About Us
CDA advances secure, practical ways to represent real-world assets online. By pairing mature modeling with blockchain, we enable trustworthy markets where assets can be studied, tested, valued, and transacted with confidence. Our work bridges engineering innovation, education, and ecosystem building to deliver impact for industry and society.
Leadership
Tarek I. Zohdi
Faculty Director
Karin H. Bauer
Managing Director
Justin Wiley
Senior Corporate Strategist
College of Engineering
UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering oversees the Berkeley Center for Digital Assets, aligning the center’s mission with its broader goal of advancing education, research, and innovation in service of the public good. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting high-impact initiatives, the College ensures that CDA serves as a leading hub for discovery, application, and hands-on learning at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds.
Key Concepts
What are Digital Assets?
Digital assets are uniquely identifiable pieces of digital content that can be owned, stored, and transferred with recognized value. They range from familiar items like documents and media to blockchain-based assets such as cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). At the Center for Digital Assets, we define, study, and advance these technologies through education, research, and hands-on engagement.
The Evolving Role of Digital Assets
The ways we create, trade, and manage value are shifting rapidly as more assets move into digital form. Since 2009, blockchain technology has enabled new categories such as NFTs, cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and Central Bank digital currencies. This transformation is opening new markets, changing how industries operate, and creating opportunities for innovation. The Center works with faculty and researchers to bring these concepts into UC Berkeley’s engineering courses, giving students access to industry-leading tools, real-world applications, and experiential learning.
Examples of Digital Assets:
Everyday Content
Images, documents, websites, and videos - valuable digital files used in personal and professional life. These assets often carry creative, informational, or operational value and are easily shared, stored, and reused.
Blockchain-Based Assets
NFTs, cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities, and central bank digital currencies with built-in ownership and transferability. These assets operate on decentralized networks, allowing for verifiable, trustless exchanges of digital value.
Enterprise & Institutional Tools
Digital rights, trademarks, and asset management systems that store, track, and protect digital value at scale. They enable businesses and institutions to manage large libraries of content and intellectual property securely and efficiently.
What is a Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a real-world physical object, system, or process. It's a dynamic, data-rich model that mirrors its physical counterpart, allowing for simulation, analysis, and optimization. Digital twins use real-time data from sensors and other sources to represent the current state of the physical entity and can be used to predict future behavior and performance.
How Digital Twins Work
Digital twins are real-time, 3D representations of physical systems - continuously updated through sensors and data feeds. They allow engineers and operators to simulate scenarios, monitor performance, and predict issues before they arise.
Where They Are Used
From factories and hospitals to cities, construction sites, and farms, digital twins are optimizing operations across industries. They’re used to improve everything from production lines and flight safety to patient care and urban infrastructure.
Why They Matter
Digital twins increase efficiency, cut costs, and enable smarter, data-driven decisions. They also drive innovation and efficiency by reducing waste and supporting resource optimization.