The landscape of France’s business schools is undergoing a transformation as a new wave of students—often referred to as ‘crypto bros’—embrace blockchain technology and entrepreneurial ambition. These students are driving a cultural shift, bringing the language and logic of startups, digital currencies, and neoliberal economic thinking into classrooms and campus debates.

At the heart of this movement is the expansion of student blockchain clubs, not just in business programs but also in elite engineering and law schools. Young people are flocking to events like the Krypto Tour, which recently drew hundreds to Lyon’s H7 start-up incubator. For a modest ticket price, attendees engaged in master classes, panel discussions, and networking sessions that connect traditional business education with the fast-changing world of crypto finance.

Organizers—often current students or recent graduates—work tirelessly to scale up these events, aiming to make them essential experiences for anyone aspiring to succeed in the blockchain sector. Their efforts reflect not just technological enthusiasm, but also a deep commitment to reshaping career paths and entrepreneurial identities. Participants report that these gatherings foster not only technical learning, but also a “chill and relaxed atmosphere” that stands in contrast to the formality of more established business networks.

Behind this outward embrace of innovation is something more profound: an intensifying neoliberal outlook. Many students champion deregulation, individual enterprise, and self-optimization, viewing themselves as future disruptors in finance and tech. This outlook aligns with broader trends in French higher education, where schools emphasize employability, leadership, and global competitiveness.

As digital assets, decentralized finance, and entrepreneurial risk-taking become more central to France’s business school experience, these ‘crypto bros’ are not just learning about a new technology—they are redefining what it means to study business in the twenty-first century. Their rise signals a future in which education and career development are inseparable from the ideals and controversies of the digital age.