Ripple Labs has announced an additional $5 million commitment to support academic blockchain research in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, expanding its global University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI).
This move follows a $25 million contribution made in May toward education nonprofits in the United States, as part of Ripple’s broader mission to enhance crypto and blockchain literacy globally.
University Grants Across Six Countries
Ripple’s latest investment will be distributed among leading universities in Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, with new funding allocations going to institutions in Taiwan and Australia.
“We are proud to support the next generation of blockchain researchers and developers,” Ripple stated in its blog post.
Significant Regional Investments and Projects
UBRI has committed $1.1 million to Yonsei University in South Korea over a six-year partnership. In Japan, Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo have received $1.5 million in total, while in Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore have collectively been awarded over $3 million.
“Our current grant is helping us build an autonomous AI agent network on the XRP Ledger,” said Professor Yang Liu from Nanyang Technological University.
This AI platform aims to be modular, transparent, and accessible, combining blockchain technology with artificial intelligence to shape the future of decentralized computing.
New Collaborations in Taiwan and Australia
UBRI is launching a new partnership with National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) in Taiwan to explore Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization on the XRP Ledger.
“This partnership opens up new avenues for blockchain application in asset digitization,” said Professor Echo Huang of NKUST.
In Australia, UBRI has expanded its involvement with Australian National University and Victoria University, raising the total APAC funding for Australian institutions to $1.3 million.
Ripple’s Global Education Push
Ripple’s global educational efforts continue to grow. In May, the company donated $25 million in RLUSD (Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin) to U.S. education nonprofits. Earlier this year, Ripple also launched the National Cryptocurrency Association, pledging $50 million in grants to support crypto education and policy advocacy.
Conclusion
Ripple’s expanding investments reflect its commitment to shaping a knowledgeable and innovative blockchain ecosystem. With this additional $5 million funding in APAC, Ripple is solidifying its role in advancing blockchain education, research, and development on a global scale.
