UCL partners with Ripple to accelerate innovation in blockchain & cryptocurrency

UCL will be joining a new program called the 'University Blockchain Research Initiative', founded by Ripple to support academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments. The Centre for Blockchain Technologies at UCL (UCL CBT) will receive a multi-year multi-million dollar donation from Ripple to conduct cutting-edge research in the blockchain field. Research will focus on three main streams including: technological innovation of distributed ledger technologies, business applications and socio-economic risks, legal and regulatory implications of distributed ledger technologies. UCL is the only UK university involved in the program of 12 institutions including MIT, Princeton and Berkeley. Established in 2016, UCL CBT is the largest centre on blockchain technologies in the world which counts more than one hundred research associates. It is an interdisciplinary interdepartmental research centre that draws on world-leading academic expertise from eight UCL departments to produce cutting-edge blockchain solutions for industry, start-ups and regulators. As part of the new program, each university will determine its own research topics and areas of focus.