Coinbase Survey Shows 18% of US Students Now Own Cryptocurrency

University students are clamoring for more courses about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

That's according to a nationwide survey of 675 students, commissioned by crypto exchange Coinbase and released today.

"Teaching about this kind of stuff now can be really powerful for students that are trying to find their own way and envision what kind of possible alternatives there might be to the prevailing economic system."

Instead, the Coinbase survey found that there's high demand for crypto and blockchain courses across a diverse spectrum of students.

Speaking to the enthusiasm within the social sciences, or those related to the study of human society and social relationships, Maurer said, learning about financial systems prepares students in all programs for the job market today.

During the first session of the course in 2014, only 35 students enrolled.

Not only are students eager to learn, but an increasing number are also trying the technology out for themselves - 18 percent of respondents in the survey said they own some cryptocurrency.

Benedikt Bunz, a doctoral student at Stanford, who spoke to Coinbase about the survey results, said cryptocurrency experts have an easy time finding jobs after graduation since such skills are in high demand.

Case in point, Coinbase is ramping up its efforts to recruit college students and recent graduates throughout this academic year.

"It's exciting to see widespread interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology taking off in the global academic community, including students attending the top universities in the world," Nat McGrath, vice president of people at Coinbase, told CoinDesk.