UAE regulated Changer,a digital asset custodian and Bitgrit, a global startup working to democratize AI who recently registered their DLT Foundation at ADGM, have partnered to advance the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), to unlock new frontiers for “AI-on-chain” technology.

Changer, known for its ultra-secure custody platform for managing digital money and assets, will join forces with Bitgrit, which leverages its global network of over 40,000 AI developers to enable companies to crowdsource and license innovative AI solutions. Together, they aim to power a decentralized AI economy where developers, enterprises, and institutions can securely build, monetize, and trade AI models on the blockchain, right here in Abu Dhabi.

Wang Hao, CEO of Changer, stated, “This is a pivotal moment. Changer is dedicated to supporting ADGM’s DLT Foundation – the world’s first comprehensive framework for blockchain foundations, DAOs, and Web3 entities. We provide secure, regulated digital asset custody and a seamless infrastructure for tokenized ecosystems. With Bitgrit, we are forging new standards for transparency, efficiency, and global cooperation in the digital age.”

The partnership will initially see Changer provide custody services for Bitgrit’s native BGR tokens. It will then expand to secure AI models and datasets tokenized on Bitgrit’s BGR Network. This capability is crucial for creating smooth and secure interactions between traditional finance, cryptocurrency, and the burgeoning AI economy, boosting security, transparency, and worldwide appeal.

Kazuya Saginawa, CEO of Bitgrit, underscored the partnership’s strategic vision, “Teaming up with Changer is a game-changer for Bitgrit. Their trusted custody solutions allow us to confidently scale our decentralized AI ecosystem and position Bitgrit as a pioneer in the AI-on-chain revolution. This alliance solidifies our mission to securely bring advanced AI onto the blockchain, which will create immense value for developers, businesses, and investors across the globe.”

The event also served as an official announcement for the launch of the BGR Network by Bitgrit’s COO Saksham Kukreja. The BGR Network is a purpose-built blockchain ecosystem for AI applications. It allows AI models and datasets to be securely tokenized, owned, and traded on-chain, offering unprecedented transparency, ownership, and monetization avenues for AI creators and enterprises. Its ability to connect with other established blockchain systems makes it a pioneering infrastructure for the next wave of AI development.

Saksham Kukreja COO of Bitgrit added, “Our collaboration with Changer is fundamental to establishing a trusted, secure, and regulatory-compliant AI economy on the blockchain. This is not only a major achievement for Bitgrit but also a compelling example for the global Web3 community of how regulated partnerships in progressive jurisdictions like ADGM can catalyze sustainable and truly impactful innovation.”

The cooperation between these two regulated firms within ADGM underscores how supportive regulatory environments can powerfully drive innovation, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in the advancement of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Bitgrit, a global AI startup, which in 2024 established a DLT Foundation under the regulatory framework of ADGM is seeking to launch their BGR Network, one of the world’s first Web3 protocols to democratize AI ownership, monetization and innovation.

With over 37,000 AI developers from 62 different countries on their platform, Bitgrit has helped organizations like NASA, SoftBank and the Tokyo Government leverage the power of community to solve some of their biggest problems using AI. The company started in Japan and expanded to the UAE in 2021 after being selected for Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s premier startup acceleration program.

Through the Bitgrit platform, companies can crowdsource custom AI solutions through competitions and license off-the shelf community-developed AI models in a quick and affordable manner. The company’s patented GritBox technology ensures developers can train AI models on private datasets without direct access to the underlying data. The launch of the BGR Network now takes these capabilities to the next level—bringing AI assets fully on-chain.

“We’re building a future where AI innovation benefits everyone—not just a few,” said Kazuya Saginawa, CEO of Bitgrit. “From digitizing ownership rights to enhancing transparency, from turning AI into a tradable asset to fostering global collaboration—the BGR Network is setting a new benchmark for AI and blockchain integration. Ultimately, we envision a future where AI models within the Bitgrit ecosystem autonomously communicate and evolve, paving the way for Artificial Super Intelligence.”

The establishment of the Bitgrit DLT Foundation in ADGM allows the company to leverage Abu Dhabi’s world-class regulatory framework and progressive policies to scale its blockchain-powered AI ecosystem. The foundation’s mission is to create a decentralized AI economy where developers, enterprises, and institutions can securely build, license, and stake AI models on-chain.

Saksham Kukreja, COO of Bitgrit, added, “We’re thrilled to be part of Abu Dhabi’s thriving Web3 ecosystem. Launching our own blockchain network was the natural next step but doing it the right way—under a trusted and well-regulated jurisdiction—was just as important to us. ADGM’s strong regulatory framework and progressive policies made it the perfect place to bring this vision to life. With the launch of the Bitgrit DLT Foundation, we’re taking a huge leap forward in bridging AI and blockchain on a global scale.”

Bitgrit has already forged key strategic partnerships within the ADGM Web3 ecosystem, including a collaboration with Changer.ae, a licensed digital asset custody provider, to ensure the secure management of BGR tokens. The BGR Network is also backed by Avalanche, one of the world’s most advanced blockchains known for high-speed, low-cost transactions, reinforcing the network’s scalability and adoption.

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Registration Authority (RA) of ADGM said, “By establishing its DLT Foundation within ADGM, Bitgrit joins a growing ecosystem that is shaping the future of blockchain and AI innovation. This move underscores the strength of our regulatory framework and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for blockchain advancement. By fostering an environment where emerging technologies can scale responsibly, ADGM is proud to support pioneers like Bitgrit in unlocking new frontiers in decentralised AI ownership and collaboration.”

bitgrit, founded in Japan, aims to democratize AI development for all creators and has been working on developing systems utilizing blockchain technology. has announced that it has registered its DLT Foundation at ADGM in UAE.

As per the announcement, this foundation represents the first instance of a Japanese-rooted company leveraging ADGM’s regulatory framework to create a crypto asset foundation.

A DLT Foundation is a foundation scheme provided by ADGM, specifically tailored for projects involving crypto assets and DLT. This framework enables such projects to operate transparently and reliably. It also allows for the issuance and management of tokens in a legally authorized environment, providing significant advantages for projects prioritizing regulatory compliance.

bitgrit has now transitioned into an ADGM-registered entity, placing itself at the forefront of AI and blockchain innovation in the Middle East. The company connects a global community of over 35,000 data scientists and offers innovative services through its AI competition platform and an AI marketplace currently under development.

The newly established BITGRIT DLT Foundation will form the foundation for bitgrit’s planned issuance of crypto tokens. These tokens will be utilized within the company’s platforms, enabling AI agents to leverage AI models and datasets while facilitating transactions among users through token-based ecosystems.

Kazuya Saginawa, CEO of bitgrit, statedm “The establishment of the BITGRIT DLT Foundation is a significant milestone for us as a Japanese-rooted company operating under ADGM’s regulations. By integrating AI agents and Web3 technologies, we aim to create a new ecosystem that delivers value to both users and businesses while ensuring transparency and reliability.”

bitgrit DLT Foundation aims to issue crypto tokens to build an ecosystem where AI agents can efficiently operate and interact, and work toward listing the tokens on the UAE’s “Available Virtual Assets” list to enhance trust and adoption, while expanding from the MENA region to global markets.

In August 2024, Kaia DLT Foundation got licensed in ADGM and their mainnet will be launched on August 29th 2024. Prior to that IoTA also launched its DLT Foundation from ADGM.