The 5G, internet of things and machine learning will shape the future of education in a way that makes the exchange of Big Data at stake, mainly the financial, personal and academic credentials of students and faculty. The 4.0 technology, known as the fourth industrial revolution, has arrived to fix issues germane to trust, transparency and security. This article focuses on how education could take advantage of this fourth industrial revolution 4.0, mainly through blockchain applications. This article is an outcome of a critical systematic review of the state of the art on the use of blockchain technology in education. The literature sampled have responded largely to the following question: how can blockchain improve the sector of education? It explores the different benefits of Blockchain in operating the online data of students, faculty, partners, etc., providing them with a sense of ownership and ease of access. It also focuses on how the blockchain technology revolutionizes the way educational data will be stored and exchanged by means of safe, quick and transparent blocks. The state of the art has revealed that the benefits of blockchain technology to education are numerous, ranging from management to enabled educational platforms. The outcome of this article provides institutions and educators with a framework of reference to implement the blockchain applications effectively. It is also a catalyst work for researchers who aim at delving into the mainstream of the indispensable debate of how education could take advantage of this fourth industrial revolution 4.0.