The publication of the pioneering white paper by Satoshi Nakamoto on Bitcoin in October 2008 and the creation of its reference implementation heralded a new era in the development and deployment of blockchain-based applications. In addition, many other innovations in adjacent and related realms have followed in rapid succession ever since, enabling the emergence of imaginative and disruptive ideas and ventures ranging from protocol-based tokens to Decentralized Finance (DeFi) to Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
Given that nascent aspect of these inventive concepts and the startups they have spawned, it may be too early to judge the success, or the lack thereof, of many of them. Nonetheless, there is little doubt about the profound potential effect and future impact of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and digital tokens on financial services, technology, economics, trade, healthcare, and government, to name a few. In addition, there are many important questions in regard to ramifications in classical economics theories, regulation, monetary policies, role of central banks, economic growth, fiscal policies and tax collection, access to financial products, national sovereignty, cybersecurity, and others that are yet to be addressed.
In light of such dynamics, we have embarked on a number of academic and industry efforts to promote peer-reviewed and leading-edge research, education (both for students across Columbia University as well as professionals and executives), and development of promising technology ventures. As always, we take a multidisciplinary approach and bring together faculty and practitioners from business, engineering, economics, and law to tackle industry challenges as well as advance research and development in the field, with the hope of making meaningful contributions to the overall ecosystem.
We are also grateful to Columbia-IBM Center for Blockchain and Data Transparency as well as Columbia Data Science Institute for their multi-year financial and logistical support of the myriad of research and educational projects we have undertaken in the blockchain domain. We are also thankful to our corporate and industry partners who have enabled research and experimentation to address industry needs and concerns as it pertains to the future of financial services.
Write us to inquire more about how you can be involved as we always have more initiatives and activities that our current resources allow us to undertake - as such, we would enthusiastically welcome collaborators as well as funders so we could continue to expand our efforts in this domain that sit at the intersection of theory and practice (an important objective). And stay tuned as we announce new projects and future research.