Changpeng Zhao, the embattled founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has set his sights on a new venture: Giggle Academy, a free online education platform aimed at children around the world. The announcement comes amidst ongoing legal troubles for Zhao, who stepped down as CEO of Binance in November 2023 as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities.
Despite facing potential jail time, Zhao appears enthusiastic about Giggle Academy. The platform, envisioned as a non-profit organization, aims to provide free basic education (roughly from grade 1 to 12) in a gamified and adaptive format. This approach targets children who lack access to quality education, particularly in developing regions with high illiteracy rates.
In a social media post, Zhao emphasized the importance of making education “accessible and entertaining” for children globally. He also highlighted the platform’s core principles: it will be free of charge, operate on a non-profit basis, and utilize gamification and adaptive learning techniques to cater to individual student needs.
The announcement was accompanied by a link to the Project Giggle concept paper, which details the platform’s ambitious goals. The paper cites alarming statistics – over 75% of the world’s illiterate adults reside in regions like South Asia, West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, with women disproportionately affected. Giggle Academy aspires to bridge this educational gap by offering a user-friendly and engaging platform accessible to even those in areas with limited internet connectivity.
While details regarding the curriculum and specific features are yet to be revealed, the concept paper emphasizes the platform’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and adaptable learning experience. Giggle Academy plans to utilize gamification elements to make learning enjoyable and promote engagement. Adaptive learning techniques would personalize the educational journey for each student, catering to their individual strengths and weaknesses.
The announcement has generated mixed reactions. Some have lauded Zhao’s philanthropic efforts, particularly his focus on improving educational equity for underprivileged children. Others have expressed skepticism, questioning the long-term sustainability of a free, non-profit platform launched by an entrepreneur facing financial penalties. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding potential data privacy issues associated with such a large-scale online education platform.
Giggle Academy is currently recruiting a small team to work directly with Zhao. The platform’s launch date remains undisclosed, but with the concept paper now public, the project appears to be gaining momentum. Whether Giggle Academy can live up to its ambitious goals and become a force for positive change in global education remains to be seen.
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This article first appeared on 1Arabia.com and is brought to you by Hyphen Digital Network
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