Research

Our Research Pillar is a dynamic assembly of working groups dedicated to advancing the frontier of Financial Technologies.

Embracing Interdisciplinary Excellence

Our Research Pillar is a dynamic assembly of working groups dedicated to advancing the frontier of knowledge. Spearheaded by renowned scholars and industry experts, these groups are the engine rooms of innovation within the UCT Financial Innovation Hub driving the advancement of five research areas in financial technology.

Each of the tabs above provide an overview of the institutional partners and collaborative initiatives contributing to specific areas of our research.

Blockchain Applications

The research into blockchain applications falls under three categories: decentralised finance (DeFi), specifically the benefits of tokenisation in a decentralised marketplace, blockchain for food traceability and exploring blockchain to manage digital property rights.

Cyber Security

This avenue will explore research topics relating to the model of strategic attack and defense, as well as a phenomenon known as “software contagion”. In some aspects, this research will cross paths with blockchain adoption for cybersecurity.

Privacy

Here, privacy encompasses research into personal data wallets and the exploration of a decentralised credit bureau using privacy preserving technologies such as trusted execution environments and differential privacy. Finally, in line with CBDCs, research into the privacy considerations of CDBCs.

Digital Inclusion

This expands into the possibility of offline payments, especially important in a country where 45% of the population has no access to a smartphone. In conjunction with the university’s resources, the Hub is in a unique position to study how offline payments on a distributed ledger can facilitate financial inclusion.

Central Bank Digital Currencies

This area involves research into wholesale CBDC and Blockchain Banking. It also dives into the realisation of retail CBDCs and the interoperability of different CBDCs.