Morgan State Students Excel in International Cryptocurrency Competition Sponsored by Ripple’s UBRI

Six MSU Scholars Studying STEM Place in Top 10 Among Global Competitors

As part of an effort to highlight the global advancement of cryptocurrency education, Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) sponsored an international cryptocurrency competition bringing together 57 students from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Morgan State University and Brazil’s Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), one of the foremost business schools in Latin America. The competition, dubbed SimTrade (Tri-university Simulated Crypto Trading), was held throughout August and was hosted on NUSwap — a simulated cryptocurrency trading exchange platform created by NUS FinTech Lab.

The SimTrade competition provided students with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with cryptocurrency markets in a risk-free, educational environment. Participants were immersed in trading, using simulated funds and competing against peers from other universities worldwide.

Over the course of 30 days, participants honed their critical thinking and strategic decision-making skills, while gaining a deeper understanding of blockchain technology and the volatility of digital assets. The experience highlighted the importance of risk management and informed decision-making, key competencies in the evolving financial landscape shaped by cryptocurrency. In the end, six Morgan students placed in the top 10 among all competitors, including one student, Kazem Alkhars, a doctoral student pursuing an advanced degree in information systems, who came in third overall.

The other five students placing in the top 10 included sophomore Jada MacBride (Computer Science), junior Joseph Peterson Chavez (Mechatronics Engineering), senior Lerone Joyner (Computer Science) and graduate students Olawale Lawal (Mathematics) and Joshua Olukoya (Advanced Computing).

The competition also served as a powerful tool for promoting financial literacy and inclusion. Students with varying levels of experience engaged hands-on with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, demystifying these concepts for those who may have been unfamiliar. This aligns with the broader goal of preparing the next generation of professionals to navigate the future of finance, where digital assets are increasingly central.

The student winners in the competition were recognized at the prestigious UBRI Connect conference held in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 11, 2024. UBRI Connect brings together scholars, researchers and thought leaders in the UBRI network to showcase blockchain initiatives, share knowledge and inspire future research. The Swiss FinTech Innovation Lab and the UZH Blockchain Center hosted the two-day conference at the University of Zurich.

Morgan’s Ali Emdad, Ph.D., the founding director of the National FinTech Center, and George Micheni, director of Morgan’s Capital Markets Lab, were invited by Ripple to present at UBRI Connect. The pair discussed the simulated platform SimTrade’s pedagogy, its process for engaging students and its impact on learning. Their participation in the international event further highlighted Morgan’s growing influence in blockchain, fintech and alt finance 

Ripple recently reinvested in Morgan’s National FinTech Center, awarding the University a three-year, $1,050,000 grant. The partnership between Morgan and Ripple’s UBRI plays a pivotal role in furthering the application and understanding of blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and other fintech areas within the University and the extended network of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) collaborating with the Center.

The Morgan family extends special recognition to the talented developers from NUS who brought this innovative simulation platform to life and to UBRI Senior Manager Lauren Weymouth for her vision and dedication to creating an enriching educational experience for all participants. And congratulations to all the Morgan students who participated in SimTrade.

For more information about Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative, please visit Ripple UBRI.