The UK Centre for Blockchain Technologies (UK CBT) officially launched on 26th February 2025, marking a significant milestone in advancing blockchain research and adoption in the UK. With around 100 attendees present, the event brought together leading academics, industry experts, and blockchain innovators to celebrate the Centre’s mission and future initiatives.

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The evening began with opening remarks from Prof. Paolo Tasca chairman of UK CBT, Prof. Nikhil Vadgama, director of UK CBT, and Eric van Miltenburg, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at Ripple. Their speeches highlighted the importance of fostering blockchain innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.

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The evening continued with a panel discussion on University Collaboration for Blockchain Innovation, featuring Dr. Seung Joo Lee from the University of Oxford, Prof. Karen Elliott from the University of Birmingham, and Dr. Jiahua Xu on behalf of University College London (UCL). The representatives of UK CBT’s founding academic members shared insights into their institutions’ contributions to blockchain technology, underscoring the vital role of academia in advancing the field.

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Dr. Francesco Pierangeli, deputy director of UK CBT, provided an overview of the Centre’s achievements during its soft launch phase and its vision for the future. Dr. Pierangeli emphasised UK CBT’s commitment to promoting blockchain adoption and research, working in partnership with its founding academic members, the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, and the University College London.

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The official part of the evening concluded with Prof. Vadgama having a fireside conversation with Lauren Weymouth, director of partnerships at Ripple. Lauren shared insights into Ripple’s global expansion, including its growth to 900 employees and the establishment of offices around the world, including Mumbai, Singapore, São Paulo, Reykjavík, and Dubai.

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The event concluded with an engaging networking session, fostering connections among attendees and setting the stage for future collaborations.

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We extend our gratitude to everyone who joined us for this milestone event and look forward to shaping the future of blockchain innovation through UK CBT. 

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