Ripple XRP Expands European Presence with University Blockchain Research Initiative

Ripple, a prominent player in the blockchain and crypto sector, has announced the expansion of its University Blockchain and Research Initiative (UBRI) in Europe. The initiative, recognized globally for its contributions to academic blockchain and crypto research, aims to nurture the upcoming generation of leaders in this domain.

UBRI has incorporated four new European universities into its program. These include Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), EPITA (France), IE University (Spain), and University of Trento (Italy). These institutions are set to bolster blockchain education and research throughout Europe.

Since its establishment in 2018, UBRI has allocated over $11 million to its 14 European partners. This initiative aligns with Europe's ambition to emerge as a global crypto hub, especially with the introduction of the Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, which aims to provide regulatory clarity for the sector's growth.

Eric van Miltenburg, SVP Strategic Initiatives at Ripple, emphasized the importance of equipping the next generation with the requisite knowledge and skills to harness blockchain technology's real-world utility. He also highlighted Europe's potential to expedite this mission, given its regulatory clarity.

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

Ripple has rejuvenated its association with the Centre for Blockchain Technologies (CBT), an educational initiative initiated at University College London (UCL) with UBRI's support. Now named UK CBT, the program is broadening its resource network, extending its reach to Birmingham and Edinburgh. Dr. Paolo Tasca, Founder and Director of UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, highlighted the collaborative vision of positioning the UK as a global blockchain leader.

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

Ripple is hosting 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 University of Trento clinched the first prize of $7k for their XRPL Charity project during this hackathon.

Ripple has consistently integrated XRP applications. As highlighted by Blockchain.News, The Giving Block recently began accepting XRP, allowing donations to charities using the cryptocurrency.

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