At the recent TEDx Forbes Park event in Bonifacio Global City, Bitget’s Chief Operating Officer Vugar Usi Zade delivered an insightful talk titled “The Next Billion Minds: Why Blockchain Education Matters More Than Blockchain Itself.” Zade emphasized the importance of blockchain education, arguing that foundational skills and financial literacy are far more critical than the fluctuating nature of cryptocurrency markets.
In a follow-up interview, Zade shared reflections from his childhood that contributed to his professional outlook. Recalling how he was incentivized by his parents to write book reports, he noted that these exercises were not merely about comprehension but about instilling discipline. Zade highlighted the importance of such discipline in investing, stating, “Dollar-cost averaging, saving a certain amount every month, these habits build wealth that can improve not just your life but the lives of your children and generations after.”
This principle of discipline is at the forefront of Bitget’s initiatives to promote blockchain education. The company is particularly invested in its Blockchain4Her program, which is in its second year and has dedicated over $150,000 to supporting young startups. Zade elaborated on a notable partnership with UNICEF aimed at educating 300 girls across eight countries, equipping them with skills to build applications.
Zade articulated that these initiatives focus on nurturing future entrepreneurs and technologists, steering away from a narrow focus on trading tokens. “These initiatives are very important to educate the next generation of financiers, builders, and entrepreneurs who will help us reimagine the future of finance,” he said.
In addition to community initiatives, Bitget has formed partnerships with 17 universities, including prestigious institutions like UCLA, Harvard, and University College London. Zade explained that these collaborations foster not only the promotion of web3 initiatives but also engage in fundamental research that spans topics from economics to applied economics. He stressed that these academic partnerships lend credibility to blockchain education and assist students in applying theoretical financial concepts to real-world scenarios.
All of these efforts fall under Bitget’s broader commitment of $10 million over five years for its Blockchain4Youth initiative, although Zade expressed optimism that the programs established would extend beyond the initial timeline. “As long as Bitget is standing strong and growing, we’ll be keeping our promise to give back to society,” he stated.
Amidst the bearish market conditions, Bitget made a decisive move to invest in a decentralized wallet, allocating $30 million to what has now been rebranded as Bitget Wallet. Zade pointed out that this decision has proven beneficial, as the wallet has emerged as the most downloaded globally, servicing 80 million customers and handling a staggering $12 billion in daily swap volume. He described the company’s objective of bridging traditional finance with decentralized finance, highlighting features such as allowing users to pay gas fees in stablecoins rather than the native tokens of specific blockchains, making DeFi more accessible.
In closing, Zade reiterated the importance of self-discipline, tying back to the lessons learned in his youth. He posited that blockchain education transcends technology for its own sake; the ultimate goal is to empower young individuals with the tools and mindset necessary to constructively contribute to future innovations.
