What changes will the convergence of AI and blockchain technology bring to human society. Various opinions were exchanged from technical prospects to philosophical reflections and business models.
At the final panel session of 'IXO™ Season 3' held on the 25th, Park Sung-jun, Director of Dongguk University Blockchain Center, served as the moderator, with panel participants including Park Eun-jung, Professor at Kwangwoon University Industry-Academic Cooperation Group, Lee Heung-no, Professor at GIST (CEO of Riverance), and Park Jae-hyun, CEO of Nowon21. The theme was 'AI and Blockchain Convergence Business Models and Future Prospects'. Panelists took turns presenting for 5 minutes each, followed by a free discussion.
Professor Park Eun-jung emphasized that the combination of AI and blockchain is an important technological evolution that increases transparency and efficiency, stating, "AI is already being applied in voice phishing detection, financial data analysis, and medical bio fields, with an EEG-based early diagnosis AI project for dementia and Alzheimer's in progress".
She further explained that "As federated learning and AI agent technologies rapidly develop, new service models are emerging in fields like DeFi, finance, medical care, and autonomous driving". She also noted that "With GPU high-efficiency, zero-knowledge proof, and homomorphic encryption technologies, the possibilities of blockchain-based AI utilization are increasing" and predicted that "AI and blockchain will achieve results in various industries through substantial convergence".
Professor Lee Heung-no emphasized that AI must necessarily be operated on blockchain.
He stated, "Currently, most AI learning occurs on centralized corporate servers with personal data belonging to companies" and "AI should be directly owned and controlled on blockchain-based clouds". He warned, "An era is coming where AI is used as robot brains. If centralized AI takes control, it could threaten privacy and even life".
He further explained that "A decentralized AI network using smart contracts is essential, and based on this, an ecosystem where individuals own and safely utilize their own AI must be built".
The professor noted that "While Web3 AI and decentralized AI discussions are active overseas, domestic discussions are still limited to AI performance improvement or sovereign AI levels", predicting that "Another wave is likely to come around next year or the year after".
Park Jae-hyun, CEO of Nowon21, emphasized that the core of both AI and blockchain is a profitable revenue model.
Nowon21 is creating a structure that uses AI agents to analyze user SNS accounts or app data and automatically execute optimal app-tech services to generate revenue, and has acquired the DeFi service 'Cleva', rebranding it as 'Cleva AI' and preparing for global service expansion.
The CEO noted that past AI coins heated the market due to expectations of creating revenue through token economy, and "AI technology will enhance existing financial services like DeFi or create new revenue models non-existent in Web2, with the speed of AI adoption determined by how quickly high-profit cases emerge".
Regarding the current market, he said, "AI theme tokens and agent-type services continue to grow despite overall market downturn" and predicted that "As money moves, the speed of AI and blockchain convergence will accelerate".
The center director predicted that "AI will directly participate as blockchain nodes and create self-evolving autonomous blockchains". He defined this convergence as a flow that changes human civilization, calling it 'autonomous digital civilization'.
He added, "AI has reached a level of interpreting rules, judging transactions, and directly designing and evolving blockchains" and "The point where trust transfers from humans to AI has arrived". He explained that in an AI-based autonomous digital civilization, "Banking-free finance, government-free electronic voting, and platform-free creative content distribution will become possible".
He disclosed that they are developing the 'Global Trusted AI Project' and 'Enders Chain' to prepare for when "AI understands blockchain and learns the concept of money, fundamentally changing the ecosystem".
Finally, he emphasized, "It's time to consider whether to conform to the order created by technology or design a new order with AI" and "I hope more colleagues join this movement".
Professor Park Eun-jung stated that while AI technology is rapidly developing, full convergence with blockchain will take more time.
She noted, "AI technology is developing rapidly, but companies actually generating revenue from it have only emerged in the past 1-2 years". She added, "Blockchain has a powerful economic medium called tokens, making monetization easier, but the AI field lacks such a structure".
She further emphasized, "Token issuance is not the only answer" and "How to solve industrial and technical constraints through blockchain technology convergence will be an important future challenge".
Professor Lee Heung-no argued that AI is essentially just a computer computational procedure, merely a tool.
The professor said, "Currently, centralized companies have mostly learned from public data, and in the future, AI will learn data held internally by institutions and companies." He explained, "For AI to operate with true intelligence, human intervention and data provision are ultimately essential, and this should be developed into a mutual service format in structures like the YAI network."
Following this, the representative said, "Simply using blockchain or AI does not guarantee success; they must be appropriately utilized for business purposes."
He added, "The flow of claiming blockchain would solve everything has now disappeared, and now creating a practical revenue model is key."
The representative stated, "What's important for market expansion is not so much AI technology being integrated into blockchain, but how it can be connected to a profitable model." Emphasizing that technological convergence should be viewed from an economic perspective, he said, "Currently, those making money in Web3 are limited to exchange transaction fees and platform fees, but AI will be a tool that complements or strengthens these revenue models."
Although some opinions were cautious or skeptical, the professor reiterated blockchain's potential, forecasting that "the convergence of blockchain and AI will proceed much faster than expected."
The professor emphasized, "In the field of business models combining these two technologies, we can certainly become strong players. Even with practical difficulties, we must start and solve problems along the way. The market potential is sufficient."
Additionally, he added, "An environment where Korean startups can freely issue Tokens must be created. It's important to try creating services in any field immediately. Regulatory and legal issues can be resolved later."
'IXO™ Season 3' is a Web3 conference focused on 'investment in practice', held over two days on the 24th and 25th at the Seoul Textile Center. It is co-hosted by blockchain media TokenPost and CoinLeaders, and co-organized by the decentralized data trust protocol 'OpenLedger'.
IXO™ presents a fundraising concept that goes beyond existing ICO, IEO, and IDO methods, being more Web3-friendly and community-centric. The first event in April last year drew over 1,000 participants, opening a new chapter in the Web3 community, and further expanded this flow in Season 2 in July with the theme 'Embrace the Future'.
The theme of this Season 3 is 'Proof of Business'. It is designed as a practical Web3 conference that highlights only projects that have actually proven actual usability, profitability, and user base, beyond technological vision and marketing.
Domestic and international blockchain experts, DAO operators, practical investors, researchers, and traders will participate, providing effective insights from an investor perspective. With project booths, custody demos, and networking, it is expected to be an opportunity for the community and individual investors to meet verified Web3 projects.
Registration for IXO™ Season 3 is possible through the Luma link. Real-time announcements and more details can be checked through the following social media channels.
IXO™ 2025 Official Channels
Website https://www.ixo.day
Twitter https://twitter.com/ixo_day
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ixoday
