El Salvador is rolling out a revamped bitcoin diploma program across its public schools, embedding the bitcoin diploma directly into the national education system.
Summary
Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 finalized for nationwide rollout
El Salvador has finalized Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 for use in its public education network. The National Bitcoin Office confirmed that printed copies of the curriculum will arrive in the coming days, with officials planning immediate distribution to public institutions nationwide.
The National Bitcoin Office announced the completion of the upgrade this week and highlighted its role in broader education reform. Moreover, Stacy Herbert shared the update on X and confirmed that printed editions of the materials will be available shortly.
Herbert stated that the revised program is designed to support wider state-led education initiatives. She emphasized that the bitcoin diploma will be aligned with other national projects such as “What is Money?”, CUBO+, and ESIAP, ensuring consistent messaging on financial literacy.
Simplified teaching methods and broader coverage
According to Herbert, the new approach ranges from 7-year-old students studying foundational questions like “What is Money?” to 80,000 adult civil servants receiving a three-day certification program on bitcoin. However, the government intends the same core curriculum to adapt to both age groups.
Officials will introduce the updated material across youth and adult training programs. The revised diploma uses teaching strategies that break down complex financial and technological concepts for younger learners while still challenging older students.
Local media reported that the national bitcoin office curriculum covers mining, incentives, economics, and the global financial system. Moreover, structured lessons will show students how to design their own forms of money, illustrating monetary principles through practical exercises.
Educators throughout the country will use printed materials directly in classrooms, integrating them into regular lesson plans. That said, authorities also framed the new edition as a replacement for the earlier version introduced in 2022, rather than a separate elective program.
From pilot project to system-wide program
El Salvador launched the original diploma in June 2022 as a pilot initiative. The nonprofit Mi Primer Bitcoin partnered with the government to develop open-source materials that explained Bitcoin fundamentals. The initial course ran for ten weeks and focused on basic concepts such as wallets, transactions, and security.
In 2023, thousands of public-school students graduated with a diploma in bitcoin. The Ministry of Education reported that 350 female students completed the course that year, signaling growing female participation in the sector.
Mi Primer Bitcoin later said it had educated more than 27,000 students through face-to-face sessions. Moreover, the organization highlighted that the open-source framework allowed other institutions to reuse and adapt the content.
The formal partnership between the nonprofit and the government, however, ended in April. Authorities have not announced a renewed agreement since then, and the National Bitcoin Office now fully oversees the rollout of Bitcoin Diploma 2.0.
Legal tender policy and early adoption efforts
El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, alongside the U.S. dollar, and launched the state-backed Chivo wallet. Businesses were required to accept Bitcoin payments under the law, while the government offered a $30 signup bonus to promote usage.
A survey by three researchers later found that only 20% of participants continued to use Chivo after spending the bonus. The authors concluded that the $30 incentive was the main driver of household adoption, rather than organic demand.
Another paper by David Krause documented technical difficulties, including wallet crashes and reliability issues. Moreover, one study reported that 92% of Salvadorans refrained from using Bitcoin for transactions by 2024, despite its status as legal tender.
Volcano bonds, Bitcoin City, and environmental concerns
The government also proposed $1 billion in so-called Volcano Bonds to finance Bitcoin City and additional BTC purchases. Authorities delayed the bond issuance in March 2022 and have released no substantial updates on the financing plan since that date.
Bitcoin City, announced in November 2021 near the Conchagua volcano, was promoted as a tax-advantaged hub anchored by geothermal-powered mining. However, financing delays have slowed progress and raised questions about the project’s viability.
Reports also indicated that planned airport construction associated with Bitcoin City could threaten local mangrove ecosystems and require resident relocations. Moreover, critics argue that environmental and social concerns must be addressed before any large-scale development moves forward.
Strategic shift toward structured Bitcoin education
Against this backdrop, the new bitcoin diploma reflects a strategic effort to institutionalize Bitcoin literacy rather than rely solely on incentives and infrastructure. The focus on both children and adult civil servants signals a long-term plan to normalize Bitcoin within El Salvador’s public and economic life.
In summary, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 converts an experimental pilot into a national standard, with the National Bitcoin Office now directing content, distribution, and alignment with other state education initiatives.
