The Web3 Hub Davos 2025 session, hosted by DMCC, provided a compelling platform to explore how Web3 and AI are reshaping industries globally. The event emphasised Dubai’s transformative role as a hub for cutting-edge technologies, showcasing its innovative regulatory frameworks, tax incentives, and business-friendly policies that attract entrepreneurs and investors alike.
Our session concluded with an in-depth panel discussion featuring distinguished global industry experts. Moderated by Oscar Wendel from Stratalogues, the panel included Dr Lisa Cameron from the Global Legislators Forum, renowned futurist Pablos Holman, Kristina Lucrezia Cornèr from Exponential Science, and Alessia Baumgartner from DWF Labs. Together, they delved into the balance between innovation and regulation, highlighting how Dubai is positioning itself as a leading global hub for Web3 technologies.
Alessia Baumgartner shared insightful perspectives on Dubai’s unique value proposition for Web3 entrepreneurs:
Regulatory Environment: Dubai’s proactive approach to regulation, exemplified by entities such as the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), ensures a stable and secure environment for Web3 businesses. This fosters trust among citizens, investors, and founders alike.
Favourable Tax Regime: Dubai’s attractive tax policies further incentivise start-ups and established enterprises to set up operations in the region, contributing to a thriving digital economy.
Support for Growth: Beyond regulations, Dubai actively supports businesses through initiatives designed to help them scale, innovate, and succeed. This holistic approach demonstrates a commitment to economic development and technological advancement.
Global Leadership: The UAE is paving the way for a sustainable crypto ecosystem, setting a benchmark for other jurisdictions. The panel agreed on the importance of global collaboration to extend the benefits of crypto technology worldwide.
Statistics reinforce Dubai’s prominent role in the Web3 and blockchain space. According to DMCC, Dubai hosts over 700 blockchain companies as of 2024, with the blockchain market projected to grow to $40 billion in the MENA region by 2027. VARA’s regulatory framework has been widely recognised as a model for balancing innovation with investor protection, attracting top-tier projects and entrepreneurs globally.
The discussion also highlighted gaps in global Web3 adoption:
Regulatory Disparity: While Dubai leads with a cohesive regulatory framework, many jurisdictions lag in establishing clear policies, creating uncertainty for businesses.
Global Collaboration: The need for international cooperation to harmonise Web3 regulations and ensure consistent growth opportunities was a recurring theme.
At DWF Labs, we are committed to supporting innovative Web3 projects that align with our vision of a decentralised and sustainable digital future. As panellists have discussed, Dubai is showing what’s possible when innovation and regulation work hand-in-hand, but the global Web3 ecosystem needs more such leaders to realise its full potential.
We invite all Web3 entrepreneurs and visionaries to pitch their ideas to us. Let’s work together to continue working toward the growth of the Web3 ecosystem.
Trends, prospects and challenges of memecoins, BNB Chain ecosystem, and the role of DWF Labs.
Our Partner at DWF Labs, Lingling Jiang, recently participated in an engaging interview with Foresight News on 16th January 2024. During the discussion, she shared valuable insights into the company’s journey, its strategies as a market maker, and its vision for the future of crypto.
Here are the key takeaways from the discussion.
The Journey: From Traditional Finance to Crypto
Lingling Jiang shared her career trajectory, beginning in traditional finance as a trader. Her interest in cryptocurrency was sparked in 2019 when she explored Bitcoin’s potential and the opportunities within the crypto ecosystem. After working with firms like OSL and a brief stint at Three Arrows Capital's subsidiary TPS, Jiang joined DWF Labs.
Reflecting on the early days at DWF Labs, Jiang described how the company started with fewer than ten employees, each taking on multiple roles. In just two and a half years, the team grew to over 60 members, collaborating with more than 800 partners globally. This growth was driven by their ability to adapt to the dynamism of the industry and their commitment to building a global world-class team.
2024: Milestones and Challenges
Jiang highlighted DWF Labs’ significant accomplishments in 2024, including:
- Awards: Receiving Liquidity Provider of the Year from Bybit and Binance’s Longest Standing OG Award.
- Academic Recognition: Featuring in UCLA’s “STO Financial Revolution” as a case study.
- New Initiatives: The launch of the $20 million AI Agent Fund and the KOL WaveMaker Program, both of which were well-received by the market.
However, 2024 was not without its challenges. The growing number of crypto market makers has definitely intensified competition, with Jiang noting that projects now expect market makers to not only provide crypto liquidity but additional services, such as exchange listings, marketing support, and ecosystem development.
To address these demands, DWF Labs has established a dedicated Ecosystem Support Team to deliver customised solutions, ensuring they stay ahead in this competitive landscape.
The Vision for 2025: Expanding Horizons
Harnessing AI Technology
DWF Labs is doubling down on AI x Crypto innovations. Their AI Agent Fund aims to support projects that integrate AI into DeFi, automating wallet interactions, multi-step transactions, and cross-chain operations. Jiang emphasised that such advancements will enhance efficiency and intelligence within the crypto space.
Falcon Finance: A Multi-Collateral Stablecoin
DWF Labs is also set to launch Falcon Finance, a stablecoin that accepts various collateral types, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and niche altcoins. Designed to offer competitive yields, this project reflects their commitment to creating versatile and accessible financial products.
Geographic Expansion
With a strategic focus on the Middle East, particularly Dubai, DWF Labs aims to leverage the region’s growing prominence in the crypto sector. Their global footprint continues to expand, reinforcing their leadership in the industry.
Industry Trends: Institutional Adoption and Regulatory Clarity
Jiang provided insights into broader industry trends:
- Institutional Growth: Increased interest from institutional investors, driven by regulatory clarity and the approval of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, has legitimised crypto as an asset class.
- Regulatory Evolution: Clearer regulations are expected to boost confidence among retail and institutional participants, creating a more robust market environment.
Advice for Aspiring Professionals
When asked about career advice for those interested in market-making, Jiang emphasised:
- Perseverance: The fast-paced nature of the crypto industry requires resilience.
- Time Management: Efficiently prioritising tasks is essential for staying productive.
- Industry Knowledge: Understanding the market and building strong networks are key, whether in business development, marketing, or trading.
For those looking to enter trading roles, she advised developing strong mathematical and analytical skills, as these are critical for success in this highly specialised field.
A Glimpse Into the Future
The AMA provided an in-depth look at the journey of DWF Labs, achievements, and future vision. With the recent success of initiatives like the AI Agent Fund and Falcon Finance, alongside a focus on global expansion, we look forward to leading the way in shaping the future of crypto.
Catch the original replay of discussion here.
DWF Labs, the new generation Web3 market maker and investor, announces its strategic support for teams launching AI agents on NEAR Protocol, a fully sharded, proof-of-stake, Layer 1 blockchain driving innovation in artificial intelligence and decentralised technologies.
The NEAR ecosystem is home to some of the most forward-thinking teams, consistently pushing the boundaries of decentralized, user-owned AI x Crypto. With the rapid growth of AI innovation within the ecosystem, DWF Labs will play a pivotal role in supporting the launch of AI x Crypto agents through social launchpads such as AIDOLS, among others, as the landscape continues to evolve in the coming months.
In collaboration with NEAR Foundation, which has been actively advancing AI x Crypto research and fostering talent through the Horizon AI accelerator, DWF Labs will help empower builders to bring their ideas to life. The Horizon accelerator has already propelled dozens of teams to successfully complete the program, raising venture capital and driving impactful AI solutions.
Recently, DWF Labs unveiled a $20 million AI Agent Fund, dedicated to accelerating innovation in autonomous AI x Crypto technologies. By leveraging NEAR’s unique tools, such as smart contracts, chain signatures, and intents, DWF Labs aims to enable the development of verifiably decentralised AI agents. NEAR is currently the only blockchain ecosystem offering a comprehensive spectrum of resources for autonomous AI developers.
‘At DWF Labs, we believe in empowering builders who are shaping the future of autonomous technologies. The NEAR Protocol stands out as a leader in enabling verifiably decentralised AI agents, offering a robust ecosystem and resources for developers. By partnering with builders on NEAR, we are excited to support teams at the forefront of AI innovation, helping them bring these solutions to market and redefine what's possible in blockchain-powered AI,’ said Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner of DWF Labs.
As part of its collaboration with builders in the NEAR ecosystem, DWF Labs will also work closely with DeFi protocols on NEAR to bootstrap the launch of AI agents focused on the financial sector, further strengthening NEAR’s position as the go-to ecosystem for cutting-edge decentralised AI applications.
DWF Labs, the new generation Web3 market maker and investor, has partnered with Heyanon.ai to revolutionise decentralised finance (DeFi) through the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This collaboration introduces DeFAI, a new wave of AI-powered decentralised financial solutions designed to lower barriers to entry, streamline user experiences, and enable autonomous financial operations.
DeFAI: The Evolution of Decentralised Finance
DeFi has long promised a borderless, permissionless financial ecosystem. However, the complexities of navigating protocols, managing wallets, and executing multi-step transactions have limited its accessibility. DeFAI represents the next evolution—fusing AI with DeFi to create intuitive, intelligent, and secure financial tools. By leveraging AI to automate workflows and decision-making, DeFAI simplifies DeFi interactions, empowering users to confidently manage their assets without technical expertise.
Key Features of DeFAI
- AI-Powered Interfaces: Heyanon.ai’s natural language processing (NLP) tools enable users to execute complex transactions using simple commands, such as, 'Swap 3 ETH for USDC,' dramatically improving accessibility.
- Autonomous DeFi Agents: Smart AI agents manage wallets and execute multi-step strategies—from bridging tokens to creating liquidity pools—eliminating the need for manual oversight.
- Research & Communication Agents: AI-driven data tools analyse on-chain metrics, governance discussions, and market trends to provide actionable insights, helping users optimise strategies and manage risks effectively.
Heyanon.ai is leading this initiative with its suite of AI-driven solutions, already in beta testing. Their mission is to democratise access to DeFi by addressing critical user pain points—complex interfaces, fragmented information, and high barriers to entry. Our partnership with Heyanon.ai provides the resources, network, and expertise needed to scale these solutions globally. With our $20 million AI Agent fund, we are fuelling the growth of Heyanon.ai to accelerate the development and adoption of DeFAI solutions.
Daniele Sestagalli, Co-Founder of Heyanon.ai, commented: 'DeFAI is not just a technological evolution; it’s a movement towards true financial autonomy. By integrating AI into DeFi, we’re removing the complexity and empowering users to focus on strategy rather than execution.'
Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner at DWF Labs, added: 'At DWF Labs, we are committed to supporting cutting-edge innovations that redefine industries. DeFAI represents the convergence of AI and blockchain, and we’re thrilled to back Heyanon.ai in this transformative journey.'
The DeFAI tools are already gaining traction on platforms like CoinGecko, offering users access to cutting-edge DeFi solutions. Explore DeFAI on CoinGecko.
About Heyanon.ai
HeyAnon is an AI DeFi protocol designed to simplify DeFi interactions and aggregate essential project-related information. By combining conversational AI with real-time data aggregation, HeyAnon enables users to manage DeFi operations, stay informed about project updates, and analyze trends across various platforms and protocols. It integrates natural language processing to process user prompts, executes complex DeFi actions, and delivers near real-time insights from multiple information streams.
An inside look at business strategy, future ventures, and the UAE expansion
During Taipei Blockchain Week in December 2024, Lingling Jiang, Partner of DWF Labs, spoke in a panel discussion alongside Vincent Liu (Chief Investment Officer at Kronos Research), Ching Tseng (Principal at AppWorks), and Dan Park (Investor at Hashed). The panel covered topics such as crypto user adoption and retention, investment strategies, crypto ventures, industry partnerships, and regulatory frameworks. Read our recap of the talk and watch its record below.
Two-Phase Approach to User Adoption
User adoption is a key challenge for Web3 projects, and Lingling Jiang shared a two-phase approach: “There are two phases in user adoption. One is user acquisition and the second phase will be user retention,” she explained.
She highlighted the effectiveness of marketing, brand awareness, and strategic partnerships for initial user acquisition, citing Hyperliquid’s successful airdrop strategy that distributed 31% of total supply to approximately 200,000 users. “These users became free marketers, driving organic growth,” she added. Incentive programs to motivate users to use the product are crucial for acquisition.
Regarding user retention, DWF Labs’s Partner stressed the importance of user experience beyond financial incentives, sharing that on top of financial incentives, the user experience, value-add, and problem-solving aspects of the project are important to retain users.
The Importance of Founders in the Crypto Startup Space
When discussing investment criteria, Jiang discussed the fundamental importance of founding teams. “Teams, especially the founders, are the backbone and foundation of crypto projects,” she noted. She shared that while projects and technology can be pivoted according to market trends, founders cannot be changed.
While deciding on whether to invest in crypto projects, Jiang shared that she looks at founders’ past experiences, investigating their track records and past projects. Their response to failure is also an important aspect to consider, to see if the founder could successfully learn from previous challenges.
Bridging Traditional Finance and Regulatory Frameworks for Crypto Adoption
On integration between traditional finance and Web3, Lingling drew from her traditional finance background to highlight the importance of bridging these sectors. She referenced BlackRock’s expanding their tokenised money market fund to multiple chains in November 2024 as an example of how traditional finance partnerships can enhance credibility and user trust for crypto projects.
The panel discussion also touched on regulatory developments, with Lingling Jiang pointing to Hong Kong’s approach of leveraging existing financial licenses for digital assets as an efficient model for Web3 development. This perspective aligns with her broader view of building bridges between traditional and decentralised finance.
Looking ahead to 2025, DWF Labs’s representative identified blockchain interoperability as a critical area for improvement. She emphasised that improving cross-chain communication will lead to better user experiences, which ultimately could offer significant upside potential for crypto.
Conclusion
Overall, the panel discussion covered strategic guidance on user adoption, regulatory compliance, and investment strategies. Lingling provided valuable advice for projects to prioritise user experience, and shared her inputs on the importance of founder quality. As part of her overall focus in the crypto space, she shared about the significance of meaningful traditional finance partnerships for projects seeking to scale in the evolving crypto landscape.
Partnership includes accelerator programs, ecosystem grants, and strategic advisory
DWF Labs, the new generation crypto market maker and investor, announced the launch of a $20 million fund dedicated to supporting the development of autonomous AI agents. This initiative underscores DWF Labs’s commitment to unlock the next generation of artificial intelligence and crypto technology.
The new fund aims to support Web3 projects building next-generation AI agent solutions that have the potential to transform industries and redefine the digital economy. Alongside financial backing, recipients will receive comprehensive support to accelerate their growth and adoption.
Eligible projects can also receive up to $100,000 of cloud server credits to help optimise performance and scale their infrastructure seamlessly. Additionally, these crypto projects can access strategic advisory services and collaboration opportunities with leading blockchain ecosystems.These partnerships are designed to facilitate the integration of AI-driven applications within decentralised networks.
“Autonomous AI agents will transform how businesses and individuals interact with technology, from automating complex decision-making processes to unlocking entirely new economic opportunities,” said Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner at DWF Labs. “Through this fund, we aim to empower builders and accelerate the innovation of AI and decentralised technologies.”
Eligible projects will be assessed on their potential to drive innovation and create meaningful impact across industries such as finance, logistics, entertainment, and governance.
This initiative reflects DWF Labs’s commitment in supporting cutting-edge technologies to drive adoption and innovation within the Web3 ecosystem. By enabling projects that leverage the intersection of artificial intelligence and decentralised systems, this fund aims to unlock the next generation of AI innovation.
The $20 million AI Agent Fund is now open for applications.