How Crypto Valley Educates the Next Generation of Blockchain Pros

Photo: Videvo

Author: Manuel Stagars
February 2026

Crypto Valley is setting standards in the crypto and blockchain sector since 2013, including in the training of talent. Today, we consider all of Switzerland, including Liechtenstein, to be Crypto Valley. As such, the region invests heavily in education to promote practical applications in the sector. It's a cyclical process because universities and colleges offer specialized courses, the Canton of Zug funds a large portion of them, and companies recruit the graduates. This makes Crypto Valley a pioneer in training for the digital future.

The Canton of Zug plays a key role in blockchain education. A highlight is the "Blockchain Zug Joint Research Initiative", which the canton of Zug funds with roughly 40 million Swiss francs for the next five years. This initiative started 2024, and it includes the Zuger Instituts für Blockchainforschung (ZIBR), a collaboration between the Canton of Zug and the University of Lucerne, and the strengthening of the blockchain department at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU). The canton aims to make Zug a global center for blockchain research, focusing on societal implications and practical applications, research, and educational programs.

This project is unique in the world. HSLU was one of the first universities that integrated blockchain technology into its courses. Its Blockchain Lab, the first Swiss research lab for distributed ledger Technology, aims at improving security, transparency, and fair value creation. The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Blockchain has been running for years in cooperation with companies in Crypto Valley, where students implement real-world projects. HSLU has benefited from the Joint Research Initiative since 2024, which strengthens its department. The Center for Intercultural Communication (ZIBR), located in Zug, brings together researchers from the humanities to examine blockchain technology from the perspectives of law, sociology, philosophy, and more. For students, this means interdisciplinary courses and research that are directly applicable in Crypto Valley.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) also offers blockchain education. Its Crypto Compact Kurs, an introduction to Bitcoin, blockchain, smart contracts, and DeFi for professionals, launched in spring 2022. ETH Zurich also offers other courses, some of which are integrated into other degree programs. The University of Zurich (UZH), through its UZH Blockchain Center offers since 2019 a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in blockchain tech.

This educational focus creates a positive feedback cycle. Students gain practical experience, companies find talent, and Crypto Valley grows. There are now over 1,700 blockchain companies in Switzerland, all of which need experts, from developers to lawyers, who are knowledgeable about crypto and blockchain technology.

Do you want to know more about this education feedback cycle? Check out the interviews with Prof. René Hüsler and Prof. Alexander Denzler of the HSLU at www.cryptovalleypioneers.ch where they talk about their first courses and current projects. Perhaps they'll inspire you to get involved in this field.