Disclosure: The perspectives and opinions stated here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.
If I were to wake up tomorrow and find that the internet had vanished, could I recreate it from scratch? Definitely not. My chances would be better with homing pigeons than with TCP/IP, and I suspect many of you reading this would agree.
Summary
- The widespread embrace of crypto, similar to the internet, doesn’t hinge on technical knowledge — it relies on simplicity, normalization, and trust.
- While universities and business schools are making contributions, their impact is limited; high tuition and exclusive programs primarily educate builders and managers, not the general public.
- Lawyers and policymakers are the true key players: established legal frameworks and protections will make crypto feel secure and commonplace.
- The conversation needs to evolve from speculation and exoticism to viewing crypto as fundamental infrastructure — an ordinary utility integral to daily life.
The reality is that almost no one understands how the internet functions, yet over 5.4 billion people engage with it every day. Fewer than 29 million developers are capable of building or maintaining the digital infrastructure that supports our lives — representing less than 0.5% of internet users. Widespread adoption doesn’t necessitate a majority understanding the inner workings. What’s needed is for the experience to be seamless, normalized, and commonplace.
Crypto is following a comparable trajectory, yet its public perception remains caught in an unnecessary loop of exoticism. Rather than being regarded as the next advancement in digital infrastructure, it is frequently portrayed as something technical, speculative, or even dubious. The fact is, over 500 million individuals globally now own or utilize crypto — a number that continues to rise. But for crypto to transcend early adopters and permeate everyday life, the discourse surrounding it needs to shift.
Mass adoption isn’t about everyone becoming a blockchain expert. It’s about regular individuals using crypto as effortlessly as they use the internet: without the need to grasp the underlying code, protocols, or technical details.
Universities are early catalysts, but they are not enough
For a long time, I was convinced that universities would play a pivotal role in driving adoption. They are, after all, where new generations first encounter innovative technologies. Numerous institutions have approached this responsibility earnestly.
In 2022, CoinDesk’s Best Universities for Blockchain ranking spotlighted schools like Stanford, MIT, and UC Berkeley as trailblazers in blockchain education. Courses covering distributed systems, cryptography, and smart contract development are now prevalent in university catalogs.
However, let’s be real: this education is far from universal. The average tuition at the top 10 blockchain-centric universities exceeds $60,000 annually, making it inaccessible for the majority of the global population. These programs serve those who already possess capital and privilege. As UC Berkeley itself points out, the target audience for its blockchain programs comprises “progressive leaders in both the public and private sectors.” Stanford mandates technical prerequisites like programming and cryptography knowledge.
This is essential — we absolutely need developers and engineers. But bear in mind: less than 1% of internet users are developers, and that ratio is unlikely to change in crypto. Developers will create the infrastructure; they won’t drive adoption.
The role of business schools
Another group frequently identified as key influencers for crypto adoption is MBA students. Business schools are actively incorporating blockchain into their programs, teaching future managers how to weave digital assets into corporate strategies.
This is undeniably important. With over 420 million crypto users worldwide, businesses will increasingly need to adopt digital assets in their operations, payment solutions, and supply chains. Leaders with crypto literacy will more readily adapt and maintain competitiveness.
But here’s the catch: these leaders won’t instigate mass adoption—they will react to it. They will modify business models once consumer demand is evident, much like companies did in response to the internet’s emergence. CEOs and managers adopt a responsive stance. Important, undoubtedly — but not transformative.
The real game-changers: Lawyers
If not engineers or executives, then who will shift the narrative? Who will normalize crypto, making it part of the everyday vernacular rather than a curiosity? The answer is unexpectedly practical: lawyers.
Law graduates, regulators, and lawmakers possess the ability to establish the frameworks that foster comfort with new technologies. They are the ones who can eliminate uncertainty, create safeguards, and craft clarity that transforms an eccentric experimentation into a mainstream utility.
Reflect on the early internet. Its growth wasn’t solely reliant on engineers or entrepreneurs. It surged forward when legal infrastructures surrounding e-commerce, data privacy, and intellectual property were established. Trust followed law.
The same will occur with crypto. A new cohort of law graduates — well-versed in crypto and decentralized systems, and empowered to incorporate that knowledge into regulatory frameworks — will lay the groundwork for mass adoption. They’ll navigate today’s fragmented regulations, establish standards, and help craft narratives that empower ordinary citizens to feel safe and included.
A problem of literacy
The urgency is evident because crypto literacy is alarmingly low. According to Crypto Literacy, only 57% of respondents worldwide can pass a basic crypto knowledge test. This is despite years of media coverage, bull markets, and headline-grabbing events.
Without foundational literacy, individuals won’t place their trust in the technology. Even worse, they’ll remain susceptible to fraud, misinformation, and disillusionment. Sustainable adoption cannot scale if the general public perceives crypto as a mysterious entity.
Nevertheless, the landscape isn’t entirely grim. Awareness is on the rise. Universities are incorporating crypto into courses far beyond computer science—spanning economics, law, and international relations. Additionally, mainstream media coverage, once dismissive or sensational, is gradually becoming more nuanced.
Shifting the discourse
The way we discuss crypto is crucial at this moment. If it continues to be presented as exotic, it risks alienating the very individuals it seeks to include. Exoticism positions crypto as a pastime for the technical elite, the wealthy, or the reckless gambler.
Conversely, when crypto is framed as infrastructure — as the next layer of the digital economy — it becomes relatable. We no longer refer to the internet as an exotic tool. It’s a utility, as commonplace as electricity. That’s the narrative shift crypto requires.
All stakeholders—universities, businesses, and policymakers—have a part to play in this transformation. Developers will construct the foundations. Executives will blend it into their operations. Yet it’s the lawyers who will normalize it. They’ll integrate the language of crypto into daily governance, contracts, and compliance. That’s when the technology transitions from being peculiar to simply… present.
The road ahead
Mass adoption isn’t about everyone knowing how to write a smart contract. It’s about crypto becoming seamless — an integral part of everyday life. Like the internet, most people won’t comprehend its inner workings, but they will depend on it in their daily routines.
This future is on the horizon, but only if we shift the dialogue now. Universities must expand access. Businesses should get ready for integration. And policymakers must provide clarity. Crypto doesn’t need to be exotic to be intriguing. It must be normalized to become transformative.
When we cease asking, “Who truly grasps how this operates?” and start regarding crypto as standard infrastructure, that’s when we will finally witness mass adoption.
