The University of Wyoming is shaking things up in the world of crypto education. They've just rolled out what they're calling the first academic Bitcoin Research Institute (BRI). It's a big deal, folks.
The announcement came during the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville. Dr. Bradley Rettler, an associate professor of Philosophy and author, will be at the helm.
Rettler didn't mince words on X. "The BRI aims to produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications about bitcoin from all academic disciplines," he wrote.
The institute's got a bone to pick with the current state of bitcoin research. "The state of academic bitcoin research is poor," their website states bluntly.
They're not pulling any punches. "Academics, journalists, policymakers, and the public lack access to good research on bitcoin. The Bitcoin Research Institute aims to provide it."
Rettler's bringing some serious cred to the table. He's co-authored "Resistance Money: A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin". Molly Zuckerman, president of the Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers, called it a "measured thought experiment".
The BRI's not messing around. They're bringing in Andrew M. Bailey, lead author of the book, as faculty starting August.
Bailey's pumped. "I have long dreamed of building something together; this is a dream come true," he wrote on X.
The institute's got big plans. They're looking to create faculty positions and incentivize research. They want to get the young guns fired up about Bitcoin-related projects.
But wait, there's more. The BRI's also planning events like book workshops, weekly seminars, and public outreach gigs.
Wyoming's been crypto-friendly for a while now. Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis has been waving the crypto flag for years.
At the Bitcoin 2024 conference, Lummis went big. She proposed buying 1 million BTC over five years as the nation's reserve. That's no small potatoes.
The BRI's website gives props to Wyoming's renewable energy and positive regulatory environment for helping set up shop.