The Lomond School in Scotland has become the first academic institution in the United Kingdom to accept tuition payments in Bitcoin (BTC) representing a major step in crypto mainstream adoption.
Bitcoin Represents Independence And Innovation, Lomond Says
In a recent blog post, Lomond School announced the inclusion of BTC as a payment option for tuition fees. The management of the British school explains that this decision was driven by multiple factors including Bitcoin’s alignment with independent thinking and innovation which are part of the school’s core ethos.
Lomond describes Bitcoin as a decentralized asset with no central authority and is easily accessible and transferable, thus reflecting important principles such as democracy and inclusion.
A statement by the school reads:
… Bitcoin is available to anyone willing to learn—making it more democratic and inclusive, particularly for people in developing nations who lack access to traditional banking. Lomond sees Bitcoin as a perfect real-world case study in economics, computing, ethics, and innovation.
The Scottish school further states that the adoption of BTC as a payment alternative is also driven by significant demand from local parents and international agents, showcasing the rising global acceptance of cryptocurrencies as viable financial assets.
However, Lomond has stated the school will only deal with Bitcoin at the moment which has distinguished itself from other cryptocurrencies in terms of “security, scarcity, transparency and resilience.”
Lomond: Bitcoin Treasury Is Feasible
To assuage customer fears about blockchain security, Lomond has stated that these BTC payments will be received by regulated and KYC-compliant partners — Musket and CoinCorner, on behalf of the school. However, despite this crypto-friendly approach, Lomond has stated that all Bitcoin received will be immediately converted to the Great Britain Pounds (GBP) to avoid dealing with the crypto market volatility.
Nevertheless, there is the possibility of establishing a BTC Treasury in the advent of significant support from the school community.
Lomond says:
The (Bitcoin) treasury is a phased goal, not an immediate change, and it depends entirely on community support and the school’s ability to responsibly “stack sats” over time.
While Lomond may be the first British school to dabble into Bitcoin payments, academic institutions in other countries have long explored the use of the premier cryptocurrency. Some of these schools include Wharton College in the University of Pennsylvania, King’s College in New York, and major universities in El Salvador among others. Meanwhile, other academic institutions such as the University of Wyoming have developed ample resources to conduct peer-reviewed research on the “digital gold.”
At the time of writing, BTC continues to trade at $83,230 after a 3.65% price gain in the last 24 hours.
