Development of the Blockchain Technology Literacy Test (BTLT): A Scoping Review of Current Literature

Authors

  • Lukas Weidener Molecule, Berlin, Germany
  • Bence Lukács Institute for Applied Blockchain, Berlin, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ledger.2025.401

Keywords:

Blockchain Technology, blockchain technology literacy, Cryptocurrency, cryptocurrency literacy, emerging technologies

Abstract

This study addresses the substantial gap in the academic literature on blockchain technology literacy by proposing a Blockchain Technology Literacy Test (BTLT). Through a comprehensive literature review of eight databases, only nine publications with limited focus on blockchain technology literacy were identified. The inconsistency in definitions and predominant emphasis on cryptocurrency literacy further complicate the development of standardized assessments. Based on the results of the literature review and the development of the BTLT, with a focus on terms and technological aspects, an updated list of cryptocurrency literacy questions was proposed as the Cryptocurrency Literacy Test (CLT) to avoid duplications and redundancy in the assessment of relevant blockchain technology and cryptocurrency-related knowledge. The BTLT and CLT aim to distinguish between blockchain technology and cryptocurrency literacy, thereby ensuring comprehensive and accurate assessments. The findings emphasize the need for clear definitions and frameworks within the blockchain ecosystem and call for expanded research to include emerging applications, such as DeFi, DeSci, DAOs, and Web3. This study provides a foundation for future educational efforts and literacy assessments in blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. 

References

‌Balutel, D., Engert, W., Henry, C., Huynh, K., Rusu, D., Voia, M. “Crypto and Financial Literacy of Cryptoasset Owners versus Non-Owners: The Role of Gender Differences.” Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing 1 1–27 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1017/flw.2024.2.

‌Bannier, C., Meyll, T., Röder, F., Walter, A. “The Gender Gap in ‘Bitcoin Literacy.’” Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance 22 129-134 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2019.02.008.

‌Budd, J. M. “Theoretical Foundations for Information Literacy: A Plan for Action.” Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology 51.1 1–5 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1002/meet.2014.14505101001.

Buterin, V. “A Next-Generation Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform.” (accessed 16 July 2024) https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/.

‌CHAISE Consortium. “A Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Blockchain Skill Development.” CHAISE Project (2024) https://chaise-blockchainskills.eu/.

‌CHAISE Consortium. “D4.3.1: European Blockchain Skills Strategy.” CHAISE Project (accessed 11 April 2025) https://chaise-blockchainskills.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CHAISE-European-Blockchain-Skills-Strategy.pdf.

‌CHAISE Consortium. “The Registry of Blockchain Educational and Training Offerings.” CHAISE Project (2024) https://chaise-blockchainskills.eu/registry-of-blockchain-educational-and-training-offerings/.

‌Chiu, T. K. F. et al. “Developing and Validating Measures for AI Literacy Tests: From Self-Reported to Objective Measures.” Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence 7 100282 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100282.

‌Coinme, CoinDesk, MoneyGram. “Crypto Literacy Quiz.” CryptoLiteracy.org (2023) https://cryptoliteracy.org/quiz/.

‌Colombo, J., Yarovaya, L. “Are Crypto and Non-Crypto Investors Alike? Evidence from a Comprehensive Survey in Brazil.” Technology in Society 76 102468 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102468.

‌Dos Santos, S., Singh, J., Thulasiram, R. K., Kamali, S., Sirico, L., Loud, L. “A New Era of Blockchain- Powered Decentralized Finance (DeFi) – A Review.” In 2022 IEEE 46th Annual Computers, Software, and Applications Conference (COMPSAC) 1286-1292 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1109/COMPSAC54236.2022.00203.

‌European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). “Consultation Paper on the Guidelines for the Criteria on the Assessment of Knowledge and Competence under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA).” ESMA35-1872330276-2004 (2005) https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-02/ESMA35-1872330276- 2004_MiCA_-_Consultation_Paper_-_Guidelines_on_knowledge_and_competence.pdf.

‌Frizzo-Barker, J., Chow-White, P., Adams, P., Mentanko, J., Ha, D., Green, S. “Blockchain as a Disruptive Technology for Business: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Information Management 51 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.10.014.

‌Hidajat, T., Kristanto, R. S., Octrina, F. “Measuring Bitcoin Literacy in Indonesia.” Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business 8.3 433–440 (2021) https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no3.0433.

‌Jones, M., Binny, S., Truong, L. “The Interdependence of Financial Literacy and Crypto Literacy.” SSRN (accessed 11 April 2024) http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4757280.

‌Jones, M., Truong, L., Binny, S. “Measuring Cryptocurrency Literacy.” SSRN (accessed 11 April 2025) http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4541401.

‌Kabashi, F., Snopce, H., Aliu, A., Luma, A., Shkurti, L. “A Systematic Literature Review of Blockchain for Higher Education.” In Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on IT Innovation and Knowledge Discovery (ITIKD) 1–6 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1109/ITIKD56332.2023.10100049.

‌Kabashi, F., Snopce, H., Aliu, A., Luma, A., Shkurti, L. “A Systematic Literature Review of Blockchain for Higher Education.” In Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on IT Innovation and Knowledge Discovery (ITIKD) 1-6 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1109/ITIKD56332.2023.10100049.

‌Khan, M. T. I. “Literacy, Profile, and Determinants of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin: Survey Results.” Journal of Education for Business 7 367-377 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2023.2201414.

‌Khasanovich, M. M., Zaurovich, A. Z., Mikhailovich, K. D., Anatolevich, G. I., Ivanovna, V. Z. “Case Study of Youth Financial Literacy in the Field of Cryptocurrency Use.” In D. K. Bataev (Ed.) European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences 92 3153-3165 (2020) https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2020.10.05.419.

‌Lintner, T. “A Systematic Review of AI Literacy Scales.” npj Science of Learning 9.50 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00264-4.

‌Nakamoto, S. “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” (2008) https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf.

‌Ng, D. T. K., Leung, J. K. L., Chu, S. K. W., Qiao, M. S. “Conceptualizing AI Literacy: An Exploratory Review.” Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence 2 100041 (2021) https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041.

‌No Author. “The Merge.” Ethereum Foundation (accessed 13 July 2024) https://ethereum.org/en/roadmap/merge/.

‌Patan, R., Parizi, R. M., Dorodchi, M., Pouriyeh, S., Rorrer, A. “Blockchain Education: Current State, Limitations, Career Scope, Challenges, and Future Directions.” arXiv (accessed 11 April 2025) https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.07889.

‌Reder, S., Davila, E. “Context and Literacy Practices.” Annual Review of Applied Linguistics 25 170–187 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190505000097.

‌Reichert, F., Pan, Q., Chen, L. L. “Digital Literacy Assessment.” UNESCO (2023) https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386202.

‌Sato, F. E., Park, J. “A Systematic Review of Climate Change Literacy Assessment Methods.” The Journal of Environmental Education 56.1 65–83 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2024.2385333.

‌Schär, F. “Decentralized Finance: On Blockchain- and Smart Contract-Based Financial Markets.”Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review 103.2 153–174 (2021) http://dx.doi.org/10.20955/r.103.153-74.

‌Schneiderhan, J., Guetterman, T., Dobson, M. “Curriculum Development: A How-To Primer.” Family Medicine and Community Health 7.2 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000046.

Schueffel, P. “DeFi: Decentralized Finance – An Introduction and Overview.” Journal of Innovation Management 9.3 (2021) https://doi.org/10.24840/2183-0606_009.003_0001.

‌Themistocleous, M., Christodoulou, K., Iosif, E., Louca, S., Tseas, D. “Blockchain in Academia: Where Do We Stand and Where Do We Go?” Proceedings of the HICSS 2020 5338–5347 (2020) https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2020.656.

‌Tricco, A. C, et al. “PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation.” Annals of Internal Medicine 169.7 467–473 (2018) https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850.

‌Weidener, L., Spreckelsen, C. “Decentralized Science (DeSci): Definition, Shared Values, and Guiding Principles.” Frontiers in Blockchain 7 (2024) https://doi.org/10.3389/fbloc.2024.1375763.

‌Wen, Y.-C., Hongchindaket, A. “Interviewing Young Adults About Cryptocurrency Literacy and Investment Intention.” In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Business and Industrial Research (ICBIR) 452-456 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBIR57571.2023.10147709.

‌Wu, P. P., et al. “Courses of Blockchain Technology to Teach at a Career-Oriented College.” Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges 34.3 127 (2019). https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.5555/3306465.3306483.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2025-04-29

How to Cite

Weidener, L., & Lukács, B. (2025). Development of the Blockchain Technology Literacy Test (BTLT): A Scoping Review of Current Literature. Ledger, 10. https://doi.org/10.5195/ledger.2025.401

Issue

Section

Review Articles