HBCU Blockchain Research and Innovation Conference 2020
The Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology (The FinTech Center) at Morgan State University wants you to join us for the (Virtual) HBCU Blockchain Research and Innovation Conference 2020 on Friday, November 13th, 2020 from 9:30am to 2:00pm and Saturday, November 14th, 2020 from 10am-2pm. The Virtual HBCU Blockchain Research and Innovation Conference, November 13-14, 2020 will provide a forum for the faculty, students, and administrators [...]
Using Blockchain to Improve Federal Services
Register in advance for this webinar! Craig Fischer is an Innovation Program Manager within the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service who is mainly focused on understanding the impact emerging trends and technologies will have on government finance. Craig leads the agency’s blockchain work where he and his team have carried out three proofs of concept over the past three years. Prior to FIT, Craig held positions with a “Big Four” consulting [...]
Building an Equitable Internet
Register in advance for this webinar! From biased algorithms and cloaked websites to digital redlining and pay-to-play advertising, today’s internet has not only left behind but further oppressed already marginalized communities. What was once a collaborative ecosystem full of possibility has evolved into a network controlled by tech monopolies that benefits only a fraction of the population. In building the Internet Computer — a nonproprietary, decentralized computing platform — the [...]
HBCU Students Battle for the Cryptos
The FinTech Center and Binance. US are joining forces to present a pilot project "HBCU Students Battle for the Cryptos" this fall semester. We encourage all HBCU students to participate. Student participants will receive funds in a Binance. US® wallet* and use them to trade cryptocurrencies and compete for cash prizes. They will learn about cryptocurrency investing, trading, and portfolio management. First come first serve. Space is limited. Competition [...]
BLOCKCHAIN IS HERE: Are you ready for the challenge?
The FinTech Center presented Jessica Schultzman at The Graves School of Business on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. Dr. Schultzman shared her knowledge of the "criminal activity" that may take place on the blockchain with MSU undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Schultzman is the Bureau Chief -Financial Crimes Unit for the District Attorney's office in Kingston, NY. She specializes in "Big Data", "AI", FinTech and Cryptocurrency. Member of the Blockchain Alliance - an organization of [...]
The Fundamentals of Blockchain
The FinTech Center presented Dawn Talbott at The Graves School of Business on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 9am to 1pm. Dr. Talbott has over 20 years of finance and technology experience. Most recently, Dawn joined the RiskSpan SmartLink Lab where she provides consulting on Blockchain and DLT implementation strategies. Prior to this, she analyzed emerging technical capabilities within the Freddie Mac Single Family Innovation Laboratory and establishing its “BlockLab”. As a FinTech expert, [...]
Turbulent Times: Why Add Bitcoin to Your Portfolio Now
Brian Estes, CIO and Managing Partner at Off the Chain Capital, has helped finance, build, and mentor 4 blockchain companies whose combined value is over $10B today. Prior to his involvement in blockchain in 2014, Brian was a leading endowment and foundation asset manager, ranking in the top 1/10th of 1% of Morningstar asset managers. Brian has his BA from the University of Illinois and MBA with high honors [...]
A Fireside Chat with Congressman Warren Davidson
Warren Davidson represents Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the Congressional Blockchain Caucus. Congressman Davidson first enlisted in the Army after high school. He was stationed in Germany and witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Warren later earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated near the top of his class. After the Army, Congressman Davidson [...]
Innovation Grant
Submit Your Application INNOVATION GRANT PROPOSAL GUIDELINES(Downloadable Word Doc) INNOVATION GRANT PROPOSAL GUIDELINES(Downloadable PDF) The Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology at Morgan State University is pleased to announce a competitive initiative to build awareness of and engagement with blockchain and FinTech at HBCUs. The FinTech Center is offering ten (10) competitive innovation grants of [...]
A Conversation with Commissioner Hester Peirce
Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018. Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised [...]
The US Token Security Ecosystem
Richard Johnson founded Texture Capital in 2019 to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the digital securities space. Texture Capital is in the process of applying to FINRA for broker-dealer registration. Richard’s career spans over 20 years having held senior roles in electronic trading at Societe Generale, Liquidnet, and ITG. Recognizing the revolutionary potential of the technology, Richard pivoted to the cryptocurrencies and blockchain space in [...]
The Future of HBCUs
Harry L. Williams serves as President & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF’s 47 member-schools make up the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) which represent nearly 300,000 students. Dr. Williams has served as President of Delaware State University and held senior positions at the University of North Carolina General Administration, Appalachian State University, [...]
Blockchain for Social Good
Mr. Jai Singh Arun is a senior technology business executive and he has been driving IBM’s Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Computing related innovations, solutions and services business strategy, development and go-to-market execution. He is a co-author of the book “Blockchain for Business” published in April 2019. Mr. Arun earned an MBA in Strategy, Marketing and Finance from Kenan-Flagler Business School at University North Carolina, Chapel [...]
The National HBCU Blockchain Webinar Series 2
As you move into the new world of distance teaching and learning, the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology is right here with you. Please join us as we continue our HBCU Blockchain Webinar Series. These virtual seminars will bring you some of the leading thinkers and leaders we were planning to have at our Second National HBCU Blockchain Summit sharing their insights into how our current situation [...]
The National HBCU Blockchain Webinar Series
As you move into the new world of distance teaching and learning, the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology is right here with you. Please join us as we kick off our HBCU Blockchain Webinar Series. These virtual seminars will bring you some of the leading thinkers and leaders we were planning to have at our Second National HBCU Blockchain Summit sharing their insights into how [...]
The Technical Aspects of Blockchain 2
Dr. Bina Ramamurthy Recipient of 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award, is a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. She is the creator and instructor of a four-course blockchain specialization on Coursera online platform for a worldwide audience. She has written her own e-book on the technical and business aspects of blockchain, Blockchain in Action. Dr. Ramamurthy provided detailed information and hands-on experience: Building blocks of a blockchain using a live [...]
The 2nd National HBCU Blockchain Summit (POSTPONED)
The FinTech Center was scheduled to host its 2nd National HBCU Blockchain Summit, April 15-17, 2020, at the historic landmark, Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore Maryland. We held our 1st National HBCU Blockchain Summit last May, featuring Devon Bryan of the Federal Reserve and companies such as Ripple and KPMG. The other speakers included representatives from the Wharton Business School and Georgetown University as well as start-up companies in the field. [...]
HBCU Blockchain Curriculum Development Institute 2019
Our HBCU Blockchain Curriculum Development Institute brought together 45 faculty from over 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They synthesized the latest research, trends, and breakthroughs in the blockchain space by working with mentors, brainstorming and sharing resources. As a result of the Institute, over 1,000 students will be taught simultaneously about blockchain and FinTech in the Spring Semester of 2020. Many thanks to our mentors: Lee Reiners, the [...]
UBRI Connect at UC Berkeley
Dr. Emdad, Dr. Bapna, and Dr. Ghodoosi presented at the first annual conference of UBRI Connect at the University of California, Berkeley. Two other HBCUs, Southern University in New Orleans and Morehouse College were part of the FinTech Center delegation. The event featured 150 participants showcasing the activities of 30 worldwide universities through lectures, presentations, and chats amongst industry keynotes. We had the opportunity to network with fellow scholars and Ripple engineers [...]
Inaugural Annual HBCU Blockchain Summit 2019
Our Inaugural Annual HBCU Blockchain Summit 2019 attracted 130 faculty and students from more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The two-day conference included speakers from academia, government, and the private sector. Participants heard from industry representatives including Conduent, Ripple, Ourobors, LLP, Vanimals and Pundi X. Our keynote speaker was Kevin Werbach, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business at the University [...]
Student Blockchain Clubs
The FinTech Center promotes and encourages students to get together and create student blockchain clubs on all of our network campuses. We seek to engage students on HBCUs in building the talent pool of the next generation of entrepreneurs to educate and empower students who are interested in and excited about learning more about blockchain technology. The Student Blockchain club at Morgan State University welcomes students from all majors. [...]
Blockchain Ventures
The faculty has developed mini-cases that feature organizations using blockchain technology to innovate. Akon’s plans for a mobile-friendly cryptocurrency and platform for entrepreneurs in Africa to create, market and monetize their own decentralized applications or DApps A firm specializing in full-service supply chain management and compliance for the cannabis marketplace with tracking technology to ensure each seed, clone, tissue, vegetative and flowering plant, oil extract, and the derivative product [...]
Morgan State’s HBCU Blockchain Summit convenes researchers to discuss future of fintech
Blockchain and cryptocurrency are still early in development, so those who are involved now can help shape where they’re going. That was among the messages delivered in Baltimore by Kevin Werbach, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School of theUniversity of Pennsylvania who specializes in blockchain. He was speaking to a group of faculty and students from historically Black colleges and universities over the weekend. Morgan State University organized [...]
Morgan State University Announces Multi-Year Financial Technology Program With Silicon Valley-based Firm
Ripple Partners with MSU to Fund Education and Research in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity and Related FinTech Disciplines Bolstering its position as a preeminent public urban research institution, Morgan State University (MSU) has received funding from Ripple, a leading Silicon Valley financial technology (“FinTech”) company. The funds will underwrite a five-year academic partnership bringing advanced education and research programs to the University. Morgan joins a select number of institutions now participating in Ripple’s University [...]
Morgan State’s first blockchain course finds use cases on campus
On Wednesday nights during the fall semester, students at Morgan State University got lessons on cryptocurrency from team members at New York–based ConsenSys , purchased ether and devised dApps. It was all part of the first-ever blockchain course held at the Baltimore HBCU. The course brought together academia and industry, as a final pitch event to close out the class last week showed. Along with team members from ConsenSys, a representative [...]
Cryptoeconomic and Blockchain Panel Discussion
Morgan State University, March 1, 2018 A panel of national experts presented various perspectives on cryptocurrencies and their underlying technology, the blockchain. The panelists included Aram Barnett, CEO of Alluninate.io; Ms, Portia Burton, blockchain developer; Matthew Green, co-developer of Zerocash and Zerocoin and Johns Hopkins Professor of Computer Science. Yaya Fanusie, a Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, moderated the [...]