New York-based blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis is extending access to its certification program in crypto fundamentals to the broader professional community. Declared on July 23, the company stated that its Chainalysis Cryptocurrency Fundamentals Certification (CCFC) would, from now on, be open to professionals in the financial services sector, government employees, and the broader enterprise community. 

Earlier, the course had been restricted to clients utilizing Chainalysis’s investigations and compliance products. As one of the higher-profile analytics firms in the blockchain intelligence industry, Chainalysis produces investigative tools that allow firms, governments, and law enforcement agencies to control blockchain transactions and trace suspected illegal activities.

The CCFC program has been created to offer participants with an industry credential and gives them foundational knowledge of cryptocurrency technology, an understanding of key stakeholders in the field, use cases, and the functions of cryptocurrency about the conventional financial system. 

A new cohort of crypto professionals

The CCFC course offers two days of training — web-based for now due to the coronavirus — centered on group discussions, practical exercises, and case studies. Anyone is qualified to apply, and those who finish the course get a two-year CCFC credential, provided both as a digital certificate and LinkedIn badge. 

Tim Simpson, a compliance analyst at Bittrex crypto exchange, said in a statement, “The majority of individuals do not have the time or technical expertise to filter through the endless amount of information about cryptocurrency to focus on what matters. For individuals with a non-technical background or those needing to become quickly up-to-date on how cryptocurrency works, the CCFC course provides a focused, well-organized, and active learning experience.”

Jason Bonds, chief revenue officer at Chainalysis, stated that as crypto and blockchain enter the mainstream, the course is designed to spread a thorough understanding of the technology that will be “crucial for its safe and successful adoption.”

Blockchain educational opportunities worldwide, public and private 

As earlier reported, many higher education institutions globally have launched their internal blockchain laboratories, research centers, and degree programs and certificates — including MIT in the U.S. and the IT University of Copenhagen. Last year, the French Ministry of National Education declared plans to combine an educational module into its high school curriculum covering Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies.

Ripple has also proceeded to add associates in its global University Blockchain Research Initiative, including universities from the United States, Singapore, China, and Brazil. 

Within the venture capital sector, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has provided a free, seven-week crypto startup school to guide in areas like product and technology design and legal/regulatory best practices. This year, the Africa Blockchain Institute planned to open Rwanda’s first blockchain school, providing five new courses for local developers, professionals, and policymakers.