The future of money.

Education is power. Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter and Jack Dorsey are personally funding The Bitcoin Academy, a program for residents of Marcy Houses, in Brooklyn, New York, where Jay grew up. Designed in collaboration with Black Bitcoin Billionaire, this program aims to provide education and empower the community with knowledge.

Classes available
in person and online

Sign up for classes

Who are the instructors?

Instructors Lamar Wilson (founder of Black Bitcoin Billionaire), Ryan D. Lawrence ("the key to social justice is economic justice"), Najah Roberts, writer and comic Corey Marshall, Justin Rhedick (Bitcoin Vegan) and Charles J. Kelly (aka “CJ the Smart Guy”) teach about Bitcoin, how it works, why you should care, and how to build your own financial future.

About The Bitcoin Academy

This program aims to provide education and empower the community with knowledge about the financial system of the future. Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter and Jack Dorsey are funding The Bitcoin Academy, a series of classes for residents of Marcy Houses, where Jay grew up.

The vision for Bitcoin is that it doesn’t have barriers, but lack of access to financial education is a barrier. It’s still hard to use for everyday necessities. Plus, people need devices and data plans.

This program aims to provide education, empower the community with knowledge, and get rid of some of the barriers so that residents can learn more about Bitcoin specifically and finance in general.

The Bitcoin Academy is currently focused on Marcy Houses, but we hope to expand to other neighborhoods soon.

  • Classes will be offered online and in person from June 22 through September 7. All Marcy residents are welcome.
  • In-person classes will take place two evenings per week and dinner will be served.
  • Those participating in the program will receive MiFi devices and a one-year limited data plan, plus smartphones if needed. Residents may keep the devices.
  • This initiative is made possible by personal grants from Jay and Jack, with on-the-ground support from Block and the Shawn Carter Foundation.

The Bitcoin Academy: Summer 2022 Recap

Engagement:

This program aims to provide education, empower the community with knowledge, and get rid of some of the barriers so that residents can learn more about Bitcoin specifically and finance in general.

Online Education:

Recordings of past classes are exclusively available to Marcy residents who signed up online, plus 14 additional video tutorials on topics such as Bitcoin Vocabulary, Crypto Scams & A Security Mindset, and Taxes 101.

Sample Classes:

Taught in person, recorded and available online to anyone from Marcy who registered with The Bitcoin Academy.

  • Wealth Building and Assets
  • Why Decentralization Matters
  • Staying Safe from Scammers
  • Bitcoin & Taxes
  • Careers in Crypto

Connectivity:

The Academy distributed approximately 100 MiFi devices to students with a one-year limited data plan. Smartphones were also given to students who needed one. This hardware distribution was made possible by collaboration with T-Mobile.

Teens & Tweens:

In addition to adult classes, we hosted a half-day Saturday session for twenty-five Marcy kids aged 11-17 called “The Bitcoin Academy: Future Edition.”

Student Portraits

Disclosure

The information contained in these course materials (“Bitcoin Academy Content”) is being made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Bitcoin Academy does not provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, and does not encourage or advocate for investment in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. The Bitcoin Academy Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial, tax, or legal advice, nor is it intended to be the sole source of information concerning the use of cryptocurrencies, their value, or the risks or viability of investing in cryptocurrency. Individuals interested in investing in cryptocurrencies should always seek advice from qualified professionals concerning their financial situation and potential investments.