The Relevance of Bitcoin to the Mission of the Church

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In an era of global financial volatility and increasing digital centralisation, how does the Church protect her resources and maintain her mission? Bitcoin is more than a digital currency; for many, it represents a return to "sound money" principles that align with the Church’s call for justice, honesty in weights and measures, and institutional independence.

Led by a world-class panel of pioneers—including the founders of Unchained and the Satoshi Nakamoto Institute—this course bridges the gap between high-level monetary technology and the daily reality of diocesan and parish administration.

This course is an online, self-paced course including the following modules:
  • Module 0 – Course Introduction and Orientation
  • Module 1 – What is Bitcoin?
  • Module 2 – Why should the Church care about Bitcoin?
  • Module 3 – How should the Church engage Bitcoin?

What you will be able to do:

  • Demystify the Tech: Explain the basics of Bitcoin and blockchain to your finance council without the jargon.

  • Evaluate the "Why": Articulate the theological and ethical arguments for Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom and "hard money" stewardship.

  • Assess Practical Integration: Understand the "concrete how-to" of Bitcoin—from accepting donations to long-term custody solutions.

  • Navigate Risk: Learn the difference between speculative "crypto" and the secure, multi-signature protocols used by institutional Bitcoin holders.

● Alan Lane is an Executive Advisor to Unchained, a Bitcoin financial services company in Austin, TX.

● Michael Goldstein has been a Bitcoin developer and educator since 2013. He is the founder and president of the Satoshi Nakamoto Institute, which works to advance and preserve Bitcoin knowledge. 

● Joseph Kelly is Co-founder and CEO of Unchained, a U.S.-based Bitcoin financial services firm with $10 billion in Bitcoin secured collaboratively with thousands of clients who self-custody.

● Pierre Rochard is the Founder of The Bitcoin Bond Company, and has served as Chief Executive Officer since April 2025. Prior to that, from July 2022 to March 2025, he served as Vice President of Research for Riot Platforms Inc., one of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies in North America.

● Tuur Demeester is a Belgian-born economist, investor, and analyst of sound money principles, now based in Austin, Texas. An early Bitcoin advocate since 2012, he founded Adamant Capital, acquired by Blockstream in 2021, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Adamant Research, focusing on Bitcoin, global macro trends, and hard money. Married and multilingual, he remains influential through research, commentary, and writings on monetary integrity and economic freedom.

● Fr. Anthony Stoeppel - Click HERE for Biography, Associate Professor of Church Management, The Busch School of Business, The Catholic University of America(Washington, DC)

Completion of this course grants a $149 voucher toward our Graduate Certificate or MCA (Masters of Church Administration). Enroll for $149, and if you choose to pursue a Graduate Certificate or MCA later, your $149 will be applied as a tuition credit.

Most dioceses offer reimbursement for clergy ongoing formation of this kind. Contact your Vicar for Clergy to confirm this course applies to your diocesan policy. 

Total Time: 5 Hours

Completion Time: One Day

Time Saved: Get a Library's Worth of Information in Less Time Than It Takes to Read a Book

Solve a Problem: Take a self-paced non-credit course ($109).
Stack Your Skills: Earn your Certificate of Completion and a $109 credit.
Lead the Church: Apply your credits toward a Master of Science in Church Management.

Solve a Problem: Take a self-paced non-credit course.
Stack Your Skills: Earn your Digital Badge and a tuition credit.
Lead the Church: Apply your tuition credits toward a MCA degree.

Mastering the future of money is part of mastering the future of the Church. Our Master’s in Church Administration explores the intersection of Catholic Social Teaching and modern economic systems, preparing you to lead in a digital age.

Pathway to Mastery


Is your parish facing financial hardship? We believe no priest should be denied formation due to budget. Click here to apply for a Parish Excellence Grant to your enrollment, or send an email to busch-cmp@cua.edu.

Most dioceses offer reimbursement for clergy ongoing formation of this kind. Contact your Vicar for Clergy to confirm this course applies to your diocesan policy. 

Online, asynchronous through Brightspace at The Catholic University of America.

No in-person or specific course days/times required.

Start and end when you want. 

This course is taught in English. Other languages are available upon request. Please email busch-cmp@cua.edu for more details.

Price: $149.00
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