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Ripple is ramping up its investment in Asia-Pacific by injecting over $5 million into blockchain research and education.
Through its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), the company is strengthening ties in six countries. Renewed partnerships in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are joined by new collaborations in Taiwan and Australia.
The region’s fintech landscape is booming. APAC leads in neobank density and houses several of the fastest-growing fintech markets. Strong regulatory support and vibrant developer communities have made it a prime location for digital asset adoption. Ripple is tapping into this momentum to nurture the next generation of blockchain innovators.
Supporting Leading Universities and Hands-On Innovation
UBRI began over seven years ago with a vision to embed blockchain into academia. That vision is now a long-term regional strategy. Ripple is backing students, researchers, and educators through practical initiatives, funding, and direct tech integration.
Korea University secured a renewed $1.1 million grant over six years. The deal builds on Ripple’s recent partnership with Yonsei University. In Japan, Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo receive continued support, pushing Ripple’s total commitment there past $1.5 million.
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) joined the initiative with a fresh grant. At the same time, Ripple extended its support for the National University of Singapore (NUS). Together, both partnerships push Ripple’s Singapore funding beyond $3 million.
Professor Yang Liu from NTU shared that the grant powers a blockchain-based AI platform. Built on the XRP Ledger, the system aims for transparency and collaboration. More students now join development efforts and contribute to the XRPL ecosystem.
Past support at NUS helped launch Asia’s first university DAO. It also tripled the graduate count of NUS FinTech SG in 2021. These achievements led to NUS being named the top blockchain university globally that same year.
Taiwan and Australia Join UBRI’s Expanding Network
Ripple’s academic outreach is now growing in Taiwan through a new partnership with NKUST. A six-figure grant kicks off the collaboration. NKUST becomes UBRI’s 60th global partner and 13th in APAC.
Dr. Echo Huang leads NKUST’s initiative on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Research will evaluate XRPL’s cross-chain features alongside Ethereum and Solana. It also explores the infrastructure needed for institutional adoption.
Ripple will support an XRPL Student Builders Club and a campus validator. These projects help embed blockchain tools directly into Taiwan’s academic framework. The partnership builds on national efforts to advance asset tokenization, backed by the country’s regulators and top financial institutions.
Professor Huang sees this collaboration as a springboard for innovation. He believes their work could unlock new economic opportunities while empowering future builders.
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