So you’re into software, but you know nothing about coding? Worry not, because announced today, Team Treehouse says they’re accepting bitcoin for their interactive coding courses in HTML, CSS, iPhone app programming, and more.
The company writes on their blog:
As one of the fastest growing payment methods, Bitcoin will give more people across the world the opportunity to learn with Treehouse. Our mission is to bring affordable Technology education to people everywhere, in order to help them achieve their dreams and change the world, and we believe that Bitcoin can help us accomplish that.
In order to accommodate acceptance, Treehouse is working with San Francisco-based Coinbase, who will give them the option to immediately convert bitcoin revenue to local currency for a minimal free (actually, no fees until the $1 million mark is reached, then 1 percent of balance withdrawal).
Some of the reasons Treehouse says they’re accepting bitcoin include the digital currency’s rapid growth (with more and more merchants accepting every day); extreme level of security (it is based on cryptography, after all); lower fees (which can easily reach 2-3% percent per transaction made with a credit card); and what the company declares to be the most important: more opportunities for the unbanked.
They write:
The reality is that most of the people in the world may not have a bank or PayPal account but they are likely to have a phone. With Bitcoin all you need is a smartphone with a Bitcoin Wallet. With this additional payment option, more people than ever will be able to join our community.
Bitcoin for educational courses isn’t a new concept. Take, for example, the University of Nicosia in Cyprus. Last year, the educational institution announced they would be accepting tuition payments in bitcoin — going so far as to offer a Master’s program in digital currency.
Could the tides be turning when it comes to paying for education (especially online)? Is bitcoin the new way? Time will tell, of course.