May 2025 marked a pivotal month for Hedera Hashgraph as the network introduced leadership changes, launched developer tools, and expanded its global initiatives. The updates reflect Hedera’s broader strategy of combining decentralized technology with enterprise-grade tools, AI integrations, and regulatory alignment. These changes support a growing focus on scalable tokenization, transparent AI, and accessible DeFi. With renewed ecosystem branding and new event series, Hedera continues to assert itself as a utility-focused platform supporting public and private Web3 growth. This article explores the key developments from across the Hedera ecosystem in May 2025.
New name, new leadership, and a new era for builders on @Hedera 🤝
— Hedera Foundation (@HederaFndn) May 8, 2025
This year and beyond, we’re laser-focused on driving growth across Hedera’s onchain economy and its institutional ecosystem – working to place the network in pole position for years to come 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EGDLMbCPdl
A New Era for Hedera: Unified Vision and Leadership
On May 8, 2025, Hedera introduced a refreshed identity by renaming the HBAR Foundation to the Hedera Foundation, and the Hedera Governing Council to the Hedera Council. This rebranding effort aims to present a unified message across all ecosystem entities. The change emphasizes openness and institutional alignment by integrating Hedera’s core branding into its operational bodies.
Alongside the name changes, Hedera appointed several key figures to leadership roles. Charles Adkins was named CEO of the Hedera Foundation. Adkins previously held roles at Aptos and Polygon and brings experience in ecosystem growth and protocol governance. Tom Sylvester, who has worked on distributed ledger governance strategies, now serves as President of the Hedera Council. Mance Harmon, Hedera’s co-founder, will step in as Chairman on July 1, 2025, to support continuity and strategic oversight.
The Hedera Foundation also outlined several key priorities. These include scaling DeFi infrastructure, securing data pipelines in AI applications, and creating standards for digital identity and tokenization. New websites for both the Hedera Foundation and Hedera Council reflect the visual rebranding and provide clearer access to resources for builders, partners, and institutions. These changes align Hedera’s messaging and leadership with its technical roadmap and governance strategy.
Empowering Developers with New Tools and Resources
Hedera’s updates in May 2025 placed a strong emphasis on developer experience and security. These new tools lower the learning curve for Web2 and EVM developers while promoting safe practices and open standards.
On May 12, Hedera launched the Contract Builder, a browser-based IDE designed to help developers deploy smart contracts to Hedera’s EVM-compatible layer. The tool requires no downloads and offers templates for ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens. Developers can compile, test, and verify contracts directly from the browser, reducing the setup friction often found in new blockchain environments. This tool directly supports Hedera’s effort to make smart contract development easier and more efficient.
2) The fastest way to bring your smart contract ideas to life…no local setup required! ⚡️
— Hedera (@hedera) May 12, 2025
Developed in collab with @KabilaApp, Hedera Contract Builder provides built-in templates and support for HTS and well-known standards like ERC-20, ERC-721, all under a single UI – designed… pic.twitter.com/QvrhFGv3Ry
On May 14, Hedera announced AI Studio, a modular toolkit that helps developers build auditable AI applications using the Hedera network. This studio integrates with ElizaOS, supports LangChain agents, and includes real-time logging features. Applications built through AI Studio use Hedera’s consensus service to provide verifiable communication and decision histories. This addresses concerns over transparency and trust in AI workflows by enabling event-anchoring directly to the hashgraph.
Developer education also received attention. On May 21, a technical article titled “Selecting a JSON RPC Relay for Your Project” offered guidance on optimizing contract interactions. Developers were introduced to various approaches: local node testing, hosted RPC services, and self-managed relays. On May 27, another guide, “Estimate Gas Dynamically”, explained how to avoid hardcoded gas values. The blog introduced best practices like automatic estimation using eth_estimateGas, adding 25% buffers, and applying retry logic for improved reliability.
Security also advanced in May. On May 27, Hedera announced the planned deprecation of insecure HCS mirror node endpoints. Plaintext port 5600 will be shut down in favor of secure HTTPS (port 443) endpoints by August 20. Brownouts will begin in June and escalate in July. This transition aims to improve data privacy and protect developers from MITM attacks by enforcing TLS encryption on mirror node queries.
Hedera Day in Zurich: Bridging Tech, Finance, and Policy
On May 7, Hedera held Hedera Day in Zurich, Switzerland, in coordination with the Point Zero Forum, a fintech event focused on policy and digital finance. The event, hosted at Trust Square, attracted over 200 participants and included stakeholders from academia, enterprise, and government.
The agenda highlighted Hedera’s focus on regulated Web3 solutions. Presenters discussed how the hashgraph consensus algorithm achieves over 10,000 transactions per second with finality in seconds. A dedicated session on ISO 20022 outlined how Hedera could support compliance for real-time global payments.
Academic collaboration played a key role in the event. The UZH Blockchain Center, led by Professor Claudio Tessone, participated in panels discussing security and the role of decentralized infrastructure in data integrity. Fireside chats featured representatives from The Hashgraph Association and financial firms such as Abrdn, who spoke on asset tokenization.
Hedera Day illustrated how blockchain networks can work with traditional finance. Presenters discussed McKinsey’s projection that tokenized real-world assets could reach $2 trillion in market value by 2030. Attendees emphasized the importance of identity, data standards, and auditability—areas where Hedera’s infrastructure offers strong alignment.
Insightful exchanges at Hedera Day in Zurich.@YoussefiKamal and @Duncanmmoir discussed how DLT is enabling progress in financial services.
— The Hashgraph Association (@The_Hashgraph) May 8, 2025
Grateful to all who joined and to the @Hedera ecosystem for driving trusted digital transformation across industries. https://t.co/bUA7qis5C9
Fostering Global Innovation Through Hackathons
In May, Hedera supported two major hackathons focused on AI and emerging markets. These events demonstrated how technical talent and incentives can scale ecosystem growth across geographies.
From May 20–21, Hashgraph Online, Genfinity, the Hedera Foundation and Hashgraph hosted the Hedera x AI Hackathon, a two-day virtual event offering $30,000 in prizes. Participants used tools like the Standards Agent Kit and OpenConvAI protocol to build AI agents on Hedera. Demos included autonomous payment bots, verifiable data workflows, and agent-to-agent messaging protocols.
Special guests included Hedera co-founders Dr. Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon, who discussed agent economies and tokenized incentives. The event emphasized how AI agents can securely interact on-chain using the Hedera Consensus Service and Token Service.
🤖 HEDERA x AI DEMO DAY 1: LIVE PITCHES, VC & L1 JUDGING OF AGENTIC AI ON HASHGRAPH
— Generation Infinity (@GenfinityIO) May 15, 2025
Join us for a high-stakes, action-packed live event featuring top leadership across Web3 and artificial intelligence. Witness the rise of DLT-powered agentic AI. https://t.co/FgxNZf59QR
Expanding Innovation Across Africa
On May 26, 2025, The Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation announced the Hedera Africa Hackathon. Set to launch in July 2025, the hybrid-format event will feature local hubs in 20+ cities and virtual access across the continent. Organizers aim to engage over 10,000 participants from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, and Ghana.
The hackathon will offer a $1 million prize pool in grants, mentorship, and venture support. Winning teams will gain long-term access to acceleration programs and enterprise backing. Project tracks include finance, healthcare, ESG, smart identity, and sustainability, encouraging the use of AI, IoT, and tokenization on the Hedera Hashgraph network.
Africa’s Web3 ecosystem has grown rapidly. The CV VC Africa Blockchain Report 2024 noted a 166% funding surge since 2022, with $474M raised in 2023. Hedera’s fast, low-cost infrastructure offers practical solutions in markets dominated by mobile finance and fragmented identity systems.
Education is central to this initiative. Developers will receive training in tools like Hedera Smart Contracts, JSON-RPC relays, and Token Service. Certified instructors will host sessions both in-person and online, while participants receive support from mentors and engineers throughout the event.
The hackathon also advances Hedera’s broader goal of supporting non-U.S. innovation. By equipping developers with tools and opportunities, the Hedera Africa Hackathon is more than a competition—it’s a launchpad for Web3 innovation in emerging markets.
This hybrid hackathon will run from August 1 to September 30, combining in-person events in 20+ African cities and a global virtual track open to all.
— The Hashgraph Association (@The_Hashgraph) May 26, 2025
Over 10,000 participants from 15+ countries are expected to join.
Expanding Web3 Innovation Through Global Partnerships
On May 13, The Hashgraph Association announced a partnership with IIT Madras to launch a Web3 Venture Studio. The studio will support 12 startups annually, offering $50,000 in funding and up to $220,000 in services.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy to support Hedera-powered startups in regions with high developer density and market opportunity. India’s Web3 sector now includes over 450 startups with $1.1 billion in cumulative investment. By embedding Hedera tools into IIT’s innovation pipeline, the studio will foster applications in finance, AI, and IoT.
The initiative mirrors similar efforts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Morocco. These partnerships allow Hedera to promote innovation without direct jurisdictional ties to U.S. regulatory frameworks. The Hashgraph Association continues to lead on enterprise integrations and community acceleration through a mix of grants, education, and venture support.
The THA-IITM Web3 Venture Studio will support 12 startups annually, offering up to $50K in funding and $220K worth of in-kind support in engineering, advisory, and more.
— The Hashgraph Association (@The_Hashgraph) May 13, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/3c0cEGkFUF
Strengthening the Hedera Ecosystem Through Key Players
Two community-driven projects, HashPack and Hashgraph Online, played key roles in advancing user experience and developer adoption throughout May 2025. These efforts reflect Hedera’s broader strategy of empowering users with accessible interfaces and open development standards.
HashPack: Introducing the Concierge for Smarter Wallet Interactions
In May 2025, HashPack previewed its upcoming in-wallet AI assistant, internally called the HashPack Concierge. The tool enables users to interact with their wallet and the Hedera ecosystem through natural language, without needing separate approvals or exposing private keys.
As demonstrated by HashPack CTO Tyler Coté, users can request account details, inspect token associations, check for security risks, and analyze token data. The assistant uses mirror node queries to retrieve live information and supports follow-up prompts for actions like sending HBAR or associating a token.
Catch Tyler 🐐 showcasing our upcoming AI-Integration, off of yesterday's superb Hackathon.
— HashPack Wallet (@HashPackApp) May 22, 2025
Many thanks to our @GenfinityIO friends, for the footage!
🤖 pic.twitter.com/Baoyai06qb
The Concierge is built with a scalable architecture supporting human-in-the-loop interactions and rich responses. It pulls from Hedera’s technical documentation using a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model and integrates with services like SaucerSwap, Centex, and HGraph.io for expanded functionality.
A notable feature is the ability to send transactions directly from the assistant, with a preview and approval step similar to interacting with a dApp. This enables users to perform wallet actions quickly and intuitively.
HashPack also revealed that the assistant will integrate into the PACK token economy, using micropayments for queries and offering discounts for Concierge Collectibles NFT holders. This ties the tool into HashPack’s broader effort to build utility around its native token.
By combining trusted wallet infrastructure with intelligent guidance, the Concierge aims to improve usability, reduce friction, and help users navigate Hedera with ease.
Hashgraph Online: Advancing Agent Standards and Developer Tools
Hashgraph Online, a community-led initiative, continues to lead development of tools and standards for AI agents on Hedera. In May 2025, the project expanded its Standards Agent Kit, allowing developers to build AI agents using LangChain and Hedera services like the Consensus and Token Service.
The Agent Kit supports core agent functions—identity registration, messaging, and token-triggered workflows. It builds on the OpenConvAI (HCS-10) standard, which enables decentralized communication between agents using Hedera’s consensus layer.
To support adoption, Hashgraph Online also updated Moonscape, a Web3 browser for deploying and managing AI agents. Users can interact with agents, monitor on-chain activity, and test multi-agent coordination—all through a visual interface.
Hashgraph Online also provides extensive educational resources, including SDKs, documentation, and video tutorials. These materials helped power several submissions during the Hedera x AI Hackathon, where developers used OpenConvAI and the Agent Kit to build new on-chain AI applications.
By standardizing agent communication and lowering technical barriers, Hashgraph Online is making Hedera a practical home for trusted, verifiable AI on-chain.
HashSphere and Beyond: Hedera’s Future in 2025
Announced in March and slated for Q3 2025, HashSphere is a private, EVM-compatible L1 built using Hashgraph technology. It targets enterprise users who require controlled environments and compliance layers.
HashSphere supports tokenization, governance, and real-time messaging, with planned bridges to the public Hedera network. Its use of consensus and data immutability enables trusted recordkeeping without full public exposure. Early testing with partners like Australia’s AP+ suggests financial applications in domestic payments, KYC, and digital currency infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Hedera will appear at several key events in June 2025, including Digital FutureFest (USA), Super Vietnam, and Proof of Talk (France). These appearances highlight Hedera’s commitment to engaging with policymakers and business leaders in regions driving blockchain adoption.
Gartner predicts that 30% of all blockchain projects will incorporate AI by 2026. Hedera’s tools—AI Studio, Agent Kit, and OpenConvAI—align with this trend. These initiatives build an ecosystem where autonomous agents, verifiable records, and real-time governance interact seamlessly.
The Road Ahead for Hedera Hashgraph
May 2025 reflected Hedera Hashgraph’s steady progress toward becoming a platform focused on real-world utility, trusted AI, and scalable Web3 applications. Leadership changes aligned the ecosystem under a single brand. Developer tools like Contract Builder and AI Studio improved accessibility. Global events, hackathons, and partnerships expanded reach in key regions.
As Hedera heads into the second half of 2025, the focus will remain on supporting compliance-ready, AI-integrated applications. HashSphere and upcoming events may further accelerate adoption, particularly in enterprise and regulated industries.
To stay informed, readers can follow hedera.com, explore developer tools, or participate in community-led events and hackathons. The Hedera ecosystem continues to evolve, offering pathways for developers, enterprises, and builders across industries.
*Disclaimer: News content provided by Genfinity is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, we do not offer financial or legal advice of any kind. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or legal decisions. Genfinity disclaims any responsibility for actions taken based on the information presented in our articles. Our commitment is to share knowledge, foster discussion, and contribute to a better understanding of the topics covered in our articles. We advise our readers to exercise caution and diligence when seeking information or making decisions based on the content we provide.
