Crypto at School: Students Want It, Curricula Are Slow to Follow

American students want more crypto in their courses. A survey commissioned by OKX shows that 90% of them support the teaching of cryptocurrencies and blockchain at university. The curricula lag far behind: only about 28% of accredited American business schools offered blockchain courses in a separate 2025 study. Between the two, social networks are taking the place.

Crypto Already Widely Interests Students

American universities are not completely new to the topic. Some institutions had already started incorporating blockchain into their curricula several years ago. Demand now seems much broader.

OKX surveyed 500 students and 500 parents in the United States through Pollfish. Among the students, 90% say they support the teaching of crypto and blockchain at university. Parents follow at nearly the same level: 87%. Some even want to go further. 27% of students believe these courses should become mandatory. Among parents, the proportion reaches 32%.

The survey did not recruit participants from OKX customers. However, the exchange did not communicate the weighting of the survey, its margin of error, nor the proportion of respondents who already own cryptos. Thus, the figures provide a trend, not a perfect snapshot of all American campuses.

Social Networks Fill the Gap

The problem arises when students actually seek to learn. 33% cite social networks or influencers as their main source of information on crypto.

Schools, teachers, and professors are far behind. Almost five times fewer students choose them as their primary source. Another study published in 2025 reviewed 533 American universities with an accredited business school. Only about 28% offered courses dedicated to blockchain.

Demand is moving faster than curricula. Specialized training programs are developing in parallel. In France too, blockchain courses are now trying to meet a growing demand for Web3 skills.

In the United States, many students still rely on YouTube, X, TikTok, or specialized creators before encountering the topic in an amphitheater. It’s convenient. The quality varies greatly. A tutorial on how Bitcoin works can be next to a memecoin promotion or a trading strategy presented as almost foolproof.

Parents surveyed also use other sources. For 21% of them, crypto platforms and apps are the first place to seek information. School remains far behind in both groups.

Universities Still Have Catching Up to Do

Crypto no longer really lacks subjects that can enter a curriculum. Bitcoin, stablecoins, tokenization, smart contracts, decentralized finance, cybersecurity, and regulation can already fill multiple modules.

Jobs are following suit. Blockchain developers, analysts, compliance specialists, Web3 consultants, or security experts now appear in sector recruitments. Cointribune recently revisited the role of education in Web3 adoption and programs aimed at youth.

Universities therefore are not starting from zero. They are simply behind. The difficulty also stems from the speed of the sector. A course built around the crypto market of 2022 may already seem outdated in 2026. Rules change, tools evolve, and some business models disappear within months.

Social networks do not wait for the next academic year. Neither do students. For now, 90% say they want to learn. Only about 28% of business schools studied already have a blockchain course. Between the two, influencers have found their place.

Lydie M.

Enseignante et ingénieure IT, Lydie découvre le Bitcoin en 2022 et plonge dans l’univers des cryptomonnaies. Elle vulgarise des sujets complexes, décrypte les enjeux du Web3 et défend une vision d’un futur numérique ouvert, inclusif et décentralisé.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.