Ripple Labs is ramping up its global commitment to blockchain education and research by allocating an additional $5 million towards academic initiatives across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This new funding forms part of Ripple’s broader strategy to promote blockchain talent and technological advancement through its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI).
Expanding UBRI’s Reach Across APAC
In a blog post published Tuesday, Ripple confirmed the extension of its UBRI programme, which now spans universities in six APAC nations. The latest funding will support academic institutions in Taiwan and Australia, adding to existing collaborations in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
UBRI, launched by Ripple to support academic research and innovation in blockchain technology, is already active in over 50 universities globally. With this expansion, Ripple strengthens its presence in APAC, aiming to foster a new generation of blockchain researchers and developers.
Major Investments in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore
Ripple’s academic partnerships have already resulted in multi-million-dollar investments in leading institutions across Asia.
In South Korea, UBRI has pledged $1.1 million to Yonsei University over a six-year period. In Japan, Ripple is working with two prestigious institutions: Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, with a combined funding of $1.5 million.
Singapore has received over $3 million in total funding through partnerships with Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore. Professor Yang Liu from Nanyang Technological University highlighted the significance of Ripple’s support. “With our current grant, we are developing an autonomous AI agent network on the XRP Ledger to create a transparent, modular, accessible, and collaborative AI platform harnessing blockchain technology. We believe this innovation will be pivotal in shaping the future of AI,” Liu said.
New Partnerships in Taiwan and Australia
With the fresh $5 million commitment, Ripple is bringing new institutions into its UBRI network. In Taiwan, UBRI has joined hands with the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) to explore real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation using the XRP Ledger. Professor Echo Huang from NKUST expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, calling it an “exciting new chapter” for blockchain research in Taiwan.
In Australia, Ripple has reinforced its ties with the Australian National University and initiated a partnership with Victoria University. The total funding to Australian institutions now stands at $1.3 million, contributing to the country’s growing interest in decentralised technologies and fintech innovation.
Ripple’s Broader Educational Commitment
This latest APAC funding boost comes on the heels of Ripple’s substantial domestic investments. In May, the company committed $25 million in RLUSD, a Ripple-backed stablecoin, to education-focused nonprofit organisations in the United States. The initiative aims to enhance classroom resources and improve teacher support nationwide.
Earlier in March, Ripple had also launched the National Cryptocurrency Association, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to enhancing crypto literacy and education in the U.S. As part of this effort, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced a $50 million grant to help launch and sustain the new organisation.
Building a Global Blockchain Future
Ripple’s continued financial support through UBRI underscores its long-term vision of nurturing a global blockchain ecosystem. By investing in academic research and education, the company seeks not only to strengthen the XRP Ledger’s capabilities but also to cultivate talent that will drive the next wave of decentralised innovation.
With growing partnerships in both established and emerging markets, Ripple is positioning itself as a leader in blockchain education, ensuring that the next generation of researchers and developers is well-equipped to explore real-world blockchain applications.
