- Ripple funded UC Berkeley’s Center for Digital Assets with $1.3M in RLUSD.
- The center will study blockchain and digital twin technologies for real-world assets.
- Research will focus on valuation, verification, and exchange of physical-digital assets
Ripple has deepened its ties with UC Berkeley by funding the launch of the Berkeley Center for Digital Assets (CDA) with $1.3 million in RLUSD, its fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin.
The new hub, based in the College of Engineering, will study blockchain and digital twin technologies to model how real-world assets, from crops and semiconductors to factories and forests, can be captured, valued, and exchanged on-chain.
Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) has supported Berkeley since 2018, but this is the first time it has financed an on-campus research center.
What the Center Will Study
The CDA will examine the valuation, verification, and exchange of physical–digital assets using blockchain. Practical use cases range from farmers leveraging digital crop models for credit to manufacturers streamlining operations with asset replicas.
Related: RLUSD Listed on Bybit, XRP Open Interest Surges to $1 Billion
The center will also house the Berkeley Digital Asset Accelerator (BDAX), which begins its first cohort in October. BDAX will support startups building on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), with an eye on applications that use digital twin technology to drive efficiency and adoption.
Ripple’s Expanding Footprint
Ripple’s support of the CDA aligns with its broader strategy to strengthen RLUSD’s role in the global digital asset market. The stablecoin’s market capitalization recently rose to $789.54 million, placing it among the top 100 cryptocurrencies.
Ripple has also expanded RLUSD’s presence by minting additional tokens and partnering with fintech firms such as Chipper Cash and Yellow Card to integrate the asset into African financial systems, targeting challenges like remittance costs and limited banking access.
Related: Ripple–Securitize Tie-Up Brings RLUSD Into Real-World Asset Funds
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