Bitcoin Goes Ivy League

Bitcoin has been gaining popularity across the world as more and more merchants adopt the cryptocurrency as a payment option and some residents in countries struggling with financial uncertainty turn to digital currencies for more stability. Now, Bitcoin is likely to gain even more notoriety as Stanford University is planning to

focused on the cryptocurrency.

Stanford's new course, called

, is set to begin on September 21 and will run through December 9, 2015. The course is expected to expose students to everything from bitcoin transactions, to alt coins, to cybersecurity as it relates to cryptocurrencies. The course will be open to Stanford students as well as professionals working toward their graduate certificate in cybersecurity.

Stanford computer science professor Dan Boneh said the course will give students a chance to learn about a developing technology at a time when it is expanding rapidly. That way, he said, they will be better prepared with necessary skills when it comes time to find a job in the tech industry.

Bitcoin has been plagued with security issues after a spate of high-profile scams and hacking attacks underscored the disparity between current security measures and the capability of cybercriminals. By addressing those security questions during the course, Stanford is hoping prepare students to combat security threats in the fintech space.

The university has announced plans for a free webinar hosted by Professor Boneh which will outline the course's objectives and give participants a taste of what they can expect from the new class. The webinar will be available on Tuesday, August 25 from 10 am to 11 am PST.