The University of Wyoming has launched the nation’s first university institute dedicated to the study of Bitcoin, thanks to a major gift from MarkCasey, an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group.

The Bitcoin Research Institute, housed in UW’s College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as an international hub for philosophical, economic, and scientific thinking about Bitcoin and the future of money.

“I am excited to see the positive impact the Bitcoin Research Institute at the  University of Wyoming will have on the quality and quantity of academic research about Bitcoin,” Casey says.

Led by inaugural director Bradley Rettler, an associate professor of philosophy and religious studies, the institute will ask big questions about money’s role in society: Is it simply a medium of exchange or an instrument of power? How does Bitcoin differ from traditional fiat currencies? What are the social, cultural, and environmental impacts?

“Establishing a Bitcoin Research Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences is an important step in exploring the impacts of Bitcoin on our society,” says Scott Turpen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “By researching bitcoin’s economic, cultural, and social implications, this institute

will offer valuable insights that bridge technology and the humanities.” In addition to supporting high-quality research, the institute will create faculty positions, offer student research opportunities, develop new curriculum, and engage communities in Wyoming and beyond. With Wyoming’s

leadership in blockchain regulation and renewable energy, the state is uniquely positioned to serve as the center of this groundbreaking work.