Blockchain Beyond The Hype: Secure, Privacy-Respecting, Trustworthy

Since the release of the Bitcoin white paper at the end of October 2008, blockchain, or what is more broadly referred to as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), has evolved from a niche interest on the internet to be an embodiment of tech-hype cycles to an area of fundamental research.

Cross-Campus, Cross-College, Cross-Continent Collaboration on Interdisciplinary Research and Education

 

The Secure Blockchain Initiative

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Learn about the faculty involved with the CMU Secure Blockchain Initiative (SBI)

Carnegie Mellon University's CyLab is launching a multi-year, interdisciplinary research program called the CMU Secure Blockchain Initiative (SBI), which will rethink blockchain across enterprise ecosystems to address challenges in: consensus mechanisms and scalability; cryptocurrencies and markets; cryptography; formal verification; and regulation, policy, and governance. Despite the advances that have been taking place, there are still a lot of open research questions to ensure that protocols and applications are ready to interact with more individuals. Especially as the industry sees more activity in terms of consumer applications such as those seen in decentralized finance (DeFi), ensuring the fundamental research elements of the technology, especially from a security, privacy, ethics, and societal impact perspective, is of utmost importance.

Research thrusts

Through the multi-year Initiative, CyLab intends to develop a suite of novel foundations and technologies that address the above challenges, and re-imagine blockchains along the following three key thrusts:

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Cryptoeconomics: Cryptography, Consensus, and Verification

While the blockchain industry is advancing, core concerns around cryptography, consensus, formal verification, and other theoretical research questions persist. 

Areas of focus:

  • Economics, Incentives and Security
  • Scalability of Distributed Ledgers
  • Cryptography and Privacy

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Applications and Implementations

At CyLab, we focus on the development and implementation of specific applications utilizing existing blockchains.

Areas of focus:

  • Algorithmic Stablecoins, Automated Market Makers, CBDC
  • Payments Networks for Inclusive Growth
  • Formal Verification
  • Programming for Blockchcains

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Cryptocurrencies, Tokenized Assets, and Policy

We research cryptocurrency-related markets and analysis, ranging from cryptocurrency use, analysis of dark web markets, and cryptocurrency trading to regulation.

Areas of focus:

  • Centralized and Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges
  • Asset Tokenization and Credentials
  • Blockchain Governance and Regulation

Meet our co-directors

Nicolas Christin

Nicolas Christin

Co-director
CMU Secure Blockchain Initiative

View bio

Elaine Shi

Elaine Shi

Co-director
CMU Secure Blockchain Initiative

View bio

Ariel Zetlin-Jones

Ariel Zetlin-Jones

Co-director
CMU Secure Blockchain Initiative

View bio

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CMU brings together experts from academia and industry during inaugural Secure Blockchain Summit

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