Swiss BSV to establish blockchain academy in the Middle East

Published at: Feb. 7, 2022

The first blockchain school in the Middle East will open in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to an announcement by the BSV Blockchain Association. The new institution will reportedly provide training and development tools for government organizations and enterprises interested in adopting or experimenting with blockchain technology.

Per the announcement, the Saudi Blockchain Academy (SDA) will work with the Swiss-based Bitcoin SV (BSV) Blockchain industry association to educate experts about new technologies, assisting in implementing Saudi Vision 2030.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established the SDA as a major national project to develop both human capital and digital skills for the future and prepare its youth for employment in communications and information technology sector.

The BSV association and SDA will collaborate through Riyadh's new blockchain academy to provide learning and development resources for various audiences, including developers, students, startup entrepreneurs, business executives, and government agency officials.

Blockchain technology has seen a wide range of potential applications in many areas such as financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications, among others. Many big tech companies, including Google and IBM, are actively participating in developing blockchain-based applications.

Per the announcement, the school will focus on the BSV blockchain and is part of a growing number of sector-specific educational programs launched by the SDA. Eng. Faris AlSaqabi, Deputy Minister for Future Jobs & Capabilities at MCIT said:

"Since the initial academies announced at our launch event in October 2021, we continually look to add new fields of learning. Given the high interest in blockchain technology, we are proud to work with BSV's team to bring world-class blockchain training to Saudi Arabia in this landmark initiative for the Middle East."

Related: Crypto firms ignore Africa at their peril as continent set for major adoption

Several nations have embraced blockchain technology and digital assets in the Middle East with a more progressive perspective. Several regulators have pushed for a slew of crypto-friendly laws in various countries in the region.

In Sept. 2021, the UAE's local authorities unveiled a new regulatory framework that encourages cryptocurrency trading and related activities in Dubai's economic free zone, potentially laying the groundwork for wider adoption and innovation throughout the country. As reported by Cointelegraph, the Emirates Postal Group, or EPG for short, announced that it was the first postal organization in the Middle East and North Africa to issue digital-collectible stamps.

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