Ripple Expands UBRI in Europe, Adding Four New University Partners

Ripple is expanding its University Blockchain and Research Initiative (UBRI) in Europe, adding four new European universities.
UBRI aims to foster academic blockchain and crypto research and nurture future leaders in the field.

Ripple, a leading player in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector, is strengthening its commitment to academic research and education in Europe with the expansion of its University Blockchain and Research Initiative (UBRI). This initiative, globally recognized for its contributions to academic blockchain and crypto research, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders in this transformative field.

Ripple has welcomed four esteemed European universities into the UBRI program: Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), EPITA (France), IE University (Spain), and the University of Trento (Italy). These institutions are poised to bolster blockchain education and research across Europe.

Investing in the Future of Blockchain

Since its inception in 2018, UBRI has allocated over $11 million to its 14 European partners. This initiative aligns with Europe’s aspiration to establish itself as a global crypto hub. The recent introduction of the Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation in Europe is a testament to the region’s commitment to providing regulatory clarity for the crypto industry’s growth.

Eric van Miltenburg, SVP Strategic Initiatives at Ripple, underscores the importance of equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills required to harness the real-world potential of blockchain technology. He also highlights Europe’s advantageous position in achieving this mission, thanks to its regulatory clarity.

One of the new partners, IE University, will organize a three-day virtual asset regulation workshop. This event will focus on applied research, entrepreneurship, and corporate transformation, preparing students for the regulatory-centric crypto landscape. Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean at IE University, expresses enthusiasm about this collaboration and underscores UBRI’s role in shaping the future of virtual asset regulation.

Ripple has renewed its partnership with the Centre for Blockchain Technologies (CBT) at University College London (UCL), now known as UK CBT. This program is extending its resource network to Birmingham and Edinburgh. Dr. Paolo Tasca, Founder and Director of UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, emphasizes the collaborative vision of positioning the UK as a global blockchain leader.

UK CBT will support XRPL-related projects, offer XRPL workshops, accelerator programs, and support conferences like UBRI Connect. These efforts aim to amplify the innovative potential of blockchain on an international scale.

Ripple recently hosted its third annual Apex XRPL Developer Summit in Amsterdam. Preceding this event, an XRPL Hackathon – Apex 2023 was organized, targeting European partners. A collaborative team from UCL and the University of Trento secured the first prize of $7,000 for their XRPL Charity project during this hackathon.

Ripple continues to integrate XRP applications into the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The Giving Block has started accepting XRP, enabling donations to charities using the cryptocurrency.