Key Takeaways
- • A University of Cincinnati cryptocurrency fund backed by the Kautz-Uible Economics Institute has grown from $50,000 to over $120,000 in less than 15 months, more than doubling in value based on investment recommendations from students in an economics course.
- • The fund originates from student recommendations generated in Michael Jones's "Economic Applications of Blockchain" course, where students research and collectively recommend cryptocurrency investments that are deployed with real capital donated to the institute.
- • The course transitioned from hypothetical investing (2017-18 academic year) to real-money investing during the 2022-23 academic year when actual donation funds became available, with future returns designated to support student scholarships, study abroad programs, and professional development initiatives.
- • Student participants enter the course with varying levels of cryptocurrency expertise, from experienced traders to those with minimal knowledge, suggesting that the educational framework provides substantive learning value alongside investment performance.
- • The initiative is housed within UC Digital Futures and directed by Michael Jones, PhD, assistant professor of economics at Carl H. Lindner College of Business and director of the Cryptoeconomics Lab.
Summary
The University of Cincinnati has demonstrated measurable success with a student-managed cryptocurrency investment fund that has generated returns exceeding 140% in approximately 15 months. Beginning with $50,000 in capital, the fund now holds over $120,000, according to reporting from the university as of April 4, 2024. The fund's strategy is built on investment recommendations developed by students enrolled in an economics course focused on blockchain applications.
The investment program operates within an academic framework designed to combine experiential learning with capital allocation. The course, "Economic Applications of Blockchain," was initially structured to produce hypothetical investment strategies when it launched during the 2017-18 academic year. However, the program evolved into a real-money investment vehicle during the 2022-23 academic year following a donation to UC's Kautz-Uible Economics Institute that provided actual capital for deployment.
The course is led by Michael Jones, PhD, an assistant professor of economics at Carl H. Lindner College of Business and director of the Cryptoeconomics Lab. According to student participant Robert Schron, a junior from Cleveland, the educational value extends beyond surface-level understanding. "From a surface level, it sounds like an awful idea," Schron noted regarding cryptocurrency investment, "but the more information you learn about it, the better of an idea it becomes." This observation highlights the course's apparent success in building substantive analytical capacity among participants with heterogeneous starting knowledge levels.
The fund structure creates alignment between student learning objectives and real capital outcomes. Students with varying cryptocurrency expertise—ranging from experienced traders to those with minimal prior knowledge—collaborate to develop collective investment recommendations. Funds generated through investment appreciation are designated for student-directed purposes including scholarships, study abroad programs, and professional development opportunities, creating a sustainability model where investment returns directly benefit future student cohorts.
The investment program operates within an academic framework designed to combine experiential learning with capital allocation. The course, "Economic Applications of Blockchain," was initially structured to produce hypothetical investment strategies when it launched during the 2017-18 academic year. However, the program evolved into a real-money investment vehicle during the 2022-23 academic year following a donation to UC's Kautz-Uible Economics Institute that provided actual capital for deployment.
The course is led by Michael Jones, PhD, an assistant professor of economics at Carl H. Lindner College of Business and director of the Cryptoeconomics Lab. According to student participant Robert Schron, a junior from Cleveland, the educational value extends beyond surface-level understanding. "From a surface level, it sounds like an awful idea," Schron noted regarding cryptocurrency investment, "but the more information you learn about it, the better of an idea it becomes." This observation highlights the course's apparent success in building substantive analytical capacity among participants with heterogeneous starting knowledge levels.
The fund structure creates alignment between student learning objectives and real capital outcomes. Students with varying cryptocurrency expertise—ranging from experienced traders to those with minimal prior knowledge—collaborate to develop collective investment recommendations. Funds generated through investment appreciation are designated for student-directed purposes including scholarships, study abroad programs, and professional development opportunities, creating a sustainability model where investment returns directly benefit future student cohorts.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.