Blockchain Hub Exeter

Blockchain – Base layer technology for the new digital economy

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About us

Our team is made up of experts from diverse fields, including economics, cryptography, law, political science, sociology, accounting, and engineering.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge education and research on blockchain technology and its applications while working closely with industry and policymakers.

We create educational products designed for the new digital economy.

Our approach is project-based, with a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and enterprise creation.

Our thesis

  • The applications of blockchain have grown well beyond cryptocurrency and NFTs, as governments and industries from health care to agriculture to supply-chain operations leverage the technology to improve efficiency, security, and trust.
  • As a developing technology and basis for new economic infrastructure, there are substantial areas to research and provide education to business and society, highlighting the challenges, the drawbacks, and opportunities of this technology.
  • There is huge demand from students (500+ undergrad), and industry with 10.27% growth per year in UK (statista)

Why now?

  1. The digital economy is here: The future of work will be digital, blockchain enabled, distributed and decentralised, automated, with platforms at its core, leading to profound change for business and society.
  1. Globally significant sector: although still a nascent technology, the current market capitalisation of crypto currencies stands at more than $1 trillion and have seen the emergence of various innovations including defi, NFTs, DAOs and CBDCs.
  1. Student driven interest: We have seen huge interest in the undergrad blockchain module, as well as large MSc interest in Advanced Fintech and Smart Contracts. Students began a blockchain related student group.
  1. Opportunity for Academic Research/Input: The evolution of the technology presents numerous opportunities for serious academic engagement and input across all aspects of this technology stack from experts at the University of Exeter.
  1. Industry/Government Interest: Business/interest groups are looking to universities for education, skills development and talent. Government’s are seeking support with policy development and the regulatory environment.

Who we are

Our team is made up of experts from diverse fields, including economics, cryptography, law, political science, sociology, accounting, and engineering.

Our team is led by Dr Chris Carr and Dr Jack Rogers from the Department of Economics at the University of Exeter.

Dr Chris Carr is a mathematician and cryptographer, specialising in blockchain and cryptocurrencies at the University of Exeter, UK. My background is in cryptography and mathematics, with consulting, lecturing and coding/technical development.

Dr Jack Rogers is a Senior Lecturer (Education and Scholarship) in Economics, with a research background in Applied Macroeconomics. Jack teaches a range of modules including Statistics, Econometrics, Mathematics for Economists, Macroeconomics, and various FinTech modules.

Blockchain Hub Team

What we do

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge education and research on blockchain technology and its applications while working closely with industry and policymakers.

We create educational products designed for the new digital economy.

Our approach is project-based, with a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and enterprise creation.

The Blockchain Hub will focus on 3 key applications

Research

  • Economics – crypto–economics
    • Transition from industrial economy to digital economy
    • History of money
    • Business model innovation – Web3
  • Finance - Decentralised Finance (Defi)
  • Cryptography and Security including
    • Scalability
    • Decentralisation
    • Anonymity
  • Management
  • Governance
    • Identity
    • Policy/Regulatory advice
  • Blockchain Innovations
    • NFTs
    • Tokenisation
    • Impact on society and environment

Education

  • Bitcoin, Money & Trust (History of Money)
  • Smart Contracts (MSc Fintech)
  • Finance Decentralised Finance (defi)
    • Financial literacy
  • Economics – crypto-economics
  • Governance
    • DAOs
    • Community management
    • Identity
  • AI and Data analytics
  • Supply Chain
  • Blockchain and the law
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation – building a Web3 business
  • Security and cryptography

Research

Recent papers from the team include:

Events

There are no current events to display, but please come back soon for updates.

Engagement

BlockChain Students Club

 

Industry partners

Advisory Board

TBC

Contact us

University of Exeter Business School logo

For industry enquiries please contact Michael Fairbairn:

 

Michael Fairbairn - m.l.fairbairn@exeter.ac.uk

Senior Impact and Partnership Development Manager

Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter INDEX
University of Exeter