Ripple has launched a fresh $5 million push to accelerate blockchain learning and innovation across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This new funding comes as part of the company’s broader University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), designed to back academic research and foster the next wave of blockchain pioneers.
Ripple Strengthens University Collaborations Across Asia
Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment builds on the company’s initial $25 million global UBRI funding. This latest round of support targets six key countries: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia. The initiative aims to deepen partnerships with top universities while exploring advanced blockchain use cases like real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
Ripple’s goal is to equip students and researchers with strategic resources. These include access to funding, guidance from industry experts, and practical tools to innovate within the blockchain space.
Renewed Commitments in South Korea and Japan
In South Korea, Ripple extended its long-term $1.1 million partnership with Korea University. This collaboration serves as a critical pillar in the Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment strategy. Yonsei University also continues to be a part of this network, with its partnership initiated just last year to expand research in blockchain development.
Japan remains a vital part of Ripple’s regional focus. The firm is continuing its collaboration with Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, with combined grants exceeding $1.5 million. Among the standout projects is the development of an autonomous AI agent network powered by the XRP Ledger, offering transparency and collaboration in AI development.
Yang Liu, Professor at the College of Computing & Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, emphasized how this Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment enables greater student access to the XRPL ecosystem.
Ripple Brings Blockchain Tokenization Research to Taiwan
Ripple’s academic expansion now includes Taiwan through a new partnership with the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). The project, led by Dr. Echo Huang, explores how real-world assets can be tokenized on multiple chains—including the XRP Ledger, Ethereum, and Solana.
This partnership makes NKUST the 60th global UBRI partner. The university will launch an XRPL Student Builders Club and operate its own validator node. Taiwan’s strong momentum in digital asset regulation and support from financial institutions aligns well with the objectives of this Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment.
Ripple Supports Legal and Technical Blockchain Training in Australia
Australia continues to be a significant area of focus. Ripple has renewed its partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) and forged a new relationship with Victoria University. The combined value of the Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment in Australia now stands at more than $1.3 million.
At ANU, the funding supports blockchain law education and faculty research, including work on Evernode—a Layer 2 smart contract platform for XRPL. The university will also maintain its validator node and continue publishing blockchain research in its legal journals.
APAC Universities Tackle Critical Blockchain Challenges
Ripple-backed UBRI projects are addressing real challenges in blockchain privacy, scalability, and security. Notable research highlights include:
- Enhancing blockchain sharding efficiency with Layer 2 integration, led by Professors IK Rae Jong and Dong Hoon Lee at Korea University.
- Developing privacy solutions for NFTs using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and zk-SNARKs.
- Creating a secure crypto finance device that protects transaction privacy while remaining auditable.
- Improving the speed and robustness of zk-SNARKs at Hanyang University under Professor Hyunok Oh’s leadership.
A Vision for Sustainable Blockchain Development
Ripple APAC Blockchain Investment shows a strong and clear focus on building sustainable academic infrastructure. The focus is on the blockchain space. Ripple places universities at the center of this initiative. The company is helping future developers and researchers. It encourages them to explore new ideas in AI, digital assets, and privacy solutions.
Ripple works with major institutions. It also supports high-impact research. This helps increase the use and growth of the XRP Ledger across the Asia-Pacific region.