The 1st Blockchain University Course with Professor Marko

Professor Marko Suvajdzic shares how he helped launch the first accredited blockchain course at the University of Florida, pushing through academic resistance and navigating multi-layered approval from university departments to state-level oversight in Tallahassee. Joined by Antonio, the conversation traces the early days of skepticism—when Bitcoin was still associated with Silk Road headlines—to the present moment, where blockchain is now recognized as a foundational innovation in academia. Backed by a grant from the Algorand Foundation, Marko is building a blockchain research lab on campus, alongside a growing catalog of undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate offerings.

Antonio reflects on the parallels between launching student blockchain clubs and formalizing curriculum—both efforts requiring a belief in the long-term impact of Web3. Student interest has matured from price speculation to hands-on development and startup creation. Marko notes that anyone who commits a few months to learning blockchain development can immediately differentiate themselves in the job market, especially as demand continues to outpace supply. With initiatives like UF Online and open certificate tracks in the works, students—both in Florida and globally—have new opportunities to turn curiosity into technical fluency and career leverage.