Over the past two decades, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have evolved from experimental concepts to legitimate parts of the global financial conversation. Bitcoin is now widely regarded as an institutional-grade asset, and major players in traditional finance are exploring digital assets in earnest.
Yet, despite this momentum, crypto has not fully crossed into the financial mainstream. Regulatory uncertainty and the market’s notorious volatility are often cited as reasons for hesitation. But beneath these challenges lies a more fundamental barrier: a lack of widespread education and financial literacy around digital assets. Without a clear understanding of what crypto is—and how it fits into the broader financial system—many potential participants remain on the sidelines.
Studies have shown that a lack of education has kept many investors away. For instance, per a Pew Research Centre study released late last year, 60% of Americans lack confidence in the safety and reliability of crypto. Yet while cryptos’ “risky” reputation has stymied mainstream adoption, improvements on the matter of crypto education could change this dramatically.
The Key Issue With Most Crypto ‘Educational’ Sources
Much of the “crypto education” available today comes directly from exchanges and platforms. While these materials often serve as useful introductions, they can sometimes blur the line between education and promotion—highlighting their own products or tokens alongside broader concepts. As a result, beginners may not always get the full picture on essential topics like how exchanges work, how to safeguard assets, or how to recognise fraud.
Much like the famed quote “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” the shallow explanation of crypto concepts from these educational materials leads many a newbie crypto investor to make incorrect, risky, and all-too-often painful trading decisions that lead to capital losses and regret.
Binance is Leading the Way in Consumer Education
Proper cryptocurrency education has yet to become widespread, but it’s not as if it’s nonexistent. Top names in the industry, like Binance, are leading the way in thorough consumer education. In fact, Binance has just published a book that could serve as a template for other crypto companies seeking to better educate the public.
Binance’s book, the “ABCs of Crypto,” walks readers through crypto fundamentals ranging from blockchain technology to crypto security, with each letter of the alphabet representing a key crypto-related term, such as “W is for Wallets.”
Why is Binance so passionate about this topic? “Education is the cornerstone of adoption, and mass crypto adoption will make the global financial system more inclusive, allowing people without access to traditional banking services to participate in the global economy just by using a smartphone and internet connection,” said Binance Co-Founder Yi He. “We’re putting a foot forward in introducing crypto to the next billion users through education, the critical starting point.”
“The ABCs of Crypto book is our way of sending an important message of crypto literacy to the world. Digital assets are becoming a part of our daily lives, the same way people use popular banking and payment apps, like Venmo or PayPal, and today they are also easy to use. We’ve published the book to help everyday people begin an inevitable journey into crypto and understand how it can transform society and economies, starting with the fundamentals,” said Yi.
The Best of Both Worlds
Up to now, the responsibility for educating the public about cryptocurrencies has largely fallen to the industry itself. While this has helped introduce millions to the basics of digital assets, the messaging has often been mixed between promotion and providing comprehensive financial education.
That dynamic is poised to shift as regulatory clarity advances. With frameworks taking shape in the United States, the European Union, and beyond, new standards will likely emphasise consumer protection and transparency. Far from being an obstacle, this presents an opportunity: regulation can provide a foundation for the industry to develop educational resources that are both accurate and trustworthy.
By aligning with regulatory expectations, crypto companies can create materials that not only explain how digital assets work but also highlight best practices around security, due diligence, and risk. In turn, consumers gain the confidence that comes from knowing their education is shaped by both industry expertise and regulatory safeguards.
The result could be a more collaborative model—where regulators set the guardrails and the industry brings innovation—that equips everyday investors with the knowledge they need to engage with crypto responsibly, while still supporting broader adoption of the technology.