Texas Blockchain is a student-led organization at The University of Texas at Austin founded in 2017. It operates as the university's primary hub for blockchain technology, with a mission to educate the student community, facilitate career opportunities, foster research, and provide hands-on experience in the cryptocurrency and Web3 industries. The organization is structured into several divisions, including a student-run venture fund, a liquid investment portfolio, an engineering team, and a consulting branch. ^{[1] [2]}​

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History

Texas Blockchain was founded at The University of Texas at Austin in 2017. The organization established itself as a multi-faceted group with several operational pillars, including an investment arm. This investment division was originally named Longhorn Blockchain Ventures before it was later rebranded to Texas Blockchain Investments to align with the parent organization's identity. The organization maintains a large and active community, with its membership listed at over 290 students. ^{[1] [3]}​

Mission and Structure

The stated purpose of Texas Blockchain is to educate the UT Austin community on blockchain technology, facilitate professional development and career opportunities, foster a community for interested students and faculty, and promote research into blockchain protocols and industry trends. ^[1]​

To achieve its goals, the organization is structured around several core divisions, each typically led by a student Vice President:

• Education: Teaches blockchain fundamentals and technical concepts like cryptography and smart contract development through workshops.
• Community: Organizes speaker events, social gatherings, and large-scale conferences to build networks between members and industry professionals.
• Research: Conducts in-depth analysis of cryptocurrency protocols and publishes research reports on market and technology trends.
• Investments: Manages the organization's student-run venture capital and liquid investment funds.
• Engineering: Focuses on software development and participation in competitive hackathons.
• Consulting: Provides strategic advising services to external entities.
• Marketing & Operations: Handles communications, branding, and the internal functioning of the organization. ^{[1] [2]}

Divisions and Initiatives

Texas Blockchain provides members with practical industry experience through several specialized divisions that engage in real-world activities from venture capital to software development. ^[2]​

Texas Blockchain Investments (Venture Fund)

A key initiative of the organization is its student-run venture capital fund, Texas Blockchain Investments. The fund's purpose is to provide students with hands-on experience in crypto-native venture capital, including deal sourcing, conducting due diligence on prospective investments, and active portfolio management. It primarily invests in early-stage crypto companies and protocols. This division was formerly known as Longhorn Blockchain Ventures. ^[1]​

Liquid Investment Fund

Separate from its venture activities, Texas Blockchain also manages an active portfolio of liquid cryptocurrencies. The fund is run by student analysts, some of whom have prior experience at external liquid funds. As of early 2026, the fund's assets under management (AUM) were reported to be 40 ETH, valued at approximately $160,000 at the time. This division operates as a participant in DormDAO, an inter-collegiate crypto investment competition organized by the venture capital firm Collab+Currency, which provides students a platform to compete against other university blockchain investment clubs. ^[2]​

Engineering and Hackathons

The Engineering Division is composed of student developers and engineers who focus on building software and competing in blockchain-focused hackathons. The team has achieved notable success in these competitions, winning over $50,000 in prizes from major events. Competitions the division has participated in include ETHDenver, ETHGlobal events, and hackathons sponsored by the Solana Foundation. ^[2]​

Consulting Division

The organization's Consulting Division offers professional blockchain consulting services. This provides a formal structure for students to engage with external projects, offering strategic guidance and project-based work for entities seeking to implement or understand blockchain technology. ^[2]​

Validators and Governance

Texas Blockchain's Validators & Governance division engages in the technical and political layers of blockchain networks. The division offers professional-grade validator services for various proof-of-stake (PoS) protocols, contributing to network security. It also actively participates in the governance processes of decentralized protocols, which involves voting on network proposals and updates using delegated or organization-owned tokens. ^[2]​

Education and Events

The organization regularly hosts educational workshops to onboard newcomers and provide advanced learning opportunities. These sessions cover topics ranging from blockchain fundamentals to technical skills like smart contract programming. A core activity is its speaker series, which brings prominent figures from the crypto industry to the UT Austin campus. The group also hosts larger events, such as its annual Texas Blockchain Conference and collaborative campus events with partners like the Solana Foundation. ^[1]​

Leadership

Texas Blockchain is managed by an executive team of students from The University of Texas at Austin. The leadership roles and the individuals holding them change on an annual basis, consistent with the structure of most university student organizations. The typical leadership structure includes Co-Presidents and Vice Presidents for each of the organization's main divisions, such as Education, Community, Research, and Investments. The official, up-to-date list of student officers is maintained on the organization's page within the UT Austin Campus Labs portal. ^{[3] [1]}​

Partnerships and Sponsorships

As a registered student organization at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Blockchain draws members from across the university, including the McCombs School of Business and the Cockrell School of Engineering. The organization has established strong connections with leading firms and protocols in the crypto industry. These partnerships provide funding, supply speakers for events, and create career and internship opportunities for its members.

Notable partners and sponsors listed by the organization include:

• a16z crypto
• Polychain Capital
• Paradigm
• Bain Capital Crypto
• Solana
• Circle
• Uniswap Grants Program ^[1]

The student group also collaborates with other university blockchain clubs and has hosted leadership from the Texas Blockchain Council for speaking engagements, demonstrating a connection with the broader state-level advocacy efforts. ^[1]​