According to an official announcement, Bentley University in Massachusetts is partnering with crypto exchange Coinbase to accept three cryptocurrencies- Bitcoin, Ethereum and USD Coin as an alternate payment solution. In addition, the university said it also plans to accept gifts and donations in Bitcoin, Ethereum and USD Coin.
“We’re proud to embrace this technology that our students are learning about, which will soon transform the global business landscape they’re about to enter,” Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite said in a statement.
Last year, the university also issued NFTs to celebrate the hall of fame induction of their former women’s basketball coach, becoming one of the first universities in the world to issue NFTs.
Bentley student Alex Kim started investing in Bitcoin during high school. Last fall, Kim launched the Bentley Blockchain Association, one of the few student-led blockchain groups in the US, citing student interest as the reason behind a new crypto finance course that will be launched at the university this fall.
Citing Pew Research Center data, the university said more than 41 million Americans, 16% of US adults have invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency. The global cryptocurrency market is projected to more than double, from $910.3 million in 2021 to $1.9 billion in 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights, the university highlighted.