A coalition of over 20 decentralized finance (DeFi) projects and advocacy groups, led by the 1inch Network, has launched the "1inch Forward" campaign. This initiative includes an open letter urging top U.S. business and law schools to formally incorporate blockchain and DeFi education into their core curricula.
The campaign is backed by major industry players including the Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, The Solana Policy Institute, Aave Labs, and Dune. The open letter argues that American universities risk falling behind as student interest and industry demand for crypto skills surge. Google search data cited by 1inch shows searches for "blockchain jobs" rose 84% to 10.3 million in 2025–26, while "crypto jobs" searches surged 133% to 47 million. Interest in specialized roles like "DeFi Developer Jobs" climbed by roughly 269%.
"American business and law schools have long set the global standard in higher education — and DeFi is the next frontier in maintaining that standard," the letter states. It proposes adding blockchain architecture, automated market makers, smart contract risk, and regulatory frameworks as supplementary pillars to existing finance and law programs, not as elective curiosities.
The campaign includes a nationwide campus tour beginning at the University of Pennsylvania on March 27, 2026. Subsequent stops are planned for Yale University (April 10), Cornell Tech (April 24), Stanford University, Harvard University, Indiana University, and the University of Michigan later in the year. The tour will feature panels, mentorship, and direct recruitment opportunities.
Beyond events, 1inch Forward will offer a DeFi career pathways channel for students to ask questions, submit CVs, and book one-on-one meetings with 1inch staff. Coalition members have pledged to help design coursework, create protocol participation opportunities, and establish formal internship and fellowship programs.
1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz emphasized the urgency: "The 84% surge in blockchain job searches across the US shows that the next generation is already looking toward careers in the future of finance. The responsibility now sits with industry and educators to ensure talent has the skills and access needed to participate." Supporters like Gil Rosen, president of Stanford’s Blockchain Accelerator, framed the push as vital for making DeFi enterprise-ready for global finance.
