Trinity College Dublin has become the first Irish institution to collaborate with Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). According to the Irish Independent, Trinity College plans to establish a blockchain research initiative at the Adapt Research Ireland Centre. This initiative aims to advance blockchain technology, tackle challenges in cryptocurrency cybersecurity, and create innovative fintech solutions. As part of this partnership, the university will receive $200, 000 in funding over two years.

Additionally, it will host an XRPL validator—a node that verifies transactions on Ripple’s blockchain network. This will allow Trinity researchers to contribute to its decentralized infrastructure. The initiative will provide “students and staff with the opportunity to research and develop solutions for real-world challenges, ” stated Hitesh Tewari, a professor at Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics and the project leader. One of the projects to be explored under the UBRI program is a decentralized social media platform designed to function without a central authority, offering users enhanced privacy and control over their data, though specific project details remain undisclosed. Furthermore, Trinity College will promote local blockchain adoption through various educational programs and workshops. In a statement on this development, Lauren Weymouth, Ripple’s senior director of university partnerships, noted Ireland’s status as a “leading hub for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation” and mentioned that the partnership with Trinity College supports Ripple’s mission to advance cutting-edge technology in the blockchain sector. Launched in 2018 with an initial commitment of $50 million, Ripple’s UBRI collaborates with top universities worldwide to foster academic research and technical innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital payments. Over the past five years, UBRI has partnered with more than 50 universities across 26 countries.