Ed3 Weekly Issue #126: Regulators, Mount Up
Advancements in crypto regulation could open up a new era of adoption
Hello Ed3 Community,
There are a lot of questions about how to regulate crypto assets.
How should they be classified?
What consumer protection measures are necessary?
What taxation frameworks should be applied?
What are the legal implications of tokenized communities?
Many of the topics I’ve discussed around Web3 and education will be insignificant if we don't establish a legal framework that addresses these important questions.
For example, this week you’ll read about a platform for student records that exists on the blockchain. Is there liability for potential errors in these blockchain credentials?
Or, when we consider student-generated assets in the metaverse. If these are treated as transferable and owned assets on the blockchain are they taxed? What happens when they are bought and resold for profit?
We don’t have all the answers to these questions yet. As I explore in the weekly deep dive, we do have an attempt at “bridging” the current disconnect between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The web3 space is full of ideas and what-ifs. I hope this recent attempt at moving the legal frameworks will benefit blockchain implementation.
Enjoy the articles for this week, see the links and summaries of the resources below. And don’t forget to check out my summary of this week’s resources on the Ed3 Weekly Podcast.
⛓️ Blockchain News
'Pisay' launches student records platform using crypto technology
Image by Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News
🔗 The Philippines Science High School (PSHS) introduced on Wednesday a blockchain-powered system for portable digital credentials, utilizing the same technology that secures cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Read
🌐 Metaverse News
Swiss School Unveils the World’s First Student-Created Metaverse
Image by Institut auf dem Rosenberg
🔗 Boundary-pushing school, Institut auf dem Rosenberg, will debut the cutting-edge virtual world during Climate Week NYC and Art Basel Miami. Read
🥽 Virtual Reality News
U of A partners on project combining AI, virtual reality and agriculture
Image by Bedrich Benes, Voicu Popescu, Alejandra Magana, Jorge Askur, Bosheng Li and Radim Peša.
🔗 A virtual reality representation of sorghum plants created by VR-Bio-Talk, a platform developed by researchers from the U of A and Purdue University that uses artificial intelligence to analyze agricultural data. Read
If you haven’t subscribed yet, click here, or use the button below to join hundreds of others learning about the intersection of web3 and education.
🤿 Weekly Deep Dive
New bill proposes joint SEC-CFTC committee to shape US crypto regulations
Image by The Block
Welcome to the weekly deep dive where I explore a blockchain topic that educators should keep on their radar. This week we feature an article that discusses a new bill in Washington that could create a joint committee with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to study digital assets.
This could be significant for education in a few different ways:
Regulatory clarity for blockchain in education
Encouraging innovation in digital learning
Supporting research and development
Preparing students for blockchain careers
Focus on consumer protection and security
A regulatory framework for crypto is desperately needed. Thus far Washington has been slow to adopt (are you surprised?) any clear rules behind how digital tokens can and should be used as financial assets. If cryptocurrencies are to be used (and I think they should) as financial instruments in schools this will be critical.
Whether as tuition payments, scholarships and grants, or tokenized learning, crypto has mass potential. If collaborative efforts like this can move forward, we may get closer to that reality. Read
Thank you for stopping by for another issue of my newsletter on emerging technology in education. Link to all my work by checking out my website or give me a follow on the X platform. I also launched a supplemental podcast for each issue, listen on Spotify here.