EPFL gets a student association for blockchain enthusiasts

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EPFL’s Blockchain Student Association is working with the Junior Enterprise team to develop a training program on building decentralized blockchain applications.
The Blockchain Student Association (BSA) was founded by a group of students and blockchain enthusiasts to educate fellow EPFL students on a subject that’s making headlines around the world. “We hold debates, panel discussions and weekly meetings for people who are interested in this technology,” says Darius Foodeei, a computer science student and BSA member. The blockchain is an encrypted, distributed database. It underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, but can be used to build complex systems more broadly while eliminating the need for centralized management.
BSA regularly produces educational materials as part of its drive to demystify a topic that can still be unfathomable to non-experts. “We’re currently working with EPFL’s Junior Enterprise team to develop a training program on blockchain technology,” explains Hugo Majerczyk, a fellow computer science student and BSA member. “Among other things, the program will teach students how to code in Solidity, the programming language behind decentralized applications on the Ethereum network.” The program is set to launch on 21 March and will feature a series of short weekly sessions spread over six weeks. “As far as we’re aware, this will be the first program of its kind at a Swiss university,” says Foodeei.
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies were unheard of 14 years ago. But these are now a fast-moving fields and demand for skilled programmers is high. “Computer scientists with a background in blockchain technology are needed in huge numbers to move the sector forward,” says Majerczyk. “Existing systems – even those that are established and well-funded, like Ethereum – are still developing and evolving at pace,” adds Foodeei. BSA also provides an opportunity for like-minded individuals to connect and innovate. For instance, the association has helped spawn several startups including APWine and Honey Defi, whose founders met through BSA and who raised $7 million and $2.5 million in cryptocurrency in 2021.
BSA members believe that it’s only a matter of time before blockchain technology is adopted widely. “Take decentralized finance, for instance,” says Foodeei. “Once people understand how it works and are able to access it, they’ll come to appreciate its benefits. Because blockchain transactions are reviewed and processed almost instantaneously, users will save an enormous amount of time when compared with traditional financial channels.”
In keeping with the principles that underpin the blockchain, the association is designed as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO): a member-owned community without centralized leadership. Under the DAO model, any BSA member can vote on the direction of the association, with all votes recorded on a decentralized digital ledger.
BSA gained official recognition as an EPFL student association in February 2021. It has grown in size and reach over the past two years as a result of the sharp rise in cryptocurrency prices and the accompanying press coverage. “The upwards market trend has had a huge impact on our membership,” says BSA president Antoine Mouran. “In the space of just one semester, we saw a four-fold increase in the number of people using our Telegram group.”
For more information on the training program, visit: https://forms.gle/SCmGpF3toBjyHxACA