Bastian Jörg Bergmann: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2025

Name Dr. Bastian Jörg Bergmann
Address
RiskLab
ETH Zürich, HG F 42.1
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
E-mailbbergmann@ethz.ch
DepartmentManagement, Technology, and Economics
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
363-1153-00LDecentralized Finance3 credits2VB. J. Bergmann, H. Gersbach, A. Gervais
AbstractDLT is emerging for a disruption of our current financial infrastructure. As such, Blockchain Finance seeks to combine open-source, peer to peer building blocks into sophisticated products using blockchain technology, seeking to disintermediate and decentralize the traditional financial service industry. This lecture will combine insights on DLT with recent applications from finance.
Learning objectiveAt it’s core, Blockchain Finance aims to provide financial products and services on blockchain technologies. The combination of decentralized, smart-contract-based business logic solutions with a blockchain-based settlement layer facilitates the creation of financial services in a decentralized way. Traditional, functional roles of trusted third-party such as brokerage firms, banks, are replaced by smart contracts which fulfill the functions automatically.

The goal if this lecture is to let you understand,
- The building blocks of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
- Some basic applications like smart contracts, tokens, decentralized autonomous organisations (DAOs)
- Limitations and concepts for overcoming centralized financial systems
- Recent advances on Central Bank Digital Currencies and other applications in DeFi
- The business logic behind a decentralized applications (DApps)
- How a DLT project is run within a larger organization and in the start-up context

The lecture will cover also guest speakers from companies, start-ups, and agencies.
ContentThe lecture will start with the fundamentals around blockchain technologies and smart contracts. Afterwards students learn about aspects and applications of blockchain finance, e.g. decentralised exchanges, tokenisations, digital currencies covering some theoretical and technological insights as well as insights on recent applications involving guest speakers from industry, start-ups, agencies. The focus of each session will be on the discussion part. You will be asked to prepare yourself (watch a video, read a paper, etc) for each session.

Part 1: Intro to Blockchain, Focus on Exchanges, Transaction Ordering
Part 2: Smart Contracts; Focus on Programming, Attacks
Part 3: Decentralized Governance, DAOs and Applications
Part 4: Central Bank Digital Currencies, recent advances, and approaches
Part 5 & 6: DeFi applications, legal aspects, challenges, opportunities & risk in the corporate context

The lecture is targeted to students across ETH with an interest in DLT. No specific coding experience is required. During the course you will follow step by step examples. For passing the course you will take online quizzes, selected exercises, and a short exam during the class.
Lecture notesThere will be lecture slides to each section shared in advanced to each session.
LiteratureSelected readings and books are presented in each session.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course is opened to students from all backgrounds. Some experience with quantitative disciplines such as probability and statistics, however, is useful but not mandatory.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesMedia and Digital Technologiesfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingassessed
441-1000-00LIntroduction to Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance Restricted registration - show details 4 credits3GB. J. Bergmann, P. Cheridito, A. Ferrario, J. Teichmann
AbstractProvides you with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of machine learning, including key concepts, algorithms, and practical applications.
Learning objectiveYou will gain a solid foundation in machine learning and develop the skills to build and evaluate machine learning models for various tasks in the following blocks and modules for the CAS ETH in Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance
ContentIntroduction to Machine Learning with cases.
Prerequisites / NoticeOnly for students of the CAS ETH in Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Social CompetenciesCooperation and Teamworkfostered
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
441-1001-00LEthics of AI Restricted registration - show details 2 credits1.5SB. J. Bergmann, A. Ferrario, J. Teichmann
AbstractProvides you with a comprehensive understanding of the ethical dimensions and challenges around machine learning applications in a business and societal context.
Learning objectiveDuring this course we will reflect on the integration of machine learning which raises profound ethical questions about trust, explainability, accountability, and the regulations that support the use of machine learning empowered technology in different applications.
ContentStructured as an interactive workshop with guest speakers from academia and industry.
Prerequisites / NoticeOnly open for students of the CAS ETH in Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesfostered
Decision-makingfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
441-2000-00LCases in Machine Learning in Finance 1 Restricted registration - show details 2 credits2SB. J. Bergmann, P. Cheridito, J. Teichmann
AbstractThis course provides you with real-​world case studies and projects in finance and insurance where machine learning methods have been successfully applied.
Learning objectiveGet exposure to real-​world case studies and projects in finance and insurance where ML methods have been successfully applied.

Gain insights and understanding of the overall system landscape & architecture in which your machine learning model is embedded.

Choose and deep dive into cases and applications guided by ETH faculty and professionals from finance, banking and insurance
ContentStructured as an interactive workshop. Students select 3 out of 4 workshops offered between June, July and September. Workshops take place at ETH or at corporate facilities.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is only open to students from the CAS ETH in Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Leadership and Responsibilityfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
441-2001-00LCases in Machine Learning in Finance 2 Restricted registration - show details 2 credits2SB. J. Bergmann, P. Cheridito, J. Teichmann
AbstractThis course provides you with real-​world case studies and projects in finance and insurance where machine learning methods have been successfully applied.
Learning objectiveGet exposure to real-​world case studies and projects in finance and insurance where ML methods have been successfully applied.

Gain insights and understanding of the overall system landscape & architecture in which your machine learning model is embedded.

Choose and deep dive into cases and applications guided by ETH faculty and professionals from finance, banking and insurance
ContentStructured as an interactive workshop. Students select 3 out of 4 workshops offered between June, July and September. Workshops take place at ETH or at corporate facilities.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is only open to students from the CAS ETH in Machine Learning in Finance and Insurance.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Leadership and Responsibilityfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
441-2002-00LCases in Machine Learning in Insurance Restricted registration - show details 2 credits2SB. J. Bergmann, P. Cheridito, A. Ferrario
Abstract
Learning objective