From the Lecture Hall
to the Real World
IC3 bridges the gap between academic rigor and practical application. We drive the research, hackathons, and global events shaping the frontier of blockchain and AI.
About Us
We are a consortium of academic researchers across 13 universities focused on foundational research in blockchain systems. Our goal is to take concepts from the whiteboard and apply them in the real world.
With expertise spanning applied cryptography, consensus protocols, distributed systems, programming language theory, and game-theoretic mechanism design, our research has played an ongoing, pivotal role in shaping the blockchain industry as we know it.
Featured Research
IC3 publishes research on blockchain, cryptology, decentralized systems, AI and more.
The CoinAlg Bind:
Profitability-Fairness Tradeoffs in Collective Investment Algorithms
Artificial Intelligence-powered collective investing strategies are not new. Robo-advisor Betterment was launched in 2010 and the industry is predicted to reach $71 billion by 2032. So the finding behind the “CoinAlg Bind” could go far beyond crypto-trading…
OOPS: One-time Oblivious Polynomial Signatures
This work introduces a novel scheme based on pairing-based elliptic curves that maintains security up to a threshold of đť‘› messages. While exceeding this limit allows for universal forgery, the researchers demonstrate that this unique property is a powerful design feature rather than a limitation.
MAXSHAPLEY: Towards Incentive-compatible Generative
Search with Fair Context Attribution
Generative search is disrupting the traditional information landscape, raising critical questions about how content providers are credited and paid. To ensure the long-term viability of this ecosystem, the researchers argue we must establish fair mechanisms that link compensation to a provider’s actual contribution to an answer….
Events & Hackathons
IC3 events connect people across the blockchain industry to share ideas, discuss innovations, and help shape the future of blockchain technology.
IC3 Winter Retreat 2026
June 5-9, 2026
Pack your skis — we’re heading back to Hotel Terrace in Engelberg, Switzerland, for the 2026 Winter Retreat!
IC3 Members & Friends Reception
Aug 5, 2025
IC3 hosted this reception during SBC 2025 to bring together attendees for an evening of conversation.
IC3 Blockchain Camp 2025
June 5-9, 2025
This 7-day experience was hosted once again at the Cornell Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island, New York City.
Get in Touch
Learn more about IC3, partnership, events, and PhD opportunities. Sign up to join our mailing list and stay up to date on all things IC3!
IC3 - The Initiative for Cryptocurrencies and Contracts 