Published on March 15, 2024
By: Pofan Palnudoti
I have long held the belief that the traditional education system has failed to adequately teach essential financial skills over the years. I rely on research, such as conversations with educators from various regions, and my own experiences living in two countries with minimal financial education. In these countries, it is not uncommon to find educators who fail to recognize the importance of fundamental concepts such as saving money.
I believe that my perspective is not far from reality. It’s worth highlighting the report titled “Financial Education for Children and Young People in South East Europe”, published by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) almost four years ago. The pandemic served as a stark reminder of the importance of having strong financial knowledge, as crises of unforeseen magnitude can strike at any time. The report found that, although efforts were made to prioritize financial education in southeastern European countries, progress had been slow. Among the measures recommended by the OECD to address this issue is the implementation of innovative programs that incorporate digitalization, along with continuousimprovement in testing and measuring the impact of these programs.
A society lacking financial education tends to rely on quick fixes, leading to disastrous consequences. This mindset results in individuals who lack long-term planning skills and blame external factors for financial problems, rather than taking responsibility. Contrary to Albert Einstein’s wisdom, they repeat the same mistakes, hoping for different outcomes.
“Financial education is a powerful tool that can empower individuals to take control of their lives. By understanding the basic principles of economics and finance, individuals are better equipped to make informed decisions and maximize their economic well-being”.
Milton Friedman.
Educational programs about digital assets are vital so that new generations can contribute to the future development of financial technology. It is necessary to reinforce the understanding of the value of money, but there is no reason why these teachings cannot be complemented with education about crypto assets in schools.
I will not be the person who fails to celebrate the fact that Bitcoin has made its way into certain US universities. Institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard, Oxford, Cornell, and Berkeley offer courses and subjects related to cryptocurrencies (In January 2023, it was revealed that a professor at Texas A&M University had received authorization to teach a course titled “Bitcoin Protocol” to engineering and business students). However, I believe that many concepts in this field should also be integrated into high school financial education programs.
In August 2022, a survey published by Study revealed that 64% of US parents with knowledge of blockchain technology advocated for cryptocurrencies to be taught as a mandatory subject in schools. It is worth noting that university graduates with a solid understanding of the crypto world also participated in the study, with 67% of this group voting in favor of digital assets being included in school curricula. However, there were some differences between the two groups regarding topics such as the Metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
“Education on cryptocurrencies is fundamental for the development of an inclusive and resilient digital economy. By providing people with the necessary knowledge to participate safely in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, we are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable financial future.”
-Vitalik Buterin.
Given the increasing relevance of cryptocurrencies in the global economic landscape, we believe it is essential to incorporate topics on cryptocurrencies into robust financial education programs. Although our team may not consist of accredited educators, we have long been committed to helping more individuals enter the crypto space and transform their lives.
Our reimagining of Purse.io represents a humble yet enthusiastic contribution to education, while Hamza.biz stands as our flagship venture in providing products and services. What is Hamza? It’s the first decentralized e-commerce platform powered by the LOAD protocol, an open-source framework that marks a significant evolution in the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi). With this project, our goal is to enable swift and efficient transactions between buyers and sellers, minimizing fees and eliminating the need for a central authority. We strive to offer comprehensive solutions to individuals seeking to optimize their finances without compromising on privacy and transparency.