CDAA®
program

Chartered Digital Asset Analyst ®

For professionals with backgrounds in finance, banking, asset management and trading.

Why YOU SHOULD BECOME a CDAA® charterholder

The crypto and digital asset markets have become a global industry where well-funded start-ups are growing towards becoming global leaders, and traditional financial institutions are investing and expanding into related services. While regulation is becoming increasingly important, the industry lacks professionals with well-founded knowledge and experience in both worlds. The Chartered Digital Asset Analyst® addresses this gap with a holistic certification programme developed with leading academic and industry players.

join the community of professional CDAA®  charterholders

purpose

Demonstrate your professionalism and expertise by showcasing your comprehensive knowledge and analytical prowess in the realms of Digital Assets, Crypto Assets, and Web3 applications, encompassing their technological, business, legal, and regulatory dimensions.

Target audience

Financial services and crypto asset professionals in all functions and levels of responsibility. Most of the CDAA® charterholders have a background in banking, asset management, trading, investment management, consulting and advisory.

requirements

There are no registration requirements for candidates enroling for the CDAA® Level 1. Level II candidates must have a valid Level I designation, and meet one of the following requirements: bachelor's degree, undergraduate student, min. of 6 months of work experience in industry.

exam duration

Level 1: 60 min.
Level II: 90 min.

validity of certifications

Charterholders at Levels I and II enjoy a validity period of three years, during which they have the opportunity to participate in a brief refresher program upon expiration. This program specifically focuses on the latest topics incorporated since their most recent examination.

study time

Recommended study time for a Level 1 certification is between 4-6 weeks, with a weekly study time of about 8 hours, depending on reading speed and professional background. Similar study time is excepted for the Level II certification.

EARN A CDAA® DESIGNATION

Achieve a professional standard, become a Chartered Digital Asset Professional.

areas covered in the examination
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
technology:

In this section, we explore 14 topics related to Blockchain History, Blockchain Principles, Consensus Mechanisms, Blockchain Architectures, Smart Contracts, Cryptocurrencies, Tokens, Blockchain Protocols, Wallets, Scalability, Interoperability, dApps, DAOs and Oracles.

technology:

Fork Scenarios, Mining Setups, Consensus Process, Differences in Architectures, Smart Contract Capabilities, Storage and IPFS, Evaluation of Token Standards, Minting Types, Calculation of Fees, Difference in Key Generations, Difference in Wallet Types, Scalability Limitations, Scalability Solutions, Types of Scaling, ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, State Channels, Sharding, L2 Solutions, Interoperability Solutions, dApps Services, DAO Vulnerabilities, DAO Tools, Oracle Strength and Weaknesses.

technology:

Fork Scenarios, Mining Setups, Consensus Process, Differences in Architectures, Smart Contract Capabilities, Storage and IPFS, Evaluation of Token Standards, Minting Types, Calculation of Fees, Difference in Key Generations, Difference in Wallet Types, Scalability Limitations, Scalability Solutions, Types of Scaling, ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, State Channels, Sharding, L2 Solutions, Interoperability Solutions, dApps Services, DAO Vulnerabilities, DAO Tools, Oracle Strength and Weaknesses.

business & economics:

In this section, we explore 17 topics related to Blockchain and the Internet, Blockchain Ecosystem, Industry Investment, ICOs & IEOs for Capital Raising, Blockchain Economics, Blockchain and Token Investments, Tokenisation in Business, Digital Asset Business Models, dApps in Business, Blockchain Governance in Business and DAOs, Blockchain and Sustainability, Application Areas of Blockchain in Traditional Financial Services, Decentralised Finance (DeFi), Application Areas in Non-Financial Service Sectors, Application Areas of NFTs, Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

business & economics:

Institutional Investors and Digital Assets, Tokenomics and Token Mechanisms, Token Incentives Mechanisms, On-chain Voting Models, DAO Decentralisation Timeframes,Blockchain Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Digital Asset Custody Models, AMM Risk Evaluation, DeFi Business Model Risks, Flash Loan Operations, AMM Mechanisms, Advanced DeFi Calculations, DeFi Investment Risk Calculation, Liquidation Risk Evaluation, APR, APY and Yield Compounding Calculation, Liquidity Pool Mechanisms, Collateral Value Calculation, Capital Efficiency Ratio Calculation, Bonding Curve Calculation, Competitive Advantage of NFT Platforms, Stablecoin Mechanism Evaluation, CBDC Design Evaluation.

business & economics:

Institutional Investors and Digital Assets, Tokenomics and Token Mechanisms, Token Incentives Mechanisms, On-chain Voting Models, DAO Decentralisation Timeframes,Blockchain Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Digital Asset Custody Models, AMM Risk Evaluation, DeFi Business Model Risks, Flash Loan Operations, AMM Mechanisms, Advanced DeFi Calculations, DeFi Investment Risk Calculation, Liquidation Risk Evaluation, APR, APY and Yield Compounding Calculation, Liquidity Pool Mechanisms, Collateral Value Calculation, Capital Efficiency Ratio Calculation, Bonding Curve Calculation, Competitive Advantage of NFT Platforms, Stablecoin Mechanism Evaluation, CBDC Design Evaluation.P / 7

Legal / Regulatory:

In this section, we explore 9 topics related to Legal and Regulatory Treatment of Cryptoassets & Applications, Legal and Regulatory Treatment of Cryptoassets & Fundraising, Regulatory and Legal Standing of Blockchain Technology, Legal Status of Smart Contracts, Challenges of Regulating DLT, Blockchain, Competition Law and Antitrust, Blockchain and Regtech, Regulatory and Legal Perspectives of DAOs, and Blockchain and Intellectual Property.

Legal / Regulatory:

Cryptoasset Oversight Agencies, Cryptoasset Treatment Regulation, Blockchain Forensic Techniques Evaluation, AML/KYC Procedures, FATF Travel Rule Application in Crypto, NFTs Legal Treatment, Stablecoin Regulation Evaluation, Regulatory Bodies Enforcement Mechanism, Taxation of Cryptoassets, Evaluating Smart Contract Jurisdiction, DAO Legal Structure Evaluation, DAO Regulatory Liability, Intellectual Property Analysis.

Legal / Regulatory:

Cryptoasset Oversight Agencies, Cryptoasset Treatment Regulation, Blockchain Forensic Techniques Evaluation, AML/KYC Procedures, FATF Travel Rule Application in Crypto, NFTs Legal Treatment, Stablecoin Regulation Evaluation, Regulatory Bodies Enforcement Mechanism, Taxation of Cryptoassets, Evaluating Smart Contract Jurisdiction, DAO Legal Structure Evaluation, DAO Regulatory Liability, Intellectual Property Analysis.

assessment focus:

Within the Level 1 the focus of the testing is mainly on learning objective prefixes of to know and to understand.

assessment focus:

In Level II, the focus shifts to learning objective prefixes of to understand, to apply to identify and to calculate.

exam question format:

Two multiple choice formats:
1. Questions with three unique choices
2. Sentence completion with three unique choices

These two formats are divided between longer and shorter questions concerning the lenght of the question.

exam question format:

There are 6 item sets with case study vignettes accompanied by multiple-choice questions. Each multiple-choice question will reference a vignette and consists of question or a statement and three unique answer choices.

exam duration:

60 minutes

exam duration:

90 minutes

number of questions:

75

number of questions:

30

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areas covered in the examination
LEVEL 1
technology:

In this section, we explore 14 topics related to Blockchain History, Blockchain Principles, Consensus Mechanisms, Blockchain Architectures, Smart Contracts, Cryptocurrencies, Tokens, Blockchain Protocols, Wallets, Scalability, Interoperability, dApps, DAOs and Oracles.

technology:

Fork Scenarios, Mining Setups, Consensus Process, Differences in Architectures, Smart Contract Capabilities, Storage and IPFS, Evaluation of Token Standards, Minting Types, Calculation of Fees, Difference in Key Generations, Difference in Wallet Types, Scalability Limitations, Scalability Solutions, Types of Scaling, ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, State Channels, Sharding, L2 Solutions, Interoperability Solutions, dApps Services, DAO Vulnerabilities, DAO Tools, Oracle Strength and Weaknesses.

business & economics:

In this section, we explore 17 topics related to Blockchain and the Internet, Blockchain Ecosystem, Industry Investment, ICOs & IEOs for Capital Raising, Blockchain Economics, Blockchain and Token Investments, Tokenisation in Business, Digital Asset Business Models, dApps in Business, Blockchain Governance in Business and DAOs, Blockchain and Sustainability, Application Areas of Blockchain in Traditional Financial Services, Decentralised Finance (DeFi), Application Areas in Non-Financial Service Sectors, Application Areas of NFTs, Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

business & economics:

Institutional Investors and Digital Assets, Tokenomics and Token Mechanisms, Token Incentives Mechanisms, On-chain Voting Models, DAO Decentralisation Timeframes,Blockchain Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Digital Asset Custody Models, AMM Risk Evaluation, DeFi Business Model Risks, Flash Loan Operations, AMM Mechanisms, Advanced DeFi Calculations, DeFi Investment Risk Calculation, Liquidation Risk Evaluation, APR, APY and Yield Compounding Calculation, Liquidity Pool Mechanisms, Collateral Value Calculation, Capital Efficiency Ratio Calculation, Bonding Curve Calculation, Competitive Advantage of NFT Platforms, Stablecoin Mechanism Evaluation, CBDC Design Evaluation.P / 7

Legal / Regulatory:

In this section, we explore 9 topics related to Legal and Regulatory Treatment of Cryptoassets & Applications, Legal and Regulatory Treatment of Cryptoassets & Fundraising, Regulatory and Legal Standing of Blockchain Technology, Legal Status of Smart Contracts, Challenges of Regulating DLT, Blockchain, Competition Law and Antitrust, Blockchain and Regtech, Regulatory and Legal Perspectives of DAOs, and Blockchain and Intellectual Property.

Legal / Regulatory:

Cryptoasset Oversight Agencies, Cryptoasset Treatment Regulation, Blockchain Forensic Techniques Evaluation, AML/KYC Procedures, FATF Travel Rule Application in Crypto, NFTs Legal Treatment, Stablecoin Regulation Evaluation, Regulatory Bodies Enforcement Mechanism, Taxation of Cryptoassets, Evaluating Smart Contract Jurisdiction, DAO Legal Structure Evaluation, DAO Regulatory Liability, Intellectual Property Analysis.

assessment focus:

Within the Level 1 the focus of the testing is mainly on learning objective prefixes of to know and to understand.

exam question format:

Two multiple choice formats:
1. Questions with three unique choices
2. Sentence completion with three unique choices

These two formats are divided between longer and shorter questions concerning the lenght of the question.

exam duration:

60 minutes

number of questions:

75

LEVEL 2
technology:

Fork Scenarios, Mining Setups, Consensus Process, Differences in Architectures, Smart Contract Capabilities, Storage and IPFS, Evaluation of Token Standards, Minting Types, Calculation of Fees, Difference in Key Generations, Difference in Wallet Types, Scalability Limitations, Scalability Solutions, Types of Scaling, ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, State Channels, Sharding, L2 Solutions, Interoperability Solutions, dApps Services, DAO Vulnerabilities, DAO Tools, Oracle Strength and Weaknesses.

technology:

Fork Scenarios, Mining Setups, Consensus Process, Differences in Architectures, Smart Contract Capabilities, Storage and IPFS, Evaluation of Token Standards, Minting Types, Calculation of Fees, Difference in Key Generations, Difference in Wallet Types, Scalability Limitations, Scalability Solutions, Types of Scaling, ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, State Channels, Sharding, L2 Solutions, Interoperability Solutions, dApps Services, DAO Vulnerabilities, DAO Tools, Oracle Strength and Weaknesses.

business & economics:

Institutional Investors and Digital Assets, Tokenomics and Token Mechanisms, Token Incentives Mechanisms, On-chain Voting Models, DAO Decentralisation Timeframes,Blockchain Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Digital Asset Custody Models, AMM Risk Evaluation, DeFi Business Model Risks, Flash Loan Operations, AMM Mechanisms, Advanced DeFi Calculations, DeFi Investment Risk Calculation, Liquidation Risk Evaluation, APR, APY and Yield Compounding Calculation, Liquidity Pool Mechanisms, Collateral Value Calculation, Capital Efficiency Ratio Calculation, Bonding Curve Calculation, Competitive Advantage of NFT Platforms, Stablecoin Mechanism Evaluation, CBDC Design Evaluation.P / 7

business & economics:

Institutional Investors and Digital Assets, Tokenomics and Token Mechanisms, Token Incentives Mechanisms, On-chain Voting Models, DAO Decentralisation Timeframes,Blockchain Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Digital Asset Custody Models, AMM Risk Evaluation, DeFi Business Model Risks, Flash Loan Operations, AMM Mechanisms, Advanced DeFi Calculations, DeFi Investment Risk Calculation, Liquidation Risk Evaluation, APR, APY and Yield Compounding Calculation, Liquidity Pool Mechanisms, Collateral Value Calculation, Capital Efficiency Ratio Calculation, Bonding Curve Calculation, Competitive Advantage of NFT Platforms, Stablecoin Mechanism Evaluation, CBDC Design Evaluation.P / 7

Legal / Regulatory:

Cryptoasset Oversight Agencies, Cryptoasset Treatment Regulation, Blockchain Forensic Techniques Evaluation, AML/KYC Procedures, FATF Travel Rule Application in Crypto, NFTs Legal Treatment, Stablecoin Regulation Evaluation, Regulatory Bodies Enforcement Mechanism, Taxation of Cryptoassets, Evaluating Smart Contract Jurisdiction, DAO Legal Structure Evaluation, DAO Regulatory Liability, Intellectual Property Analysis.

Legal / Regulatory:

Cryptoasset Oversight Agencies, Cryptoasset Treatment Regulation, Blockchain Forensic Techniques Evaluation, AML/KYC Procedures, FATF Travel Rule Application in Crypto, NFTs Legal Treatment, Stablecoin Regulation Evaluation, Regulatory Bodies Enforcement Mechanism, Taxation of Cryptoassets, Evaluating Smart Contract Jurisdiction, DAO Legal Structure Evaluation, DAO Regulatory Liability, Intellectual Property Analysis.

assessment focus:

In Level II, the focus shifts to learning objective prefixes of to understand, to apply to identify and to calculate.

exam question format:

There are 6 item sets with case study vignettes accompanied by multiple-choice questions. Each multiple-choice question will reference a vignette and consists of question or a statement and three unique answer choices.

exam duration:

90 minutes

number of questions:

30

download factsheetregister now
Level 2 charterholder title is under development

Sign-up to our newsletter to be informed about it’s release.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
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GET PREPARED

Digital Asset 101 Professional Certificate

Preparatory 24h course

What does the Chartered Digital Asset Analyst I - CDAA® badge signify?

1.

CDAA® I badge holders signify that they have completed the necessary study and coursework and passed a rigorous 60 minute exam to earn this designation.

2.

It verifies that the individual possesses a foundational understanding of digital asset technology, its business & economical as well as legal & regulatory implications.

3.

It represents the adherence of CDAA® I badge holders to a Code of Conduct & Ethics, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within the industry.

4.

It demonstrates notable achievements of a CDAA charterholder, including:

  • Basic proficiency in blockchain fundamentals, including consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, architectures, and wallets.

  • Ability to interpret and evaluate digital asset applications and token economics at a foundational level.

  • Familiarity with major global regulatory developments and important legal considerations in a foundational context.

  • Knowledge of key industry learnings from the past decade and emerging best practices.

What does the Chartered Digital Asset Analyst II - CDAA® badge signify?

1.

CDAA® II badge holders signify that they have completed the necessary study and coursework and passed a rigorous 90 minute exam to earn this designation.

2.

It verifies that the individual possesses an advanced understanding of digital asset technology, its business & economical as well as legal & regulatory implications.

3.

It represents the adherence of CDAA® II badge holders to a Code of Conduct & Ethics, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within the industry.

4.

It demonstrates notable achievements of a CDAA charterholder, at an advanced level including:

  • Advanced proficiency in blockchain fundamentals, including cryptography, smart contracts, technology stacks, and privacy.

  • Ability to interpret decentralized applications and token economics at an advanced level, with the support of advanced modules.

  • In-depth familiarity with major global regulatory developments and critical legal considerations.

  • Comprehensive knowledge of major industry learnings from the past decade and cutting-edge emerging best practices.

Accreditation

Client advisors and wealth managers can keep up to date with a continuously changing financial industry using our CDAA® I program, which qualifies for SAQ's Certified Wealth Management Advisor - CWMA recertification credits. The SAQ-code will be visible on the digital certificate.

Recognition of the Digital Asset 101 Professional Certification as accredited by the Swiss Association of Asset Managers - VSV|ASG

Recognition that the Digital Asset 101 Professional Certification is certified by the independent Continuing Professional Development - CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD principles.