Hashed CEO Sees Blockchain as Trust Infrastructure for AI-Driven Economy

Hashed CEO Kim Seo-jun spoke at EastPoint: Seoul 2026 on September 28, highlighting how advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier and less costly for individuals and companies to try new businesses.

The cost of trying new ideas has fallen sharply with the advancement of AI, allowing experiments that once took weeks or years to be run overnight by individuals. As a result, optimism without fear of repeated failure can become a rational strategy for both individuals and companies.

Kim emphasized that trust will become a new business opportunity in a world where AI agents carry out economic activity on behalf of humans. This will require systems that can verify an AI's identity, permissions, and reliability, which he believes will grow into a new industry.

He also mentioned that blockchain could serve as the core infrastructure supporting this shift, as machines are more familiar with smart contracts than humans. Kim noted that South Korea has a strong interest in digital assets and a base in AI and robotics, positioning it well for new financial infrastructure such as tokenized products and decentralized exchanges.