Ripple has announced a partnership with UC Berkeley, dated January 16, 2026, aimed at enhancing institutional use on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This collaboration emerged from the University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) program following a successful six-week pilot involving nine startups.
The UDAX program supports blockchain innovation, providing startups with vital academic and industry resources, potentially boosting XRPL-based token utility and expanding XRP ecosystem growth.
Ripple Partners with UC Berkeley
Led by Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative, the program brought together UC Berkeley faculty and Ripple engineers. The startups included were WaveTip, X-Card, BlockBima, and others, reflecting a diverse range of innovative XRPL projects.
Progress from the Initial UDAX Cohort
The UDAX program's initial cohort achieved notable progress, with companies like WaveTip making a transition to the XRPL Mainnet. The event saw participation from 13 venture capital firms, enhancing connections and growth potential for emerging blockchain initiatives.
Financial impacts were evident, such as X-Card's onboarding of $1.5M in inventory and BlockBima's user growth. Sadiq Isiaka, CEO of Blockroll, stated, "With RLUSD, Blockroll can offer additional institutionally accepted stablecoins that streamline remittance settlements from Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading source (the U.S.) and enable financial access use cases such as stablecoin-backed debit cards that work globally." These successes underscore the XRPL as a thriving ecosystem, with no immediate influence on other cryptocurrencies like ETH or BTC.
Future Outlook on Ripple and UC Berkeley’s Collaboration
Ripple's and UC Berkeley’s collaboration marks a significant step in bolstering blockchain education and institutional integration. This initiative could foster long-term benefits for the XRPL ecosystem and the development of settlement solutions.
Looking ahead, the program's progress potentially impacts financial and technological landscapes. By collaborating with academia, Ripple reinforces its commitment to seamless institutional solutions. This educational push aligns with broader industry trends towards decentralized finance and asset tokenization.