Blockchain technology is rapidly transforming industries, and the Yale Blockchain Club is positioning itself at the center of this revolution with the upcoming CUBE Summit—an event convening blockchain clubs, students, alumni, and investor networks from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Oxford, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UPenn and Yale. We sat down with Austin Cai, a Yale Blockchain Club student leader, to discuss the Club's mission, its interdisciplinary approach to blockchain education, and how Yale’s collaborative environment has shaped their vision. In this conversation, he shares insights into the club’s goals of integrating students across various Yale schools, the launch of the inaugural CUBE Summit, and their long-term aspirations to build a robust, global blockchain ecosystem. 
 

What inspired you to launch the Yale Blockchain Club, and how has your experience at Yale shaped your vision for the club?

The Yale Blockchain Club (YBC)  was created a few years ago in response to the growing potential of blockchain to revolutionize industries. Its mission is to educate club members of varying degrees of interest on the space, provide unparalleled support for student founders and create opportunities for those seeking a career in blockchain.  

My experience at Yale, with its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, has shaped my vision for the club as a hub for education and innovation. Seeing the immense support from Yale’s alumni network after our inaugural Yale Blockchain Conference earlier this year, further motivates me to build the club into a platform for the community to explore and engage with blockchain. YBC strives to empower students from diverse fields to become leaders in this rapidly evolving space.

Can you share more about your goals for integrating students across different Yale schools and programs into the club?

One of our primary goals is to foster an inclusive environment that integrates students from various Yale schools and programs. Blockchain’s impact is not limited to computer science or finance—it touches upon law, public policy, healthcare, and beyond. By bringing together students from Yale SOM, Yale Law School, the School of Engineering, and others, we can harness a diversity of perspectives and expertise. This interdisciplinary approach will not only enrich our discussions but also drive solutions to real-world challenges, preparing our members to be at the forefront of blockchain advancements in their respective fields.

You're hosting the inaugural CUBE Summit in October, bringing together students across Yale and other schools such as [MIT, Harvard, Stanford and Oxford]. What are the key outcomes you hope to achieve? How do you see this event influencing the broader blockchain community at Yale and beyond?

Historically, and even more applicable nowadays, academia has played a crucial role in the advancement of emerging technologies by providing a foundation for rigorous research, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing the next generation of innovators. The CUBE (Collaborative University Blockchain Ecosystem) Summit builds upon this tradition by becoming a pioneering event designed to spark innovation and collaboration among leading universities. Bringing together blockchain clubs from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and other academic institutions, the summit aims to foster the development of “crypto x AI” applications, build robust networks among students and industry leaders, and highlight blockchain’s transformative potential. By leveraging the strengths and diversity of each university, CUBE seeks to create a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment that approaches emerging technology from multiple perspectives. This collaborative effort not only elevates the blockchain community at Yale but also positions the university as a key contributor to the global blockchain ecosystem, inspiring ongoing innovation and empowering the next generation of developers and founders.

How do you plan to engage students who are new to blockchain technology, and what strategies will you use to ensure that the club is accessible and valuable to them?

Engaging students who are new to blockchain is a top priority for our club. Recognizing the diverse levels of understanding among our members, we plan to offer entry-level workshops, speaker series, and events designed to simplify blockchain concepts and applications. By fostering a supportive learning environment, we aim to lower the barriers to entry, making the technology more accessible and the learning process enjoyable. Our events and resources are tailored to all experience levels, with the goal of cultivating a vibrant community where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. As a growing club, we welcome feedback from our members to better meet their expectations and needs. Ultimately, we’re here to support the growth and success of our club members.  

What are your long-term aspirations for the Yale Blockchain Club, and how do you plan to ensure its continued success after your tenure?

My long-term aspiration for the Yale Blockchain Club is to establish it as a global leader in blockchain education, research, and innovation. To ensure its lasting success, we’re focused on building a strong leadership pipeline, fostering enduring partnerships with industry and academia, and creating a sustainable operational structure. By embedding a culture of collaboration and excellence, we can empower future leaders to advance the club's mission and continue elevating its impact on the blockchain community.

Through strategic partnerships with other universities, industry experts, and leading blockchain organizations, we aim to drive greater innovation and influence. These partnerships will enable co-hosted events, joint research, and shared educational resources, creating a network committed to advancing blockchain technology. Yale, with its academic rigor and global reach, is well-positioned to shape the broader blockchain ecosystem, particularly in areas like governance, regulation, and ethics. As part of our commitment to growing the ecosystem, we're also working on building our own blockchain accelerator to invest in student projects and further expand our influence.  

About CUBE

The CUBE (Collaborative University Blockchain Ecosystem) Summit is set to take place on October 3rd in New York City. For the first time, blockchain clubs from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Oxford, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UPenn and Yale are uniting their extensive alumni networks and collaborating with leading projects, investors and academics in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic panel discussions led by industry experts, providing invaluable insights into the future of crypto. The summit will also feature a pitching session where selected projects will showcase their innovations to top-tier VCs and industry experts and have the chance to win special prizes. Please register or apply at https://cubesummit.xyz/.