UGM Pilots Blockchain Credentials for 60,000 Students

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), one of Indonesia’s oldest and largest public research universities, is implementing a comprehensive blockchain solution through Space and Time’s decentralized database platform. The initiative, announced during the week leading to TOKEN2049 Singapore, represents one of the largest deployments of blockchain technology in higher education globally. Students who complete courses will have their records written directly to the Space and Time network, creating permanent, immutable credentials they can share with employers or other educational institutions worldwide.

According to Scott Dykstra, co-founder and CTO of Space and Time, the education framework is specifically designed to provide “expanded, modernized education access to the unbanked” while giving students “a way to prove their educational achievements to any institution or employer in the world.” The system aims to help students overcome traditional barriers by eliminating reliance on “intermediaries or traditional financial infrastructure” while ensuring they “come out the other side with a traceable, verifiable record of what they’ve accomplished.”

The program operates through two interconnected components that address both credential verification and financial inclusion. The first centers on verifiable education, where course completions and diplomas are stored on-chain through Space and Time’s custom chain. This system pulls data from multiple blockchains and distributes it across a validator network, with each query backed by cryptographic proofs. This technical approach allows applications to verify results without relying on a single data source, creating a single, immutable record that employers or universities beyond Indonesia can easily confirm.

The second component involves financial access through SXT, the native digital asset of Space and Time. Each student receives a digital wallet preloaded with tokens specifically for paying tuition and course fees directly. Space and Time confirmed there will be no additional costs to students for this service. The system is explicitly designed to reach those without traditional bank accounts, addressing financial inclusion while streamlining the payment process. The pilot rollout begins with English proficiency courses as the initial use case, with planned expansions to other courses across the university’s curriculum.

The blockchain credentialing program emerged from a partnership between Indomobil Group, one of Indonesia’s largest automotive conglomerates, and the Space and Time Foundation, which now oversees the decentralized database network originally developed by MakeInfinite Labs. This corporate-academic collaboration represents a significant investment in educational technology infrastructure within Indonesia’s higher education sector.

Running parallel to the credentialing initiative, UGM is launching an on-campus AI lab using Dreamspace, a tool built on Space and Time’s platform. The AI lab will provide courses on building and deploying AI applications, creating a comprehensive technology education ecosystem that combines blockchain credentialing with artificial intelligence training. This dual approach positions UGM at the forefront of educational innovation in Southeast Asia.

The program’s scale—covering 60,000 students—makes it one of the most ambitious blockchain implementations in global education. By creating immutable, globally verifiable credentials, the initiative addresses longstanding challenges in academic record verification and cross-border qualification recognition. The 2025 ASEAN report on higher education mobility noted that digital credentials can support cross-border recognition of qualifications, validating the potential impact of UGM’s approach.

However, the same ASEAN report also warned that gaps in digital readiness could worsen inequities for students and institutions with fewer resources. While the program aims to increase accessibility through token-based payments and verifiable credentials, implementation challenges related to digital literacy and infrastructure access remain potential concerns. The success of the initiative will depend on how effectively it navigates these digital divide issues while delivering on its promise of expanded educational access.