The University of Wyoming is preparing to launch the Bitcoin Research Institute (BRI) this August to produce "high-quality peer-reviewed" academic research on Bitcoin.
Bitcoin advocate and University of Wyoming Associate Professor Bradley Rettler, who will be the institute's director, announced the launch in a July 28 X post.
Rettler described the current state of Bitcoin research as "poor" and stressed the importance of producing well-researched publications to educate the public on Bitcoin's complexities and functionalities.
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Rettler cited a 2018 study by University of Hawaii Professor Camilo Mora, which suggested that Bitcoin emissions could lead to a 2°C rise in global temperatures by 2048. Rettler criticized the study for overlooking key factors like the difficulty adjustment and block size cap. He added:
These mistakes make their way into journalism, and policy. Bitcoin is multi-faceted in theory, and even more so in practice. Journalists can't be experts, so they rely on academics. Too many of those academics have let them down.
Andrew M. Bailey, a well-known 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 will launch at the beginning of the 2024 Fall semester. According to the institute's website, it will offer annual summer workshops, weekly seminars, and special issues of academic journals.
As a nonprofit organization, the institute accepts Bitcoin donations to support its research efforts. Rettler explained:
We allocate 4% of our investments to Bitcoin, so if you donate Bitcoin, we will not sell it.
The establishment of this institute marks a step towards improving the quality of Bitcoin research and providing accurate information to the public and policymakers.
In other news, speaking at the Bitcoin Conference, co-founder of MicroStrategy Michael Saylor predicted that Bitcoin's price could surge to $13 million per coin by 2045.
