The owner and operator of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX has donated to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to conduct cryptocurrency-related research, according to an announcement published on May 28.
HDR Global Trading Limited has made a donation to the MIT Digital Currency Initiative (DCI), the objective of which is to conduct the research necessary to support the development of digital currency and blockchain technology. Specifically, the funds will be allocated to support Bitcoin Core developers Wladimir van der Laan and Cory Fields.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Sam Reed, CTO of HDR Global Trading and co-founder of BitMEX, said that the “donation into research and development is about ensuring that the network is more robust. A stronger Bitcoin network will be beneficial to all, and we are very excited to be able to aid in its progress.”
As reported earlier today, BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo, joined over 200 other billionaires by pledging to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. In his pledge, Delo wrote that he will use his fortune to “safeguard future generations and protect the long-term prospects of humanity.” Delo will direct his wealth to “navigate the challenges and opportunities posed by new technologies in the upcoming century.”
In April, HDR Global Trading Limited partnered with United States-based professional trading infrastructure firm Trading Technologies International (TT) to open up its products to crypto derivatives traders. TT traders thus will be able to trade on BitMEX and will gain access to its crypto products, which include the bitcoin-based XBTUSD Perpetual Swap.