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University College London has its own blockchain center: it is called the UCL Center for Blockchain Technologies (CBT). The blockchain team at UCL will join us alone Hard Fork Decentralized this week in London. Free registrations for their event are now available.
Before their event, December 13, when they discuss decentralized finance, we wanted to know more about what they do. We sat down and asked them some questions about the UCL CBT:
What were some of the factors that entered into the decision to start the UCL Center for Blockchain Technologies?
The UCL Center for Blockchain Technologies was one of the first centers to be established in 2015. It was created on the basis of the awareness that the adoption of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) to be promoted in our socio-economic systems would require a great coordination effort. This is true not only at the level of institutions between government, academia and business, but also internally within an organization. Since DLTs require expertise from multiple subject areas, the Center started to create a blockchain research core at UCL, drawing on the expertise of eight different departments internally.
What is your vision for the future of UCL CBT?
At the start of this year we were selected to be part of the Ripple & # 39; s University Blockchain Research Initiative. This gave us the financial resources to expand the reach of the center. We will focus on greater breadth and depth of blockchain research both in socio-economic areas and in technical development. Furthermore, we are expanding our public engagement, education and also the commitment of industry and government. Our goal is to ensure and contribute to the safe and trouble-free adoption of DLT in our world.
One of the interesting things about the blockchain is that it is so interdisciplinary – it literally exists at the intersection of technology, economics, and governance. What is the UCL approach to making sure that your students are suitable for dealing with problems in all these areas?
We analyze the DLT from three different points of view: commercial, technical, legal and regulatory. When we do research and teaching, we explore all these areas and also the combination of these three. We draw on the knowledge of the experts in each of these areas to deepen each of them first, and then explore the combination of all of them from a more practical perspective, often with the help of industry professionals. This ensures that there is a balance between academic knowledge and practical knowledge of the sector.
What are some of the challenges that derive from having to work in so many different areas of expertise?
One of the things we have found in exploring the different parts of the ecosystem is that people can become invisible inside their particular areas and can not look at things from a holistic perspective. For example, in a survey conducted by the UCL CBT on market challenges, people looking at DLT from business perspectives felt that business challenges were the biggest and most important. The people who look to the DLT from a legal and regulatory point of view felt that the legal and regulatory challenges were the biggest and most important. As a result, there was a lack of appreciation and perspectives on other sectors that are all important for the widespread adoption of the DLT. When we operate in the ecosystem, we try to balance opinions by always leading to a broader perspective as the DLT is interdisciplinary and far-reaching.
There is a good deal of disinformation blockchain circulating on the web – and it is often strengthened by influential people in space. What is the UCL doing to counter the spread of misinformation about blockchain and cryptocurrency?
Our role is to act as a neutral body that produces research and consultation based on rigorous academic standards and methodologies. The only way we can fight misinformation is by adhering to these standards. In practice, this means that we do not get involved in the hype, in the fashions and in the daily problems with DLT. We remain distant, taking time to deepen the problems of the DLT.
There is also a worrying amount of nepotism and obscene affairs in blockchain. Does the UCL take measures to ensure that academics / scholars in your organization have no conflicts of interest regarding the projects they are seeking?
The UCL CBT aims to be a neutral think tank with respect to promoting the adoption of DLT in our socio-economic systems. This means that we as an institution are not involved with the ICOs, where the greatest conflicts of interest can generally arise.
At Hard Fork Decentralized, the UCL CBT will dive into the topic of decentralized finance. With a fantastic range of speakers, it is an event not to be missed.
If you want to participate, be sure to sign up now for a free ticket! We hope to see you in London on December 13th at the UCL CBT event.
Published 10 December 2018 at 15:42 UTC
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