Coinbase shared its research in an official blog post on Aug. 28 in which it used rankings from US News and World Report for its list of the top 50 universities. This included both undergraduate and graduate level offerings.
New research by major cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase shows that 56% of the top 50 universities in the world offer one or more classes on cryptocurrency or blockchain tech.
The research found that twice as many students took blockchain or crypto courses when compared to last year and that many top universities also have a student-run clubs related to blockchain technology or cryptocurrencies.
Metrics indicate growing interest
Blockchain and cryptocurrency related course offerings are up from 42% of the top 50 universities in 2018.
Types of blockchain education
Coinbase also reported that approximately 70% of the top 50 universities offered crypto and blockchain courses external to their computer science departments in areas like law, the humanities and economics. Computer Science is still the most common area, containing 32.2% of the blockchain- and crypto-related course offerings. One Cornell alumnus said:
“We’ve had so many professors reach out to to learn more about blockchain and see how it applies to their field. It’s really cool to be part of a community where there’s so much engagement.”
As previously reported by Cointelegraph, Ripple’s head of social impact Ken Weber recently said that he believes the blockchain and digital assets space needs more practical, training-focused courses from universities. He wrote:
“Currently, over 40% of the world’s top 50 universities already offer at least one class on blockchain or crypto assets. But this is tied to different disciplines such as law, engineering, mathematics and business administration. To truly close the skills gap, universities around the world must expand these programmes to offer blockchain and crypto-asset training courses that directly relate to roles in industry.”
Regulated Swiss Crypto Bank SEBA Expands Services to 9 New Countries
Switzerland-based cryptocurrency bank SEBA has expanded its services to nine new countries. According to Finance Magnates on Dec. 12, SEBA revealed that accounts are now fully operational for institutional clients and accredited investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Portugal.
As previously reported, SEBA Bank AG (formerly SEBA Crypto AG) is a fully-regulated institution, having secured a banking and securities dealer license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) in August 2019.
Extensive crypto banking services
As part of its account services, SEBA offers a SEBAwallet app, e-banking services and SEBA card facilities, with support for five major cryptocurrencies: (BTC), Ether (ETH), Stellar (XLM), Litecoin (LTC) and Ether Classic (ETC).
The bank provides investors with both crypto-crypto and crypto-fiat conversion services and offers enterprise accounts for blockchain firms and their employees.
It is one of two cryptocurrency banks in Switzerland to have received regulatory approval from FINMA, the other being Sygnum. Sygnum is likewise eyeing global expansion and is now ostensibly in talks with regulators to seal a banking license in Singapore.
Swiss regulatory developments
This summer, FINMA released new guidance on regulatory requirements for blockchain-based payments.
While broadly adhering to the framework for digital asset regulation issued this June by the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Swiss regulator has gone one step beyond the FATF’s parameters in refusing to exempt payments involving unregulated wallet providers from its requirements.
This month, FINMA’s first-ever yearly risk monitor report identified blockchain and crypto assets among the factors contributing to Switzerland’s money laundering risks.
