Nov 18, 2022
UF Blockchain Lab takes on Tampa at the Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit
Written by: Ryan Helterhoff (MAMC ‘23)
On November 4th, the University of Florida’s Blockchain Lab attended the Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit, the state’s first blockchain and fintech-focused event. The event highlighted the growing fintech sector and the Florida-based businesses, leaders, and organizations that are fueling its expansion.
Marko Suvajdzic, Director of the UF Blockchain Lab, and Tim Difato, Associate Director of the UF Digital Worlds Institute, were both present, as was the rest of the blockchain lab’s team, which included UF students. The team had the opportunity to meet and mingle with business leaders and innovators from across the blockchain industry.
Suvajdzic and Difato, who are developing curriculum centered on the expanding area of blockchain technology, were able to interview various innovators and leaders in the space for future educational material.
“Establishing the UF Blockchain Lab was a huge step forward for Digital Worlds in terms of how we educate our students,” said Difato. “This conference allowed us to get the interviews and footage we needed from industry pioneers to establish these new educational pillars and ensure that our students will be the leading innovators in this space.”
These blockchain-focused courses will cover blockchain innovation, development, and other topics.
The Algorand Foundation, which is dedicated to fulfilling the global promise of blockchain technology and advancing global economic inclusion and opportunity, provided a $270,000 grant to establish the UF Blockchain Lab. As part of the grant, the lab will conduct research into sustainable decentralized technologies and computing, develop educational programs centered on blockchain technology, and contribute to the development of a vibrant blockchain community.
The team was also able to meet with BitBasel during the summit, a Miami-based cryptoart community that aims to educate and empower artists through the use of NFTs. BitBasel recently hosted a talk at the Digital Worlds Institute on the future of Web3 and blockchain technology.
To learn more about the UF Blockchain Lab, visit https://linktr.ee/ufbclab
Learn more about the Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit at https://floridablockchainsummit.com
