Ripple Labs is expanding its commitment to blockchain research and education across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, announcing an additional $5 million in funding through its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). This move builds on a previous $25 million allocation made in May towards education-focused nonprofits in the United States.
The latest investment will support academic institutions in six countries across the APAC region, with newly announced grants for universities in Taiwan and Australia. Ripple’s continued global push highlights its strategic emphasis on nurturing blockchain innovation and fostering the next generation of crypto talent.
Further Investment in Blockchain Talent
Ripple’s new $5 million commitment will support the ongoing development of blockchain programmes and talent pipelines through UBRI, which partners with universities worldwide. This includes new collaborations with institutions in Taiwan and Australia, in addition to previously funded projects in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
In South Korea, UBRI has pledged $1.1 million to Yonsei University under a six-year partnership. Meanwhile, Japanese institutions Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo have received a combined $1.5 million to drive blockchain-related research and educational programmes.
Yonsei University Source: Wikimedia Commons
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore have already received more than $3 million in support. At Nanyang, researchers are working on an ambitious AI initiative integrated with Ripple’s XRP Ledger.
AI Meets Blockchain on the XRP Ledger
Professor Yang Liu of Nanyang Technological University’s College of Computing and Data Science highlighted the university’s progress, stating that UBRI’s support has significantly enhanced their R&D capabilities. The institution is currently developing an autonomous AI agent network on the XRP Ledger.
“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,” Liu explained. “We believe this innovation will be pivotal in shaping the future of AI.”
The project aims to combine blockchain transparency with the evolving potential of artificial intelligence, exploring a decentralised approach to AI infrastructure that leverages XRP Ledger’s capabilities.
Exploring Tokenisation in Taiwan
Ripple’s latest round of funding also includes support for Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). The university will focus on exploring the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) on the XRP Ledger.
Professor Echo Huang of NKUST expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “NKUST is excited about this new chapter, partnering with Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) to explore the potential of Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenisation on the XRP Ledger.”
The initiative reflects Ripple’s growing interest in developing blockchain solutions for the tokenisation of tangible assets such as property, commodities, or intellectual property, enhancing their accessibility and transferability via decentralised platforms.
Strengthening Ties in Australia
In Australia, UBRI has strengthened its presence by teaming up with Victoria University and expanding its partnership with the Australian National University. Together, these collaborations represent a total allocation of $1.3 million across Australian institutions.
These partnerships are designed to support both theoretical and applied research, as well as educational efforts that can help equip students and academics with the tools to contribute meaningfully to the blockchain and fintech sectors.
Ripple’s Broader Commitment to Crypto Education
This APAC-focused funding initiative follows Ripple’s recent $25 million pledge in May to support education nonprofit organisations across the United States. That funding was delivered in RLUSD, Ripple’s own stablecoin, with the aim of providing better resources for American teachers and expanding access to digital finance education.
Source: Ripple
Earlier this year, in March, Ripple also launched a new nonprofit organisation — the National Cryptocurrency Association — aimed at improving crypto awareness and education across the US. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the company would provide a total of $50 million as a grant to support the nonprofit’s efforts.
These developments underline Ripple’s evolving role in not only developing blockchain infrastructure but also ensuring that the global community is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and access to build on it.
By combining regional investment with a strong educational mission, Ripple is positioning itself as both a technological and educational leader in the decentralized finance space. The company’s growing UBRI network continues to serve as a cornerstone in Ripple’s long-term vision of empowering academic institutions to explore real-world blockchain applications.
