Scientific Research Center · FCEN, UBA

Decentralized
Computation &
Digital Trust

A scientific center dedicated to research and education in the foundations and applications of open, permissionless decentralized computation — from blockchain infrastructure to cryptographic trust.

Research Topics Our Objectives
Cryptography & Security
Distributed Systems
Blockchain Protocols
Formal Methods
Consensus Mechanisms
Economics & Incentives
Smart Contracts
Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Research Areas

Topics of Interest

The design of decentralized systems requires the synthesis of multiple disciplines. C²D² supports research at the intersection of computer science, mathematics, and cryptography, connecting UBA researchers with leading academics and practitioners worldwide.

Example topics of interest include the following. Click any area to expand.

Center at a glance
3 Directors across 2 universities
6 Core research areas
IOG Supported by Input | Output Global
UBA Dept. of Computer Science, FCEN

Cryptography is the backbone of decentralized systems. The center investigates the mathematical and computational foundations that allow untrusted parties to interact securely and verifiably, without relying on central authorities.

  • Zero-knowledge proof systems (SNARKs, STARKs)
  • Public-key infrastructure and digital signatures
  • Multi-party computation (MPC) protocols
  • Verifiable random functions and randomness beacons
  • Post-quantum cryptographic schemes
  • Threshold signatures and distributed key generation

Consensus is the problem of making independent computers agree on a single value, even in the presence of failures or malicious actors. Research targets both classical and blockchain-specific formulations of this fundamental problem.

  • Byzantine fault-tolerant (BFT) consensus
  • Nakamoto-style longest-chain protocols
  • Safety, liveness, and finality guarantees
  • Censorship-resistance and provable slashing
  • Synchrony and partial-synchrony models
  • Sharding and parallel execution

A complete blockchain protocol encompasses networking, execution, and settlement. C²D² studies the end-to-end design of blockchain stacks with a focus on rigorous formal analysis and provable security guarantees.

  • Layer-1 protocol architecture
  • Peer-to-peer network protocols for transaction dissemination
  • Virtual machine and execution environment design
  • Novel attacks on Ethereum and major blockchain protocols
  • Formal verification of protocol properties
  • Cross-chain interoperability and bridges

Smart contracts are programs that execute automatically on a blockchain. Their immutability and financial stakes make correctness critical. The center applies formal methods — mathematical techniques for specifying and verifying software — to ensure their reliability.

  • Formal specification of contract behavior
  • Automated verification and model checking
  • Smart contract programming language design
  • Static analysis and symbolic execution
  • Vulnerability detection and auditing tools
  • Certified compilation for blockchain VMs

Blockchain protocols allocate scarce resources and must incentivize honest behavior from self-interested participants. This area applies economic theory and game theory to protocol design problems, from fee mechanisms to validator markets.

  • Transaction fee mechanisms and blockspace pricing
  • Maximal extractable value (MEV) analysis
  • Staking, rewards, and slashing economics
  • Auction theory for validator/proposer markets
  • Decentralized governance models
  • Agent-based simulation of protocol dynamics

Real-world adoption depends on scaling to millions of users while preserving privacy and remaining accessible without intermediaries. This area connects theory to engineering challenges in production decentralized environments.

  • Layer-2 scaling solutions (rollups, state channels)
  • Privacy-preserving transaction protocols
  • Data availability and proof systems
  • Decentralized identity and self-sovereign credentials
  • Applications of blockchain in public infrastructure
  • Quantifying the benefits of decentralization

Mission

Objectives & Activities

C²D² aims to become a leading authority in decentralized computation research in Latin America, combining rigorous academic work with real-world impact.

Center of Excellence

Establish a reference institution for research in decentralized computation and digital trust in the region.

Academic Formation

Provide a rigorous foundation for students in computer science, data science, mathematics, and engineering.

Research Opportunities

Award research fellowships to advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

To achieve these objectives, the plan aims to:

Design and execute research projects in decentralized computation and digital trust.
Develop curricula, seminars, events, and mobility programs for scientific exchange.
Promote student support and technology transfer with leading companies.

Institutional Support

Backed by Input | Output Global

The project is supported by Input | Output Global, a company dedicated to the research and development of blockchain infrastructure and responsible for the Cardano platform. This partnership enables C²D² to bridge foundational academic research with real-world blockchain development at scale.

Input | Output
Global
Cardano

Leadership

Directors

C²D² is led by researchers with extensive academic experience in cryptography, distributed systems, and formal methods for software verification.

Juan Garay
Juan Garay
Director
Texas A&M University, USA
Visiting Professor, FCEN, UBA
Diego Garbervetsky
Diego Garbervetsky
Associate Director
FCEN, UBA
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Esteban Mocskos
Esteban Mocskos
Associate Director
FCEN, UBA
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fellowships

Current Fellowship Recipients

C²D² supports advanced undergraduate and graduate students working on smart contracts, formal analysis, and cryptographic techniques for decentralized systems.

Ian Grinspan

Ian Grinspan

PhD Student · C²D² Scholarship

Formal Analysis of Smart Contracts.

Matias Waisman

Matias Waisman

Undergraduate Student · C²D² Scholarship

Smart Contract Analysis.

Gaspar Zuker

Gaspar Zuker

Undergraduate Student · C²D² Scholarship

Cryptographic Techniques for Decentralized Recovery.

Agustin Venegas

Agustin Venegas

Undergraduate Student · C²D² Scholarship

Cryptographic Techniques for Decentralized Recovery.

News

Latest updates

Department of Computer Science, FCEN — Universidad de Buenos Aires

"Cero + Infinito" Building, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ciudad Universitaria, CABA c2d2.exactas.uba.ar c2d2@dc.uba.ar