Despite the many benefits of blockchain technology in higher education, this technology is not widely adopted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Therefore, instead of providing additional motives for adopting blockchain technology, this research tries to understand what factors discourage HEIs from merging blockchain with their procedures. The methodology used for this research is based upon qualitative research using 14 interviews with administrative and academic staff from the European Union (EU) and Canada. Our findings based on our empirical data revealed 15 key challenges to blockchain adoption by HEIs that are classified based on the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework. Theoretically, this study contributes to the body of knowledge relating to blockchain technology adoption. Practically, this research is expected to aid HEIs to assess the applicability of blockchain technology and pave the way for the widespread adoption of this technology in the educational field. © 2022 by the authors.