Yuma and University of Connecticut team up to launch decentralized AI education initiative
New BittBridge program offers hands-on experience with blockchain and AI model development through Bittensor.
Yuma, a decentralized artificial intelligence (deAI) firm and subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG), has partnered with the University of Connecticut to launch BittBridge, a new program designed to provide practical experience in decentralized AI model development.
The initiative makes UConn one of the first academic institutions to engage with Bittensor, a decentralized network that rewards participants for building and delivering useful AI models. Students at the university’s School of Business will participate in building a Bittensor subnet, gaining exposure to blockchain infrastructure, AI modeling, and decentralized systems.
The BittBridge program will be guided by Yuma and structured around a financial modeling framework. Subnets in the Bittensor ecosystem are designed to carry out specific AI tasks, and serve as a testbed for new capabilities. According to Yuma, the project aims to reduce barriers that prevent early-stage developers from building models due to capital or compute limitations.
Student cohort to begin in 2025
The first student team will onboard in spring 2025 and receive intensive technical training during the summer. The program is expected to expand during the fall semester, evolving based on student interests. Yuma will provide infrastructure, mentorship, and operational support to help students build toward launching their own subnet.
Yuma is one of the core contributors to the Bittensor ecosystem. The company provides resources and technical backing for subnet development across multiple AI domains. It supports early-stage teams by offering capital, accelerator programs, and long-term collaboration in areas such as fintech and sports analytics.
Bittensor operates as an open-source platform, allowing developers to build and serve models in real time without relying on centralized infrastructure. Yuma and UConn view BittBridge as a model for future university involvement in open-source technology and decentralized intelligence.
Professor Greg Reilly, interim dean of the UConn School of Business, says, “The launch of BittBridge underscores UConn’s role as an academic pioneer, providing students with cutting-edge experiences in decentralized AI and blockchain technology.”
Barry Silbert, Founder and CEO of both Yuma and DCG, adds, “Our partnership with UConn represents a significant step in building pathways so the next wave of talent – including students and builders across disciplines – can enter deAI and help shape the outcomes of this extraordinary technology.”
