Ripple and UC Berkeley Unveil UDAX to Scale XRP Ledger Startups

Source: CryptoTale Original Title: Ripple and UC Berkeley Unveil UDAX to Scale XRP Ledger Startups Original Link: Ripple and the University of California, Berkeley have launched a new accelerator to help developers move blockchain ideas into live products on the XRP Ledger. The program is called the University Digital Asset Xcelerator, or UDAX. It would provide technical support, mentorship, and access to capital networks. The launch expands Ripple’s academic work through UBRI.

Ripple said UDAX is part of the University Blockchain Research Initiative, a multi-year effort hosted at UC Berkeley. The company described the accelerator as founder-focused and practical. It is designed to reduce friction between early concepts and deployable applications. Ripple engineers and Berkeley faculty worked together to build the model.

UDAX Pilot Launches at UC Berkeley With Nine Startups

The first version of UDAX ran as a pilot cohort in fall 2025 at UC Berkeley. Ripple said nine startups participated in the initial cycle. The program lasted six weeks and focused on product development.

The cohort began with a launch summit in Berkeley. Founders were introduced to XRP Ledger architecture and Ripple’s ecosystem. The platform said the program ended at its San Francisco headquarters.

Ripple said the demo day featured remarks from co-founder Chris Larsen and CTO Emeritus David Schwartz. Teams presented in front of XRP Ledger developers and Ripple executives. Representatives from 13 venture capital firms also attended. Ripple framed the event as a bridge between builders and funding networks.

Ripple highlighted WaveTip as one of the pilot startups. The company provides instant tips for Twitch streamers. The company said WaveTip completed its transition to the XRP Ledger Mainnet during the accelerator. The platform is now available through the Chrome Web Store.

Another startup, X-Card, worked on converting physical collectibles into liquid digital assets. Ripple said the team onboarded more than $1.5 million in inventory during the six weeks. The company also secured partnerships with merchant communities.

UDAX also supported BlockBima, which is building automated climate-risk microinsurance for vulnerable communities. Ripple said BlockBima tripled its active user base during the cohort. The team worked with mentors, including Andrea Barrica, to strengthen its investor pitch.

UDAX Teams Show Gains as Finance Use Cases Expand

Ripple reported performance metrics for the participating teams. It said startups achieved an average 67% increase in product maturity after the program. The company also claimed a 92% average increase in fundraising confidence.

The accelerator also included projects linked to institutional finance and cross-border capital flow. Ripple cited CRX Digital Assets as one example. The firm used UDAX to support exporting Brazilian credit products. The platform said tokenized asset volume increased from $39 million to $58 million.

Stablecoin-based services were also represented in the cohort. Ripple said Blockroll launched stablecoin-backed virtual cards for African freelancers. CEO Sadiq Isiaka said the company would use RLUSD for remittance settlement. He also said the model could support stablecoin-backed debit cards that work globally.

Isiaka added that the system could unlock wealth-building opportunities for users. He referenced stablecoin yields and tokenized US stocks. Ripple included the statement as part of the program update.

Other teams focused on infrastructure and compliance issues. Ripple said WellArrive refined its product into a dual-sided marketplace model. The company credited legal and corporate affairs mentors for the changes.

The platform said Spout finalized an equity tokenization model during the program. The startup also secured meetings with venture capital firms. The company also cited Mintara Labs, which worked to validate its go-to-market strategy. Mintara Labs focused on crypto-bank insurance positioning.

UC Berkeley continues to expand its digital asset research footprint. Berkeley Engineering announced a new Center for Digital Assets in conjunction with Ripple Labs last October.

Ripple’s UBRI contributed $1.3 million in Ripple USD to support the initiative. Berkeley faculty also discussed asset “twinning,” which involves making digital replicas of physical assets. These replicas could be analyzed, tested, and assigned value for on-chain trading.