The Network Dispatch
Name changes, events and more to come from the new network
Letter from the Editor
When we first brought this network together, it was centred on a very specific part of the market.
At the time, that made sense. The industry itself was more fragmented, conversations were narrower, and communities tended to form around single themes rather than the broader system those themes were feeding into.
Over the past 12–18 months, that has changed quite materially.
Not in a way that’s always obvious from the outside, but in how these technologies are actually being used. The work we’re seeing, across finance, infrastructure, identity, and data, is increasingly drawing from both blockchain and AI as part of the same stack.
They’re no longer parallel tracks. They’re interdependent.
AI is shaping how information is processed, decisions are made, and systems are operated. Blockchain is shaping how trust is established, value is transferred, and interactions are verified. Together, they form a more complete foundation for how modern digital systems are designed.
At the same time, there is a significant gap between what is being built and what is being seen.
A lot of the most meaningful work happening in Australia isn’t widely recognised. It sits behind products, inside organisations, or within technical communities that don’t spend time telling their stories.
This evolution of the network is about addressing that gap.
It’s about creating an environment where that work is surfaced properly, where the right people can connect around it, and where the broader ecosystem can develop with more clarity and less noise.
Less speculation. More substance.
Less commentary. More execution.
That’s the direction from here.
Btw, make sure you join us at the event this weke on April 29th at Stone & Chalk - sign up here: https://luma.com/vk9lsxue
The Australian Blockchain & AI Network Has Arrived
There’s been a quiet shift underway for a while now. It hasn’t been obvious at first glance. If you were looking at headlines, you would have missed it. If you were watching token prices or the latest AI releases, you would have been distracted by noise.
But underneath that, something more meaningful has been taking shape.
Across Australia, teams have been steadily building real systems, not prototypes for show, but infrastructure that is being used, tested, and integrated into how businesses and markets actually operate. These are applications that bring together blockchain and artificial intelligence in ways that are practical, not theoretical.
What’s becoming increasingly clear through that work is that these technologies are no longer separate tracks.
Blockchain is no longer just about decentralisation in isolation, and AI is no longer just about models or interfaces. Together, they are forming a new layer of digital infrastructure — one that shapes how value moves, how trust is verified, and how decisions are made within modern systems.
This isn’t a future concept. It’s already happening, just without the level of visibility it deserves.
That shift is what sits behind this evolution.
This week marks the formal launch of the Australian Blockchain & AI Network (ABAI Network), and with it, a new identity, a new platform, and a clearer direction for what this community is here to do.
Rather than trying to define the space from the outside, this is about reflecting what is already happening on the ground, and building a network that can support it as it scales.
A New Name, A Clearer Signal
The shift from Aus DeFi Association to the Australian Blockchain & AI Network isn’t a rebrand for the sake of it.
It’s an acknowledgement of reality.
Blockchain and AI are converging into a single layer of digital infrastructure, one that governs how value moves, how trust is established, and how decisions are made in modern systems.
That’s what this network now represents. You’ll start to see this reflected everywhere, including our new home:
Over time, we’ll be moving away from the old defi.org.au presence. The new site isn’t just a facelift, it’s the foundation for what comes next.
The New Site: More Than a Website
The new platform is built around a simple idea:
Australia is doing meaningful work in this space, and almost no one is telling those stories properly.
We’re fixing that.
The site brings together:
A manifesto for where this digital economy is heading
A growing library of real-world implementations
Research and insights that go beyond surface-level takes
A national network of builders, operators, and institutions
At its core, it’s about making the invisible visible.
Because the reality is, the most important work in this space isn’t loud. It’s being built.
Events This Week - And What They Represent
This week’s Sydney meetup is the first moment where this evolution comes to life publicly.
A room full of builders, founders, operators, and institutions, coming together not to speculate, but to understand what’s actually being created and where it’s heading.
And we’re going further than just talks... we’re also opening up expressions of interest for upcoming curated formats, including small, matched dinners where conversations actually matter.
More details will be shared soon, with Lydia and the team helping shape how these come together.
Where We’re Taking This
Just a little more on where this is all heading and it’s all about outcomes which, over the coming months, you’ll see us focus more deliberately on:
1. Showcasing What Gets Built
Highlighting real applications, across finance, infrastructure, identity, AI systems, and beyond, with depth, not hype.
2. Connecting the Right People
Investors to builders. Operators to opportunities. Institutions to innovation.
3. Supporting Builders Directly
We’re exploring ways to go beyond showcasing - and start actively supporting the people building in this space.
That could mean:
Structured programs
Access to expertise and networks
Practical tooling and collaboration layers
The goal is simple: Not just talk about innovation - help it happen.
Blockchain & AI News
Alongside the launch, there’s been no shortage of movement across the industry.
Blockchain & Digital Assets
Regulation is tightening - in a constructive way. ASIC now has an 18-month window to implement licensing for digital asset platforms, signalling a shift towards structured oversight and stronger market foundations. Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stevevallas_asics-roadmap-for-digital-assets-law-reform-activity-7451810858709725186-x64e
Security remains a live issue. The $290M KelpDAO exploit is another reminder that infrastructure - particularly cross-chain systems - still needs to mature. Link: https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/kelpdao-layerzero-ex-defi
Real-world rails are expanding. From AFSL-backed stablecoins entering exchanges to crypto-native spending via Mastercard networks, the bridge between digital assets and everyday use continues to close. Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/macropod-global_macropod-lists-australian-dollar-stablecoin-activity-7453199499952357376-bsnt
Kucoin launches real world crypto payments. KuCoin, a leading global crypto platform, today announced the launch of direct crypto payments through a partnership with Immersive and via Mastercard’s global network for eligible users in Australia, enabling users to make everyday purchases using crypto wherever Mastercard is accepted. Link: https://decrypt.co/365427/kucoin-launches-kucard-on-mastercards-global-network-in-australia-advancing-real-world-crypto-payments
Artificial Intelligence
Claude Community Australia. Last week we also got to see some amazing presenters from around Australia showcase their learnings, insights and talents at building with Claude Code with our very own Mark Monfort presenting alongside Bojan Zivic, Vanessa Ennis Aidan Morgan Stephen Colman Nick Lothian Adam Holt and with thanks to Dominik Fretz and Rye Smith for pulling it together. You can watch the replay on the Claude Community Australia website here: https://claudecommunity.com.au/webinars/claude-code-webinar-australia
Australia is positioning for ownership, not just adoption. Government signals around capturing a share of the global AI economy point to a push for onshore capability and sovereign development. Link: https://region.com.au/government-wants-australia-in-on-the-multi-trillion-dollar-ai-tools-economy/945326/
Capital is following. Microsoft’s $25B investment into AI skills and safety infrastructure reinforces the scale of what’s being built locally. Link: https://region.com.au/government-wants-australia-in-on-the-multi-trillion-dollar-ai-tools-economy/945326/
The pace of innovation is accelerating. Advances like AI-driven chip design shrinking timelines from months to overnight highlight just how quickly foundational layers are evolving. Link:
If you’re building in this space, or want to be closer to the people who are, now’s the time to get involved.
ABOUT AUSTRALIAN BLOCKCHAIN & AI NETWORK
The Australian Blockchain & AI Network (ABAI Network) is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to increasing education and awareness of blockchain technology, specifically blockchain and AI-based projects. Their goal is to empower the Australian community with the knowledge and tools to participate in the digital economy, and to promote the adoption and growth of emerging technology in Australia and beyond.
SPONSORS
This newsletter is brought to you by the following sponsors:
If the world does not transition quickly to resilient systems, then:
energy shocks → become inflation cycles
water stress → becomes migration pressure
climate stress → becomes geopolitical instability
instability → becomes economic fragmentation
Not separately—but all at once.