Crypto and blockchain education is prioritized at top universities

In a world where cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology enable direct peer-to-peer transactions and transcend traditional financial norms, more people want to learn about them to keep up with the times.

Universities around the world are starting to offer cryptocurrency-related courses to accommodate this new paradigm. Due to growing demand, many of the world’s best universities offer crypto-related courses.

There has been a lot of hype regarding cryptocurrencies – mainly due to their disruptive potential – and the rise of crypto education has coincided strongly with this. According to a 2022 Study.com survey, about two-thirds of American parents and students familiar with cryptocurrency believed the subject should be taught in schools as mandatory.

A recent poll conducted by Grayscale Investments, in conjunction with The Harris Poll, revealed that approximately 53% of Americans saw cryptocurrencies as the future of finance.

Such positive perspectives regarding cryptocurrencies have given credibility to introducing related courses in higher education institutions.

Why more people are seeking crypto education

Crypto’s decentralized nature and ease of acquisition have attracted speculative traders and long-term investors.

However, investing in digital currencies is associated with significant risk, and several investors want to educate themselves before dabbling in the new asset class.

Some entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to learn more about cryptocurrencies to transform their businesses have turned to crypto education, especially the latest crypto-based monetization models.

Businesses are also driving the demand for crypto education. In recent years, several blue-chip firms, such as IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Amazon and Google, have actively sought employees with a crypto or blockchain orientation to help develop innovative blockchain products. This has increased the demand for related courses. Some companies have gone a step further and partnered with institutions that offer courses to promote crypto and blockchain research and support related programs.

Mary Lacity, a distinguished professor of information systems at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, told Cointelegraph that enterprise companies were among the early drivers of the trend.

“The initial call to start these programs came from our industry partners, including Walmart, JB Hunt, Tyson Foods, ArcBest and IBM,” said Lacity.

The professor highlighted that the growing corporate clientele initially prompted the institution to focus on private blockchain courses. Nevertheless, the curriculum has since been revamped to cover public blockchains due to changing market dynamics.

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“Our students are interested in the possibilities of creating their own decentralized applications,” she said.

As for the future of crypto education, Lacity said demand was strong and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

What cryptocurrencies cover

Crypto courses usually cover the essential areas that crypto users and investors seek to understand, such as the basics of blockchain technology.

Understanding how blockchain systems work, and their advantages and disadvantages, is integral to understanding cryptocurrencies. Some cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), are inherently deflationary, with mechanisms that limit supply and increase the difficulty of mining. This in turn creates scarcity, increasing BTC’s value and purchasing power over time.

Cryptocurrencies that lack such characteristics have limited upside price potential due to oversupply. Details like these help learners, especially investors, make better informed decisions when exploring crypto.

Crypto education also helps students understand the risks involved when investing in cryptocurrencies, such as extreme volatility and the factors that trigger it, such as regulatory changes and negative market sentiment.

Cryptocurrency courses designed for beginners usually cover the basics, such as acquiring and trading cryptocurrencies. The programs typically teach students about crypto mining, regulation, taxation, security measures when using custodial and non-custodial wallets, and how to spot fraud.

More advanced courses related to crypto risk management usually cover risk management strategies and technical analysis. Such courses help learners understand the deeper mechanics of the crypto market and how to avoid significant losses.

Many major universities have unveiled crypto-related courses at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Some programs are integrated across departments to allow students majoring in other subjects to join them.

National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore is among the best public universities in Singapore, ranked No. 11 in the QS World University Rankings 2023. The university has a wide range of crypto- and blockchain-related undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Among the most unique programs is the Commercial Blockchain Applications course, which examines blockchain capabilities and its commercial use cases. The course is tailored for business people who want to integrate technology into their businesses to improve transparency and efficiency.

The course covers topics such as distributed ledgers and smart contracts, blockchain resources and architecture, and commercial application of blockchain.

The university also has crypto-centric courses covering token design, economics and crypto philosophy.

Cornell University

Cornell University is a private Ivy League university based in Ithaca, New York. The institution has a wide selection of courses related to cryptocurrencies for both beginners and advanced students. The Introduction to Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies and Smart Contracts course is among the most notable aimed at technology students.

The curriculum examines the inner workings of cryptocurrencies, such as the use of digital signatures in transaction authentication. The course also has modules covering cryptographic concepts, such as zero-knowledge proofs and smart contracts.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a state-funded university in Hung Hom, Hong Kong. The institution offers a wide range of tertiary courses as well as crypto and blockchain related programs.

Among the most advanced courses it offers is the Master of Science in Blockchain Technology. The course is set up for students who are already familiar with crypto and blockchain technology, and teaches students how to analyze, create and implement blockchain technologies in a way that supports fintech services.

University of Nicosia

The University of Nicosia in Nicosia, Cyprus offers unique cryptocurrency courses. Among the most notable programs for advanced students is the Master of Science in Blockchain and Digital Currency. The program aims to help students become professionals in digital currency and blockchain.

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The curriculum covers various topics, including blockchain systems and architectures, digital currency programming, security of cryptographic systems, blockchain law and regulation, and token economics.

EU Business School

EU Business School is a private business school established in 1973, with many campuses around the world. The campuses in Geneva, Munich, Montreux and Barcelona offer, among other things, crypto-related courses. One of the most distinctive courses offered by the institution is the MBA in Blockchain Management.

This course covers the various uses of blockchain technology and how it can help solve many of the problems in society today, such as transparency and fair trade. It also allows students to consider some of the technology’s more technical and fundamental aspects.

The Future of Crypto Education

People who want to get involved in the crypto industry are increasingly looking for crypto education, which is likely to increase the range of courses and the number of institutions that offer them.

Some crypto companies are also starting to partner with learning institutions that offer crypto courses to improve research and work with qualified students. The trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future due to synergistic benefits.