The University of Wyoming is set to launch the Bitcoin Research Institute (BRI) in August, aiming to produce high-quality peer-reviewed academic research on Bitcoin. The institute will be led by Bradley Rettler, an associate professor at the university and a prominent Bitcoin advocate.
Rettler highlighted the current state of Bitcoin research as inadequate and emphasized the importance of well-researched publications to educate the public about the complexities and functionalities of Bitcoin. He criticized a 2018 study by University of Hawaii Professor Camilo Mora for overlooking key factors related to Bitcoin emissions and global temperatures.
Andrew M. Bailey, a renowned figure in Bitcoin research and the lead author of “Resistance Money: A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin,” will also be involved with the institute. The BRI is scheduled to launch at the beginning of the 2024 Fall semester and will offer annual summer workshops, weekly seminars, and special issues of academic journals.
As a nonprofit organization, the institute will accept Bitcoin donations to support its research efforts. Rettler mentioned that 4% of their investments are allocated to Bitcoin, and any donations in Bitcoin will not be sold.
The establishment of the Bitcoin Research Institute signifies a step towards enhancing the quality of Bitcoin research and providing accurate information to the public and policymakers. In related news, Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy, predicted at the Bitcoin Conference that Bitcoin’s price could reach $13 million per coin by 2045.
