Ripple has renewed its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi, extending support through 2027. The announcement was made on August 10 by the university and highlighted on August 12 by Ripple’s Middle East and Africa Managing Director, Reece Merrick.
The renewed six-year grant will continue funding work led by professors Raša Karapandža and Yaw Nyarko, co-directors of the Center for Technology, Economics and Development. While the latest funding amount was not disclosed, Ripple previously noted that total funding for the NYU Abu Dhabi partnership surpassed $1 million in 2024.
A key component of the next phase is the Volta Initiative, a serverless mobile application using blockchain infrastructure to support trade among smallholder farmers in Ghana. The project aims to expand into new regions and explore credit and risk management tools. Research will also examine how decentralized technologies can improve market efficiency and reduce trade barriers.
Students will continue hands-on work with the XRP Ledger in courses and applied projects. NYU Abu Dhabi will also host forums connecting researchers, policymakers, and industry participants. Ripple Senior Director of University Partnerships Lauren Weymouth described the university as UBRI’s “regional hub in the Middle East.”
Ripple launched UBRI in 2018, and the program now spans more than 60 universities across 27 countries, funding over 1,500 academic blockchain research projects. The extension aligns with Ripple’s broader commercial expansion in the UAE, including a larger regional headquarters opened in Dubai in April 2026 and regulatory progress for its RLUSD stablecoin.
No new token or product launch accompanied the grant announcement. The partnership is seen as reinforcing XRP Ledger research and Ripple’s commitment to blockchain education in the region.
