In a world where cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology make direct peer-to-peer transactions possible and transcend traditional financial norms,
In a world where cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology make direct peer-to-peer transactions possible and transcend traditional financial norms, more people want to learn about them to keep up with the times.
Universities worldwide are beginning to offer cryptocurrency-related courses to cater to this new paradigm. Due to rising demand, many of the world’s top universities offer crypto-related courses.
There’s been a lot of hype regarding cryptocurrencies — mainly due to their disruptive potential — and the rise of crypto education has strongly coincided with this. According to a 2022 survey from Study.com, about two-thirds of American parents and college students conversant with cryptocurrencies thought the topic 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 viewed cryptocurrencies as the future of finance.
Such positive perspectives regarding cryptocurrencies have given credence to introducing related courses in institutions of higher learning.
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 comes with significant risk, and more investors are looking to educate themselves before dabbling in the new asset class.
Some entrepreneurs and business managers looking to learn more about cryptocurrencies to transform their businesses have turned to crypto education, especially the latest crypto-based revenue-generation models.
Companies are also driving demand for crypto education. In recent years, several blue-chip firms, such as IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Amazon and Google, have actively sought hires 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 offering courses to further 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 corporate companies were among the first drivers of the trend.
“The initial demand to start these programs came from our industry partners, including Walmart, J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, ArcBest and IBM,” Lacity said.
The professor highlighted that the burgeoning corporate clientele initially prompted the institution to focus on private blockchain courses. Still, 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 opportunities to create their own decentralized applications,” she said.
Regarding the future of crypto education, Lacity said that demand was strong and was likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
What crypto courses cover
Crypto courses typically contain the essential areas that crypto users and investors seek to understand, like the basics of blockchain technology.
Understanding how blockchain systems function, and their advantages and disadvantages, is integral to understanding cryptocurrencies. Some cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), are inherently deflationary, with mechanisms restricting supply and increasing mining difficulty. This, in turn, creates scarcity, raising BTC’s value and purchasing power over time.
Cryptocurrencies that lack such properties have limited upside price potential due to oversupply. Details like these help learners, especially investors, to make better-informed decisions when exploring crypto.
Crypto education also helps learners understand the risks involved when investing in cryptocurrencies, such as extreme volatility and the factors that trigger it, like regulatory changes and negative market sentiment.
Cryptocurrency courses designed for beginners usually cover the basics, such as obtaining and transacting with cryptocurrencies. The programs typically teach learners about crypto mining, regulation, taxation, safety measures when using custodial and noncustodial wallets, and how to spot scams.
More advanced courses related to crypto risk management typically cover risk management strategies and technical analysis. Such courses help learners understand the crypto market’s deeper mechanics and how to avoid significant losses.
Many major universities have unveiled crypto-related courses at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Some programs have been integrated across departments to allow students majoring in other subjects to join them.
The National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is among the top public universities in Singapore, ranked No. 11 in the QS World University Rankings 2023. The university has a wide variety of crypto and blockchain-related undergraduate and…
cointelegraph.com