As blockchain technology and cryptocurrency become more prevalent in mainstream finance and society, the need for clear, effective education and awareness is growing. Many people are still unfamiliar with basic blockchain and crypto concepts like digital wallets, NFTs, and crypto exchanges. Increasing public knowledge of blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies is an important initiative to assist people new to these concepts in dispelling myths and reducing public scepticism.
Understanding the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Knowledge Gaps
There exist many gaps in public understanding of blockchain technology. Recent studies have indicated that more than 70% of American adults do not invest in cryptocurrency since nearly half of non-investors lack the basic understanding of how it works. In addition, nearly 60% can define cryptocurrency, and roughly 80% have difficulty explaining the basics of blockchain infrastructure.
These gaps further worsen the barriers to integrating blockchain technology into mainstream financial systems and society, and lead to unavoidable issues such as vulnerabilities to scams, technology misuse, and investment losses.
Education Through Entertainment and Gamification
Bridging knowledge gaps in blockchain understanding requires creative and strategic educational approaches. One such approach is using entertainment platforms such as iGaming to introduce people to basic blockchain and crypto concepts while they play. Play-to-earn systems made possible by the blockchain and casual mobile app crypto games make the learning experience interactive and demystify crypto mechanics through gameplay.
Online casinos are great examples of how entertainment and gaming not only introduce people to crypto concepts but also help to increase the adoption of cryptocurrencies. Many online casinos support various cryptocurrencies, allowing players to gain experience with Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Players exploring online gaming casinos get to experience gamified rewards and utilise the fast, secure payment systems powered by cryptocurrencies.
The Importance of Community Learning Resources
In addition to gamified learning resources, many free community learning resources have started providing crypto education to the public. These resources are often created by crypto industry experts and advocates with the intent of enabling decentralised education.
Free resources such as massive open online courses (MOOCs) offer structured online educational programs, while online communities, such as BitcoinTalk and Reddit, provide community-driven forums and posts created by industry experts.
These community resources are crucial tools required for increasing accessibility to crypto education.
Educational Programs Offered by Traditional Educational Institutions
In addition to community-led educational resources, many traditional educational institutions are now offering accredited crypto academic programs. These programs include full online and in-person courses on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency that are created by industry experts and developers.
Accredited academic courses are playing an important role in legitimising crypto education and increasing public trust in crypto services. Major universities and educational institutions like MIT, Duke, and NYU provide crypto education with scholarly credibility, as these institutions validate blockchain and crypto learning as a new field of computer science.
The Role of Media in Crypto Education
The media plays an important role in changing the negative perceptions of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Leveraging media platforms provides a convenient way to reach the broader public and educate people on crypto through the means of documentaries, news features, and talk shows.
Mainstream media’s ubiquity and accessibility provide an unobtrusive entry point for blockchain technology and crypto education. These platforms allow for knowledge to be packaged in bite-sized and balanced educational resources.