Academic Duel of the Decade
More than a dozen ambitious teams from the illustrious mathematics and computer science departments of Oxford and Cambridge universities are stepping into the exhilarating arena of cryptocurrency trading. The stage is Coinbase Pro and FTX, where students are competing to showcase their crypto trading prowess through skillful algorithm creations.
The Contest Rundown
This thrilling competition kicked off on November 16 and will run until the highly anticipated finale on December 16. Participants are gearing up to impress judges with their innovative trading strategies, with heavy emphasis on technical design and the holy grail of trading — return on investment.
Strategies Straight from the Future
What kind of wizardry are these young scholars conjuring up? Strategies range from the classic arbitrage methods to cutting-edge predictions fueled by machine learning and neural networks. Not to mention the trend-following techniques that rely on time-sequence forecasting—yeah, these kids are pulling out all the stops.
Meet the Supporting Cast
- APEX:E3: The principal sponsor, offering APIs, mentorship, and seed funding to participants – because every good hero needs a trusty sidekick.
- Exchanges and Partners: A cast of crypto heavyweights, including Coinbase, FTX, SIX Digital Exchange, LMAX Digital, and Ethereum’s own ConsenSys, have formed a formidable alliance to support this academic odyssey.
A Quote Worth Its Weight in Bitcoin
Quentin Stafford-Fraser from the University of Cambridge eloquently described the tournament as:
“APEX:E3 has created a fun and risk-free way for students to learn about the [algorithmic trading] industry and bring their creativity and expertise to bear on the particular challenges of this domain.”
Why This Matters
Let’s face it: This isn’t just about trading; it’s about honing skills for a future that’s increasingly leaning on tech-savvy minds. APEX:E3’s chief executive, Usman Khan, has ambitious plans to host this competition annually, with hopes of expanding the university roster in 2021. Perhaps next year, your alma mater will join the fray. Imagine the bragging rights!
