Ripple Labs has recently pledged a significant investment of US$5 million (approximately AU$7.66 million) towards blockchain research and educational initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. This funding aims to bolster blockchain talent and innovation within the area.
As highlighted in Ripple’s recent blog post, the financial contributions will be channelled through their University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), which has established partnerships with various universities across South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Notably, the Australian allocation totals US$1.3 million (around AU$1.99 million), benefiting the Australian National University (ANU) and Victoria University.
### Funding Impact in Australia
At ANU, the funding will enhance advanced legal courses covering topics such as blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems. Additionally, it will support faculty research, particularly in the development of Evernode, a proposed Layer 2 smart contract platform for the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The university will also continue to operate its XRPL validator and encourage student-led research through the ANU Journal of Law and Technology.
### Broader UBRI Initiatives Across APAC
In conjunction with the investments in Australia, UBRI has allocated US$1.1 million (approximately AU$1.69 million) to Yonsei University in South Korea under a six-year collaboration. In Japan, Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo together received a total of US$1.5 million (about AU$2.30 million). Furthermore, more than US$3 million (around AU$4.6 million) has been directed to institutions in Singapore, specifically Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore.
### Ripple’s Commitment to Education
Ripple has expressed pride in its ongoing dedication to leveraging academic talent within the Asia-Pacific region, having partnered with 60 universities globally over seven years of the UBRI programme. Eric van Miltenburg, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, noted the profound impact of sustained collaboration with educational institutions and highlighted Australia as a key player in the global fintech and blockchain innovation landscape.
### Recent Developments in the U.S.
This latest investment in the Asia-Pacific region follows Ripple’s previous initiatives in the United States, where in May, the company allocated USD 25 million in its RLUSD stablecoin to support nonprofit organisations dedicated to educator assistance.
Ripple’s strategic push into the Asia-Pacific market underscores its commitment to fostering blockchain education and innovation, reinforcing the company’s status as a pivotal player in the global financial technology domain.
