El Salvador Rolls Out Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 in Public Schools Nationwide

Highlights:

• El Salvador launches Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 to teach students about money and digital finance nationwide. 
• New program from the National Bitcoin Office brings printed textbooks to all public schools.
• National Bitcoin Office plans rollout to all public schools by this year.

El Salvador, the tiny Bitcoin-friendly nation in Central America, is making a big move in financial education this year. The country is adding a new school program that teaches students about Bitcoin, the local newspaper Diario El Salvador reported. The program is called Bitcoin Diploma 2.0, and its goal is to help young people better understand money, markets, and digital finance. Reportedly, the first printed textbooks are already finished and being sent to schools.

El Salvador Upgrades Student Curriculum with Bitcoin Diploma 2.0

The new program comes from El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC), the government agency in charge of spreading Bitcoin education across the country. According to the office, Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 is a complete upgrade of earlier projects and will be introduced in all public schools by 2026.

Officials say the curriculum is not just about Bitcoin. It also teaches bigger financial ideas that many students don’t usually learn in school. The textbook and course materials explain how money works, what saving and investing mean, and how markets function today. To make things easier, lessons include visuals, interactive activities, and real-life examples so students can understand complex topics without feeling lost.

Stacy Herbert, head of El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office, says financial education should begin at a young age. She says this new curriculum builds on an earlier program called “What Is Money?”, which taught basic financial ideas and introduced Bitcoin to young students. The updated Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 puts more focus on keeping students engaged.

In 2021, the country became the first nation to recognize BTC as legal tender, next to the U.S. dollar. However, last year, the government stepped back from that policy following mounting pressure from the International Monetary Fund. Even so, Bitcoin continues to shape the country’s culture and economy. In recent years, programs like the Bitcoin Diploma and pilot courses for younger students have worked to make digital currencies more familiar and easier to understand.

Bitcoin Reserve Growth Raises Transparency Concerns in El Salvador

Earlier, in November, the country made a much bigger move and bought around 1,090 BTC in a single day when prices dropped. That large buy showed the government is still committed to its long-term BTC strategy. As of the latest public data, El Salvador holds about 7,474 BTC in its government reserves after its ongoing buying strategy. That amount makes up a small fraction of the total global BTC supply.

Still, there is confusion around the reported 1,090 BTC purchase. Because last July, two senior finance officials said the country had not purchased any Bitcoin since February. That statement clashes with comments made by President Nayib Bukele. IMF also noted that the rise in Bitcoin reserves may not be from fresh market buys. Instead, it could reflect the transfer and consolidation of Bitcoin from different government-owned wallets into one reserve account.