Nikhil Vadgama

Nikhil Vadgama is a co-founder and Director of the DLT Science Foundation. He is also a Lecturer (Teaching) and Programme Director of the MSc Financial Technology at UCL's Department of Computer Science. 

Nikhil is the Deputy Director and a Research Associate of the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies. He is also a Guest Lecturer in FinTech and Emerging Business Technologies at the UCL School of Management. 

Nikhil has held the position of the Chief Data Officer at Twig, a new sustainable challenger banking app where he helped launch the business in the UK, Italy and the US. 

His commercial experience has spanned multiple sectors, including Education, Real Estate and FinTech. He has commercialised academic research in the AI and Blockchain domains. 

He has published internationally renowned research utilised by governments and has written a book titled "Enabling the Internet of Value: How Blockchain Connects Global Businesses". 

He currently sits on the Hedera Governing Council, representing UCL. He has previously worked globally as an Investment Banker for HSBC. 

Nikhil holds an MBA from INSEAD, and an MPhys from the University of Oxford and has passed all three levels of the CFA Programme.

Nikhil Vadgama embarked on his career at the University College London (UCL) as a Lecturer (Teaching) in the Department of Computer Science. During his time there from 2021 to 2023, Nikhil taught various courses, including COMP0167: Innovation & Strategy in Finance and COMP0198 Machine Learning with Applications in Finance, which were part of the MSc Financial Technology, MSc Emerging Digital Technologies, MSc Computational Finance, and MSc Financial Risk Management programs.

Building on his expertise, Nikhil assumed the role of Programme Director for the MSc Financial Technology at UCL in 2021. He was instrumental in creating this innovative program, which commenced in September 2021. As Programme Director, Nikhil provided leadership and guidance to ensure the successful implementation and delivery of the program, focusing on the intersection of AI, blockchain, and strategy courses related to Financial Services.

In addition to his work at UCL, Nikhil has been actively involved in teaching and research at the UCL School of Management. As an Adjunct Lecturer, he taught courses such as MSIN0226: Fintech on the MSc Finance and co-taught MSIN0173: Emerging Business Technologies on the UCL-Peking MBA program. His contributions extended to the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies (CBT), where he served as the Deputy Executive Director. In this role, Nikhil directed operations, research, education, and industry engagement for the center, leading various impactful projects.

One notable accomplishment of Nikhil's is his role as Director and co-founder of the DLT Science Foundation, a position he has held since 2022. The foundation's mission is to empower global universities by providing support for delivering quality education, making breakthroughs in science, and fostering innovation in the field of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).

Nikhil's expertise in blockchain technology and finance has made him a sought-after professional. He has been a valuable member of the Governing Global Council for Hedera, a position he has held since 2020. In this capacity, he has contributed his insights and knowledge to the council's initiatives.

Furthermore, Nikhil has been the Chief Product Officer at DEC Institute since 2019. His role involves driving product development and strategy for the organization. He has been instrumental in creating and shaping the product offerings to align with the evolving needs of the industry.

Throughout his career, Nikhil has demonstrated a strong commitment to research and has made significant contributions to the academic community. He has authored academic papers and book chapters on topics ranging from blockchain adoption in supply chains to the evolving role of blockchain technology from an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective.

Nikhil pursued an MPhys degree in Physics from the University of Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he excelled academically and was awarded the Gibbs Prize and the Bostock Exhibition Prize. He actively participated in extracurricular activities, assuming leadership roles such as President of the Investment Management Club, Co-Founder of the Education Club, and a member of the Leadership Committee of the Entrepreneurship Club.

Published Work

One of his notable publications is titled "An Analysis of Blockchain Adoption in Supply Chains between 2010 and 2020," co-authored with P. Tasca and published in Frontiers in Blockchain in 2021. This research paper explores the adoption of blockchain technology in supply chains over the past decade, providing valuable insights and analysis. The paper has been cited by 59 other works, highlighting its influence in the field.

Another important publication by Vadgama is "Banks becoming Technology Companies," published in the book "Commercializing Blockchain: Strategic Applications in the Real World" in 2019. This chapter examines the evolution of the lending market from traditional banks to decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. With 23 citations, this work has contributed to the understanding of the transformation happening in the banking industry due to blockchain technology.

His research work spans topics such as supply chain, energy footprint of consensus mechanisms, token-based insurance solutions, and the Internet of Value. 

Nikhil Vadgama envisions a future where blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) play a transformative role in various industries and societal systems. He believes that the adoption of these technologies can revolutionise supply chains, making them more transparent, efficient, and secure. Vadgama aims to contribute to the widespread implementation of blockchain in supply chains, empowering organisations to leverage its potential for improved traceability, accountability, and trust.

Vadgama is committed to exploring the broader implications of blockchain beyond supply chains. He sees blockchain as a catalyst for the emergence of the Internet of Value, where value can be exchanged seamlessly and securely across global networks. His vision encompasses the integration of blockchain into financial services, real estate, insurance, and other sectors, facilitating innovative solutions and disrupting traditional models.