Argentina to Introduce Ethereum and Blockchain Education to Students

Key Takeaways

• Under this, high schools in Buenos Aires will offer blockchain internships to students, starting August 27
• ETH Kipu and the Ministry of Education will offer an online Solidity course aimed at training 500 students aged 18 and above 

ETH Kipu Foundation is collaborating with the Ministry of Education of the City of Buenos Aires to introduce Ethereum and blockchain technology into the high school curriculum. Under this initiative, students will also have the opportunity to engage in internships with blockchain projects starting on August 27.

Additionally, ETH Kipu and the Ministry of Education will offer an online Solidity course aimed at training 500 students aged 18 and above. This course will teach participants how to develop decentralized applications (dApps) on the Ethereum blockchain. In support of this effort, 30 educators from Buenos Aires will receive specialized training to teach blockchain and Ethereum subjects effectively.

Paula D., co-founder of ETH Kipu, expressed optimism about the program, stating, “By integrating Ethereum education into high schools, we’re not just teaching students about technology—we’re giving them the tools to shape the future.” This initiative aims to provide young Argentines with valuable skills that could open up new career opportunities.

Romina, another co-founder of ETH Kipu, highlighted the progress of the project. She noted, “It started a few months ago, with classes for +100 articulators from the Ministry of Education, then with a launch event for 200 high school students and now it is taking shape with these 3 action points mentioned in the document.”

Government agencies in Argentina have also begun supporting the emerging industry through various policies. For instance, Argentina’s Ministry of Education is not alone in recognizing the potential of blockchain. NGO Bitcoin Argentina recently collaborated with crypto exchange BingX to offer Web3 educational courses, covering a range of crypto topics including Bitcoin and stablecoins.

The ETH Kipu Foundation, funded by the Ethereum Foundation, has been active in promoting Ethereum and blockchain education throughout Latin America. Argentina’s efforts to integrate blockchain into education place it ahead of other countries in the region regarding smart contracts and blockchain instruction. According to Chainalysis’ 2023 report, Latin America has the seventh-largest crypto economy, with Argentina ranking 15th in the Global Crypto Adoption Index.

The move to include Ethereum and blockchain in high school curricula aligns with Argentina’s broader pro-crypto stance. Since the election of a pro-crypto president in November 2023, Argentina has introduced policies such as the Virtual Assets Service Providers Register and regulations allowing companies to accept cryptocurrency payments.

While Ethereum-focused education is gaining momentum in Argentina, the government has also explored other blockchain-related avenues. For example, in December 2023, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship Diana Mondino suggested the government might permit the use of Bitcoin through a decree, although this has not yet come into effect.

However, the “Bases for the Reconstruction of the Argentine Economy” decree, passed on December 20, 2023, included provisions allowing debtors to pay in currencies not recognized as legal tender in Argentina.