Yonsei University Joins Ripple’s UBRI to Drive Innovation in Blockchain Research
September 02 2024 - 9:00PM
Business Wire
Partnership with one of South Korea’s most
prestigious academic institutions is Ripple’s 58th UBRI partnership
globally and 12th within Asia Pacific
Ripple, the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure,
announced today that Yonsei University in South Korea is the latest
partner to join its University Blockchain Research Initiative
(UBRI) program. This new partnership with one of South Korea’s most
prestigious academic institutions marks Ripple's 58th UBRI
partnership globally, and its 12th within the Asia Pacific
region.
UBRI aims to drive global adoption and interoperability of
digital assets through strategic support, technical resources, and
funding grants. The program’s global impact is supported by over
$60 million in funding from Ripple since its launch in 2018.
Through a multi-year partnership, Yonsei University will
spearhead innovative blockchain research across various disciplines
that are shaping the future of blockchain technology such as
artificial intelligence and finance, information systems, and
management.
The grant will also aid in facilitating hackathons and fund the
launch of an XRP Ledger (XRPL) validator at Yonsei University. An
XRPL validator evaluates transaction proposals from a specific set
of trusted validators called a Unique Node List (UNL), augmenting
the network’s security and decentralization. This initiative not
only enhances Yonsei University's blockchain research capabilities,
but also provides practical learning opportunities for faculty and
students, while reinforcing the credibility and neutrality of the
XRPL by having another respected academic institution in the
validator network.
"Yonsei University is at the forefront of academic excellence in
South Korea, and we are thrilled to welcome them as our latest UBRI
partner,” said Eric van Miltenburg, Senior Vice President of
Strategic Initiatives at Ripple. “By supporting their
innovative research and educational initiatives, we are not only
advancing the field of blockchain in South Korea, but also
empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in this
space."
"We are excited to be the latest partner to receive a grant
through Ripple’s UBRI program, allowing us to further explore
cutting-edge research areas and foster a deeper understanding of
blockchain's impact on the finance and management industries,” said
Jun Kyung Auh, Associate Professor of Finance and Artificial
intelligence at Yonsei University. “I’m confident that our
students and faculty will benefit immensely from the opportunities
to work on real-world challenges and contribute to the global
blockchain ecosystem through this partnership."
Yonsei University will join existing partners in Asia Pacific
including Korea University, which has been part of the UBRI program
since the program’s inception in 2018, and recently renewed its
multi-year commitment to advancing blockchain education with UBRI.
Korea University also runs an active XRPL validator on campus and
has allocated a portion of its funds to other blockchain projects
in the region, including Professor Hyunok Oh of Hanyang
University’s work in the Security and Privacy Lab to pioneer
research in Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and their practical
applications.
This partnership with Yonsei University underscores Ripple's
commitment to fostering blockchain innovation and education
worldwide, and further strengthens the company’s presence in the
Asia Pacific region. This commitment was made even more apparent in
June this year when Ripple announced the launch of the XRP Ledger
Japan and Korea Fund, dedicated to supporting innovation on the
XRPL in the dynamic Japanese and Korean markets through a range of
robust initiatives including corporate partnerships, developer
grants, startup investments and community growth activities.
About Ripple
Ripple is the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure
for financial institutions—delivering simple, compliant, reliable
software that unlocks efficiencies, reduces friction, and enhances
innovation in global finance. Ripple’s solutions leverage the XRP
Ledger and its native digital asset, XRP, which was purpose-built
to enable fast, low-cost, highly scalable transactions across
developer and financial use cases. With a proven track record
working with regulators and policymakers around the world, Ripple’s
payments, custody and stablecoin solutions are pioneering the
digital asset economy—building credibility and trust in enterprise
blockchain. Together with customers, partners and the developer
community, we are transforming the way the world creates, stores,
manages and moves value.
About Yonsei University
Yonsei University, established in 1885, is a Christian private
university located in Seoul, South Korea. It is recognized as a
world-class institution for education and research and has steadily
gained recognition in global academia, including being ranked 1st
among Asian private universities in the QS World University
Rankings 2025. With over 250,000 alumni, Yonsei University has
produced open-minded and creative leaders who have significantly
influenced both Korean and global society. Additionally, the
university’s 175 research centers and institutes conduct
world-class research aimed at solving global challenges through
interdisciplinary and convergent research.
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Sheryl Tham press@ripple.com