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Case Study: Arizona State’s Trusted Learner Network

How one of the largest U.S. universities is using blockchain to issue secure, portable credentials — and what K–12 can learn from its successes and challenges.

Author

Scott Kasten
September 05, 2025

One of the most advanced real-world pilots of Web3 in education isn’t happening in a startup lab or a metaverse classroom — it’s happening at one of the largest public universities in the U.S.

Arizona State University (ASU) has been experimenting with blockchain-backed systems for academic records through its Trusted Learner Network (TLN). The initiative began as part of ASU’s blockchain research lab, launched to explore practical applications of decentralized technology in education.

What the TLN Does
At its core, the TLN gives students a digital wallet-like profile where they can securely store and share verified educational credentials. Instead of requesting transcripts through long bureaucratic processes, students can instantly grant access to a potential employer or another school with a few clicks. Smart contracts ensure the data is tamper-proof and portable across institutions.

Key Features Tested by ASU

  • Blockchain-verified credentials for transcripts, certificates, and continuing education credits.

  • Adaptive learning records, allowing students to keep track of personalized learning journeys.

  • Cross-institutional credit transfer frameworks powered by smart contracts — reducing friction between universities.

  • Partnerships with blockchain platforms like Cardano and Ethereum to test interoperability.

Challenges Faced

  • Privacy compliance: Navigating regulations like FERPA in the U.S.

  • Scalability: Early blockchain systems struggled to handle large student populations.

  • Funding and sustainability: Building and maintaining blockchain infrastructure in a university system is not trivial.

Impact and Outcomes

  • ASU became one of the first institutions to issue blockchain-based credentials at scale.

  • The TLN created a working model for interoperable, verifiable records that could follow students across their academic and professional careers.

  • The project inspired policy conversations around how credentialing might evolve nationally and internationally.

Why It Matters for K–12
While ASU operates in higher education, the lessons flow directly down into elementary, middle, and high schools:

  • Imagine student report cards, digital art projects, or service hours stored securely in a blockchain wallet that parents and students control.

  • Think of the time saved in transcript requests, or the opportunities for early micro-credentialing in STEM and digital literacy.

  • And importantly, ASU’s challenges with privacy, scalability, and funding mirror the hurdles K–12 schools would face — giving educators a roadmap for what to watch out for.

The Trusted Learner Network shows both the promise and the practical realities of Web3 in education. It’s not flashy — no avatars in headsets or NFT trading marketplaces — but it may be one of the clearest indicators that decentralized record-keeping is moving from theory to practice.

If you are interested in learning more about Arizona State’s program, you can find it here.

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