Crypto Education in Latin America: Innovative Projects in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay

When discussing crypto adoption in different countries, we always look closely at the institutional side, which is undeniably important. But our main focus is on how people get involved every day. We consider things like how many businesses accept crypto, whether local crypto events are being held, and survey results that measure the public’s understanding of the Internet and the digital economy.

Many countries with high crypto adoption face a hostile institutional environment. Yet, private organizations and even some local governments are stepping up to promote something crucial: education that helps people rely less on the traditional financial system. In places where only a small portion of the population understands Bitcoin and crypto, people are more vulnerable than ever to the whims of petty politicians.

After covering crypto adoption in Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and El Salvador, we’re now focusing on Latin America from a different angle. We’ll explore the many efforts in some spanish-speaking countries—whether led by governments or civil society—to boost education on Blockchain and cryptocurrencies. This sector has the potential to provide financial services to unbanked populations, a common issue in Latin America.

Our journey begins in Puebla, Mexico, where local authorities have announced the Zona Tres CodeLand Hackathon. Organized by the Puebla Ministry of Economy in partnership with Zona Tres Labs, this event aims to train thousands of students, developers, and entrepreneurs in Bitcoin and Web3. It will take place on September 25 and 26 in Cholula, specifically in the town of Cien, with each day running for about 12 hours.

This isn’t Zona Tres’s first foray into educational events. In October 2023, they teamed up with the Autonomous University of Nayarit in Mexico to host what was called “The First Internet Computer Hackathon on the Continent”. The event drew over 160 tech enthusiasts and featured engaging talks on Web3 and decentralization, helping to advance crypto adoption in Latin America.

“Technology is essential for Latin America’s growth, driving innovation, improving efficiency, and spurring economic development. It helps address issues like inequality and limited access to basic services by creating new job opportunities and fostering social inclusion.

Zona Tres and the Aptos Foundation have joined forces to offer free educational resources in spanish for developers and creators throughout Latin America.

Our goal is to engage universities, businesses, institutions, and creators, providing them with the latest knowledge and innovations in the field”.

–Excerpt from Zona Tres’s post. Check out their profile on X by clicking here.

In Mexico, there’s a practical approach to the crypto sector, with efforts to teach blockchain and digital assets in schools. One notable example is from August 2023, when “Mi Primer Bitcoin”, a Salvadoran organization we’ve featured before, brought its educational program to Preparatory School Number 20 in Mexico’s public system. Thanks to this initiative, about 250 students had the opportunity to learn about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.

Next, we head to Colombia, a leader in crypto adoption in Latin America. Earlier this year, Valora Analitik reported that Colombia’s Ministry of Technology launched the Senatec program. With a medium-term budget of $430 million, this ambitious initiative aims to train around 68,000 young people in IT fields such as software development, blockchain, cybersecurity, AI, and machine learning. Additionally, the program aims to upskill about 235,000 people with international certifications by 2026.

“Today we launched SENATEC! This initiative aims to transform education by equipping 300,000 Colombians with digital skills.

• 68,000 high school students will be trained with dual degrees in programming, systems, software, and digital security.
• We’ll also train and certify over 234,000 Colombians, with ILO validation.
• Additionally, 1,000 educators will receive training in digital skills to meet the new challenges in the IT sector”.

–Mauricio Lizcano, Tech Minister.

On the other hand, at the southern tip of the continent, an exciting collaboration between Argentina’s Ministry of Education and the ETH Kipu Foundation has introduced ETH into the high school curriculum in Buenos Aires… August 7 marked the debut of the first Ethereum event for high school students, which explored topics like “The Importance of Ethereum”, “Blockchain Use Cases for Real-World Problems”, and “Values of Transparency and Democratization”. Approximately 200 students participated.

“Ethereum has become a crucial platform for creating innovative solutions in finance, government, and business. Getting acquainted with these topics early on is essential for discovering job opportunities and engaging with a tech ecosystem that’s driving global change”.

–Paula Doy, Co-Founder, ETH Kipu.

Lastly, it’s worth highlighting Uruguay’s “Escuelita Bitcoin” project. Supported by Luxor Mining and Geyser Fund, this initiative teaches children about money and Bitcoin technology… Through diplomas, awards, and basic finance books, the project aims to inspire kids to share their knowledge with their families.

You can follow the “Escuelita Bitcoin” team on X.

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