University of Wyoming Reveals Plans to Open Bitcoin Research Institute

Academic research into Bitcoin received a big boost at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville over the weekend, with the announcement that the University of Wyoming (UW) has launched its Bitcoin Research Institute (BRI). The BRI is the first research institute focussed solely on Bitcoin research. It will be led by Dr. Bradley Rettler, Associate Professor of Philosophy. 

The purpose of the institute is to raise the quality of academic research into Bitcoin, with the intention of contributing to more well-informed media coverage and public policy around cryptocurrency.

Dr Rettler’s works on the philosophy of Bitcoin have been widely published, including the book Resistance Money: A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin and academic papers such as Philosophy, politics, and economics of cryptocurrency: Money without state.

Related: Trump Urges to ‘Keep Your Bitcoin’ Because US Will Be ‘Crypto Capital’, Announces Plans to Make BTC a Strategic Reserve Asset 

Crypto Boffins to Elevate Research on Bitcoin

According to UW’s website, the BRI’s purpose is to output research on Bitcoin, with a focus on philosophy and economics:

The UW Bitcoin Research Institute, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, exists to output peer-reviewed academic research on bitcoin and contribute to curriculum in philosophy, economics, and interdisciplinary courses.

Bitcoin Research Institute Page on UW Website

The BRI webpage draws attention to the lack of high-quality research into Bitcoin, saying “the state of academic bitcoin research is poor” and claims this research vacuum leads to a widespread misunderstanding of the technology and its impacts:

In short, academics, journalists, policymakers, and the public lack access to good research on bitcoin. The Bitcoin Research Institute aims to provide it.

Bitcoin Research Institute Page on UW Website

The BRI says it will cultivate the field of Bitcoin research by offering dedicated faculty roles, incentivising high impact academic work and having its research flow into course curriculum to develop a new generation of Bitcoin researchers and academics. 

Related: Uni of Queensland Highlights Need for Education on Crypto Scams 

The Institute also plans to run a range of events including annual summer workshops, research paper prizes, public writing prizes and public outreach events to publicise its research, with a particular focus on engaging with journalists and lawmakers to better inform media discourse and public policy around Bitcoin and cryptocurrency generally.

For anyone interested in contributing to Bitcoin research, the BRI is currently accepting tax-deductible donations, with the Institute saying all donated Bitcoin will be held and not sold.