eToro Aims to win the Blockchain race with help from the universities  

Can one of the world’s leading trading platforms really find the time and resources to engage with academia? For eToro, the answer is a resounding “absolutely!”


The trading giant operates a blockchain lab in Copenhagen, where it continually tests the latest advancements in blockchain technology to remain at the forefront of innovation. As part of this effort, eToro has partnered with PhD student Henrik Axelsen from the University of Copenhagen through the DIREC-funded project AI & Blockchains for Complex Business Processes.

“We are committed to being leaders in blockchain technology and integrating it into our products. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial to us, which is why we maintain strong ties with the academic world,” says Omry Ross, eToro’s Chief Blockchain Officer, who also serves as a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science.


DIREC resolved bureaucratic hurdles


eToro’s collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between industry and academic research, providing the company with new insights and driving innovation in blockchain technology.

“Knowledge is the currency that keeps us at the cutting edge of AI and blockchain. It is not just about improving our bottom line. It is also about contributing to broader understanding,” says Omry Ross.

However, accessing academic expertise is not always straightforward. Despite eToro’s enthusiasm for research, the company often finds it difficult to engage with researchers due to lengthy application processes and timelines. Fortunately, the streamlined process of the DIREC project allowed eToro to overcome these bureaucratic hurdles.


”Commercial companies typically need to move fast, but academia cannot always meet that demand. In the DIREC project, decisions were made very quickly, and the process was simple. I hope this approach becomes more common, because if it were easier to engage PhD students, we would do it far more often,” says Omry Ross.


Using cryptocurrency to tackle global inequality


eToro has currently 38 million registered users on its platform, where they can trade everything from individual stocks to cryptocurrencies. In the long term, the company also seeks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as supporting the 1.3 billion people who currently lack access to traditional financial infrastructure. This was one of the reasons why eToro collaborated with PhD student Henrik Axelsen, who explored, among other things, how blockchain can help the financial sector.

“We believe blockchain can enable us to improve financial services, making them more efficient and better equipped to address issues like financial inclusion,” says Omry Ross.


An example of eToro’s dedicaton to this cause is the GoodDollar initiative, which aims to reduce global inequality by distributing a universal basic income (UBI) through the cryptocurrency GoodDollar. To date, this digital currency has been distributed to nearly one million people without access to a bank.

“The GoodDollar project hightlights how cryptocurrency can offer tangible benefits to millions of people excluded from the traditional financial systems,” Omry Ross concludes.


Interested in learning more about eToro’s involvement in academia and the “AI & Blockchains for Complex Business Processes” project? Find out more about the project here.