Web3 is at a turning point. As blockchain technology matures and artificial intelligence accelerates, the two forces are converging in ways that could redefine how we live, work, and connect. On October 1, I will present at TOKEN2049 Singapore, examining the next era of Web3 and its intersection with artificial intelligence. My remarks will address a few interrelated imperatives, including advancing genuine blockchain utility and innovation, aligning AI with human well-being through decentralized infrastructure, and achieving true mass adoption.
Utility and Innovation, Beyond Speculation
The cryptocurrency sector must move decisively beyond cycles of hype and volatility. Blockchain’s long-term relevance depends on delivering tangible utility to everyday users, not merely speculative trading opportunities. I will analyze the structural challenges—ranging from usability barriers to distortion of incentives for utility innovation—that currently impede real-world applications. More importantly, I will outline pathways for the crypto industry to capture more of the world’s production onto the blockchain, building products and ecosystems that address concrete needs, demonstrating how decentralized technologies can serve as instruments for societal utility and lasting innovation.
AI and Crypto: Safeguarding Human Agency
Artificial intelligence is transforming production and reshaping economic structures at an unprecedented pace. This progress raises urgent questions: What becomes of human labor and agency when machines can generate unprecedented levels of production? How can societies ensure that the rewards of AI are distributed equitably?
Blockchain offers critical mechanisms to address these challenges. Decentralized identity verification, transparent economic frameworks, and community-driven governance can help equitably distribute AI-generated value while preserving human autonomy. My presentation will examine the infrastructure required for this vision, from scalable networks to decentralized AI production models, and consider the frameworks necessary to guide AI and blockchain’s trajectory toward collective benefit.
Achieving Mass Adoption
Mass adoption remains the defining challenge—and opportunity—for blockchain. Drawing on experience in building a network of over 60 million engaged users across more than 200 countries and regions, I will discuss how community empowerment, widespread distribution, and social networks can drive blockchain beyond early adopters and into everyday life, and how these are important resources crypto networks can rely on to nurture the next generation of apps that are most likely AI-powered. Genuine utility, coupled with inclusive participation, is essential for decentralized technologies to fulfill their promise.
A Call to Action
The convergence of Web3 and AI presents both risk and extraordinary possibility. By coupling technological innovation with a commitment to human-centered design, we can shape systems that enhance agency and distribute value fairly. I invite technologists, policymakers, and global citizens to join this discussion at TOKEN2049 and to work collectively toward a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
About the Author: Dr. Chengdiao Fan is a Stanford PhD in Anthropological Sciences dedicated to harnessing social computing to unlock human potential on a global scale. Her research into human societies, behavior, and human-computer interactions has shaped projects spanning productivity software, large-scale social communications, and online human relationships. As one of two founders of Pi Network, Dr. Fan applies this interdisciplinary expertise to blockchain and decentralization, creating accessible opportunities for collaboration and utility-building. Pi Network enables millions of individuals worldwide to participate in a shared ecosystem, enabling global citizens to exercise agency and generate real utility and production for society.
You can watch Dr. Fan’s presentation, Crypto’s Future: From Liquidity to Utility – Web3 Pathways to Innovation, from 4:30-4:45pm local time, October 1, 2025 at the TON Stage at TOKEN2049 Singapore.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Chengdiao Fan in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the official policy or position of Pi Network. Any assumptions made are not reflective of the position of any entity other than the author.
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