Financial Literacy Needs to Include Knowledge on Cryptocurrency

by | Apr 4, 2018 | Cryptocurrency, Financial Literacy | 0 comments

Financial Literacy Needs to Include Knowledge on Cryptocurrency

We are rapidly moving toward a digital world, and while it may be some time before artificial intelligence is cleaning your bathroom, digital money is already knocking on the door. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are starting to make the push into the current financial system, and without some basic ‘money education’, a lot of people will fall behind even further – not just financially, but also in terms of opportunity.

April is Financial Literacy Month in the United States, and a good time to bring awareness of the need for accurate, beginner-level educational material on cryptocurrency. The level of misinformation and deceptive, if not fraudulent promotion is more than just a little disturbing. Equally disturbing in the world of cryptocurrency and initial coin offerings (ICO), is the number of people believing everything they hear or read because they lack subject knowledge. They believe the media, they believe the guy at work, and worst of all, they believe it’s possible to earn 30% per month because that’s what the ad said.

 

We often assume that it is those without money or in debt trouble, that have the greatest need for financial literacy, but that’s not always the case. There is a lot of money being made in the cryptocurrency industry, and for those that got in early or happen to find a sleeping unicorn, what will they do with their windfall? Research from the National Endowment for Financial Education, estimates that up to 70% of all people who suddenly receive large amounts of money will lose that money within a few years.

In a previous blog post[1] we discussed the future impact on today’s children, of an education system that is out of touch with the labor market. It is estimated that two thirds of jobs that will be held in the future by children starting school now, are not even in existence yet. The financial world is rapidly merging with the technology world, and cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are at the center of it.
“Access to technology and digital literacy will be increasingly critical in the financial literacy world.” 
Jane Rooney, Digitising finance, financial inclusion and financial literacy, at the G20 Conference in Germany (2017)
High school students in America have a financial literacy rate of less than 20%. To add insult to injury, we are witnessing a financial technology (fintech) upheaval, which means the majority of students are lacking all the basics needed for digital financial literacy. This leaves them woefully unprepared for managing in a cashless (or near cashless) world, maintaining online security, navigating digital currencies such as bitcoin, utilizing alternative online banking/lending platforms, or understanding digital wallets, asset and securities tokenization, and a multitude of other new digital technologies. Without digital literacy, they will be unqualified to work not only in the financial industry, but in many of the other industries that are rapidly adopting automation, blockchain technology, and any other new tech that will improve their bottom line. It is already painful to watch so many young people struggle with student debt after graduating with a ‘Bachelor of Nothing Useful’ degree, and without significant change in education policy, things will only get worse. [1]
What is the impact of a lack of financial literacy?
  1. In 2015, the gap between what Americans have in pensions and retirement savings, and what they should have accumulated by now in order to maintain their current standard of living, is $7.7 trillion. Retirement Income Deficit
  2. 5.4 million U.S. real estate properties have a market value of 25% less than the amount of money owed on them.  RealtyTrac
  3. Student debt now tops $1.5 trillion.  Student Loan Debt Clock
  4. 46% of Americans do not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency.  Federal Reserve Report

 

[1] Digital Literacy Crisis – The Education system Needs to ‘Get With the Game’ –  https://www.dnotesedu.com/2017/04/digital-literacy-crisis-education-system-needs-get-game/

[2] Financial Literacy and Planning modules – https://www.dnotesedu.com/financial-literacy-and-planning/

DNotesEDU

The DNotesEDU platform provides everyone with FREE access to reliable, easy to understand educational material on cryptocurrency. It addresses many of the issues that have stood in the way of the general public understanding and trusting cryptocurrency. Stumbling blocks such as a lack of technical knowledge or financial literacy have been addressed by providing an engaging variety of entry level videos, guides, and other material on both cryptocurrency and personal finance[2]. The strategic use of modules and sub-modules breaks down the learning experience into easily digestible segments, and also starts connecting the dots to show how integrated all aspects of cryptocurrency and the financial world will become. This module type format also allows anyone at any level of competence to navigate easily between topics of interest. An index at the bottom of each page will take you to material covering a particular concept or term.

“DNotesEDU is an amazing project and it is timeless. Education is a vital contributor to mass adoption of digital currency in global commerce. I am very proud that our team has done such a remarkable job. Every serious investor, regulator, and law maker should spend time on this site. Frankly, I am learning from it as well.”

– Alan Yong, CEO of DNotes Global Inc.

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