in establishing standards for smart contracts and blockchain technology.

Standardization efforts (Part II)

• Technical standards for blockchain and smart contracts
• The role of organizations like the European Union and the United Nations in smart contract standardization Interoperability challenges and solutions

Smart Contract implementation and best practices

• Practical considerations for deploying smart contracts
• Security risks and vulnerabilities in smart contracts
• Best practices for developing legally enforceable smart contracts
• Governance models for decentralized platforms

Emerging trends and future outlook

• The future of smart contracts in regulation and policy
• Potential changes in global legal frameworks for smart contracts
• The evolving role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in smart contracts
• The intersection of smart contracts and other blockchain innovations (DeFi, NFTs)

Closing remarks

• Discussion
• Q&A session