Open Campus Launches EDU Chain: A Game-Changer for On-Chain Education

Yat Siu-backed Open Campus introduces Layer-3 Blockchain on Arbitrum to Revolutionize Educational Credentials and Developer Ecosystem

On January 17, Open Campus, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) dedicated to transforming on-chain education, officially launched its EDU Chain blockchain on Arbitrum Orbit. Designed to power decentralized educational applications (DApps) and enhance the future of on-chain education, EDU Chain is backed by the EDU token and promises to make educational achievements more transparent, secure, and accessible.

Introducing the Open Campus Achievement System

The highlight of the EDU Chain is the Open Campus (OC) Achievement system, formerly known as Verifiable Credentials. This decentralized system enables educational institutions and training centers to issue tamper-proof, blockchain-based records of learners' qualifications.

Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, as well as a council member of the EDU Foundation, emphasized the transformative potential of the OC Achievement system. “Open Campus Achievements are self-sovereign records stored in a learner’s digital wallet, giving the learner full ownership and control,” said Siu. Unlike traditional systems where centralized institutions hold control over credentials, the OC Achievement system ensures that only the learner can grant access to their academic records, providing privacy and security.

This decentralized approach enables educational institutions and providers to offer personalized learning experiences, based on verified, permissioned access to students' qualifications and accomplishments.

A Rapidly Growing Ecosystem

EDU Chain has already gained significant traction, reaching an impressive $150 million in total value locked (TVL), making it the largest Layer-3 blockchain by this metric, according to data from L2Beat. The launch follows a successful testnet phase, which saw 86.2 million transactions and 358,684 unique active wallets.

During the testnet period, 47 decentralized applications (DApps) were developed and tested. These developers are now transitioning their DApps to the EDU Chain mainnet, marking the start of the blockchain’s broader adoption.

Developer Incentives and Ecosystem Expansion

To accelerate growth and innovation within the ecosystem, Open Campus has introduced several key initiatives. The first is a series of hackathons with a total prize pool of $1 million, designed to foster creativity and drive development on the EDU Chain. Additionally, Open Campus has launched the OC Incubator, a 12-week program aimed at scaling projects developed during the hackathons. The program offers mentorship, funding opportunities, and market support to help turn promising ideas into fully functional applications.

To further engage users, EDU Chain has introduced a rewards program. In the first season of this program, users can earn Yuzu points by interacting with DApps on the EDU Chain mainnet. These points can be redeemed for various incentives, encouraging adoption and long-term engagement with the platform.

Shaping the Future of Education

Looking ahead, Siu envisions a future where tokenized educational content allows educators to easily own, control, and monetize their intellectual property. By converting educational materials into capital assets, educators can open new pathways for revenue while maintaining control over their content.

Moreover, the EDU Chain ecosystem supports "learn-to-earn" models, which reward learners for acquiring new skills. These models tie continuous skill development to real-world value, incentivizing education and making learning a more dynamic, rewarding experience.

Siu also highlighted the broader impact that blockchain and AI will have on education. "AI-powered platforms are rapidly evolving to deliver personalized, adaptive learning experiences, while blockchain ensures the security and verifiability of educational data and credentials. The integration of AI and Web3 in education represents a paradigm shift that will fundamentally change global education,” he said.

This synergy between AI and blockchain technology is expected to improve access to education, simplify funding processes for students and lenders, and redefine how credentials and academic achievements are recognized across the globe.

Conclusion

With the launch of EDU Chain, Open Campus is positioning itself at the forefront of the educational transformation powered by blockchain and Web3 technologies. By providing decentralized, verifiable educational credentials and fostering a vibrant developer ecosystem, Open Campus is paving the way for a more transparent, secure, and personalized future in education. As the platform continues to grow, it holds the potential to redefine how we learn, teach, and recognize academic achievement in the digital age.