Ke Wu receives Stellar Academic Research Grant

Ke Wu, assistant professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, has received a $120,000 Academic Research Grant from the Stellar Development Foundation. This grant will fund her project titled “Collusion Resistance For Transaction Fee Mechanisms,” through which she seeks to create practical transaction fee models with positive social welfare on blockchain networks.

Wu’s research addresses key challenges associated with ensuring fair and efficient transaction processing in decentralized networks. Her work aims to introduce a novel theoretical framework for transaction fee mechanisms (TFMs) that discourages collusion and enhances social welfare—important metrics for real-world applicability. For the purposes of this framework, she will employ two theoretical models: Coalition-Formation Proofness (CFP), which prevents easy formation of validator-user coalitions, and Pareto Incentive Compatibility (PIC), which ensures any strategies benefiting coalitions do not harm other users.

“Real estate on a blockchain is a scarce resource, and existing limitations in TFM designs necessitate new solutions,” said Wu. “The Stellar grant will provide the resources needed to develop mechanisms that incentivize honest participation while ensuring positive social welfare.”

The Stellar Development Foundation supports research that advances financial inclusion, efficient markets, and innovation in blockchain technology. Wu’s project aligns with these objectives by aiming to improve payment prioritization without sacrificing system integrity.

Wu’s research has the potential to transform blockchain-based financial systems by preventing exploitative practices and enhancing incentive compatibility. With this grant, she will continue to advance the field of cryptography and game theory, contributing to the development of more equitable decentralized technologies.

Wu’s previous groundbreaking work has been published in top venues such as CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, and ITCS and has been recognized through awards like the J.P. Morgan AI PhD Fellowship. She joined the CSE faculty in Fall 2024, after earning her PhD at Carnegie Mellon University and her master’s at Johns Hopkins University.