'Blockchain Isn't Going Away': Graduates Flock to Crypto Courses, Citing Better Career Opportunities

According to the research, student demand for cryptography, cryptocurrencies, blockchain and digital economics is gaining momentum.

David Yermack of the NYU Stern School of Business told researchers the college had seen a significant uptick in interest in blockchain electives, which have increased from 35 students in 2014 to more than 230 students today due to industry demand for blockchain-based solutions for cryptocurrency-centric issues.

Firms like PwC predict blockchain technology to be a $3 trillion industry by 2023, and such would arguably be built upon a strong academic foundation.

Stanford's Center for Blockchain Research was launched earlier this year, for example, and the University of Waterloo, University of Illinois and Georgetown University are also preparing blockchain lab launches.

The exchange found that 42 percent of universities offered a class on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.

U.S. schools emerged as the most proactive in offering cryptocurrency courses, commanding 27 percent of all global universities offering more than one blockchain course.

Campbell Harvey of Duke University noted how the benefits of the intersection of blockchain and multiple industries, such as economics, finance and law, creates ambitious career prospects for students.

Of the responses, only 17 percent considered themselves to possess "Very good" knowledge about blockchain and cryptocurrencies, with 18 percent stating they own or have owned digital tokens.

Sites like Udemy, Coursera, edX and Udacity offer hundreds of blockchain courses, ranging from foundational cryptography to specialized classes.

"You need to prepare your students for the future. Blockchain is not going away."