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- Ripple expands academic ties with new council, renewed funding, and policy-focused collaboration efforts.
- Universities receive RLUSD grants while students gain direct blockchain practice through active validator projects.
Ripple has expanded its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) with three major moves that reinforce its academic engagement worldwide. The company launched a new Advisory Council, renewed university partnerships worth more than $1.5 million, and formed a new collaboration with the University of San Francisco.
Since its launch in 2018, UBRI has supported more than 60 universities and committed over $80 million in research funding. This expansion signals Ripple’s aim to connect academic research with real blockchain applications across finance, law, and technology.
The next era of UBRI is here.
The University Blockchain Research Initiative is expanding academic commitment with three powerful moves: https://t.co/GVwaRQeBzZ
→ Advisory Council Launch: Featuring @JoelKatz and leading cryptographers from partner universities to advance…
— Ripple (@Ripple) October 27, 2025
New Advisory Council for Blockchain Research
The Advisory Council will bring together XRP Ledger Co-Creator David Schwartz with leading experts in cryptography and computer science. Members include Dr. Hitesh Tewari from Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Yebo Feng from Nanyang Technological University, Dr. Hyunok Oh from Hanyang University, and Dr. Radu State from the University of Luxembourg.
Their collective focus will include subjects such as zero-knowledge virtual machines, DeFi adoption, and quantum computing’s long-term effect on blockchain networks.
David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, said,
For blockchain to truly evolve, we need a constant exchange of ideas between those building the technology and those studying its future.
University of San Francisco Joins Ripple’s UBRI
Ripple’s collaboration with the University of San Francisco (USF) extends the academic reach of UBRI into law and public policy. USF’s Center for Law, Tech, and Social Good will study how blockchain legislation can support public service innovation.
Over the next two years, the research group will produce public reports and policy recommendations on state-level blockchain regulations. Meanwhile, USF’s Department of Computer Science will create a new XRPL Hub that will serve both as a validator and an educational tool for students working directly with blockchain systems.
Michele Neitz, Director of the Center for Law, Tech, and Social Good, said,
USF’s partnership with UBRI offers our students the opportunity to engage with blockchain technology from both technical and policy perspectives. It represents a convergence of our Center’s core values—encouraging the next generation of lawmakers and leaders to think about technology, society, and the law in a balanced way.
Ripple Allocates $1.5M Grants Using RLUSD
Ripple renewed university grants valued at over $1.5 million, distributing them entirely in Ripple USD (RLUSD). The stablecoin’s use marks a change toward funding projects through its own blockchain-based currency.
The latest grants were awarded to institutions including the University of Michigan, University of Wyoming, UC Berkeley, University of São Paulo, and Duke University. These institutions continue research that drives blockchain and fintech development across multiple sectors.
Ripple partnered with Bitso and Engiven to ensure universities received RLUSD grants through compliant digital platforms. This provided hands-on experience with crypto transactions, familiarizing institutions with asset transfers and compliance in a real blockchain setting.
By combining its research funding with partnerships in law, computing, and economics, Ripple is connecting theory with practice through education and technology. With the introduction of the Advisory Council and new RLUSD-based funding, UBRI’s influence on academic blockchain study grows stronger in 2025.
