A new survey from crypto exchange OKX finds a clear gap between what US college students and parents want from universities and what those universities offer. Most of them think schools should teach crypto and blockchain. But formal courses are still rare. So students are turning to social media instead.
The survey, run this month through Pollfish, asked 500 students and 500 parents about crypto education. Around 90 percent of students and 87 percent of parents said they supported teaching these subjects in college. About 27 percent of students and 32 percent of parents said the instruction should be mandatory. That is not a fringe view.
Students learn from social media, not classrooms
When asked about their most important source of crypto information, 33 percent of students picked social media or influencers. The number who chose schools, teachers or professors was close to five times lower. Parents were a little different. Their leading source was crypto platforms and apps at 21 percent.
This matters because social media can be a mixed bag. Some content is helpful. Some is promotional or misleading. If universities are not offering courses, students have to fill the void on their own. And they often do that on TikTok, YouTube or X, where the incentives are not always about education.
College courses are still limited
Demand seems to outpace supply. A separate review of 533 US universities with accredited business schools, done in 2025, found that only about 28 percent offered blockchain courses. That means the majority of business students probably have no formal option in this area.
There is also a question about what those courses cover. Offering one elective is not the same as a real program. Some schools might teach blockchain in a law or finance class, but not in a way that helps a student understand how crypto markets actually work. That leaves a lot of room for informal learning.
Survey limits and open questions
It is worth noting some limitations. OKX commissioned the study, but respondents were not recruited from its customer base. Pollfish surveys people through third-party mobile apps. OKX did not disclose the survey’s weighting, margin of error, or how many respondents already owned crypto. So the numbers are directional, not precise.
Still, the overall picture is consistent with other research. Students want practical knowledge. Universities are moving slowly. In the meantime, social media becomes the default curriculum. That may be fine for a curious beginner, but it is not a strong foundation for making financial decisions.
Perhaps the real lesson is not that universities must add required crypto classes tomorrow. It is that ignoring the demand leaves a vacuum, and something will fill it. Right now, that something is mostly the internet. That seems worth a closer look from educators.
