DEC Institute

What DEC Institute does

DEC Institute is a Switzerland-based professional certification organization operating under two legal entities, DEC Education Services AG and DLT Education Consortium – DEC e.V., both registered in Rotkreuz. Founded in 2020, it issues chartered designations for blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 professionals through two flagship programs: the Chartered Digital Asset Analyst (CDAA®) and Chartered Blockchain Analyst (CBA®), each offered at Level 1 and Level 2, with Level 2 requiring an active Level 1 designation plus degree, student status, or work experience. The institute is governed as a consortium of leading universities (including UCL, UBC, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Politecnico di Milano, University of Liechtenstein, AIT, IIIT, and HSLU) and industry members (including Cardano Foundation, DFINITY Foundation, and several financial institutions), positioning itself academically as a knowledge-standards body rather than a training vendor.

The underlying platform architecture combines proprietary certification content with two major third-party infrastructure partners: Pearson VUE delivers the exams at approximately 25,000 global test centers and via OnVUE online proctoring, and edX hosts the preparatory 101 Professional Certificates (Digital Asset 101 and Blockchain 101) on the DECx storefront. Supporting the core certifications are individual study booklets, free practice tests, a white paper series, and the DEC Infinite Learn CPD platform that aggregates third-party blockchain educational activities from conferences (Consensus, ETHDenver, Paris Blockchain Week, TOKEN2049, Point Zero Forum) and academic courses. The product portfolio was extended with MiCA-aligned certifications (MIC at €2,490 and MAC at €4,490) targeting EU regulatory demand, and CPD credits support ongoing charterholder renewal.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly one-time license fees paid by individual candidates enrolling in self-serve online programs ($297 for 101 certificates, $499 per Level 1, $599 per Level 2, $999 combined bundle, €2,490 for MIC, €4,490 for MAC), plus a €19 one-time DEC Association membership fee and optional recurring CPD activity listings from third-party providers. The go-to-market is a hybrid of self-serve e-commerce, channel partnerships (edX, Pearson VUE, member universities), and enterprise field sales for corporate team certification. The customer base spans finance, banking, asset management, insurance, consulting, and crypto-native firms across 120+ countries, with 3,000+ cumulative certified professionals and recognition from the Swiss Association of Qualified Investors (SAQ), the Swiss Association of Asset Managers (VSV|ASG), and membership in the Swiss Blockchain Federation.

Name

DEC Institute

Legal name

DEC Education Services AG

Website

https://decinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEC Institute is a Switzerland-based professional certification body issuing chartered designations (CDAA, CBA, MiCA) for blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 professionals, delivering exams via Pearson VUE and preparatory courses via edX. It serves finance, banking, asset management, and crypto-native professionals across 120+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), Certification & Exam Prep Course Marketplaces (EDAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Blockchain professional certification
• Digital asset credentials
• Web3 education programs
• MiCA regulatory training
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotkreuz

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Program Fees: Revenue from CDAA and CBA certification programs at two levels. Level 1 exam and study booklet: $499, Level 2 exam and study booklet: $599, combined Level 1 & 2 bundle: $999. Includes 2 exam attempts per enrollment. Exam fees of Pearson VUE are included.
2. Professional Certificate Courses: Revenue from 101 Professional Certificates sold through edX platform. Digital Asset 101 and Blockchain 101 Professional Certificates priced at $297 each. May have seasonal discounts.
3. Study Materials: Individual study booklets for each certification level available for $99 each. Used in conjunction with factsheets and syllabi for self-study preparation.
4. Practice Tests: Free practice tests for CDAA Level 1 and CBA Level 1 offered to help candidates familiarize themselves with the examination format. No direct revenue from practice tests.
5. MiCA Certification Programs: MiCA Inform Certification (MIC) at €2,490 and MiCA Advisory Certification (MAC) at €4,490. These are advanced certifications for professionals advising on or informing about crypto assets under MiCA regulation.
6. CPD Platform Services: Revenue opportunity through DEC's CPD platform where organizations can provide educational activities to blockchain professionals. Platform provides visibility and audience reach for educational content providers.
7. Optional Membership: Optional DEC Association membership requires a one-time administrative fee of €19. Provides access to exclusive resources and opportunities for charterholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DEC Institute designs, delivers, and certifies professional designations (CDAA and CBA at Level 1 and Level 2) for blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 professionals, with exams administered globally through Pearson VUE. It complements certifications with preparatory 101 Professional Certificates on edX, MiCA-aligned crypto-asset certifications (MIC and MAC), study booklets, free practice tests, and the DEC Infinite Learn continuing professional development (CPD) platform that aggregates educational activities from third-party providers.

Product overview

DEC Institute offers a professional certification ecosystem for blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 professionals. The core portfolio consists of two professional charterholder designations (CDAA® and CBA®), each available at Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 certifications are multiple-choice exams covering technology, business/economics, and legal/regulatory aspects; Level 2 certifications use vignettes with multiple-choice questions. Supporting the certifications are 101 Professional Certificates (Blockchain 101 and Digital Asset 101) offered via edX as 24-hour introductory preparatory courses, and study booklets for each certification level. The institute also offers MiCA Inform (MIC™) and MiCA Advisory (MAC™) certifications aligned with EU MiCA regulation, plus a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) platform called DEC Infinite Learn. Practice tests and white papers round out the offering. Exams are delivered through Pearson VUE at test centers or via online proctoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDAA (Chartered Digital Asset Analyst): Professional certification for blockchain, digital assets and Web3 analysts - Level 1 and Level 2 designations for professionals in finance, banking, asset management and trading.
• CBA (Chartered Blockchain Analyst)
• DEC Infinite Learn
• DECx

Products and services

• Chartered Digital Asset Analyst I (CDAA® I)
• Chartered Digital Asset Analyst II (CDAA® II)
• Chartered Blockchain Analyst I (CBA® I)
• Chartered Blockchain Analyst II (CBA® II)
• Blockchain 101 Professional Certificate
• Digital Asset 101 Professional Certificate
• MiCA Inform Certification (MIC™)
• MiCA Advisory Certification (MAC™)
• DEC Infinite Learn (CPD Platform)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ blockchain professionals certified globally from 120+ countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 May 2023Partnership for exam delivery services. Pearson VUE provides the global infrastructure for administering DEC certification exams at approximately 25,000 test centers worldwide and through their OnVUE online proctoring solution. This partnership ensures standardized, secure examination delivery with strict test-taking protocols.
• edXcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 April 2023edX partnership for delivering preparatory courses and professional certificates. DECx on edX hosts Digital Asset 101 and Blockchain 101 Professional Certificate programs. This provides DEC with access to edX's global learner base and platform infrastructure for online course delivery.
• University College London (UCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member ranked #8 in QS World Ranking. UCL contributes to DEC curriculum development and research collaboration for blockchain education.
• University of British Columbia (UBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member ranked Top 3 institution in Canada and Top Blockchain University by CoinDesk. UBC offers Blockchain Summer Institute through DEC's CPD platform and contributes to DEC's academic standards.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member ranked Top 3 Business School and #1 for Blockchain in Germany. Contributes to DEC curriculum development and offers blockchain courses through DEC's CPD platform.
• Politecnico di Milano (MIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member ranked 8th in Financial Times Online MBA Ranking. Contributes to DEC educational programs and blockchain research.
• University of LiechtensteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member offering Switzerland's oldest and best-in-class CAS Blockchain program. Contributes to DEC academic standards.
• Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member - Austria's largest research center co-founded by several universities. Supports DEC research initiatives.
• Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member - India's leading public institution on Blockchain research and innovation. Contributes to DEC's global academic network.
• Swiss Blockchain FederationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEC Institute became a member of the Swiss Blockchain Federation in June 2025. This is a significant industry recognition aligning DEC with Swiss blockchain standards and policy development.
• Cardano FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of DEC Association, contributing to the continuous improvement of the DEC knowledge standard and endorsing the CDAA and CBA charter.
• DFINITY FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry member endorsing the DEC standard and contributing to DEC's blockchain industry knowledge ecosystem.
• HSLU - Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic member offering multiple blockchain courses through DEC's CPD platform including CAS Blockchain, CAS Crypto Finance, and Smart Step courses. Founding member of Crypto Valley Association.
• Consensus/CoindeskcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC partners with Consensus (Coindesk) to offer CPD credits for event attendance, connecting DEC professionals with major blockchain industry conference.
• ETHDenvercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC partners with ETHDenver to offer CPD credits for event attendance, providing DEC professionals access to major blockchain developer conference.
• Point Zero ForumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC partners with Point Zero Forum to offer CPD credits for this annual gathering of 2,000 leading central bankers, regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders.
• Paris Blockchain WeekcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC partners with Paris Blockchain Week to offer CPD credits for this major European blockchain event.
• TOKEN2049coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC partners with TOKEN2049 to offer CPD credits for attendance at this major blockchain industry event in Singapore.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• 101 Blockchains: Online blockchain education and certification provider targeting enterprise upskilling; comparable role-based curriculum and self-paced format, though lacking Pearson VUE proctored exams and academic institutional backing.
• Blockchain Council: Private certification body offering blockchain and Web3 credentials at lower price points; competes for the same individual learner segment as DEC's 101 certificates and CBA program, but lacks DEC's academic consortium and enterprise footprint.

Direct peers

• CFA Institute: Operates the globally dominant CFA charter for finance professionals; CDAA is explicitly positioned as the digital asset analogue, with similar two-level structure, exam-based assessment, and finance professional audience.
• CAIA Association: Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst credential targets a similar buy-side/asset management audience and is increasingly adding digital asset content, directly competing for the same enterprise upskilling budgets as DEC.
• CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment): UK-headquartered professional body offering securities and investment certifications, including digital asset modules; comparable two-level exam structure and target audience of regulated finance professionals.
• GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals): Issuer of the FRM certification for risk professionals; serves the same banking and asset management segments as DEC's CDAA charter and is extending content into crypto and digital asset risk.

Others

• Enterprise Ethereum Alliance: Industry alliance driving enterprise Ethereum adoption with working groups, training, and member education; thematically adjacent to DEC's blockchain professional ecosystem and shares several overlapping industry members (e.g., ConsenSys, blockchain foundations).

Broad incumbents

• edX: Major MOOC platform and DEC's distribution partner for 101 Professional Certificates; also hosts competing blockchain, fintech, and crypto credentials from universities and corporate providers, making it both a channel and a competitive surface.
• Coursera: Global online learning marketplace offering professional certificates and credentials from universities and companies, including blockchain and Web3 specializations; comparable learner audience and credentialing model but with much broader catalog reach.
• (ISC)²: Global cybersecurity certification body (CISSP, etc.) with a comparable member-society structure, Pearson VUE-delivered exams, and continuing professional education requirements; mirrors DEC's operating model in the adjacent IT/security credential category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@decinstitute6026
• Facebookfacebook.com/DEC-Institute-105656067997634
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dlt-education-consortium

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DEC Institute