Changpeng Zhao’s Giggle Academy & American Legion Launch $2M Blockchain Scholarship For Military Families

Giggle Academy and American Legion Charities have announced a $2 million partnership to launch a new scholarship initiative aimed at supporting the children of America’s fallen and disabled service members through education in blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).

The program will provide up to $20,000 in educational grants to underserved students from military families, especially those impacted by the death or disability of a parent in the line of duty. At its core is an annual competition centered on practical blockchain and AI questions under the theme: “What’s broken, and how would you fix it?”

Founded in 2024 by tech entrepreneur and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Giggle Academy offers a free, gamified, AI-powered education platform focused on real-world, job-ready skills such as emotional intelligence, finance, negotiation, and tech literacy, without the barriers of formal schooling or expensive admissions.

“I chose to begin this scholarship program with the children of U.S. military families because these young people know what service looks like,” said CZ. “They’ve seen its cost up close. They carry with them courage, discipline, and often, grief—but also a culture of selfless leadership. If we’re starting from scratch to reimagine education for the underserved, let’s begin with the kids whose parents gave everything—and still fell through the cracks.”

With over 2 million post-9/11 military children in the U.S. and 750 million illiterate adults globally, according to the announcement, the initiative aims to address long standing educational gaps. The American Legion, with over a century of veteran family support, brings legacy and trust to the mission.

“Military families sacrifice and serve, but are often overlooked, especially once the uniforms come off,” stated American Legion. “We are grateful that Giggle Academy joins us in saying to those who gave their life for our freedoms and to their children ‘you are not forgotten.’”

This scholarship program will connect military children to next-generation learning tools and an adaptive curriculum built for those who’ve faced life’s hardest challenges.

“This partnership with Giggle Academy allows us to take that commitment into the future—combining time-honored service with cutting edge access to education,” added American Legion. “Together, we’re not just honoring sacrifice, we’re building opportunity, one child at a time.”