The European Students Blockchain Coalition (ESBC) was officially launched in January 2024 as an initiative designed to empower students in the blockchain ecosystem. It is a non-profit, student-led project that aims to support and facilitate university blockchain clubs around the world. Cointelegraph Research sees the importance of nurturing the next generation of industry leaders and has commenced collaboration with ESBC. We intended to give students the opportunity to share their ideas with a global forum and develop a passion for the industry.
Cointelegraph is pioneering the first-ever global ‘Crypto’ student panel
The ESBC aims to make the crypto community accessible to university students. Cointelegraph Research, which is known for its dedication to crypto education, was excited to facilitate this dialogue. This vision led to the creation of a student 'crypto' panel. "We wanted to let students share their opinions on industry developments on the biggest stage: Cointelegraph," said the founders.
Over the coming months, several articles will be published on Cointelegraph in which students from around the globe discuss and debate issues that shape the industry. Many of them are interested in the impact of geopolitical issues, new developments in Bitcoin-backed finance and L2 technology. Their articles will compile the diverse perspectives and give a comprehensive view of the younger generation that is about to enter the space.
Creating a network of university blockchain clubs
In September 2023, students Rodrigo van Asseldonk and Vince van Hoesel were surprised to find that an international student community for crypto and blockchain projects was missing. The two founders wanted to spread their passion for blockchain technology to students globally. Most university blockchain clubs were operating independently at the time and Rodrigo and Vince recognized the need for an international coalition.
At the Paris Blockchain Week, 40 students with eight nationalities gathered at the Ledger HQ for a first students-only side event
The ESBC engages in three types of activities: Firstly, it facilitates communication through an internal platform for discussions and casual interactions between students. Secondly, it provides students complimentary access to conferences and arrange exclusive Side Events. Lastly, the coalition organizes monthly webinars in collaboration with renowned organizations that extend learning opportunities beyond club sessions.
Expanding the ESBC network and fostering active blockchain participation
Since its inception in January, the ESBC has successfully onboarded numerous clubs, such as the Nova Blockchain Club (Portugal) , the EPFL Blockchain Students Association (Switzerland), TUM Blockchain Club (Germany), and the Students Blockchain Association (Netherlands). The coalition not only provides students with a chance to expand their blockchain knowledge but also serves as a platform for blockchain organizations to connect with ambitious and eager students.
The ESBC has hosted side events at major conferences such as the Paris Blockchain Week. Students had the unique opportunity to try the new Ledger Stax before its official release. There were also organized webinars with Dfinity and MakerDAO. The coalition’s upcoming sessions feature other industry leaders - Binance and VanEck are on the list. The first group of students to join Dfinity's Decentralized Discord even received some Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) as a reward.