Trinity College Dublin has become the first Irish university to partner with Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), a move that will bolster blockchain research and development in Ireland.
The university will establish a blockchain research initiative at its Adapt Research Ireland Centre, focusing on advancing blockchain technology, tackling cryptocurrency cybersecurity issues, and creating innovative fintech solutions. As part of the collaboration, Trinity College will receive $200,000 in funding over the next two years and will host an XRPL validator—a node that verifies transactions on Ripple’s blockchain network—enabling its researchers to contribute to the network’s decentralized infrastructure.
Hitesh Tewari, a professor at Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics, who will lead the initiative, explained that the project will offer students and staff opportunities to develop solutions to real-world challenges. One of the key projects to be developed under the UBRI program is a decentralized social media platform, designed to operate without a central authority, giving users more privacy and control over their data. However, further details about the project remain undisclosed.
In addition to research, Trinity College will actively promote blockchain adoption through educational programs and workshops, contributing to the growth of blockchain knowledge within the local community.
Lauren Weymouth, Ripple’s senior director of university partnerships, praised Ireland as a key hub for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation. She noted that the collaboration aligns with Ripple’s mission to drive forward-thinking advancements in blockchain technology.
Ripple’s UBRI, which began in 2018 with an initial commitment of $50 million, partners with universities around the world to support academic research and technical development in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital payments. Over the past five years, the initiative has engaged with more than 50 universities across 26 countries.
Last year, the University of Toronto also joined the program and became an XRPL validator, working on advancements in payment processing technology.
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